PERAK HISTORY

Attractions

Perak is heir to the Malaysian history that came to a close in 1511 with the capture of Malacca by the Portuguese. The leaders of the Malaccan empire retreated south to Johor, where they re-established their power. The eldest son of the Sultan, however, soon headed to the north, where he accepted an offer to become the first sultan of Perak. Today, only Perak among the Malaysian states possesses a royal house descended directly from the rulers of legendary Malacca.

Despite the continuity of its royal house, Perak has one of the most troubled histories of any Malaysian state. The discovery of tin deposits of unprecedented richness in Perak at the middle of the nineteenth century brought rapid prosperity as well as considerable political turmoil. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, Perak's situation had stabilized and its enormous natural resources began to pay off.