| MALAYSIAN HAINANESE ECONOMIC � PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE By Jee Say Hai 5 May 2002 Malaysian Hainanese � the background : arrival waves 1850 Ching Dynasty emigration relaxation 1900 Demand for plantation and tin mine workers 1940 WW 2 started 1945 WW 2 ended 1949 lesser 1957 none Characteristic of Hainanese: Hardworking Trustworthy Clanship Thrifty Association Role : Cater for new arrivals needs Support clan members needs The earlier needs: sick - old � death - financial The latter needs: Younger generation education Penang Association: formed in 1866 (136 years) Federation of Hainan Association: formed in 1933 (70 members) Changing Role: with the government and private companies taking over the social and welfare needs and the change in population structure Association - Economic achievement indicator: Individual Level (70 members excluding county/trade/blood related) Setting up of own building Setting up of scholarship fund Setting up of schools (Penang, Ipoh, Port Weld, KL, Klang, Tampin, Malacca, Seremban and Trengganu � total : 9 ) Co-owners of cemetery National level - scholarship / education loan (first association to set up in 1955 � led by then Deputy Education Ministry (a Hainanese) RM2 million paid out � 1000 beneficiaries - Headquarters at KL � owned building International Level � Federation of World Hainanese Convention Economic evolution : Temple Dialect (District) Clan Provincial Association Business Grouping Earlier Stage of immigrant Chinese economic activities: 3 K ( 3 Knives ) ( 3 ? ?) : ( ??) Cook, ( ??) Barber, ( ??) Tailor Earlier Hainanese dominated economic activities: o restaurant/eating stall/coffee shop o Hainanese chicken rice - an opportunity missed or yet to be exploited? Organised economic activities: 1936 - Hainan Realty Company - rubber plantation in Hainan - interrupted by WW 2 1955 - Promotion of a bank � dropped 1968 - Promotion of a financial institution � failed due to poor support 1979 - Formed a co-operative society (Koperasi Mewah Bhd) 24 branches and 9 subsidiaries with paid-up capital of RM6 millions Membership strength : 23,000 Scope of business: deposit taking, housing development, insurance, leasing In 1986 (7 years operation) frozen by government and later wound-up 1992 - Formed Hainan Holdings Bhd. 92 members delegation to Hainan in December 1999 Paid-up capital: RM 474,003.00 No. of shareholders : 91 Main activities: investment holdings (in cement based products through a subsidiary Haikon Sdn. Bhd Total shareholders fund as at 2001 year-end: RM 539,918.00 1993 - Formed Haikon Sdn. Bhd. Paid-up capital: RM 200,000.00 No. of shareholders: 6 50% owned by Hainan Holdings Bhd. Main activities: initially ready-mixed cememt; now dormant Total shareholders fund as at 2001 year-end: RM25,722 1993 - Formed Hainan Realty Sdn. Bhd. Paid-up capital: RM 2.00 No. of shareholders: 2 Main activities: dormant since incorporation (Original intention is to replace Hainan Holdings Bhd. role ) Total shareholders fund as at 2001 year-ended: (RM 12,411.00) Others - Talk on joint venture with Intel to produce circuit board Proposed name: Pycon International Sdn.Bhd. Hainanese economic performance � present days o No. of listed companies controlled by Hainanese o Influencial figures in trade related associations (chambers of commerce) and regulatory bodies o Senior (key) personnel in multi-national and national corporations o Economic ranking: Malaysia - International o Creation of tangible assets - the KL Thean Hou Temple The future outlook o Malaysia economy : changing global landscape � unforeseen events � export tumbled - private consumption contracted Government policies � pro-business fiscal and monetary � domestic-led o Economic domination verse political domination o Formation of economic bloc : EC, NAFTA, APEC, AFTA (globalization � free trade and impact on livelihood) o Regulated activities : WTO o Where do Hainanese stand? Organised body to lead the Hainanese to face the challenges and to grap the opportunities: o Formation of a think-tank group comprising academician, professional and businessmen o Changing role for World Hainanese Convention o The new role of 3 K ( 3 ? ) : Know-where (information) ( ? ? ) Know-what (knowldege) ( ?? ) Know-how (wisdom) ( ?? ) Conclusion o The knowledgeable must help the less knowledgeable to share their experience and to provide assistance o Systematic programme and a mechanism to achieve Hainanese economic objective |