History Perak

iron socketed axe, 100 bc – 200 ad, said have been found in river bed in perak (british museum)

legend tells of hindu-malay kingdom called gangga negara in northwest of perak. archaeological discoveries indicate perak inhabited since prehistoric times.

the modern history of perak began fall of malacca sultanate. raja muzaffar shah, (the eldest son of last sultan of melaka, sultan mahmud shah) fled portuguese conquest of 1511 , established own dynasty on banks of sungai perak (perak river) in 1528. being rich in tin ore deposits, dominion under continuous threat outsiders.

dutch colonialism


the ruins of dutch fort on pangkor island

the dutch attempted control tin trade in 17th century, , built defensive forts @ mouth of perak river , on pulau pangkor.

early history recorded arrival in perak of dutch in 1641, when captured straits of malacca , controlled tin-ore , spice trading. however, dutch attempt monopolise tin-ore trading in perak influencing sultan muzaffar syah failed. turned sultanah tajul alam safiatuddin, sultan of aceh, seek permission trade in perak, forced sultan of perak sign treaty, allowing dutch build plant in kuala perak on 15 august 1650. did not go down aristocracy of perak.

in 1651, temenggung , people of perak attacked , destroyed dutch plant. dutch forced leave base in perak. dutch sent representative perak in 1655 renew earlier agreement , seek compensation loss of plant. perak government did not honour treaty , surrounded dutch; in retaliation, people of perak, aceh, , ujung salang, launched surprise attack on dutch.

in 1670, dutch returned perak build kota kayu, known kota belanda ( dutch fortress ), on pangkor island. perak agreed construction because of news kingdom of siam attacking state. nevertheless, in 1685, perak once again attacked dutch on pangkor island, forcing them retreat , close headquarters. dutch attempted negotiate new treaty, failed.

british colonialism


sultan abdullah of perak

in 19th century, bugis, acehnese, , siamese attempted invade perak, , british intervention in 1820 prevented siam annexing perak. although british reluctant establish colonial presence in malaya, increasing investment in tin mines brought great influx of chinese immigrants, including foo ming, formed rival clan groups allied malay chiefs , local gangsters fought control of mines. perak sultanate unable maintain order embroiled in protracted succession crisis.

in book golden chersonese , way thither (published 1892 g.p. putnam s sons), victorian traveller , adventurer isabella lucy bird (1831–1904) describes how raja muda abdullah (as was) turned friend in singapore, tan kim ching. tan, english merchant in singapore, drafted letter governor sir andrew clarke abdullah signed. letter expressed abdullah s desire place perak under british protection, , have man of sufficient abilities show (him) system of government. in 1874, straits settlements governor sir andrew clarke convened meeting on pulau pangkor, @ sultan abdullah installed on throne of perak in preference rival, sultan ismail. pangkor treaty required sultan of perak accept british resident, post granted wide administrative powers.

in 1875, various perak chiefs assassinated british resident james w. w. birch, resulting in short-lived perak war of 1876. sultan abdullah exiled seychelles, , british installed new ruler. new resident, sir hugh low, well-versed in malay language , local customs, , proved more capable administrator. introduced first rubber trees in malaya. perak joined selangor, negeri sembilan , pahang form federated malay states in 1896. however, british resident system persisted until malayan union established in 1948. perak (as component of federation of malaya) gained independence british on 31 august 1957.