The resource frontier strategy in peninsular Malaysia : case studies of the Pahang Tenggara and Kesedar regions

Abstract

The thesis examines the application of western urban-industrial growth pole theory in the frontier zones of the developing countries and, in particular, to the Malaysian regions of Pahang Tenggaran and Kesedar. The study begins by tracing the origins of the growth pole theory after the Second World War when the West urgently needed to initiate growth in the developing world as a means of countering Soviet expansion. In response to this political imperative, economists and geographers formulated concepts to guide growth across space – the basic ingredients of growth pole theory. When the theory was applied to the frontier regions of developing countries, various forms of resource frontier strategies emerged under the sponsorship of the respective national governments. The initial applications were in South America during the early 1960s, but the resource frontier strategy has been also incorporated as part of Malaysia’s New Economic Policy since 1970 to bolster Malay urbanisation and reduce regional display. Unlike South America, however, the propulsive force hinged upon oil palm and rubber. As these commodities are strongly tied to the world market and relatively little value-added is created within the producing regions, they serve the interests of national metropolitan centres rather than local settlements. Consequently, little urbanisation has been achieved in the regions such as Pahang Tenggara and Kesedar. Assessed against the twin objectives of the New Economic Policy, the two frontier regions have not boosted Malay urbanisation nor reduced regional inequality to any significant extent. Nonetheless, most settlers of the Federal Land Development Authority have improved their standards of livings since moving. Yet, the benefits have been restricted to first generation settlers because few non-agricultural jobs have been created. When they enter the labour market most youth are expected to move to metropolitan centres for jobs. Hence, industrialisation in major centres in the key to their absorption and Malaysia’s future development in the next twenty years. Show more