The Minister of Education, Dr. Mahathir.

A selection of condensed news items from Malaysia and overseas sources indicate the seriousness of the problem of poverty and class [unclear: oppression] in rural Malaysia:

Rural Poverty — The Central Issue

Fuemsso News Service (3-2-75) states that the central issue which sparked off the massive demonstration is the problem of rural poverty. Despite the government-inspired blackout in the mass media over peasant demonstrations in Baling, the students have succeeded in making the whole country aware of the plight of peasants. A concerted attempt is thus being made by government to discredit the student movement. Both the communist bogey and the racial divide-and-rule tactics are being resorted to. As well, ministers and apologists of the Government continue to give misinformation on the question of rural poverty.

Baling Residents Healthy and Fat

(New Straits Time 1-1-75). The [unclear: Universiti] Kebangsaan's head of the history department expressed doubts today that there was any serious hunger problem in Baling. He said he carried out a survey in Baling recently and found that the residents there were 'healthy and fat'. It is [unclear: hard] to believe that there is hunger and acute poverty in the area', he added.

Rubber Tapper's Plight

(The Star 8-12-74). A reporter, investigating claims that people had died of hunger in the Baling district found that in Baling the tubers 'ubi gadong' and 'ubi ara' are sometimes a rice substitute eaten by peasants when they are are unable to make sufficient earnings. Out of a total population of 3,000 about one-third find this a necessity. They are landless people who earn their living either by tapping rubber in small holdings, doing odd jobs in and around the kampongs or digging tin ore in surrounding hills. 'Preparation of ubi gadong for food involves a lot of work. If wrongly prepared, certain acid can be toxic', a rubber tapper suggested.

Rubber Tapper Family Hospitalised

(Utusan Malaysia 6-1-75). A family of 7 from the Sik District were hospitalised due to undernourishment. According to the father, a Malay rubber tapper, his family had insufficient food because both he and his wife were ill and could not work. A director of Medical and Health Services confirmed that the family had been admitted suffering from malaria. He said that they could have caught malaria as a result of under-nourishment.

Let Landless Kelantanese Migrate to Pahang; Urges Minister.....

(New Straits Times 27-2-75) The Pahang State Government has been urged to let landless Kelantanese migrate to Pahang State and help it develop. A Deputy Minister said 'Not only is the process of land redemption slow, but the State also has little land suitable for agriculture. Most of the cultivable land is owned by the private sector, and this has made land shortage even more acute, resulting in the migration of the Kelantanese to other states, particularly Pahang'.

The Poor Fishermen of Malaysia

The New Straits Times (1-1-75) carried a report on the deteriorating plight of Butterworth's 2,000 fishermen. The article entitled 'Fishermen who've never had it so bad since the war', points out that the income of fishermen had dropped substantially. Meanwhile, the price of nets had gone up from M$8.50 to M$24 a roll followed by that of diesel from 50c a gallon to M$1.05 a gallon. Catches have become so poor lately that only 35 of the 55 boats from Bagan Jerual were now going out regularly. A spokesman for the [unclear: tishermen] attributed their poor catch to the infringement by trawlers.

The Emerging Rural Revolution

Far Eastern Economic Review (10-1-75) pointed out that almost all the students of the Kebangsaan Universiti or Malaysia were Malays and they were very active in the recent anti-government demonstration. 'Between 70-80% of its students are peasants' offspring'.