Malaysia and Singapore Society of Australia

The Malaysia Society is a scholarly group involved in research on Malaysia and Singapore, and Malaysia and Singapore-related topics. It is a chapter of the Asian Studies Association of Australia and its main activities comprise a biennial Colloquium, and the James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture, which also appears in printed form.

16TH JAMES C. JACKSON MEMORIAL LECTURE

MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURE IN TRANSITION, 1960 – 2010

Professor Colin Barlow
(Department of Political and Social Change, Australian National University, Canberra)

The 16th James C. Jackson Memoprial Lecture was delivered by Colin Barlow on Thursday 8 July at the Asian Studies Association of Australia biennial Conference in Adelaide. Professor Barlow's Lecture will be published later this year and distrtibuted free to all paid up members of the society.

Professor Barlow delivering his lecture.

Left to right: Professor Amarjit Kaur (Society President), Professor Colin Barlow and Dr Ria Barlow pictured after the Lecture.

Abstract: Agriculture in Malaysia changed greatly over the half-century from 1960 to 2010. It moved from dominating society and the economy to becoming a minor but still substantial sector of the national economy, mainly in palm oil and rubber. It altered as well from merely exporting raw outputs to manufacturing agriculture-based products. The agricultural transition involved many economic, political and social factors, whose interactions with the persons and institutions involved make a fascinating story. This paper first describes what happened during the 50 years, pinpointing major events and developments involving political players, smallholdings and land development schemes, estates and agency houses, and different kinds of farmers including migrants. It then picks out crucial strands in the story, including those related to prices and profitability, technology, philosophical beliefs, institutional arrangement, cultural aspects, and the role of government. The paper finally looks ahead, scrutinizing the intentions for the future of government and other players, and the ways in which even better outcomes might be secured for agriculture and those concerned.

NEW SOCIETY BOOK REVIEWS:


Hidden Hands and Divided Landscapes: A Penal History of Singapore's Plural Society. Anoma Pieris. 2009 Review by Dr. Kiran A. Shinde	Reclaiming Adat: Contemporary Malaysian Film and Literature. Khoo Gaik Cheng. 2006. Review by A/Prof. Kiranjit Kaur	Race and Multiculturalism in Malaysia and Singapore. Daniel P.S. Goh, Matilda Gabrielpillai, Phillip Holden and Gaik Cheng Khoo. 2009. Review by Dr. Ratnam Alagiah

Click HERE to download Malaysia Society Membership Application/Renewal Form (MS Word File)

Pages created and maintained by Ian Metcalfe, Email: imetcal2@une.edu.au

Last modified 21 March 2010