Malaysia's economic development nowadays inherited from the three previous stages, starting with the level of growth and the rapid development of industry, the natural resources of the mid-19th century until 1914, followed by periods of volatility or instability of industry natural resources between the First and the Second World War and finally, the level of industry consolidation and rationalization of natural resources together with the diversification of the economy after 1945.
Although Malaysia is a former British colony, the importance of the Japanese economy have contributed to the change in the foreign policy of Pro-Western Policy during the colonial and post-colonial to the Look East Policy during the administration of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The objective of this book is collect the author publishing articles with supervisors about Japanese investment in Malaysia during the period of study to help readers scour the economic interests of Japan with more accurate and easier in one book.
This book also aims to add a collection of readings on Malaysia-Japan relations. This book is suitable to be read by those interested in understanding the relationship between Malaysia and Japan, East Asia lecturers, East Asian thinkers, those involved economic relations with Japan, the university students of various schools and to the general reader in society. For articles published in Malay, the author change it became English in accordance with the publication of this book in English. For articles which use footnotes reference system, the author change it becomes a text reference in accordance with the publication of this book for the public reading.
Contents
CHAPTER 1 Introduction
CHAPTER 2 Japan’s Economic Activity in Malaya before the Second World War: A Historical Perspective
CHAPTER 3 Japan’s Economic Importance in Malaya during the Second World War (1941-1945)
CHAPTER 4 Malaysia’s Economic Landscape before the New Economic Policy: The Role of Japanese Investment
CHAPTER 5 Malaysia’s Economic Landscape after the New Economic Policy: The Role of Japanese Investment
CHAPTER 6 The Historical Development of Japanese Investment in Malaysia During the Look East Policy
CHAPTER 7 Malaysia-Japan Relations After Mahathir Era
CHAPTER 8 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This book provides an in-depth historical analysis of Japanese investment in Malaysia from 1910 to 2003, aiming to uncover the characteristics of these investments as well as the push and pull factors that influenced them across various chronological periods. It seeks to fill a research gap by examining the transition in economic relations from the British colonial era through the Look East Policy period.
- Historical development of Japanese investment in Malaysia (1910–2003).
- Role of Japanese investment in Malaysia's economic diversification.
- Bilateral economic relations between Malaysia and Japan.
- Impact of major policies, including the New Economic Policy and the Look East Policy.
- Push and pull factors influencing Japanese industrial and capital inflow.
Excerpt from the Book
Rubber Planting by Japanese
Rubber price boom between 1909-1912 have prompted the Japanese to acquire land in Malaya. At this time Japan had entered the rubber trade industry by producing bicycle tires and rubber footwear (Yuen 2001). Rubber plantation area under Japanese ownership increased from just 92 acres in 1907 to 83.750 acres in 1911 (Kassim 1992, Yuen 2001). Most of these farms acquired in 1910 and 1911 (Yuen 2001) when the price of rubber is at its highest level (Drabble 1973) the impact of developments in the technical field latex processing, growth and development in the electrical industry in the use of tires for vehicles. Before 1909, the Japanese people are not actively involved in the Malayan rubber investments because they are not confident in the ability and humble response of Japan as a country that is underdeveloped by Western countries (Hirokazu 1989). There is also involvement of Japan in coffee plantations in the state in 1910 (File of Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan No. FEDERAL 1769-1910). In Senaling, Kuala Pilah is found from Y. Tatematsu application for a land area of 55 acres for the cultivation of rubber (File of Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan No. K.P. 1188-1910).
Japanese interest in rubber led to the establishment of the Japanese Planters' Association in Singapore in 1912 and the Japanese Rubber Planters Association in Selangor in 1913 (File of Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor No. SECRETARIAT SELANGOR 5469/1913a; File of Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor No. SECRETARIAT SELANGOR 5469/1913b). In 1913, the total area of rubber plantations were planted by members of the Japanese Planters' Association in Johor is an area of 23,180.25 acres than planted by non-members over 1,270 acres (Yuen 2001). With an area of 114,116 acres planted rubber in Johor, we can see Japan dominate one-fifth of rubber acreage in Johor. Johor become a major domestic investment for Japanese rubber because the basic land lease for 999 years (Mako 2002). In 1912, the Japanese government has set up a South Facilities Fund which was created to encourage capital investment. Employers Japanese banks such as Bank of Taiwan and Kanan Bank is also involved (Mohamad 1992).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the research scope, outlining the historical development of Japanese investment in Malaysia from 1910 to 2003 and the rationale for the chronological approach.
CHAPTER 2 Japan’s Economic Activity in Malaya before the Second World War: A Historical Perspective: Analyzes early Japanese investment (1910–1940) focusing on rubber, fisheries, and mining, and the colonial government's response.
CHAPTER 3 Japan’s Economic Importance in Malaya during the Second World War (1941-1945): Discusses the impact of the Japanese occupation on various sectors, including food production, transport, manufacturing, and mining, within the context of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
CHAPTER 4 Malaysia’s Economic Landscape before the New Economic Policy: The Role of Japanese Investment: Covers the development of Japanese investment from 1957 to 1970, emphasizing the shift toward raw material acquisition and joint ventures.
CHAPTER 5 Malaysia’s Economic Landscape after the New Economic Policy: The Role of Japanese Investment: Examines the period between 1971 and 1980, focusing on how Japanese investment aligned with the New Economic Policy and the growth of labor-intensive industries.
CHAPTER 6 The Historical Development of Japanese Investment in Malaysia During the Look East Policy: Details the rapid growth of Japanese investment from 1981 to 1990, driven by the Look East Policy and a focus on heavy industries.
CHAPTER 7 Malaysia-Japan Relations After Mahathir Era: Analyzes the continuation and evolution of bilateral relations and economic cooperation from the post-Mahathir period up to 2016.
CHAPTER 8 Conclusion: Synthesizes the historical progression of Japanese investment and its long-term significance to the Malaysian economy.
Keywords
Japanese Investment, Malaysia-Japan Relations, Look East Policy, New Economic Policy, Foreign Direct Investment, Economic History, Rubber Industry, Mining, Manufacturing, Industrialization, Joint Ventures, Trade, Economic Policy, Southeast Asia, Bilateral Relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This book explores the historical development of Japanese investment in Malaysia, tracking its evolution from 1910 through 2003, and identifying the key factors that drove Japanese economic interest in the region.
What are the central themes covered in the book?
Key themes include the role of Japanese investment in Malaysian industrialization, the impact of significant economic and foreign policies like the New Economic Policy and the Look East Policy, and the transition from raw material extraction to manufacturing.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The author's goal is to provide a comprehensive and accurate resource for readers to understand Japanese economic interests and the push-and-pull factors influencing these investments, effectively compiling scattered research into a single, cohesive volume.
Which scientific methods are employed in this research?
The methodology relies heavily on the collection and analysis of primary and secondary resources, including archival data, government reports, and historical research findings, organized chronologically.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body systematically details historical phases, starting with the early 20th-century rubber and mining boom, through the Second World War, the post-independence era, the NEP implementation, and finally the Look East Policy and beyond.
What keywords define this work?
The core subjects are best described by terms such as Japanese Investment, Malaysia-Japan Relations, Look East Policy, New Economic Policy, Foreign Direct Investment, and Economic History.
How did the Look East Policy influence Japanese investment?
The Look East Policy significantly strengthened ties by emphasizing a pro-Japanese orientation, which encouraged Japanese Multinational Corporations to participate in Malaysia's heavy industrialization programs and increased infrastructure development.
What specific impact did the 1985 Plaza Agreement have on Japanese investment in Malaysia?
The Plaza Agreement led to a sharp appreciation of the Japanese Yen, which increased production costs in Japan and prompted many Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises to relocate their operations to Malaysia to maintain competitiveness.
- Citation du texte
- Uqbah Iqbal (Auteur), 2015, The Historical Development of Japanese Investment in Malaysia (1910-2003), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/341832
