Tin Mining in Malaysia: The Past, Shifts and Changes in Economic Emphasis During the 1970's, and Beyond
Malaysia is generally regarded as one of the most successful examples of a non-Western country that has achieved a relatively smooth transition to modern economic system. The main reason for this is that Malaysia has substantial mines of primary resources that the nation has been able to export to industrialized countries. The Malay Peninsula has substantial deposits of tin. International demand for tin is high because of the demand for tin in such products as canned food. However, during the 1970s, the nation attempted to expand its range of exports and types of industrial development, mainly due to the economic concerns of a nation becoming overly dependant upon the export of primary, non-renewable resources. (Drabble, 2006)Environmental concerns were also a factor. Traditionally, tin was mined in Malaysia from ore deposits close to the surface. Difficulties with seasonal flooding limited the depth of mining, making concerns about the sustainability of the mining industry particularly of a concern. Also, because of the weather, the mining activity was seasonal. This made the employment of local workers unstable as w
ell, although frequently other laborers had to be imported into Malaysia from other nations during the height of the mining season. (Drabble, 2006) Technology had enabled deeper mining, as well as made mining more efficient through rinsing the ore with hoses in pools, but weather conditions and the limits of any natural resource meant that improvements in efficiency could not generate a limitless source of national income. To encourage the shift from a primary product based economy the Malaysian government offered grants to owners of mines and also rubber farms, financed by a special duty on rubber exports, designed to help in the transition of the economy and to encourage the replanting of some of the primary resources that were renewable, like rubber trees. It was well into 1980s before replanting of rubber fields were complete. However, overall the government's attempts to create a transition has proved more successful than might be originally expected, given the willingness of foreign investors to move enterprises and capital into the nation. (Drabble, 2006) The reason that the Malaysian economy has not suffere
Some common words found in the essay are:
Malay Peninsula, British Tin, , malaysian economy, drabble 2006, deeper levels, primary mined resources, industrial development, mining industry, government resolved, demand tin, malaysian government, mined resources, primary resources,
Approximate Word count = 759
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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