KELANTAN MALAY RESERVE LAND ENACTMENT AND LAND RIGHTS, 1930–40

This paper discusses the issue of Malay Reserve Land (MRL) in Kelantan from a historical perspective based on an analysis of the implementation of the Malay Reservation Enactment in Kelantan from 1930 until 1940. Land ownership transfer to non-Malays, whether through mortgage or sale, was a common phenomenon in the Malay States and historical research shows that 9 out of 10 pieces of Malay-owned lands were lost or sold to non-Malays. The rampant transfer of Malay-owned lands to non-Malays was the reason for the introduction of the Malay Reservation Enactment by the English colonial administrators at the time. The enactment has two objectives; to stop land belonging to the Malays from falling into the hands of non-Malays and to prevent Malay reserve land from being used as a business transaction. The enactment ensures that Malay land can be handed over to the Malays only. The MRL enactment was officially created in the states of Selangor, Perak and Negeri Sembilan in 1913, and in Pahang as of 1 January 1914. Subsequently, the MRL was enforced in the states of Kelantan (1930), Perlis (1930), Kedah (1931), Johor (1935) and Terengganu (1941).