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A Food Control Malaya Registration Card Belonging To Leong Kwai Teng
Before the war, Malaya imported two thirds of its yearly rice requirement, but Japan’s entry into Southeast Asia in 1941 substantially reduced Malaya’s rice imports. The government made efforts to make up for the scarcity of food by promoting domestic rice cultivation. However the supply could not meet the demands of the population and it had to continue to depend on imported foodstuff. Consequently the shortages continued.
After the invasion of Malaya, the Japanese administration then classified rice as a prohibited commodity and until March 1942, retail selling of this commodity was handled by Rice Distribution Guilds. The task was then transferred to Food Control Offices, as rationing had become essential by April that year. The Ipoh office being in Brewster Road. In August 1942, State administrations issued ration cards to those holding residence certificates. This arrangement continued after the surrender of the Japanese under the British Military Administration (BMA).
After WW II, food rationing continued. Ration cards still existed but they were no longer issued by the BMA (since the BMA ended in March 1946). A table of Rice Rations, per person, (in Katis per week) in Perak, from December 1946 to May 1947 may be found in the e-Book below.
The pictures show a Food Control Malaya Registration Card dated 31/10/47, issued by the rationing officer of the Food Control Office (along Brewster Road). This card belonged to Leong Kwai Teng. Leong was a Cantonese and according to this card, No. 20126, there were two men, a woman and three children in his family.
However the rationing of food continued long after the war although we understand that the Food Control Registration Card was replaced by a ration card which apparently was extended not only to cover rice as in 1942 but also included other basic commodities like sugar and flour. Issue of such ration cards was recorded by a chop on the recipients identity card.
If anyone can recall when ration cards and rationing were cancelled we would be pleased to hear from them.
To see a photograph of Ipoh’s Food Control Centre, click here.
To see a scan of an identity card chopped for issue of ration card, click here.
To find out more about The British Military Administration (BMA), click here.