Perubahan Pentadbiran Daerah Dan Tanah Di Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang 1888-1956

Kajian ini adalah mengenai perkembangan Balik Pulau yang bermula dengan pembukaannya pada pertengahan 1840-an sehingga menjadi sebuah kawasan penempatan yang penting kepada negeri Pulau Pinang. Kajian ini juga memberi gambaran menyeluruh dan lengkap mengenai corak pentadbiran Balik Pulau secara tradisional dan semasa pendudukan British. Selain itu, kegiatan sosio-ekonomi masyarakat Balik Pulau dan pentadbiran tanah turut diberikan perhatian dalam kajian ini. Sumber-sumber yang digunakan ialah fail-fail jabatan kerajaan, transkripsi surat menyurat Francis Light 1780-1790, rekodrekod negeri-negeri selat 1797-1880, buku tulisan para sarjana dan koleksi akhbar sebelum merdeka. Hasil kajian mendapati pentadbiran British telah berjaya melakukan perubahan kepada perkembangan dan kemajuan Balik Pulau melalui beberapa pendekatan seperti menyusun semula pentadbiran kampung dan mukim, menubuhkan Pejabat Daerah Balik Pulau, membangunkan prasarana dan infrastruktur Balik Pulau, serta memantap dan menambahbaikkan sektor pertanian dan perladangan. This research, study about the development of district’s administration and land in Balik Pulau, a town in Southwest Penang Island district, between the year 1888 and 1956. The town was opened in the mid-1840s and has been developed into one of the significant settlements in Penang. This research draws the complete overview about the administrative pattern of Balik Pulau during its early days and during it was occupied by the British. In addition, this research also put forward the socio-economic activities and the land administration in Balik Pulau. The sources used in this research area the files from several relevant government departments, the Francis Light’s transcription of correspondence 1780- 1790, the records of the Straits Settlements 1797-1880, scholar’s journals and publications and local newspaper collections dated before the year 1957 (Malaya’s Independence). It was found that, during its occupation, British had successfully made changes to the landscape of Balik Pulau and transformed it from a small undeveloped town into a modern township.