Perak (Jawi: ڨيرق) is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia
bordering Kedah and Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to
the east, Selangor southward and to the west by the Strait
of Melaka.
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.
Pulau Pangkor 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 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. In the 18th century, the
Bugis, Acehnese, and the Thai
all attempted to invade Perak. Only British intervention in
1820 prevented Thai 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 the 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 industrial / 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).
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.
Map of Perak with 9 region divide
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.
- Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh
- Majlis Daerah Kinta Selatan
- Majlid Daerah Kinta Barat
- Majlis Perbandaran Taiping (administrate central and south-west part of district)
- Majlis Daerah Selama (administrate north part of district)
- Majlis Perbandaran Teluk Intan (Majlis Daerah Hilir Perak)
- Manjung- Population: 191,004; Area: 1,168 km².
- Majlis Perbandaran Manjung (Majlis Daerah Manjung)
- Majlis Daerah Tapah
- Majlis Daerah Tanjong Malim
- Kerian- Population: 52,651; Area: 938 km².
- Majlis Daerah Kerian
- Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Kangsar (Majlis Daerah Kuala Kangsar)
- Majlis Daerah Gerik
- Majlis Daerah Pengkalan Hulu
- Malis Daerah Lenggong
- Majlis Daerah Perak Tengah
These districts eventually are divided into several Mukims or Counties which are more politically significant.The main cities
and towns in Perak are:
- Ipoh
- Taiping
- Teluk Intan
- Sungai Siput
- Kuala Kangsar
- Lumut
- Batu Gajah
- Tanjung Malim
Demography
Perak's population is now approximately 2 million. Once Malaysia's most populous state, the decline in the tin mining industry
caused an economic slowdown from which it has yet to recover, leading 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 bestow the Sultan a long life
Just and Gracious, ruling the nation
Accord by the people
Allah endow the righteous faith
Sanctify Perak Darul Ridzuan, O Allah
Salvage the nation 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.
External links
pms:Perak
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