Zaman Meleset dan Pembangunan Kolonial di Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu, 1929-1938 (The Great Depression and Colonial Development in the Federated Malay States, 1929-1938)

Abstract

This article explores the connection between the phenomenon of global economic downturn with the Federated Malay States (FMS). It focuses on the economic relationship between the metropolitan power and the FMS that is subordinate to it. The necessity to continue exploiting raw materials in Malaya influenced the implementation of colonial development policies during economic downturns. However, these policies only prioritized sectors that directly contributed to the growth of the metropolitan economy. This article substantiates this situation through the development of pineapple-based food products and rice supplies in the FMS. Colonial Office sources 273, 323, 576, and 852 are utilized to construct the economic relationship between the FMS and the metropolitan power. Meanwhile, colonial administrative records in the FMS are employed to demonstrate the impact of economic downturns and colonial development on its economic structure. The findings of this study confirm the existence of a symbiotic economic relationship between the FMS and the metropolitan power. Colonial development policies were implemented to expedite the exploitation of FMS economic resources more rapidly during economic downturns. These policies also affected the role of the FMS as a supplier of food products within the British Empire’s trading network.