1846-1906






Labuan since 1906



In 1907, Labuan (administrated by the British North Borneo Chartered Company 1888-1906) was placed under the administration of the STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. It remained under the Straits Settlements until 1963 (with the exception of Japanese rule during World War II). When Malaysia became independent, Labuan was allocated to Sabah. In 1984 it was separated from Sabah and given the status of a federal territory within Malaysia.
Throughout the early 20th century, Labuan economically stagnated, as its importance of a coaling station dwindled - all North Borneo, Brunei and Sarawak were under British protectorate. The coal mines on Labuan ceased operation in 1911. The island population stagnated; the free port, due to the lack of a market, was not attractive; the privilege was later cancelled.
Labuan economically speaking was a 'sleeping beauty'. In 1956 her FREE PORT status was reestablished. Yet only when the island became a federal territory, a significant population growth, from 7,200 in 1978 to 75,500 in 1999, took place.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		History of Labuan, from Labuan Tourism
Philatelic and Postal History of Labuan, from The Sarawak Specialists' Society
DOCUMENTS Malaysia : historical demographical data of the administrative divisions, from Population Statistics at Univ. Utrecht; has population data for Labuan 1851-1948, 1978-1999
REFERENCE Article : Labuan, in : Britannica Book of the Year 1913 pp.626-627 [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Statesman's Year Book 1918 p.165, 1919 p.170 [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1927 p.492 (on events of 1926) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1928 p.446 (on events of 1927) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1930 p.435 (on events of 1929) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1931 p.438 (on events of 1930) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1932 p.405 (on events of 1931) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1933 p.428 (on events of 1932) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1934 p.331 (on events of 1933) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1935 p.396 (on events of 1934) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1936 p.401 (on events of 1935) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1937 p.388 (on events of 1936) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1943 p.420 (on events of 1942) [G]
Article : Labuan, in : Americana Annual 1944 p.388 (on events of 1943) [G]


This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on May 9th 2002, last revised on September 14th 2008

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