How our economy began
Long ago, most Malays lived in villages and earned a living by farming (growing padi/rice) and fishing. Life depended closely on the land and the sea.
A famous trading centre
In the 15th century, Melaka grew into a busy trading port. Traders from China, India and Arabia met there to buy and sell goods. A port that stores goods and sells them again is called an entrepot. Melaka's place beside the sea made it perfect for trade.
Tin and rubber
- Tin (bijih timah) was mined, especially in Perak and Selangor. This attracted many workers from China.
- Rubber (getah) was planted on large estates and became a big export. Many workers came from India to tap the rubber.
Remember
- Malaya became one of the world's biggest producers of tin and rubber.
- Later, oil palm and petroleum became important too.
These early industries helped build the strong economy Malaysia enjoys today.