 Perak
Darul Ridzuan, the Land of Grace, covers an area of 21,000 square
kilometers and has a population of about two million. The state is
divided into nine districts and its major towns include lpoh, Kuala
Kangsar, Taiping, Teluk lntan and Lumut, Kuala Kangsar is the royal town
of Perak, while lpoh is the administrative centre and state capital. For
centuries, Perak was renowned for its rich tin deposits. It is believed
that the state derived its name, which means silver in Malay, from the
silvery tin ore.
The discovery of tin by Long
Jaafar brought about an influx of immigrants to Perak. Today, Perak has
developed into a harmonious multi-racial society characterised by a
diversity of language, culture and heritage.
The present sultanate traces its origins to Sultan
Muzaffar Shah, the eldest son of the last Sultan of Melaka. Because of
its rich tin deposits, Perak constantly faced outside threats to its
sovereignty. The state was first ravaged by the Achinese in the 16th
century. After 1641, the Dutch attempted to established a monopoly over
Perak's tin trade by building fofts on Pangkor Island and at the mouth
of Perak River, but without great success. In the 18th century, Perak
was threatened by the Bugis in the South and the Thai in the north. The
state was saved from the Thai domination with British assistance in the
1820s.
The growing importance of tin on the
world market led to an influx of Chinese miners into the rich tin fields
of Larut. This development however, destabilized the traditional Malay
policy in the Perak River Valley. In the 1870s the state was torn by a
succession dispute to the throne and war in Larut between tueding
Chinese tin miners. This led to the British intervention in 1874 when
they impose the Pangkor Engagement on the Perak chiefs and took control
of the state.
Constant apposition from the Perak
Chiefs resulted in the assassination of the first British Resident and a
brief war. The state later became a model for the development of British
'residential system' and in 1896 became one the four Malay states
forming the Federated Malay States.
Perak has a proud track record of making the best of every
circumstances. Despite the 'tin slump in 1983, it has succeeded in
restructuring its economic development, resulting in continuous
industrial growth. A sound infrastructure and facilities of
international standard make it an ideal environment for business
enterprise.
Originally an obscure kampung with
dilapidated buildings, Ipoh, the town that tin built, has become one of
the largest cities in Malaysian. Poised to become a focal point of
industry, business, investment, education and social activities, Ipoh
reflects the overall progress and development that the state is
experiencing. |
