BRITISH NEGLECTED LANDLESS MALAYS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- The British colonialists move to resettle
400,000 Chinese families living on jungle fringes into new villages under the
Briggs Plan introduced in 1950 enabled them to enjoy modern amenities and
business and job opportunities some 11 years before landless Malays then, said
the Regent of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.

He said Malays from this group only got to enjoy modern facilities like
schools, clinics, proper roads, electricity and water supply when they became
pioneer settlers of land schemes through the creation of the Federal Land
Development Authority (Felda) in 1961.

Raja Nazrin said in terms geography, the new villages, which were also
provided with schools and health facilities, were situated nearer to towns
compared to Felda settlements.

"They (new village residents) were assisted in terms of jobs and business
opportunities when at that time many Malays remained landless," he said when
closing the 3rd Islamic Economic Congress, organised by the Malaysian Islamic
Economic Development Foundation (YPEIM) and the Prime Minister's Department's
Islamic Consultative Council, here Thursday.

Raja Nazrin said this when touching on the instrumental role Felda played in
improving the lives of landless Malays, which then led to their children and
grandchildren achieving high stations in life in various fields.

Raja Nazrin also said the Briggs Plan was not favoured by the Malay Rulers.

He said at a meeting of the Conference of Rulers on May 24, 1950, they
objected to it as it was seen as seizing land belonging to the Malays and also
observed that the socio-economic infrastructure provided in new villages was
much better than that available at traditional Malay kampungs (villages).

The Malay Rulers had also expressed their misgivings on the appointment of
Gurney as the British High Commissioner in Malaya in 1948 based on his record
towards the Arabs when he (Gurney) was Chief Secretary to the Palestine Mandate
Government (1946-1948), he said.

Raja Nazrin said: "Imagine, what would the fate of over 112,000 rural
families in the hardcore poverty group be if Felda never existed in the
country."

Felda, which was formed through the Land Development Act 1956, since 1961
till now has 853,000 hectares under cultivation, involving over 112,000
families.
--BERNAMA