The development of urban centres
Penang: Weld Quay in the early 20th century. Penang was the main port for the export of tin from the Perak mines.
There was a distinct difference between urbanization in the Malay states before and after the establishment of colonial rule. While previously these centres had been on the coast, under the British the development of urban centres was spurred by the colonial export economy. Towns were established near the mining fields and populated largely by immigrant labourers and, later, by Europeans. The indigenous Malay population was almost never involved in urban developments because they were the least involved in the export economy and its related activities.
- Information in the full article includes
- Pre-colonial urban centres
- Urban centres, 1826-1896
- Urban centres, 1896-1941