Conflicts of Interest: Land Jobbing In Selangor, 1874-1895

Abstract

The advent of British rule in the Malay States was the catalyst of change. Such change invariably resulted in conflicts of interests on the part of the British administrators. This article focuses on one aspect of it: land jobbing, which is defined as speculation by individuals for personal profit. Conducted using qualitative methods, this research utilised a wide range of primary sources including Colonial Office (CO) and Arkib Negara Malaysia (ANM) records, government gazettes, and newspapers. This article looks at two areas. First, incidences of land jobbing involving high officials in the state of Selangor are stated. Secondly, the relationship between Swettenham and land jobbing in Selangor, which was not mentioned by Swettenham in his published writings, is examined. The findings help shed a valuable light upon the strengths and failings of “Indirect Rule” in the Malay States.