DOMINASI PENGILANG CINA DALAM PENGELUARAN BERAS DI KEDAH, 1909-1941

Abstract

This paper studies the extent of the Chinese rice millers’ exploitation of Malays. This discussion is based on the historical method and analysis. Therefore, primary sources such as the Kedah Annual Report (KAR), British Colonial Office Files, periodicals, and The Malayan Agricultural Journal were used. Based on the sources referred, rice planting was the domain of the Malays even before the arrival of the Chinese. However, the arrival of the Chinese and the subsequent establishment of the Chinese rice millers encouraged the rice planting activity. The research revealed that the Chinese millers, while providing a service to the Malays, also exploited them. Malay farmers were bound to Chinese millers as they have to sell their rice to the millers at a cheap rate, which meant losses for the farmers. The lack of technology and the long distance to market their rice produce also forced the Malay farmers to depend of the Chinese millers, even if the prices given were low. Around the 1920s, Chinese millers were expanding rapidly, while Malay farmers remained disadvantaged and burdened by debt. Here it is clear that Chinese millers, which were expected to help the Malays develop rice planting had acted differently, hence reminding one of the Malay saying, “Harapkan Pagar, Pagar Makan Padi”.