Unshared Glory: Carey Island, Malaysia

Carey Island, a plantation island located south of Port Klang and north of Banting in Selangor, was established in the early 1900s by British planter John Carey. Today, it is recognised as the home of the Mah Meri indigenous group, one of Malaysia’s oldest communities, whose cultural heritage is rapidly diminishing. The island is also home to Indian and Malay villages, primarily composed of former plantation workers who were employed by John Carey’s company and later by European management. Outside the estates currently owned by Sime Darby-Guthrie, the island’s villages have experienced minimal social and economic development. Much like during the British colonial era, contemporary corporate elites and policymakers remain focused on wealth extraction, enriching themselves while neglecting the welfare of the island’s residents. The very workers who contributed to the prosperity of Carey Island have been marginalised, and their contributions largely overlooked. It is particularly concerning that many of Carey Island’s younger generations continue to face marginalisation due to ongoing illiteracy. In some families, this cycle remains unbroken.