Kegiatan Ekonomi Jepun di Sabah, 1950-an hingga 1980-an: Peranan dan Sumbangannya dalam Pembangunan Ekonomi (Japanese Economic Activities in Sabah, 1950s–1980s: Its Role and Contributions in Economic Development)

Abstract

The defeat in the Pacific War caused Japan to lose all its diplomatic relationships with foreign countries. However, after the start of the Cold War in the late 1940s, Japan renewed its economic and political relationships with Southeast Asian countries. The bilateral relation between Japan and Sabah was re-established after the abolition of restrictions against Japanese entry into Sabah in October 1955. Since then, for 30 years the Japanese were involved in various economic activities that had an impact on Sabah's economic growth and technology transfer. These help to change the negative perceptions of the Japanese community during the early years after the Pacific War when they were perceived as wicked and vindictive. This essay shows the Japanese community had a significant role in Sabah's economic development in the 1950s until the 1980s. The essay also discusses the challenges and problems in Sabah-Japan relations. The scope of the discussion covers the period from the 1950s to the 1980s when Sabah began to achieve continuous economic development.

Kekalahan dalam Perang Pasifik menyebabkan Jepun terpinggir dari sebarang hubungan diplomatik antarabangsa. Hanya selepas meletusnya Perang Dingin pada lewat 1940-an baharulah Jepun kembali menjalinkan hubungan ekonomi dan politik dengan Asia Tenggara. Dalam konteks Sabah, hubungan dua hala antara kedua-dua negara hanya terjalin selepas penarikan semula sekatan kemasukan orang Jepun ke Sabah pada Oktober 1955. Sejak itu, selama 30 tahun masyarakat Jepun mula berpeluang terlibat dalam pelbagai kegiatan ekonomi dan seterusnya menyumbang dan memberi impak dalam pertumbuhan ekonomi dan pemindahan teknologi di Sabah. Keterlibatan dan sumbangan ini secara tidak langsung telah menghapuskan tanggapan umum bahawa Jepun di awal pasca perang merupakan negara dan bangsa yang berperilaku jahat dan kejam. Esei ini meneliti jenis sektor ekonomi, sumbangan dan impak yang dibawa oleh kegiatan ekonomi dan pelaburan Jepun di Sabah pada tahun 1950-an hingga 1980-an. Selain itu, makalah ini turut membincangkan cabaran dan masalah yang dihadapi dalam hubungan Sabah-Jepun. Skop perbincangan dibataskan sehingga 1980-an memandangkan dari tahun 1950-an hingga 1980-an, Sabah mula mencapai pembangunan ekonomi yang berterusan.