 Perak
History and Economy
History
Perak's known civilization dates back to the 15th century,
and right up to the 18th century it had a colourful history
of politics and power struggles. The first governments were
based in Bruas and Manjung in the 15th century.
The present Sultanate of Perak dates back to 1528 when Sultan
Muzaffar the eldest son of the last Sultan of Malacca, established
his dynasty on the banks of the Perak river.
Perak's great wealth in tin put her in a state of constant
threat from the Thais in the north and the Achehnese and Bugis
in the south during the 16th to 18th centuries. During the
1700s, the Dutch had also tried unsuccessfully to monopolise
the tin trade.
The rich deposits of tin drew a great number of Chinese miners
to Perak who soon formed rival clans fighting for dominion
over the mines. This constant warring and lawlessness and
a power struggle between the successors to the Perak throne,
gave the British administrators at the time the opportunity
to intervene.
At the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874, the British
governor Sir Andrew Clarke installed Sultan Abdullah on the
throne with the condition that he accepted a British Resident.
The British soon put an administration in place to govern
the state for the sultan. The first resident JWW Birch, disliked
for high-handedness, was assassinated in 1875. The British
sent troops to maintain order and exiled Sultan Abdullah.
Birch's successor the new Resident, Hugh Low, a more able
administrator, ensured greater control over the mines, kept
the chiefs in order, imposed taxes and regulated the affairs
of the state. Perak prospered under his administration and
Malaya saw its first railway line built from Taiping to Port
Weld in 1885. It ensured faster movement of tin to the ports
and hence greater production.
In 1896, Perak became a member of the Federated Malay States
until the Japanese Occupation.
Economy
Perak means 'silver' in Malay, a reference to the silvery
tin ore from which the state drew its wealth. The rich tin
area, known as the Kinta Valley was heavily mined for centuries.
When the tin mining industry collapsed in the mid-'80s, economic
activities were restructured around agriculture, manufacturing,
construction, trade and commerce.
There has been continuous industrial growth and development
of infrastructure. Emphasis has also been given to fishing,
forestry, cottage industries and tourism. Ipoh is one of the
more progressive cities in Malaysia and is fast becoming a
focal point of industry, business investment and education.
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