Perak

4°45′N 101°0′E

For other uses, see Perak (disambiguation).

Perak (Jawi: ڨيرق) is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor southward and to the west by the Strait of Malacca.

Perak means silver in Bahasa Malaysia. The name comes most probably from the silvery colour of tin. In the 1890s, Perak, with the richest alluvial deposits of tin in the world was one of the jewels in the crown of the British Empire. However, some say the name comes from the "glimmer of fish in the water" that sparkled like silver. The Arab honorific of the State is Darul Ridzuan, the Land of Grace.

Pangkor Island is a small offshore island that provides some tourist activities such as snorkelling.

History

Legends tell of a Hindu-Malay kingdom called Gangga Negara in the northwest of Perak. Archaeological discoveries indicate that Perak has been inhabited since prehistoric times.

The modern history of Perak began with the fall of the Malacca Sultanate. The eldest son of the last Sultan of Melaka (Sultan Mahmud Shah), Raja Muzaffar Shah, fleeing the Portuguese conquest of 1511, established his own dynasty on the banks of the Sungai Perak (Perak River) in 1528. As the Perak area was extremely rich in tin, it was under almost continuous threat from outsiders.

The Dutch in Perak

The ruins of the Dutch Fort on Pangkor Island

The Dutch unsuccessfully attempted to monopolize the tin trade in the 17th century, and built forts at the mouth of the Perak River and on Pulau Pangkor.

Early history of the Dutch arrival in Perak began in 1641, when they captured the Straits of Malacca by taking control of tin-ore and and spice trading. The Dutch attempted to monopolise the tin-ore tradings in Perak by influencing Sultan Muzaffar Syah, the Sultan of Perak, but did not succeed. They then turned to Sultanah Tajul Alam Safiatuddin, the Sultan of Aceh, to seek permission to trade in Perak. The event compelled the Sultan of Perak to sign the treaty, allowing the Dutch to build their plant in Kuala Perak on August 15 1650, which caused dissatisfaction among the aristocracy of Perak.

In 1651, Temenggung and the people of Perak attacked and destroyed the Dutch plant. The Dutch were forced to leave their base in Perak.

In 1655, the Dutch sent a representative to Perak to renew the agreement made earlier and to seek compensation for the loss of their plant. Perak however did not honour the treaty and was thus surrounded by the Dutch. In retaliation, the people of Perak with Aceh, Ujung Salang, launched a surprise attack on the Dutch.

In 1670, the Dutch returned to Perak to build Kota Kayu, now known as Kota Belanda ("Dutch Fortress"), on Pangkor Island.

Perak agreed to the construction because of news that the Kingdom of Siam would be attacking the state. Nevertheless, in 1685, once again Perak attacked the Dutch on Pangkor Island and forced them to retreat and shut down their headquarters. The Dutch attempted to negotiate for a new treaty but failed.

British colonialism

Sultan Abdullah of Perak

In the 18th century, the Bugis, Acehnese, and the Thai all attempted to invade Perak. Only British intervention in 1820 prevented Siam from annexing Perak. Although the British were initially reluctant to establish a colonial presence in Malaya, increasing investment in the tin mines brought a great influx of Chinese immigrants, who formed rival clan groups allied with Malay chiefs and local gangsters, all of whom battled to control the mines. The Perak sultanate, involved in a protracted succession struggle, was unable to maintain order.

In her book The Golden Chersonese and The Way Thither (published 1892 G.P. Putnam's Sons) Victorian traveller and adventuress Isabella Lucy Bird (1831-1904) describes how Raja Muda Abdullah (as he then was) turned to his friend in Singapore, Tan Kim Ching. Tan, together with an English merchant in Singapore drafted a letter to Governor Sir Andrew Clarke which Abdullah signed. The letter expressed Abdullah's desire to place Perak under British protection, and "to have a man of sufficient abilities to show (him) a good system of government." In 1874, the Straits Settlements governor Sir Andrew Clarke convened a meeting on Pulau Pangkor, at which Sultan Abdullah was installed on the throne of Perak in preference to his rival, Sultan Ismail. This Pangkor Treaty also required that the sultan accept a British Resident, who would control all administrative issues other than those pertaining to religion or Malay custom. In 1875, various Perak chiefs assassinated the British Resident James W.W. Birch, resulting in the short-lived Perak War of 1876. Sultan Abdullah was exiled to the Seychelles, and the British installed a new ruler. The new resident, Sir Hugh Low, was well versed in the Malay language and customs, and proved to be a more capable administrator. He also introduced the first rubber trees to Malaya.

In 1896, Perak joined Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang to form the Federated Malay States. However, the British Resident system lasted until Perak became part of the Federation of Malaya in 1948.

Perak gained independence from the British on August 31, 1957 along with 10 other states in the Federation of Malaya. The federation was enlarged to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963 following the admission of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965.

Economy

Historically dominated by tin mining and rubber, Perak suffered greatly with the decline of those industries. Recent efforts have been made to transform the economy into one based on manufacturing. A new car manufacturing hub called Proton City at Tanjung Malim has been developed with the establishment of state-of-the-art car manufacturing facilities. The Proton City at Tanjung Malim has become the largest manufacturer of Proton cars (Malaysia's national car maker).

Administration

Constitutional monarchy

Its current hereditary Sultan of Perak is Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lahu, who was the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and formerly the Lord President of Malaysia's Supreme Court.

State Government

The Perak State Government is led by the Menteri Besar, Dato' Seri Diraja Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali of Barisan Nasional, a former teacher.

Districts of Perak

Administrative divisions

Modern Perak is divided into 9 administrative districts or "daerah" in Malay. These 9 districts, are further divided into administrative Municipal councils (Majlis Bandaraya/Perbandaran and Daerah):

• Kinta- Population: 751,825; Area: 1,958 km².

1. Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh
2. Majlis Daerah Kinta Selatan
3. Majlid Daerah Kinta Barat

• Larut, Matang dan Selama - Population:273,321; Area: 2,103 km².

1. Majlis Perbandaran Taiping (administrate central and south-west part of district)
2. Majlis Daerah Selama (administrate north part of district)

• Hilir Perak- Population: 191,098; Area: 1,727 km².

1. Majlis Perbandaran Teluk Intan (Majlis Daerah Hilir Perak)

• Manjung- Population: 191,004; Area: 1,168 km².

1. Majlis Perbandaran Manjung (Majlis Daerah Manjung)

• Batang Padang- Population:152,137; Area: 2,730 km².

1. Majlis Daerah Tapah
2. Majlis Daerah Tanjong Malim

• Kerian- Population: 52,651; Area: 938 km².

1. Majlis Daerah Kerian

• Kuala Kangsar- Population: 154,048; Area: 2,541 km².

1. Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Kangsar (Majlis Daerah Kuala Kangsar)

The town of Lenggong, in Hulu Perak District.

• Hulu Perak- Population: 82,195; Area: 6,558 km².

1. Majlis Daerah Gerik
2. Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu
3. Malis Daerah Lenggong

• Perak Tengah- Population: 82,103; Area: 1,282 km².

1. Majlis Daerah Perak Tengah

Please note that the districts of Kerian and Larut, Matang dan Selama have been wrongly labelled in the map on the right. Both districts are in the northwest corner of the state. Kerian district is in the west and Larut, Matang dan Selama is in the east.

These districts eventually are divided into several Mukims or Counties which are more politically significant.The main cities and towns in Perak are:

1. Ipoh
2. Taiping
3. Teluk Intan
4. Sungai Siput
5. Kuala Kangsar
6. Lumut
7. Batu Gajah
8. Tanjung Malim

Demography

Perak's population is now approximately 2 million. Once Malaysia's most populous state, Perak has yet to recover from an economic slowdown caused by the decline in the tin mining industry. The weak economy has led to a massive drain in manpower to higher-growth states such as Penang, Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The ethnic composition of the population was estimated in 2001 to be: Malay (962,050 or 44%), Chinese (924,000 or 42%), Indian (308,600 or 14%), Other (50,000), Other Bumiputra (41,400).

Perak State Anthem

Malay		English translation
Dilanjutkan Allah usianya Sultan Adil dan murah memerintah watan Ditaati rakyat kiri dan kanan Iman yang soleh Allah kurniakan Allah berkati Perak Darul Ridzuan Allah selamatkan Negeri dan Sultan		Allah, grant the Sultan a long life Just and gracious, ruling the homeland Obeyed by the people left and right Allah bestows the righteous faith Sanctify Perak Darul Ridzuan, O Allah Safeguard the State and Sultan, O Allah

Transport

Rail transport

The railway service is undergoing major upgrading with the advent of electrified trains running on double tracks from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh. Ipoh Railway Station is an imposing structure in the city centre. Built in the Moorish style, this white structure, nicknamed the Taj Mahal of Ipoh, was completed in 1917. The Ipoh Railway Station is said to be the second most beautiful railway station in Malaysia after the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. It is located on Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab.

Cuisine

Lemang, a Malay delicacy made from glutinous rice cooked in a bamboo tube over slow fire is a must-have during the festivities such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Haji, especially along with some rendang (Malay for meat curry in coconut milk and spices). Some say lemang originated from the indigenous people who cook their rice using bamboo.

Tempoyak is another popular Malay delicacy. It is durian extract which is preserved and kept in an urn. Commonly eaten with chillies and other dishes, it is well known due to the popularity of its key ingredient, durian, among the locals.

See also: Ipoh cuisine.

Literature

• Isabella Lucy Bird. The Golden Chersonese and The Way Thither. (1892). G.P. Putnam's Sons.
• Barbara Watson Andaya. Perak, the Abode of Grace. (1979). East Asian Historical Monographs. ISBN 978-0195803853
• John Frederick Adolphus McNair. Perak and the Malays. (1878). Cornell University Library. ISBN 978-1429743129
• Raja Bilah and the Mandailings in Perak: 1875-1911. MBRAS Monograph Series, No. 35. (2003). ISBN 9679948315

External links

• Department of His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Perak in handling and managing all the activities of Perak's State Ruler
• Perak Community Forum
• Perak page on the official portal of the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia
• Taste of Batik Kaftan