The Tin Price Crash of 1985 and the Birth of Modern Malaysia

In 1985, the global tin market collapsed. The price of tin, which had propped up the Malaysian economy for over a century, crashed from over M$30 per kilogram to under M$15 in a matter of months. The crash was triggered by the collapse of the International Tin Council, a cartel that had tried to control supply. For Malaysia, the world's largest tin producer, it was a disaster. But out of the rubble emerged a new economic vision: heavy industry, the national car, and the rise of the Petronas Towers. This episode explores how the crash reshaped the country, from the tin mines of the Kinta Valley to the factories of Shah Alam. We look at the role of the Malaysia Mining Corporation, the government's response, and the long-term shift from commodity dependence to manufacturing. It's a story of boom and bust, and a national reinvention.

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