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The Association called MAHA an acronym for Malayan Agri- Horticuture Association was formed in October 1922 by some eminent botanists and scientists and supported by the Department of Agriculture Malaya under the British Administration. At the same time Agriculture Training Colleges were set up by the colonial authorities to train Malays in gardening and basic agriculture, so that they could bring the latest methods into the most remote villages.
The Association was formed, to quote the original charter,….’in order to encourage agriculture and horticulture, to organize shows and exhibitions, to act as a Central Association for Local Societies working for the same objects, to collect and collate data affecting the interest of the members and to publish same…..’(The MAHA Magazine 1923).
The Exhibition took on the acronym of the Association’s name MAHA for all its Shows since 1923 and the the first MAHA Show and Trade Exhibition was held in 1923 in Kuala Lumpur. Since then the MAHA Shows attracted the masses who came in droves to see the best and the latest in agriculture development in the country. From its early days MAHA Shows were immensely popular. It could be aptly termed ‘The All in One & One For All Show’. A wide variety of Fruits, Flowers & Flavours were abundantly spread out for sales by the traders and purchases by the discerning public.
The overwhelming response for the MAHA Shows could be gauged from the growing attendance yearly for the Shows. The Straits Times Newspaper had reported that in 1957 the crowd was 73,000 and in 1960 the total gate count was 128,776. In the new millennium MAHA in 2008 MAHA was recognized by The Malaysian Book of Records as the country’s largest agriculture, horticulture and agro-tourism show in terms of participation and number of display booths taken up by exhibitors. There were some 2000 exhibition booths taken up by over 1500 exhibitors both local and from overseas. MAHA today attracts over one million visitors over the whole duration of the show normally held over a ten days period.
Among the added attractions of the MAHA Exhibitions over the years for the overwhelming response were the outdoor activities for the whole family. The special events since the earliest times included top sinning, kite flying, attap making, pandan leaf weaving, cultural dances and entertainment by local and foreign artistes, camel and elephant rides and live animal shows, lumberjack activities, silk weaving and also football matches. There was this MAHA Gold Cup Competition which was held in the 1930s. The Cup was presented by the Sultans of the Federated Malay States. (The Straits Times 5 August 1935).
The culmination of these shows was the Rodeo Show held in MAHA 2008 which was a tremendous crowd puller. The rodeo event was the first ever show in the region by the professional rodeo riders from the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association.
MAHA 1999 at Bukit Jalil was the 34th MAHA show since it’s inception in 1923 and was the first MAHA since the last MAHA was held at the 8th. Mile Old Klang Road in 1968. The show retained its carnival atmosphere. It’s approach was adapted to the changing lifestyles and tastes of the modern consumer and the modern farming and Agro-based sector. Booths highlighting and marketing agriculture tourism destination and travel packages were the new attractions. This was in conforming to the new addition for the MAHA acronym for the last ‘A’ which stands for Agro-Tourism. Other attractions were the floral and food carnival and an exotic livestock display.
Historian the late Professor Datuk Khoo Kay Kim was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times report in August 1999 that the exhibition organized by MAHA during colonial rule and after independence were always popular among Malaysians. “ Oh, the response was simply amazing “ says Khoo, when asked to comment on the popularity of the MAHA event in the early days. “Malaysians like to party, “ he adds, “take me, for example, I wasn’t involved in agriculture but I would visit the MAHA Shows every year. You could buy all sorts of things there”. That is the effect MAHA Show has on the masses today.
MAHA 2000 held again at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex set the pace and the direction for future MAHA Shows. Due to the massive preparations needed and the full involvement of the relevant ministries and government agencies in the MAHA shows, the government decided to make MAHA show a biennial event. Since 2002 the MAHA Show was held biennially simultaneously with the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day, (Hari Peladang, Penternak Dan Nelayan Kebangsaan - HPPNK). The Farmers Day however is also celebrated annually.
MAHA 2002 was held at the 3.6 hectares Mines International Exposition, Conference and Convention Centre which brought back after a long time international participants on a significant scale. There were 22 countries which participated in the Show. An international conference was held in conjunction with MAHA 2002 with the theme ‘Agriculture Biotechnology: Business and Education’. At the conference renowned biotechnology agriculture speakers from the United Kingdom, Australia, USA, Canada and Belgium together with local experts presented papers and held discussions to highlight the strategic economic importance of the sector. The conference was the first of a series of events which led towards the establishment of the Integrated Modern Agricultural Farm in Kluang, Johor later.
In MAHA 2006 for the first time a guest nation was featured in the MAHA Show. The idea was to choose a nation each year to be the anchor guest nation for the year. In MAHA 2006 The People’s Republic of China was the first guest nation. As the anchor guest nation China had showcased the best of China’s agriculture, farm machinery and agro products. The second guest nation in MAHA 2008 was Australia. The Australian Pavilion was set up with the theme, “A Walk Thru’ the Best of Australian Agriculture and Livestock Services “, exhibiting livestock supply and management, feedlot management animal identification and nutrition, genetics animal bio security and traceability.
The 38th MAHA Exhibition in 2006 was held at the new permanent site with the establishment of Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) with a total floor space of around 42,000 square meters and around 130 acres parkland, the largest indoor exhibition venue in Malaysia designed to cater for the MAHA Shows and also for the needs of the MICE ( Meetings, Incentives, Conferences/Conventions, Exhibitions/Events) industry.
The Prime Minister YTM Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj opened the MAHA Exhibition at its permanent site at the 8th Mile Old Klang Road on 24 August 1964. He had then expressed the hope that it would be possible in the future, for The Central Government and all the states of of Malaysia to have each its own permanent pavilions to showcase the respective state uniqueness. The Tengku’s hope finally materialized after 42 years when the new permanent MAHA site was established in 2006 at MAEPS where each State in Malaysia had their own permanent State Pavillions at the site.
Reference Materials from:
- The National Archives of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur;
- The Straits Times Archives Singapore;
- Resource Centre, New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Kuala Lumpur;
- Philatelic Society of Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur;
- Jabatan Penerangan Putra Jaya;
- Bernama;
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