Skip to main content

Government-Business Coordination and Small Enterprise Performance in the Machine Tools Sector in Malaysia

  • Chapter
Small Firm Dynamism in East Asia

Abstract

This paper compares the performance of small and medium size subcontractors in the machine tools industry in two different states of Malaysia, Penang and Kelang Valley. It is shown that while Penang has developed a fairly successful small and medium subcontracting industry, Kelang Valley has not. The difference in performance (measured by value-added) is due in part to differences in the extent and quality of government-business coordination. In contrast to Kelang Valley, the relatively autonomous state government of Penang took a pro-active approach to business development and provided support to its small and medium enterprises (mainly Chinese-owned) in the form of public training and market-information exchange.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Best, M., 1990, The New Competition, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chee, P. L., 1986, Small and Medium Industries in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: Forum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brusco, S., 1982, “The Emilian Model: Productive Decentralization and Social Integration’, Cambridge Journal of Economics 6(2), 167–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chee, P. L., D. Lee and R. T. Foo, 1981, ‘The Case of Labour Intensive Industry in Malaysia’, in R. Amjad (ed.), The Development of Labour Intensive Industry in ASEAN Countries, Bangkok: International Labour Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirst, P. and J. Zeitlin, 1991, Reversing Industrial Decline? Industrial Structure and Policy in Britain and Her Competitors, Oxford: Berg Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khong, S. M., 1991, ‘The Service Sector in Malaysia: Structure and Change’, Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Cambridge University, Cambridge,

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim, L. Y. C, 1978, ‘Multinational Firms and Manufacturing for Export in Less Developed Countries: The Case of the Electronics Industry in Malaysia and Singapore’, Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Michigan University, Ann Arbor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nathan, R. et al., 1969, ‘The Penang Master Plan’, paper submitted to Penang Government. Penang.

    Google Scholar 

  • PDC, 1971, Annual Report, Penang: Penang Development Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1988, ‘The Semiconductor Industry in Penang: Implications for NIDL Theories’, Journal of Contemporary Asia 18(2), 24–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah R., 1992, ‘Foreign Manufacturing Investment in Malaysia’, Economic Bulletin for Asia Pacific 63(1), 63-77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1993, Pembahagian Kerja Antarabangsa: Industri Semikonduktor di Pulau Pinang, Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Social Science Association Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1994, ‘Flexible Production Systems and Local Machine Tool Subcontracting: Electronics Component Multinationals in Malaysia’, Cambridge Journalof Economics 18(3), 279–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1995, Foreign Capital and Industrialization in Malaysia, New York: St. Martin’s

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1996a, ‘Industrialization as Engine of Growth and Industrial Policy in Malaysia’, Managerial Finance 9(2), 79–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1996b, ‘Changing Organisation of Work in the Electronics Industry in Malaysia’, Asia Pacific Viewpoint 37(1), 21–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1997, ‘Class, Ethnicity and Economic Development in Malaysia’, in G. Rodan, K. Hewisen and R. Robison (eds.), Political Economy of South-East Asia, New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasiah, R., 1999, ‘From a Backyard Workshop to a Modern Machine Tool Factory: Eng Hardware’, in K. S. Jomo, G. Felker and R. Rasiah (eds.), Industrial Technology Development in Malaysia: Firm and Industry Studies, London: Routledge

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabel, C, 1986, ‘Changing Models of Economic Efficiency and their Implications for Industrialization in the Third World’, in C. F. D. Alejandro et al. (eds.), Development, Democracy and the Art of Trespassing, Notre Dame, IN.: Notre Dame University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxenian, A. L., 1997, The Regional Advantage, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sengenberger, W. and F. Pyke, 1991, ‘Small Firm Industrial Districts and Local Economic Regeneration: Research and Policy Issues’, Labour and Society 16(1).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rasiah, R. (2002). Government-Business Coordination and Small Enterprise Performance in the Machine Tools Sector in Malaysia. In: Iqbal, F., Urata, S. (eds) Small Firm Dynamism in East Asia. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0963-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0963-9_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5326-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0963-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics