Kapitan Cina
During the first two years of his reign, Abu Bakar expanded the "kangchu" system pioneered by Daeng Ibrahim. He issued Western-style contracts (termed as "Surat Sungai" in Malay, literally "River Documents") to the "Kapitan Cina" (Chinese leaders) who had established riverside plantations along in Johor. Letters of authority ("Surat Kuasa") were issued when the first Chinese leaders began settling in Johor during the 1850s. Abu Bakar quickly established goodwill relations with the "Kapitan Cina"; a Malay administrator who could speak the Teochew dialect (the language spoken by most "Kapitan Cina") and read Chinese was employed for these purposes. He also employed the service of a Chinese contractor from Toisan, Wong Ah Fook, to oversee the construction of Istana Besar.