PERUSAHAAN PERIKANAN DI BORNEO UTARA DI BAWAH PENTADBIRAN JEPUN, 1942-1945 FISHERIES INDUSTRY OF NORTH BORNEO UNDER THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION, 1942-1945

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1Mohammad Raduan Mohd Ariff
Ismail Ali
3Mohammad Sharir

Abstract

The World War II saw a change in North Borneo's administrative style from a standard administration under the British North Borneo Chartered Company (1811-1941) to a militarised administration under the Japanese (1942-1945). This change occurred in early 1942. After conquering North Borneo, Japanese soldiers ruled the state, with a focus on military and security. This caused the previously developed capitalist economy of North Borneo to experience a decline. In addition, international trade could not be carried out due to bomb threats from the American army. This slump in the international economy had caused desperate locals to run self-sufficient economies, including fishery. This article will briefly discuss the Japanese Occupation in North Borneo alongside highlighting the difficulty and challenges of life during the Occupation. The atrocities of the Japanese soldiers, who oppressed local villages through slavery and conscription, caused many villagers to escape to the Highlands, islands and other secluded areas. This had a direct negative impact on the fishing industry. At this point, non-commercial fishery could not be carried out because of the absence of investors who had previously been a source for credit loans, the input of suppliers and marketers. The absence of the investors resulted in fishermen having to make technological changes in previously-used fishing methods. Fishing equipment was now built from materials obtained from the local forests around the villages and used materials. On the other hand, to cater for large hauls, Japanese soldiers introduced a fishing equipment called Muro Ami and also caught fish using hand bombs. However, trade at this point leant towards self-survival.

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