Perak facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Perak Negeghi Peghak
State of Malaysia
Perak Darul Ridzuan ڤيراق دار الرضوان‎
Other transcription(s)
• Jawi	ڤيراق‎
• Chinese	霹雳
• Tamil	பேராக்
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Perak Aman Jaya
Anthem: Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan
Perak in    Malaysia
Capital	Ipoh
Royal capital	Kuala Kangsar
Government
• Type	Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Area
• Total	21,035 km2 (8,122 sq mi)
Population  (2016)
• Total	2.48 million
Demonym(s)	Perakian, Perakese, Peraknese
Human Development Index
• HDI (2010)	0.784 (high) (7th)
Postal code	30xxx to 36xxx 39xxx
Calling code	+605
ISO 3166 code	MY-08
Vehicle registration	A
Pangkor Treaty	1874
Federated into FMS	1895
Japanese occupation	1942
Accession into the Federation of Malaya	1948
Independence as part of the Federation of Malaya	31 August 1957

Perak, also known by its honorific Darul Ridzuan or "Abode of Grace", is one of the thirteen states of Malaysia, and the fourth-largest one. It borders Kedah at the north; Thailand's Yala and Narathiwat provinces to the northeast; Penang to the northwest; Kelantan and Pahang to the east; Selangor to the south, and the Straits of Malacca to the west.

The state's administrative capital of Ipoh was known historically for tin-mining activities until the price of the metal dropped, severely affecting the state's economy. The royal capital, however, remains at Kuala Kangsar, where the palace of the Sultan of Perak is located.

Name

The state's official name is Perak Darul Ridzuan. Perak means silver in Malay, which is probably derived 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. Darul Ridzuan is the state's Arabic honorific, and can mean either "land" or "abode" of grace.

History

Iron socketed axe, 100 BC – 200 AD, said to have been found in a river bed in Perak (British Museum)

Legend tells of a Hindu-Malay Kingdom called Gangga Negara in the northwest of Perak. Archaeological discoveries indicate that Perak was inhabited since prehistoric times.

The modern history of Perak began with the fall of the Malacca Sultanate. Raja Muzaffar Shah, the eldest son of the last Sultan of Melaka, Sultan Mahmud Shah and his Queen Tun Fatimah, fled the Portuguese conquest of 1511 and established his own dynasty on the banks of the Sungai Perak (Perak River) in 1528 (his younger brother, meanwhile, followed their mother Queen Tun Fatimah to the south to establish the Sultanate of Johor in the same year). Being rich in tin ore deposits, the dominion was under almost continuous threat from outsiders.

Dutch colonialism

The ruins of the Dutch Fort on Pangkor Island

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

Early history recorded the arrival in Perak of the Dutch in 1641, when they captured the Straits of Malacca and controlled tin-ore and spice trading. However, the Dutch attempt to monopolise the tin-ore trading in Perak by influencing Sultan Muzaffar Syah failed. They then turned to Sultanah Tajul Alam Safiatuddin, the Sultan of Aceh, to seek permission to trade in Perak, which forced the Sultan of Perak to sign a treaty, allowing the Dutch to build their plant in Kuala Perak on 15 August 1650. This did not go down well with 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. The Dutch sent a representative to Perak in 1655 to renew the earlier agreement and to seek compensation for the loss of their plant. The Perak government however did not honour the treaty and was thus surrounded by the Dutch; in retaliation, the people of Perak, Aceh, and 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, Perak once again attacked the Dutch on Pangkor Island, forcing them to retreat and close their headquarters. The Dutch attempted to negotiate for a new treaty, but failed.

British colonialism

Sultan Abdullah of Perak

In the 19th century, the Bugis, Acehnese, and the Siamese all attempted to invade Perak, and 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, including Foo Ming, who formed rival clan groups allied with Malay chiefs and local gangsters which all fought for control of the mines. The Perak Sultanate was unable to maintain order as it was embroiled in a protracted succession crisis.

In her book The Golden Chersonese and The Way Thither (published 1892 G. P. Putnam's Sons), Victorian traveller and adventurer 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 of Perak accept a British Resident, a post granted wide administrative powers.

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 local customs, and proved to be a more capable administrator. He also introduced the first rubber trees in Malaya. Perak joined Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang to form the Federated Malay States in 1896. However, the British Resident system persisted until the Malayan Union was established in 1948. Perak (as a component of the Federation of Malaya) gained its independence from the British on 31 August 1957.

Administration

Constitutional monarchy

Royal Throne of Perak

Under the laws of the Constitution of Perak, Perak is a constitutional monarchy, with a constitutional hereditary ruler. The current Sultan of Perak is Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the 35th Sultan of Perak. He was appointed as the new Sultan on 29 May 2014. The preceding Sultan was Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, who was the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and formerly the Lord President of the Supreme Court of Malaysia who died on 28 May 2014.

Administrative divisions

Districts of Perak. The borders of Muallim district is based on the borders of the mukims Slim, West Hulu Bernam and East Hulu Bernam that make up the new district. The border between Selama and Larut and Matang is also shown.

Perak is divided into 12 administrative districts which are further divided into local administrative Municipal councils. The following is a list of the 12 administrative districts in terms of population.

It has been announced on 26 November 2015 that Perak would have its eleventh district, which is called Muallim, which includes the sub-district of Tanjung Malim which has split it from the current Batang Padang District. It has been officiated by Sultan Nazrin, the current Sultan on 11 January 2016.

On 9 January 2017, Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah graced the proclamation of Bagan Datuk as the 12th district of the state. The proclamation marked the start of transformation for the district, which is one of the biggest coconut producers in Malaysia.

Demographics

Once Malaysia's most populous state, Perak has yet to recover from the decline of the tin-mining industry. The economic downturn resulted in massive manpower drain to higher-growth states such as Penang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

Perak's population grew at an annual rate of around 0.4%. The growth of population in recent years:

• 1980: 1,743,655
• 1990: 1,877,471
• 2000: 1,973,368
• 2010: 2,258,428
• 2015: 2,477,700

Religion

In 2010, the religious make-up of residents in Perak was: 55.3% Muslim, 25.4% Buddhist, 10.9% Hindu, 4.3% Christian, 1.7% Taoists or followers of other Chinese folk religion, 1.5% other religion or unknown affiliation, and 0.9% non-religious.

Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.7% of the Chinese population in Perak are identified as Buddhists, with significant minorities of adherents identifying as Christians (9.2%), Chinese folk religions (5.8%) and Muslims (0.2%). The majority of the Indian population are as Hindus (87.6%), with a significant minorities of numbers identifying as Christians (6.1%), Muslims (2.67%) and Buddhists (1.0%). The non-Malay bumiputera community are predominantly Atheists (28.2%), with significant minorities identifying as Muslims (24.1%) and Christians (22.9%). All Malays are necessarily Muslims as the Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia defines professing Islam as one of the criteria of being a Malay.

Geography

Perak River

Perak covers an area of 21,035 km² (8,122 sq mi), making up 6.4 per cent of total land mass in Malaysia. It is the second-largest Malaysian state in the Malay Peninsula, and the fourth-largest in the whole of Malaysia.

The longest river in Perak is the Perak River (Malay: Sungai Perak), it originates in the mountains at the Perak-Kelantan-Thailand border, and empties into the Strait of Malacca. It is the second-longest river in Peninsular Malaysia, after the Pahang River.

Climate

Perak's days are warm and sunny, while its nights are cool the whole year through, with occasional rains in the evenings. Temperature is fairly constant, that is, from 23 °C to 33 °C, with humidity often more than 82.3 per cent. Annual rainfall measures at 3,218 mm.

Tourism

Masjid Ubudiah

The Lost World of Tambun theme park is surrounded by a 400-million-year-old limestone mountain, and includes a 175-room hotel.

Kuala Kangsar, just 48 km north of Ipoh on the Perak River, is the royal town. It is dominated by three buildings: Istana Iskandariah, Istana Kenangan and the Ubudiah Mosque. The Istana Iskandariah, located on a hill overlooking the river, is the palace of the Sultan of Perak. Istana Kenangan, which was constructed as a temporary residence during the Iskandariah's construction is known for its architecture. The Ubudiah Mosque is an impressive structure topped with a constellation of bright golden domes.

Perak State Museum is located in Taiping, and is the oldest museum in Malaysia.

Kellie's Castle is located in Batu Gajah. It was built in 1915 and was never completed as the owner William Kellie Smith died in Lisbon, with his widow selling the property and returning to Scotland. The castle is perched on top of a hill in what used to be a rubber estate. The castle was once believed to be haunted, with many secret rooms and a hidden tunnel. Today, it is opened as a tourist attraction.

The Gua Tempurung cave is located between Gopeng and Kampar. During peak season, it is packed with locals and tourists.

Accessible from Lumut, the Pangkor Island holds a mix of fishing settlements and white beaches decked with rich vegetation. The warm waters are used for swimming and diving. Resorts are available for accommodation on the island. Pangkor's two popular beach areas are Pasir Bogak and Teluk Nipah which offer activities such as scuba-diving, snorkelling, wind-surfing and fishing. Teluk Ketapang (Turtle Bay) still receives turtles on their egg-laying pilgrimages.

A white water rafting location in Perak is at My Gopeng Resort (Gopeng). White-water rafting (Grade 3), waterfall abseiling, rafflesia's flower trekking, jungle trekking and others adventures are part of the joy of visiting Perak.

Beside rafting, many admire Gaharu from Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng a kind of Agarwood which can be processed as tea. Rumor has it that whoever captures a picture with the tall King Wood will bring in a windfall. Hong Kong director Raymond Wong Bak-Ming believed had a close relationship with the farm owner.

The Belum-Temengor Forest Reserve is one of the largest untouched forest reserves in the peninsula, with exotic mammals such as elephants, rhinoceroses, tapirs and tigers. Guided tours are available for visitors.

The Sungai Klah Hot Spring Park has a free-flowing hot springs swimming pool and therapeutic park at the foothill of the Titiwangsa Range, 200 feet above sea level. Visitors can view the oil palm plantations and durian orchards, and also experience hot springs egg boiling.

Founded in 1844, Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) is the wettest place in Malaysia, with an annual rainfall of over 500 cm. The hill has views on a clear day where the peninsular coastline and the Straits of Malacca are visible, sometimes stretching as far as Penang to the north and Pangkor Island to the south.

The Taiping Lake Gardens was built on top of an abandoned tin mine, and opened in 1880, the first public garden in Malaya. Spread over 64 hectares, the lake system has ten lakes and ponds, a lotus pool, bridges, tracks for jogging and reflexology, a roller-skating rink, paddleboat rides, and a playground, all surrounded by tropical plants, flowers, trees and wildlife.

Ipoh panorama

Transportation

Railway

Ipoh Railway Station.

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 in the city centre. Built in the Moorish style, this white structure, nicknamed the Taj Mahal of Ipoh, was completed in 1935 to replace the original railway platform shed built 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. Some say lemang originated from the indigenous people who cook their rice using bamboo.

Tempoyak is another 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. Tambun pomelo, the most popular fruit in Perak, is another tropical delight.

Rendang Tok, a noted Perak Cuisine, a beef gravy slow cooked in a huge, deep frying pan over bonfire normally served during Malay Muslim festive season Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Malay wedding in Perak.

Ipoh, the state capital, is known for a soup noodle dish called sar hor fun and Hainanese chicken rice.

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  Mangrove logs in Matang Charcoal Factory

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  A lion cub in Taiping Zoo, Perak

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  Zigzag bridge in Taiping Lake Garden

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  A bowl of Mee Udang (Prawn noodles)

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  Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple in Ipoh.

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  Street view of Ipoh City

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  Cave painting in Perak Tong Limestone Cave Temple

Images for kids

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  The Tambun rock art of the Neolithic era in Tambun near Ipoh

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  Perak Malay girls in traditional dress, Kuala Kangsar, image pre-1921

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  Pangkor Island within Dindings in the British Straits Settlements, c. 1874

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  British female explorer, naturalist and writer Isabella Bird led by two local men in her first ride on elephant in Perak, c. 1883

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  Women of different ethnic groups in Perak; the majority Chinese, with some Malay and Mandailing employed as tin miners in the late 19th century

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  Group portrait of 4th British Resident Hugh Low and two Perak and Larut Malay rajas, c. 1880–1881

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  Japanese characters map of Malaya under the occupation of the Empire of Japan, c. 1942

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  Japanese Type 97 Te-Ke tanks, followed by their bicycle infantry, advancing during the Battle of Kampar, December 1941

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  European administrator civilians from Penang having their break in Ipoh Station before proceeding south to Singapore during the war, c. 1941

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  Sikh infantry of the Indian Army serving alongside British Empire troops during a fierce battle against the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) in Kampar, c. 1941–1942

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  Notorious MLNA leader Lee Meng in Ipoh District during the Malayan Emergency, c. 1951

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  Sir Gerald Templer and his assistant, Major Lord Wynford, inspecting the Kinta Valley Home Guard (KVHG), Perak, c. 1952

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  Perak, western Malay Peninsula (NASA satellite image)

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  Limestone hills of Tambun near the Enlighten Heart Tibetan Buddhist Temple

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  Panorama of Taiping Lake Gardens in Bukit Larut, formerly a mining ground

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  Belum Rainforest Resort Outdoor Walkway on Banding Island in Temenggor Lake

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  Kuhl's flying gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli) in Tapah Hills

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  Fishing village in Kuala Sepetang illuminated by lamps during the blue hour. Agriculture, especially freshwater fish and prawn farming, is a major economic sector in Perak, along with services and manufacturing.

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  Road bridge passing the Royal Belum Rainforest during blue hour

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  Old and new infrastructure in capital city Ipoh

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  Rush hour traffic at dusk in Kampar

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  A PerakTransit bus at Kuala Kangsar road, Ipoh

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  Taiping Hospital in Taiping

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  Chinese architecture of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Campus Grand Hall, Kampar, at night

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  Malay language road sign with English location name in Ipoh

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  Road sign near Ipoh City Council

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  Labu sayong pottery traditional in Kuala Kangsar

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  Ipoh white coffee, Perak's signature drink

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  Perak FA football supporters at the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals against Pahang, Perak Stadium, Ipoh, 24 September 2017

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  Mount Korbu with surrounding vegetation

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  Mirror Lake in Ipoh

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  Forest Brook in Tapah Hills

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  Twilight in Lumut Beach

See also

In Spanish: Perak para niños