Peasants' Reaction

Throughout Malaysia peasant groups have resorted to opening up 'state land', directly defying government laws, because they have been left with no choice. It is estimated that there are 10,000 families squatting on 40,000 acres of 'state land' in Pahang. In areas with less peasant squatters, the government has acted ruthlessly by putting peasant leaders into jail, for example Hamid Tuah.

He was charged and detained under the Internal Security Act for taking a group of 200 peasants to clear 100 acres of jungle land. In 1974 thousands of peasants organised themselves for a hunger demonstration in Baling.

It is likely that governmental action could suppress peasants appropriating land, but there is a force which unites the peasants to open up land in defiance of official edicts in order to satisfy the need of themselves and their families for a minimum level of subsistence.

This is the end of the general background of the structure of the Malaysian economy.