Perak

Perak is a state in Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. It is next to several other Malaysian states and has Thailand nearby to the northeast. The capital city is Ipoh. Ipoh was once famous for its tin mining.

The state has rich tropical rainforests and a warm equatorial climate. It has several mountain ranges. These mountains are part of a larger system that stretches across Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Ancient discoveries, like the Perak Man, tell us about early humans moving from Asia to Australia. Perak was later influenced by Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms. In the 1500s, a Muslim sultanate rose there. British influence grew in the 1800s, changing the government and economy. Today, Perak is known for its culture, traditional dances, and arts. Its economy focuses on services and manufacturing.

Etymology

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

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 taught us about early human life, with tools and a skeleton called Perak Man. We also see signs of Hindu and Buddhist influence before Islam arrived.

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 began in the early 16th century and became the second oldest Muslim kingdom in the Malay Peninsula. The sultanate grew by selling tin ore and trading with other regions.

British protectorate

In the 19th century, problems grew between local groups and Chinese miners, causing conflicts called the Larut Wars. The British stepped in in 1874 with the Treaty of Pangkor, choosing a British Resident to help the sultan. This started British influence in Perak, which later joined the Federated Malay States in 1895.

Second World War

During World War II, Japanese forces took over Perak. They ruled the area strictly and changed local leaders. Resistance groups formed, mostly from the Chinese community, to fight against the Japanese.

Post-war and independence

After the war, problems between communist groups and the government led to the Malayan Emergency. Perak was an important place in this conflict. The state later joined the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Perak kept growing, mixing its rich history with new changes.

Geography

Perak is a state in Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. It is the second largest state on the peninsula and covers 20,976 square kilometres. Perak has 230 kilometres of coastline, and many areas near the coast have changed over time. Mangrove forests grow along most of the coast, except for Pangkor Island, which has many different plants and animals.

Perak has lots of forests covering more than a million hectares, with hills, mountains, and flat areas. The state is split by mountain chains into three parts. Rivers flow from the mountains to the coast. The Perak River is the longest river in the state.

Perak has a warm, wet climate all year, with heavy rains during monsoon seasons. The jungles are home to many animals, including birds, mammals, and insects. Royal Belum State Park is a big protected area with many kinds of plants and animals. Some wildlife is threatened because of 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. A ruler called the sultan is chosen by important leaders. The current Sultan of Perak is Nazrin Shah. He 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). The Chief Minister is helped by 11 members called the Executive Council. These members come from the Perak State Legislative Assembly.

The Assembly has 59 seats. It 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 gets 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. Each area has local leaders. Before the British arrived, Perak was managed by the sultan's friends and family. The British changed the ways of governing, adding councils to help.

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

Economy

Perak's economy is mainly based on services, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. In 2016, services were the biggest part of the state's economy, followed by manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.

Since the 1980s, Perak has changed from relying mostly on tin mining. Today, tourism is important for the state's growth. The state has plans for big projects to grow its economy more. Perak also works hard to stay a top producer of farm products in Malaysia. The state attracts many new business projects.

Tourism

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

Infrastructure

Perak has a development plan from 2016 to 2020. In 2016, the state government approved a Development Fund. The 2018 Budget gave Perak a lot of money for development and management costs. The government works to build new infrastructure and attract investors. The government elected in 2018 plans to continue development projects 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. The Chenderoh Power Station is the oldest hydroelectric dam power station in the state. 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. The GB3 combined cycle power plant in Lumut has a big capacity.

The state's water supply is managed by the Perak Water Board (PWB). The state's water mainly comes from two major dams.

Telecommunications in Perak was originally administered by the Posts and Telecommunication Department. Perak is set to become the first Malaysian state to introduce a 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 many roads. A new highway 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, many infrastructure projects have been implemented, including road projects.

Ipoh railway station is the oldest station in Perak's rail network. 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.

Health services in Perak are administered by the Perak State Health Department. The main government hospital is Raja Permaisuri Bainun 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 about 2.5 million people. It was the fifth most populated state in Malaysia. About half the people are Malay, and many are Chinese or Indian. Perak was once busy with tin mining, but when that stopped, many people moved to places like Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

People in Perak speak many languages. The local Malay language has special sounds. Chinese people mainly speak Cantonese, but other Chinese languages are used too. Indian groups speak Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Punjabi. Some local languages include Lanoh, Temiar, Jahai, Kensiu, Kintaq, and Semai.

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

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. 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. The state was the first in Malaysia to include e-sports in big games, and it continues to grow this exciting new sport.