Perak

Perak is a state in Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. It shares borders with several other Malaysian states and has Thailand nearby to the northeast. The capital city, Ipoh, was once famous for its tin-mining industry. Perak is home to about 2 million people.

The state has rich tropical rainforests and a warm equatorial climate. Its landscape includes several mountain ranges that are part of a larger system stretching across Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Ancient discoveries, like the 10,000-year-old Perak Man, give clues about early human movement from Asia to Australia. Over time, Perak was influenced by Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, followed by the rise of a Muslim sultanate in the 1500s. British influence grew in the 1800s, leading to changes in government and economy. Today, Perak is known for its diverse culture, traditional dances, and arts, and its economy focuses on services and manufacturing.

Etymology

There are many ideas about where the name Perak comes from. One popular idea is that it means "silver" in Malay, because the area had lots of tin and minerals. Another idea is that it was named after an important leader called Tun Perak. Some people think the name comes from a phrase meaning "the glimmer of fish in water," which looks like silver.

History

Prehistory

Perak has some of the oldest human settlements in Malaysia. Important prehistoric sites include Bukit Bunuh, Bukit Gua Harimau, Bukit Jawa, Bukit Kepala Gajah, and Kota Tampan in the Lenggong Archaeological Heritage Valley. These sites have provided valuable clues about early human life, including tools and a skeleton known as Perak Man. Evidence of Hindu and Buddhist influences was also found before the arrival of Islam.

Sultanate of Perak

By the 15th century, a kingdom named Beruas existed in the area. Inscriptions on tombstones show Islamic influence from the Sultanate of Malacca. The Perak Sultanate was formed in the early 16th century, becoming the second oldest Muslim kingdom in the Malay Peninsula. The sultanate grew as a source of tin ore and traded freely with other regions.

British protectorate

In the 19th century, tensions rose between local factions and Chinese miners, leading to conflicts known as the Larut Wars. The British intervened in 1874 through the Treaty of Pangkor, appointing a British Resident to advise the sultan. This marked the start of British influence in Perak, which later became part of the Federated Malay States in 1895.

Second World War

During World War II, Japanese forces occupied Perak. They controlled the region with strict measures and altered local administrations. Resistance groups formed, mainly from the Chinese community, to oppose the Japanese occupation.

Post-war and independence

After the war, tensions between communist groups and the government led to the Malayan Emergency. Perak was a key area in this conflict. The state later became part of the Federation of Malaya, which gained independence in 1957. Perak continued to develop, balancing its rich history with modern changes.

Geography

Perak is a state in Malaysia, located on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula along the Strait of Malacca. It is the second largest state in the Malay Peninsula and has a land area of 20,976 square kilometres. The state has 230 kilometres of coastline, with many areas affected by coastal changes. Mangrove forests grow along most of the coast, except for Pangkor Island, which has rich plant and animal life.

Perak has many forests covering over a million hectares, with different types of land such as hills, mountains, and plains. The state is divided by mountain chains into three main areas. Rivers flow from the mountains to the coast, with the Perak River being the longest and largest in the state.

Perak has a warm, wet climate year-round, with heavy rains during monsoon seasons. The state's jungles are home to many different animals, including birds, mammals, and insects. Royal Belum State Park is a large protected area with many species of plants and animals. However, some wildlife faces threats from loss of forest areas and pollution.

Governance and politics

Main article: Government of Perak

See also: Laws of the Constitution of Perak and Order of precedence in Perak

Perak is a constitutional monarchy, with a ruler chosen by a group of important leaders. The sultan is the head of the state. The current Sultan of Perak is Nazrin Shah, who became sultan on 29 May 2014. The main royal palace is the Iskandariah Palace in Kuala Kangsar.

The state government is led by a Menteri Besar (Chief Minister), who is helped by a group of 11 members called the Executive Council. These members are chosen from the Perak State Legislative Assembly.

The 59-seat Assembly is where laws for Perak are made. It works like the Westminster system. Members are chosen by citizens every five years. The Chief Minister is chosen based on who can get the most support in the Assembly.

See also: Menteri Besar of Perak

Main articles: 2009 Perak constitutional crisis and Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin v Zambry Abdul Kadir

Main articles: List of districts in Malaysia and List of local governments in Malaysia

Perak is divided into 12 districts, with local leaders for each area. Before the British arrived, Perak was managed by the sultan's friends and family. The British set up new ways to govern, including councils to help with administration.

In 2016, a new district called Muallim was created from part of Batang Padang District. In 2017, Bagan Datuk became the 12th district, known for producing lots of coconut.

Economy

Perak's economy is mainly based on services, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. In 2016, services made up the largest part of the state's economy at 60.9%, followed by manufacturing (18.5%), agriculture (16.1%), and construction (4.0%).

Since the 1980s, Perak has moved away from relying mostly on tin mining. Today, tourism plays an important role, contributing to the state's growth. In 2017, tourism added RM201.4 billion to Perak's economy, making up about 15% of the total. The state has plans to grow its economy further, with big projects worth up to RM30 billion over 20 years. Perak is also working hard to stay a top producer of farm products in Malaysia, focusing on crops like vegetables, flowers, and fruits. The state continues to attract investments, ranking fifth in Malaysia for new business projects.

Tourism

Perak is a popular place to visit in Malaysia, known for its history and natural beauty. Visitors can see important buildings like the Iskandariah Palace and the Perak Royal Museum, as well as colonial-era sites such as Kellie's Castle and Ipoh railway station. The state also has many natural attractions, including forests, caves, and beautiful islands like Pangkor Island and Banding Island. These places draw many tourists each year, making tourism a key part of Perak's economy.

Infrastructure

Perak has a development plan from 2016 to 2020. In 2016, the state government approved a Development Fund of RM397,438,000. The 2018 Budget gave Perak RM1.176 billion, with RM421.28 million for development and RM755.59 million for management costs. The state government works to improve and build new infrastructure and attract investors. The government elected in 2018 plans to continue development projects started by the previous government in all Perak districts.

Electricity distribution in Perak is managed by the Tenaga Nasional Berhad. The Temenggor Power Station in Gerik is the largest hydroelectric plant in the state, with a capacity of 348 MW. The Chenderoh Power Station, built by the British, is the oldest hydroelectric dam power station in the state, with a capacity of 40.5 MW. Other hydroelectric power stations include several others with different capacities. The Manjung Power Plant, also known as the Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station, is a large coal-fired power station on an artificial island off the Perak coast. It is owned and operated by TNB Janamanjung, a subsidiary of TNB. The GB3 combined cycle power plant in Lumut, operated by Malakoff, has a capacity of 640 MW.

The state's water supply is managed by the Perak Water Board (PWB), established in 1988. It serves over 2.5 million people and is one of the biggest water operators on the Malay Peninsula. The state's water mainly comes from two major dams, the Air Kuning Dam in Taiping and the Sultan Azlan Shah Dam in Ipoh.

Telecommunications in Perak was originally administered by the Posts and Telecommunication Department and maintained by the British Cable & Wireless Communications. The first telegraph line was laid in 1874. Following the foundation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, the telecommunications departments in Malaya and Borneo merged to form the Telecommunications Department Malaysia, which later became Telekom Malaysia. Perak is set to become the first Malaysian state to introduce the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan for high-speed Internet in rural areas. Television broadcasting in the state is divided into terrestrial and satellite television. There are two types of free-to-air television providers: MYTV Broadcasting and Astro NJOI, while IPTV is accessed via Unifi TV through the UniFi fibre optic internet service. The federal government operates one state radio channel, Perak FM.

Malaysia's North–South Expressway connects Perak with other west coast Malaysian states. Perak has two types of roads, with a total of 1,516 kilometres of federal roads and 28,767 kilometres of state roads. A new highway, the West Coast Expressway, is being built to link coastal areas and reduce traffic congestion. Perak has a dual carriageway road network and follows the left-hand traffic rule. Towns have public transport, including buses, taxis, and Grab services. Under the Eleventh Malaysia Plan, around 23 infrastructure projects worth RM4.7 billion have been implemented, including 11 road projects.

Ipoh railway station is the oldest station in Perak's rail network, built by the British in 1917 and upgraded in 1936. In 2019, a project was launched to upgrade the station and its surrounding areas. Boat services are the main transport to Pangkor Island, along with air travel. Sultan Azlan Shah Airport is Perak's main international airport. Other airports include Pangkor Airport and Sitiawan Airport, and there are private or restricted airfields such as Jendarata Airport and the military Taiping Airport.

Health services in Perak are administered by the Perak State Health Department. The main government hospital is the 990-bed Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, which includes a women's and children's hospital. Other hospitals include specialist, district, and psychiatric hospitals, as well as many public and private health clinics.

All primary and secondary schools are under the Perak State Education Department, guided by the national Ministry of Education. Perak has many schools, including international and Chinese independent schools. Sultan Idris Education University is the sole public university, and there are several private universities, colleges, and polytechnics.

Demography

In 2015, Perak had a population of about 2.5 million people, making it the fifth most populated state in Malaysia. About half of the people are Malay, with many also being Chinese or Indian. Perak used to be very busy with tin mining, but when that stopped, many people moved away to places like Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

People in Perak speak many different languages. The main local Malay language has special sounds, like an "e" sound and an "r" sound similar to French. Different areas have their own ways of speaking Malay. Chinese people in Perak mainly speak Cantonese, but other Chinese languages are also used. Indian groups speak Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Punjabi. Some local languages spoken by indigenous groups include Lanoh, Temiar, Jahai, Kensiu, Kintaq, and Semai.

Perak has many different religions. Most people follow Islam, but there are also Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and followers of Chinese folk religion. The Chinese community is mostly Buddhist, while most Indians are Hindu. Some non-Malay groups do not follow a specific religion, while many Malays are Muslims.

Culture

See also: Culture of Malaysia

Perak's culture is rich because many different groups of people have lived there. You can see this in art, food, and traditions. Malay arts, like special embroidery and performances, show influences from Arab traders. One famous embroidery style is called tekat emas, made with gold threads and beautiful patterns.

The Chinese community in Perak, especially in Ipoh, has kept many of its traditions alive. Cantonese opera performances were once very popular there. The state also has many tasty foods from different cultures. For example, lemang is a special dish made from sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, often enjoyed during festivals. Perak is also known for its unique fruits and coffee, like Ipoh white coffee.

Cuisine

See also: Ipoh cuisine

Perak is a place where many cultures meet, so its food is very diverse. One popular Malay dish is lemang, made from sticky rice cooked in bamboo over a fire. It is often eaten during celebrations like Eid. Another special treat is tempoyak, a durian flavor kept in a special container. Chinese food is also common, especially in Ipoh. Over many years, Indian food has also influenced Perak's cuisine. The state is famous for its Bali pomelo fruit, brought by a British leader from nearby islands. Other areas are known for their guava, durian, groundnuts, and a special bean called petai. Ipoh white coffee is a favorite drink that started in the city.

Sports

Perak has many sports lovers and teams. Since 1957, Perak's athletes have competed in big international games like the Summer Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. The Perak State Youth and Sports Department began in 1964 to help improve sports in the state. Perak has hosted important games and has many sports places, especially around Ipoh.

The main football stadium in Ipoh is Perak Stadium, home to Perak F.C. This team has won many cups and prizes over the years. Another famous place to watch games is Naval Base Stadium in Lumut. Perak also holds an annual field hockey tournament called the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, named after a former sultan who loved the sport. The state was the first in Malaysia to include e-sports in big games, and it continues to grow this exciting new sport.