Published on: Sunday, March 14, 2021
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Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar - By Nst
I SALUTE the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar for proudly and rightfully acknowledging recently the significant role played by the Chinese in the economic development of Johor and asserting that they are Malaysians and not “pendatang”.
I would like to clarify the pioneering role of the Chinese in opening up Johor’s jungles to cultivate pepper and gambier which were the mainstay of the state’s economy until the end of the first decade of the 20th century.
The establishment of pepper and gambier plantations by the Chinese in Johor actually gained momentum beginning from the mid-1840s. These pioneer Chinese planters had mainly shifted from Singapore due to the shortage of land for planting these commercial crops.