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The state of Perak is Peninsular Malaysia’s second
largest at 21 sq. km wide. The name ‘Perak’, which
means silver, was gleaned from the glittering tin ore found
in abundance.
Perak's modern-day history began when Sultan Muzaffar Shah
I, a descendent of Sultan Mahmud Shah of Malacca, became the
state's sultan in 1528. In 1848, it became prominent when
Long Jaafar discovered tin in Larut, Taiping. This was a big
boost to Perak's economy, and started the era of tin mining.
But tin brought with it the attentions of the resource-searching
British who took the opportunity to intervene in Perak through
the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874 after a riot in
Larut. Perak was then plunged into the British's Residential
system, and the administration of the autocratic James W.W.
Birch as Perak's first British Resident.
Birch's administration of the state ended in tragedy for
both him and the locals, with an uprising led by the local
Datuk Maharaja Lela against Birch in 1875. This was thankfully
followed by a peaceful and fruitful period of administration
by the charismatic Hugh Low, Perak's second British Resident.
The Second World War then saw the state occupied by the Japanese
army, until after the war before becoming independent along
with the rest of Malaysia in 1957.
Today, Perak has shifted from being a busy commercial area
for tin to a diverse manufacturing state. Agriculture is one
of Perak’s main industries, especially those concerning
rubber, coconut and palm oil. Tourism is fast catching on
as more and more people discover Perak’s hidden gems
in the form of natural attractions and cultural sights.
Perak has a nice range of hotels to stay in, reflecting the
balance of eco-cultural destinations to be found here. Choose
from hotels in the charming city of Ipoh,
pleasant town of Taiping or beachside resorts of Lumut, Teluk
Batik and Damai Laut. There’s also a hotel while exploring
the nature-rich island of Pangkor.
Meanwhile, if you need to experience the cool of the jungle,
there’s also resorts based in the coastal forests of
Teluk Rubiah and Damai.
Town & Districts
Perak has nine districts. The capital is Ipoh, which once
a tin-rich mining town but has now become a peaceful city
with a majority Chinese population. Its major towns include
the royal town of Kuala Kangsar; the mountainous Taiping,
the tranquil Teluk Intan and coastal Lumut. The state's nine
districts are Batang Padang, Hilir Perak, Manjung, Perak Tengah,
Kinta, Kuala Kangsar, Larut, Matang and Selama, Krian and
Hulu Perak. Geography & Climate
As Perak is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia,
it boasts 21,000 sq. km of land, making up 6.4 percent of
total land banks in Malaysia.
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 percent. Annual
rainfall measures at 3,218 mm. Economy
Before recession hit the economies of countries and states
world wide, Perak was one of Malaysia's wealthiest. But the
1980s saw the collapse of the tin industry, crippling Perak’s
economy.
Prices plummeted and once lucrative mines were forced to
close. This, in turn, forced the Perak State Government to
make a firm decision to diversify the economy's base towards
the more value added, resource-linked manufacturing.
Today, Perak has made the best of its circumstances. The
economy is growing through the industrial sector; its sound
infrastructure and world class facilities of make it an ideal
environment for businesses. Places to Visit 
The name ‘Ipoh’ comes from a local tree called
the ‘Pohon Epu’. In its heydays, Ipoh was the
economic hub of Malaysia thriving on tin ore. That has come
to pass and the town has become a peaceful city which moves
at a slow pace... (Read More)
Hotels
in Perak |
