R. N. Bland (1859-1948) - Resident Councillor of Malacca 1900-1903

Haji Mohd Sharif bin Ismail Alyamani lived at 262-T Banda Hilir, Malacca during British Colonial times.

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ROBERT NORMAN BLAND 1859 - 1948

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https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Robert%20Norman%20Bland

The Acting Resident Councillor in Malacca at the time was Robert Norman Bland (R. N. Bland). He was from Ireland.

Robert Norman Bland (MALACCA) , B.A. Resident Councillor;
Born 8 October 1859 in Malta. Died 30 March 1948 (aged 88) in Sussex, England.
Educated at St. Paul’s school; Cheltenham College; Trinity College, Dublin.
Source: http://www.lilianbland.ie/lilian/bland-family-history/

Bland was a young cadet before coming to Malacca. He had mastered Chinese and Malay. He served in various capacities and in multiple overlapping functions at the 3 locations in the Straits Settlements - Singapore, Penang and Malacca.

Was a Cadet, Straits Settlements, October, 1882; passed in Malay, May, 1884 (age 26);
Collector Magistrate, Sri Menanti , June 1886;
District Officer, Southern District, Province Wellesley , 1888;
Collector of Land Revenue, Penang, 1889;
Collector of Land Revenue, Singapore, 1890;
Officer in charge, Sungei Ujong , December 1894;
Officer in charge, Negri Sembilan , January to April, 1895;
Acting Official Assignee of Deeds, Singapore, June, 1896;
Inspector of Prisons, Straits Settlements , March, 1897;
Senior District Officer, Province Wellesley, April, 1897;
Acting Resident Councillor, Malacca, April to September, 1900-1903;
Capt. in Singapore Volunteer corps, 1902
Source: http://www.lilianbland.ie/lilian/bland-family-history/

He arrived in Malacca on 2 June 1886, while serving at Kuala Pilah
Malacca News.
Straits Times Weekly Issue, 3 June 1886, Page 13
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/stweekly18860603-1.2.31

He was the Acting Resident Councillor in Malacca from April to September, 1900-1903.

Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Sir J. Anderson, K.C.M.G.
Executive Council:
The Governor;
Officer commanding H.M. Troops, Major-Gen. Inigo Jones, C.B.
— Colonial Secretary, Capt. A. H. Young, C.M.G.
— Resident Councillor of Penang, J. K.
— Resident Councillor of Malacca, R. N. Bland
— Attorney-General
— Treasurer, W. Evans
— Auditor-General, E. C. Hill
— Colonial Engineer, A. Murray
Resident-General for Protected States, Sir W. T. Taylor, K.C.M.G. 

Bland was also a prolific writer and was interested in archaeology. He had written an illustrated book, documenting the layout and inscriptions of the Portuguese tombstones found inside the ruins of St Paul's Church on Malacca Hill.
https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Tombstones-Malacca-Mostly-Portuguese/dp/5518651724

His family history can be found online at Lilian Bland
http://www.lilianbland.ie/lilian/bland-family-history/


Bland was also a lawyer. There were 2 other men with him at the Town Court in Malacca.


British Malacca
http://reader.library.cornell.edu/docviewer/digital?id=sea:233

Malacca Land Acts & Rights

When the Dutch VOC took over Malacca from the Portuguese, the land act was non existent among the Malays. The Malays followed the tradition of handing down land ownership from father to son (which should follow Islamic principles). The Dutch held a significant size of land at Naning, and claiming the 1/10 land tax be paid to the Dutch VOC.

The Dutch gave up Malacca to the British by 1825, but still held on to their claims of land ownership at Naning. The British also faced the same problems faced by the Dutch about land ownership and land tax. The British tried to force upon the Malays the same land tax as the Dutch, and which the Malays greatly opposed. The Land Act of 1830 and The Land Act of 1861 were issued by the British East India Company in Malacca and required the Malays to comply.

Today, the Malacca Land Office looks after the door tax (cukai pintu) paid by the land title holder (pemegang geran tanah). Every piece of land must be paid a door tax, whether the land is utilised or left untouched (waste land, tanah terbiar).

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LAND RIGHTS DURING THE MALACCA SULTANATE

Malacca Sultanate (1400-1513)

• Hukum Kanun Melaka (Malacca Digest)
• Undang-undang Laut Melaka (Maritime Laws of Malacca)

OTTOMAN LAND CODE 1858
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Land_Code_of_1858

MALACCA LAND ACTS BEFORE & AFTER INDEPENDENCE

A. Before Malayan independence (1957)

• Mahomedan and Hindu Endowments Ordinance No 92, 1905 (repealed)
• Administration of Muslim Law Enactment 1959 (repealed)

B. After Malayan independence (1957)

• Malacca Zakat, Fitrah, Wakaf and Baitulmal Matters Rules 1982
• Administration of Islamic Law Eneactment 1991 (repealed)
• Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Malacca), No 7 of 2002
• Wakaf (Melaka) Enactment 2005

Reference:
Introduction of Family and Public Waqfs into the Malay States in the 19th and early 20th
Centuries and External Influences on the Norms Affecting Waqfs of Malaysia up to 1957, page 26.
by Tunku Alina Alias
https://www.academia.edu/4753873/Introduction_of_Family_and_Public_Waqfs_into_the_Malay_States_in_the_19th_and_early_20th_Centuries_and_External_Influences_on_the_Norms_Affecting_Waqfs_of_Malaysia_up_to_1957

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Pejabat Daerah dan Tanah Melaka Tengah
https://www.pdtmt.gov.my/1/page.php?id=26

Information from the website:

Pentadbiran Melaka Tengah

Pentadbiran Daerah

Senarai Maklumat Mengikut Parlimen dan DUN

Bil: 12
NAMA: En Hj Abu Bakar bin Shawkat Ali (P)
PARLIMEN: P138-Kota Melaka
DUN: N22-Banda Hilir
No. TELEFON: 019-626-8537

Pentadbiran JAPERUN
DUN: Banda Hilir
SETIAUSAHA: Pn. Hjh. Rohani bt Jaafar
No. TELEFON: 016-646-8147

Pentadbiran Penghulu
DUN: Dun Banda Hilir & Dun Telok Mas
PENGHULU: En Zakaria bin Abu Bakar
No. TELEFON: 016-601-3749

Pentadbiran JKKK/B
DUN: Bandar Hilir
JKKK/B: Bandar Hilir
NAMA: Noraine bt Ahmad
No. TELEFON: 017-333-8988

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