Perkembangan Kegiatan Perniagaan Tekstil di Kuala Lumpur, 1880-1941 (The Development of Textile Business Activities From 1880 - 1941 In Kuala Lumpur)

Abstract

This article differs in explaining the economic activities in Kuala Lumpur by highlighting the development of the textile business in this city. Policy of western colonialism has resulted in British taking control of Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang by combining the four states under an administration known as the Federated Malay States (FMS) in 1896. Federated Malay States (FMS) was controlled by the British not only as a center of raw material supply, in fact as a colonial marketplace. Kuala Lumpur also received the effects of this merger because Kuala Lumpur is one of the six districts in Selangor. Although Kuala Lumpur is often highlighted as the center of mining activities, this situation did not prevent existence of various economic activities such as textile business as soon as Kuala Lumpur was declared the capital of Selangor and center of British administration. The importance of textile business activities is not measured in terms of quantity or amount of capital, but rather assessed in terms of its importance in meeting the needs of local people in the context of development in Kuala Lumpur during that period. British administration has also encouraged the emergence of textile -based businesses such as sewing garments. This opportunity has been used by companies such as John Little and Robinson from Singapore to penetrate the market in Kuala Lumpur by supplying garments to the residents. Hence, the presence of foreign companies has become a basis for the development of textile-related business activities in Kuala Lumpur.