CONCEPTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRADITIONAL MALAY ECONOMY IN THE 19TH CENTURY.
Explanation:
From time immemorial, malaya has been known by traders from india as "suvarnabhumi" which means "land of gold." this is because the land of malaya is rich in various mineral resources such as gold and silver.
• Malaya's strategic geographical position is also an attraction and focus for trade activities. this proves that the malay community has long been actively involved in economic activities.
Traditional Economic Concepts
• Traditional economy refers to economic activities that are only sufficient to meet the needs of oneself and support one's family. this type of economic activity is also known as subsistence economy and is a basic activity and the main activity for society at that time.
• No specialization in employment; the community can do various jobs at the same time such as farmers, fishermen, ranchers and boat makers. there is no division of labor except based on gender and age.
• Traditional tools are used to do a job. for example, traps, stakes, wounds, snares and special nets are used to catch fish.
• Small scale. not producing a need for others, only when there is a surplus, then there is sales activity.
TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
1) NO JOB SPECIALIZATION.
• Doing different types of work at the same time. Employment also involves all family members including children and the elderly.
• Children will usually do lighter chores such as drying fish, weaving mats, and picking up rattan.
2) ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES CLOSELY RELATED TO THE SETTLEMENT AREA.
• Concentrated in areas close to the sea, riverside or inland areas. If the settlement area is close to the sea, then the main activity of the community tends to be fishing activities.
• Agriculture, on the other hand, is closer to the people living in the interior because of the richness of the earth's products such as rattan, bamboo, resin, kabung, mengkuang, betel nut and wood roots.
3) NO MODERN EQUIPMENT.
• Only use traditional equipment in doing a job.
• These traditional tools are usually made by a worker himself. For example, a trap made of rattan is then used as a tool to catch fish.
4) MUTUAL PRACTICES.
• The practice of gotong-royong such as berderau has become one of the basic features in the life of the local community. Berderau is a practice done together or in groups to facilitate and speed up the completion of a job done as well as strengthen relationships between members of the community.
• Such practices are usually done for agricultural activities such as planting and harvesting paddy fields.
5) NO EXCESS REVENUE.
• In traditional economies, no surplus revenue is obtained through production because they are unable to produce it.
• The local community at that time was said to have no incentive to produce surplus supply because it was driven by several factors, namely: The problem of limited labor force caused them to rely only on family labor as the basic unit of labor to work the land and fields, No livestock could do the work -heavy piracy work. Cattle only began to be used in plowing work in the last quarter of the 19th century, i.e. when ox carts were introduced., Farmers had to bear the burden of collar work demanded by the ruling class. If they were asked to do collar work, their own work could not be completed and Farmers in some states were required to hand over 1/10 of their produce to the elite as a traditional responsibility. If the production produced increases, the contribution to the ruling class will be increased.
In conclusion, the traditional Malay economy is more of a small-scale activity, not yet exposed to direct selling activities. The peasant society at the time, believed that if they wanted to add property with greater economic activity, this meant they would have to hand over to the magnates in the form of also higher taxes.Therefore, the accumulation of wealth is more concentrated among the ruling class and not among the peasants themselves.
