(From Post War period to1962 before the formation of
Malaysia)
Based on a report from " Sarawak 1962 " (Sarawak Government Printing Office)
COMPILED BY CHANG YI
Before 1941
The first rubber was exported from Sarawak in 1910 and thereafter it rapidly
became the main agricultural export of the country and ...{remained so until the
late 60's}. In 1941 there were 239,557 acres under rubber, planted almost
exclusively as smallholdings often on low-lying peat soils totally unsuited to
rubber and comprising inherently low-yielding trees.
Post World War Two
In the immediate post-war period, and despite its obvious advantage as a
smallholder's crop, rubber was considered, in the face of synthetic,a declining
asset and departmental activities were concerned, but with little success, in
the search of an alternative cash crop.
Rubber Planting Scheme
However in 1954, a sum of 1/2 million dollars was set aside to finance a
rubber-planting scheme, which unfortunately, did not materialize. In 1956, with
the reorganization of the Agricultural Department it was impossible to introduce
a new scheme with the basic aim of establishing the greatest acreage of
high-yielding rubber in the shortest possible time in accordance with accepted
cultural practice.
A board of administrators representing both Government and farming interests was
constituted to deal with matters of policy and arbitration; similarly
representative advisory committees were established in all Divisions of Sarawak.
Responsibility for the scheme's execution was vested in the Director of
Agriculture. Initially a target of 10,000 acres, to be planted or replanted by
1960, was set; subsidy was payable at a rate of $200 per acre for new planting
and $450 per acre for replanting. The rules of the scheme require the
maintenance of high standards including proper planting techniques, contouring
where necessary, lallang and pest control and adherence to a specified manurial
programme. To these ends subsidy is payable both in cash and in kind, the latter
representing the supply of fertilizer, insecticide and weedkillers. A vigorous
propaganda campaign utilizing radio, the press, posters, booklets and
demonstrations was initiated, in al languages, to ensure an understanding of the
scheme.
Progress of the Rubber Planting Scheme
By the end of 1956 a total of 708 acres had been planted. During 1957 this
figure increased to 8,137 acres and to assist the poorer prospective
smallholders it was decided that all land charges, other than quit rent, should
be payable from Rubber Planting Scheme funds. In view of the satisfactory
progress of the scheme the target acreage to be planted was increased to 40,000
acres and the value of the scheme was raised to $12 million. By the end of 1958,
21,487 acres had been planted and the scope of the planting scheme was increased
to 60,000 acres. To off-set the additional cost and permit an increase in
subsidy for new planting from $200 to $250,legislation was introduced to impose
a cess of two cents per pound on all rubber exported. In a revision of the
Development drawn up in 1959 the target was raised against to 90,000 acres to be
planted by the end of 1963 and a sum of $ 21,081,000 set aside for this purpose.
As at the end of 1962 a total of 62,907 acres had been planted in the ratio 47:3
new planting to replanting. The planting of this acreage had involved the import
of a total of 35.5 million clonal seeds from Malaya and the issue of 13 million
clonal stumps and 83,600 yards of budwood. A total of $2,096,000 had been paid
in cash subsidy while participants in the scheme had received 11,200 tons of
fertilizer; 46,7000 gallons of shell lallang oil; 35,000 pounds of dowpon;
1,3000 pounds of Fylonmac and 500 gallons of Dieldrex as payment in kind. When
it is considered that with the exception of its river system Sarawak is almost
completely devoid of communications, the magnitude of this achievement may be
appreciated...
Terms and Conditions for farmers
Participation in the scheme has demanded high standards from the cultivator and
it is understandable that these have not been forthcoming from all concerned.
Where a farmer fails to start planting or having planted consistently fails to
achieve the standards set he is, in fairness to other participants, rejected
from the scheme and loses all further benefits, which might accrue, to him. To
date a total of 33,2l7 acres have been rejected from the scheme in this way
leaving 61,184 acres remaining under subsidy. Applications approved for
participation in the scheme in 1963, however, amounted to 17,150 acresand the
chances of planting 90,000 acres of high-yielding rubber by the end of 1963 are
reasonably good.
Established with the object of establishing a given acreage of high-yielding
rubber, the Rubber Planting Branch of the Department has gradually assumed the
additional role of an advisory service dealing with all aspects of the industry.
Strenuous efforts have been made to improve the very poor quality of rubber
sheet produced. Since 1959 groups of smallholders have been encouraged to erect
communal processing centers, at strategic points,designed and equipped in
conformity with the Department's specifications. At the close of 1962 a total of
101 such centers had been built and were producing sheet of a much higher
quality than in the past. The percentage of good quality sheet is as yet slight
in relation to total production but it represents a start and augurs well for
the future.
Publicity
A colour film depicting the various aspects of Rubber Planting Scheme and three
black and white showing specific aspectsof tapping,treatment of disease, and the
processing were produced and released in October 1962. These have aroused
considerable interest not only in Sarawak but in other parts of the world.
Nursery Work
A site of nearly sixty acres held under Native Customary Rights, was chosen at
Ensengei inthe Kuching Division and planted on contract with clonal seeds in
1960. By 1962, total of 220 acres of land was producing clonal seeds for the
farmers in the scheme.
Green Budding
Importing clonal seeds from Malaya was both cumbersome and expensive. The
Department in 1960 commenced experimenting with the technique of green budding
pioneered in North Borneo. It was successful and by 1964 250,000 green budded
stumps were issued to the farmers.
Assisted Rubber Planting Scheme
With the difficulty of travel in Sarawak and with only a small trained staff
available, the Rubber Planting Scheme of necessity had to be confined to
comparatively accessible areas to allow frequent and regular advisory visits
being made to farmers in the scheme. In September 1960, however, an Assisted
Rubber Planting Scheme was introduced, designed to help farmers int he more
remote areas of the state (e.g. Limbang, Lawas, Kapit), who by virtue of their
inaccessibility, could not enjoy the advantages of the Rubber Planting Scheme
proper.
Under this scheme farmers were invited to come to selected centres where they
were taught the rudiments of land selection, preparation of land, planting and
maintenance. They then returned to their homes with sufficient planting hole
fertilizer to treat 200 holes. Having prepared their land they were each issued
with 200 clonal seedling stumps, sufficient for the planting of one acre, and a
compound fertiliser for a first round application for these seedlings. Both
issues of planting materials and fertilizers were fire, but planting and
maintenance ere the responsibility of the planters themselves. The Department,
however, endeavoured to inspect holdings within a year of planting and those
farms who had done well were each given a further issue of 400 stumps and
fertilizer thus bring their holdings up to three acres, the small economic
areas. As and when road communications extended, those farmers who had taken
advantage of the Assisted Rubber Planting Scheme could expect to be absorbed
onto the Rubber planting Scheme Proper. By 1962, there were almost 4,000 acres
of newly planted rubber trees.
History of Rubber from 1876 -1958 and how Rubber came to Malaysia
Mad Ridley
Who was Ridley? Was he really mad? Why did people then call him a crazy
man?
He was just a man who had a scientific mind, an energetic man who
promoted himself and his ideas through road shows. He incessantly
knocked on important people's doors and gave away rubber seeds to every
one he met! He was a man ahead of his time. He was doing everything a
scientist is doing in the 21st century!!
In fact, if the publishers of today were available to print his notes
on orchids, tropical flowers, and plants, Ridley would have several
coffee table illustrated books to his name!! He had carefully classified
many flowers, discovered many new species in his scientific expeditions
in both Malaya and Sabah.
The rubber tree (Hevea Braziliensis) is indigenous to the amazon basin
and had never been commercially grown anywehre else. In 1876 Henry
Wickham smuggled some seeds out of Brazil and encouraged British
botanists to germinate them. Kew Gardens was successful in germinating
the seeds and soon seedlings were sent out to Malaya and Singapore.
But no one was keen on this new crop. Coffee was the star crop of that
time, besides nutmeg, cloves and other spices.
Two significant events made rubber an exciting "new kid on the block"
in retrospect. Firstly the invention of the car in early 1900s in the
United States created a new demand for rubber for tyres. Secondly,it was
just before this invention that Henry Ridley managed to convince British
and Chinese planters in Malaya to grow rubber. In 1897 there were 140
hectares of rubber in Malaya. By 1913, there were 322,000 hectares.
In 1920 there were 60 rubber companies in Malaya.
Two political-social developments in Malaya also enabled rubber to be
the king of crops. Firstly the British colonial government was in favour
of imported labour from China and India. Hence the wave upon wave of
immigration descended upon the shores of Malaya, which was seen as a
land of hope to the Chinese and Malays.
Secondly, the British colonial government started to improve the
infrastructure and facilities for modern agriculture to take place even
though at first it was to benefit the British planters.
By the time Malaya was made an independent nation in 1958, Malays,
Chinese and Indians were part and parcel of the booming rubber
cultivation.
We have to remember and thank the energetic young scientist who
passionately introduced rubber to Malaya.
No, Ridley was not mad at all. He had the characteristics and charisma
of a scientist, an innovator, and a visionary.
(Written by Chang Yi)
THE RUBBER INDUSTRY AND THE KENYAH COMMUNITY OF
SARAWAK
COMPILED BY CHANG YI
Today, in the 21st century, the Kenyah are still proud
indigenous people of Sarawak who maintain their cultural and historical
heritage with great care.
Although many of them have migrated to the towns and
cities, the Kenyah still take great care of their traditional dwellings
in the Upper parts of the Baram River in the Fourth Division of Sarawak.
Most of them are very highly educated and have been Christianized by the
Roman Catholic priests in the 1960's.
Today Long San is centre of their communal and cultural
interests.
Although the Kenyahs who live in the upper Baram
continue to grow rice and pepper and tap a little rubber they are
looking into other means of earning a livelihood like eco-tourism and
education.
While researching into the history of rubber in
Sarawak, I have found that a lot can be retrieved from the various
government publications and oral history. And indeed, even as early as
the 50's the Kenyah were already very forward looking. They were
prepared to take part in the government rubber-planting scheme, which
demonstrated their willingness to participate in the economic
development of the state of Sarawak.
Here I would like to share with you what happened to
the Kenyahs who lived in Long Selatong in the 1950's and 1960's and
their role in developing cash crops in Sarawak.
The information provided below is excerpted From the
Sarawak Museum Journal article by SC Chin,1985
The Kenyahs are longhouse dwellers with each
"apartment" functioning as a corporate group. Co-operative work and
reciprocal labour exchanges between the corporate groups are basic
features of kenyah social organisations. Kinship is considered
bilaterally with equal emphasis on matrilateral and patrilateral kind;
however in the naming system, children take on their father's middle
name. Although becoming less so, social class is still an important
feature in Kenyah social life and ideally, marriage is class endogamous.
Post-marital residence is utrolocal.
The longhouse apartment unit maintains continuitity. It
inherits property and establishes permanent rights over land which are
passed equally to all the members.
The Kenyah and Rubber as the new cash crop
Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is by far the most
important cash crop of the Kenyah. The significance of this crop to the
Long Selatong Kenyah has been described recently, (Chin1982). All rubber
trees in the vaillage have been planted with the aid of a government
rubber-planting scheme. The scheme provides the planting materials,
weedicides, fertilizers, a tree killer and cash subsidies over a
five-year period. For the Third Malaysia Plan period (1976-1980) the
subsidies totalled $900 per acre over the five years of the scheme.
All trees in the village belong to two seperate
plantings, 1958 and 1969.
The output of rubber from the trees grown in 1958 was
64 - 515 kg/ha per year in 1982. At the price then of $1.16 per kg this
represented a gross income of $70 to $596 (mean of $225) per year. The
Long Selatong yields are both variable and low. They represent yields of
36-634 kg/ha per year. The average Malaysian smallholder production for
1978 was 867 kg/ha per year (Bank Negara, Malaysia 1980). The poor
production is partly due to understocking in some smallholdings but it
is mainly due to the fact that the trees are never regularly tapped.
The general attitude is to treat the rubber
smallholdings as a reservoir of cash, which requires a considerable
effort to exploit. The number of working days spent on tapping and
processing rubber ranged from 6 to 85 per household for 1978.
The Kenyahs all in all owned 1.2-4.5 ha of rubber per
household in 1978.
With 1.2 - 4.5 ha per household, the average labour
requirements would range from 12.2 - 46.1 man-days per month (excluding
travel time). On top of the present range of subsistence activities,
households, especially those with two or more adults in addition to the
parental pair, should be able to meet this labour demand and manage all
their rubber optimally. If all the rubber were tapped, the gross income,
based on the average Malaysian smallholder production at 1978 prices
would be $1207 to $4526 per household per year.
(In order to update this column I would like
friends of the Kenyah community to contribute their recounts of rubber
tapping....this would definite help us, from the various ethnic groups,
to understand each other better...especially knowing that somewhere in
the past, we were all struggling to put a few dollars together and send
our siblings to school.....Chang Yi and Edward Sia)
THE HENGHUAS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIBU FROM
1912 TILL PRESENT
On June 30th 1911, Charles Brooke signed a memorandum with Rev.
Brewster, an American Methodist Missionary in Singapore, to provide
Henghuas from China the opportunity to settle in Sarawak.
The memorandum was between the Rajah Brooke and the Henghuas. According
to the memorandum only 300 Henghuas were allowed to settle in Sarawak.
The Henghuas were to be given a reservation on the Igan River of
Sarawak. Taxes were to be paid from the second year of their coming
according to the individual holdings that had been surveyed. In
addition, the American Methodist Mission in Igan was given a partial
grant for an Industrial School building. Furthermore a yearly sum of
$500 was also granted for the upkeep of industrial and agricultural
experiments.
However only 101 Henghuas arrived on 22-5-1912 from Henghua, China. They
were led by Rev.Ting Ping Chung instead of Rev. Brewster who remained in
China.
The Henghua settlement started with two attap houses and 100 acres of
land. Another batch of 40 pioneers arrived on 17 June in the same year.
With the help of Rev. Hoover, the American Missionary, the Henghuas
started to plant rubber in Sungei Teku, which is not far from Sungei
Merah and Sibu town. Another area, called Panasu, was also settled and
rubber was cultivated.
The Henghuas established the Tiong Hing School and Sing Hin School in
Sungei Merah and Panasu respectively.
During the Second World War the Japanese took away the rubber gardens of
the Henghuas in Sungei Merah to build the Sibu airport whcih continued
to be used until 2002!
The Henghuas continued to work on their rubber gardens and helped Sungei
Merah and Sibu to prosper. Many Henghuas became wealthy and acquired
more land in Sungei Merah and Sungei Teku.
Today, in the Third Division of Sarawak, the Henghuas have made a name
for themselves as hardworking, God fearing people. They have created a
strong community with an identity to be proud of.
Most of their rubber land in Sungei Merah has been converted to prime
residential areas, while the land in Sungei Teku remain under rubber
cultivation. In years to come, when Sibu sprawls over to Sungei Teku the
rubber trees will make way for roads and houses.
Ninety years after they arrived in Sibu the Henghuas have established a
strong foundation in education, business and agriculture. They have
indeed helped Sarawak develop and progress into the twenty-first
century.
(Based on interviews with Henghua women of Sungei Merah and Chinese
articles found in the library of the Sarawak Chinese Cultural
Association, Sibu) - Chang Yi June 2004
The Origins of Sibu
When did Sibu come into existence? How did it develop?
Not much was known about the days prior to 1901 as the first Chinese
pioneers were here probably on a temporary basis and they were neither
historians nor writers. They probably thought of just making a fortune
and then returning home to China. And most probably they were following
the footsteps of Admiral Cheng Ho and other Chinese business
adventurers.
However a few historical evidences could be found to prove early Chinese
settlement in the Rejang Basin before Sibu was officially established by
the now famous 17 article Memorandum of Understanding with the Rajah,
Sir Charles Brooke.
A simple tombstone dated 1867 in the Hokkien and Cantonese cemetery in
Pulau Kerto bears evidence that the Chinese Hokkiens were already
cultivating crops in Sibu by that time. Another tombstone bearing the
name of Hokkien Pioneer Lim Chiong Meng was dated 1910.
According to a hand drawn map in a Chinese archive, Sibu as a settlement
was already in existence in 1880. The Hokkiens were living and doing
business in attap houses built along the bank of "Lubok Lembangan".
Pulau Babi, now a thriving business area, was an island near Lubok
Lembangan.
Lubok Lembangan, now dominated by modern steel and concrete
construction, was deep enough for ships to sail through.
According to the Sibu Eng Ann Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple history, it was
the Hokkien settlers, who came to Sibu in 1871 bringing with them a
statue of Tua Pek Kong, a revered diety from China. They then
established a small temple for the diety. In 1897, the Sibu Chinese
Merchants built a bigger temple with traditional design.
Another valuable historical evidence is a 1897 stone tablet inscribed
with a list of donors who helped rebuild and expand the Temple. The
government in 1898 granted the land title for the temple.
So when did the Foochows come into the picture?
Wong Nai Siong was a Qing dynasty scholar who was enterprising and
adventurous. In 1899 he decided to seek foreign land to help his fellow
countrymen. He visited Singapore, Malaya and Indonesia. His six-month
search was rather unfruitful. But fate intervened; he was introduced to
the Rajah of Sarawak in Singapore. Wong Nai Siong then immediately left
for the Rejang River in Sarawak.
Within 13 days, he was convinced that the Rejang Basin had good soil for
cultivation. He then left for Kuching where he entered into an agreement
with the Rajah.
The 17 article agreeement provided for Foochows to settle in Sungai
Ensurai and Sungai Merah in the outskirts of Sibu. On January 21 1901,
72 Foochows arrived in Sibu and settled in Sungei Merah. The second
batch of 535 pioneers arrived on 16th March. This later date has been
recognised as New Foochow Settlement Day.
Sibu thus became the New Foochow Settlement in 1901.
Rubber, which became the main economic product of this settlement, put
Sibu on the world map.
(By Chang Yi, 21 July 2004)
An extract from the Sarawak Gazette, Monday 22 Nov 1880, Vol 8 No.
170
(available from Sarawak Museum)
GOVERNEMNT NOTIFICATION
I, Charles Brooke, Rajah make known the following term which the
Government of Sarawak hereby agrees to fulfill with any Company of
Chinese who will engage to bring into the Rejang River Chinese settlers
with wives and families numbering not less than Three hudnred souls, who
will employ themselves in gardening and farming paddy or in other
cultivations:-
1st - The Government will provide land sufficient for their requirements
free of charge.
2nd - The Government on first starting will build them temporary houses,
and make a good path to their landing place.
3rd - The Government will give them one pasu of rice per man or woman a
month and a little salt and half the amount to every child for the first
12 months.
4th - The Government engage to keep up steam communciation with Kuching
and carry any necessaries for those settlers on the most reasonable
terms.
5th - The Government will build a Police Station near them to protect
them and assist in making themselves understood in the native language
and generally look after them.
6th - In carrying out the above engagements the Government expect the
said Chinese will permanently settled in the territory of Sarawak.
Kuching. 11th November 1881
(Contributed by Chang Yi)
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
DATED 9TH JULY, 1900
On July 9th, 1900 Wong Nai Siong signed a memorandum of understanding
with the Rajah which resulted in the New Foochow Settlement of Sibu.
The memorandum included the following 17 articles:
1) The contractors agree to introduce into the Rejang River 1000 adult
Chinese agriculturalist men, women and about 300 children and to
establish them in that river for the purpose of cultivating rice,
vegetables, fruits. But of these immigrants not more than one half are
to be introduced during the first year, that, to say before June 30th
1901 and the rest the contractors undertake to introduce during the
following year, that is to say, between June 30 1901 and June 30 1902.
2) The government undertakes to advance the contractors the sum of $30
for each adult and $10 for each child so introduced and of these
advances two thirds shall be paid to the contractors in Singapore and
the balance at Kuching on the arrival of the immigrants here and the
contractors undertake that the majority of the immigrants are to be
introduced during the first year as mentioned in Para1 shall be brought
to their destination in the Rajang within four calendar months from the
date they receive the advances in Singapore as above mentioned.
3) The contractors undertake to repay all such advances to the
government within six years from the date of this agreement as follows:
Nothing to be paid to the contractors during the first year during each
of the subsequent years one fifth of the advances to be paid each year,
that is to say $6 for each adult, $2 for each child in respect to the
advances paid on their account in accordance with section.
4) The government undertakes to provide for the passage of the
aforementioned immigrants from Singapore to the Rejang or in the event
of the contractors bringing these immigrants direct from China to the
Rejang the government will pay the contractors five dollar for each
immigrant as passage.
5) The government undertakes to provide the contractors sufficient land
in the vicinity of Ensurai and Seduan streams or elsewhere for the
proper settlement of the aforementioned immigrants and to ensure that
the immigrants shall get sufficient land for their purpose, the quantity
of land not being less than three acres for each adult.
6) On the expiration of the above mentioned term of twenty years any
immigrant shall on his application be given a grant for the land
occupied by him subject to quit rent at the rate of ten cents per acre
per annum, provided that each land shall be fully cultivated.
7) In the event of the government wishing to occupy any land taken up by
any of the immigrants a fair sum shall be paid to each immigrant by the
government for disturbance in respect to crops, houses, etc.
8) The government undertakes to make suitable landing places, roads and
paths.
9) On the recommendation of the contractors the government will
recognize the appointment of any competent and suitable man as Kang Choo
or headman of each village or settlement: the powers of each Kang Choo
will be limited to the settlement of trivial disputes, boundary disputes
and other minor matters but these powers will be more clearly defined by
the government when necessity, circumstances arise for their
appointments.
10) The government guarantees full protection to the immigrants from
interference by natives.
11) The government will place no restriction on the immigrants with
respect to their planting or on their sale of produces and they will be
at liberty to plant what they please and at where they like but it is
understood by the contractors that primary object of introducing these
immigrants is the cultivation of rice and they in turn undertake to see
that this not lost sight of.
12) The government undertakes to ship all provisions, stores for the
immigrants and produces sent to them to Kuching on government vessels at
moderates of freight as opportunities of shipping by government vessels
afford but the government does not undertake to run steamers especially
for the purpose of carrying such goods and produces but will do its best
to assist the immigrants in this respect.
13) The government will not permit any one to visit the immigrants for
the purpose of inducing them to gamble or to gamble with them nor to
sell opium to them. Gambling amongst the immigrants may be allowed or
not as desired to be advisable by the government and the contractors and
if at any time it is allowed it will be confirmed solely to the
immigrants under the supervision of their headmen and such headmen will
also have the right to sell opium to the immigrants under their charge.
The government will make special arrangements with the farmers from time
to time to ensure that these rules being carried out effectually.
14) The government will permit that a limited but sufficient muskets may
be kept by the immigrants to protect their crops from the ravages of
wild pigs etc.
15) After the expiration of two years from the date of this agreement
should the immigrants be successful and their settlements be in thriving
conditions the government will permit others joining them from China,
will assist with fresh immigrants in as far that may be in their powers
to do so.
16) Should the contractors be successful in carrying out the objects,
and the settlements become successful, they will be permitted to
establish trading areas as they may wish and successful planters will
also be permitted to trade.
17) As their sureties for the repayment of the advances as agreed upon
and mentioned in Para 3 the contractors offer :
Khoo Siok Wen
Kun Boon King
and the said Khoo Siok Wen and Lim Boon King do hereby affix their seals
and sign their names as having duly given warranty for the contractors
in this respect.
Signed, sealed and delivered on the 9th day of July 1900.
(Source : History of Sibu Chinese: Documents collected by the Sarawak
Chinese Cultural Association,1992)
Contributed by Chang Yi
