SEJARAH PENGLIBATAN ORANG CINA DALAM PERNIAGAAN KELUARGA (FAMILY BUSINESS) BERASASKAN INDUSTRI PENGHASILAN MAKANAN DI BUTTERWORTH, 1957-2000 (THE HISTORY OF CHINESE INVOLVEMENT IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS BASED ON THE FOOD PRODUCTION INDUSTRY IN BUTTERWORTH, 1957-2000)

Abstract

Abstrak 

Artikel ini memfokuskan tentang sejarah penglibatan orang Cina dalam industri penghasilan makanan di Butterworth pada tempoh 1957 hingga 2000. Objektif utama artikel ini adalah untuk menyelurusi akar umbi kepada penguasaan bidang ekonomi masyarakat Cina di Butterworth dalam perniagaan keluarga berasaskan penghasilan makanan. Selain itu, keupayaan masyarakat Cina di Butterworth mempertahankan pernigaan keluarga mereka dan pada masa yang sama mengumpulkan modal untuk membolehkan mereka menerokai sektor perniagaan baru yang lain pula terus menjadi tanda tanya. Penulisan ini direalisasikan menerusi penelitian terhadap rekod dan beberapa dokumen yang terdapat di Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun UPSI, Arkib Negara Malaysia dan Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia Cawangan Negeri Pulau Pinang. Di samping itu, data juga diperoleh hasil temu bual dengan beberapa individu yang pernah terlibat dengan perniagaan keluarga di sekitar Butterworth. Hasil kajian mendapati perniagaan orang Cina di Butterworth pada asalnya diusahakan secara kecil-kecilan bermula daripada penglibatan keluarga dan kemudiannya berubah kepada perniagaan yang berbentuk sederhana besar. Perubahan ini secara tidak langsung telah mewujudkan sektor ekonomi yang lebih pelbagai termasuk perniagaan kecil yang berasaskan makanan, perindustrian dan perniagaan korporat. Secara umumnya, aspek modal dan kemahiran diri sangat dominan, namun sumbangan aspek lain seperti rangkaian, pewarisan dan pasaran semasa juga penting dalam mengupayakan orang Cina di Butterworth mempertahankan perniagaan keluarga mereka. Kejayaan mereka juga dapat dikaitkan dengan faktor modal, potensi ekonomi setempat dan keupayaan membina rangkaian dengan pihak berkuasa setempat. Namun demikian, tidak dinafikan kemahiran yang dimiliki dan sokongan ahli keluarga mereka juga menjadi faktor yang penting dalam menentukan kejayaan orang Cina di Butterworth dalam perniagaan keluarga berasaskan makanan. 

Kata kunxi: Orang Cina, Butterworth, modal, penghasilan makanan, perniagaan keluarga.

 

Abstract 

This article focuses on the history of the Chinese involvement in the food production industry in Butterworth during the period of 1957 to 2000. The main objective of this article is to trace the roots of economic dominance of the Chinese community in Butterworth in their family food business production. In addition to this, the Chinese community capability in Butterworth to maintain their family businesses but at the same time raises capital that enables them to venture into other and new business sectors is questionable. This study was conducted by analyzing records and several documents available in the Tuanku Bainun UPSI Library, the National Archives of Malaysia and the Companies Commission of Malaysia Penang State Branch. Furthermore, data were also obtained from interviews with several individuals who had been involved with family businesses around Butterworth. Results from the study shows that the Chinese business in Butterworth were originally a small scale business starting from family involvement which then grew to a medium-sized business. These changes have indirectly diversified their economic potential in various sectors including small food based businesses, industry and corporate businesses. In general, the capital and self -skill aspects are very dominant, but the contribution of other aspects such as networking, inheritance and current markets are also important in enabling the Chinese in Butterworth to sustain their family businesses. Their success can also be attributed to capital factors, local economic potential and the ability to establish networking with local authorities. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the skills possessed by them and the support received from their family are also contributing factors in determining the success of the Chinese in the family food based business in Butterworth. 

Keywords: Chinese, Butterworth, capital, food production, family business