Section C: British Intervention in Perak

• In the 19th century, groups of Chinese miners clashed in Larut, the tin-mining district of Perak. As the Chinese miners became embroiled in the infighting among the Malay chiefs in Perak, the level of conflict escalated, often turning bloody and violent.
• This would result in four Larut Wars that were intertwined with the succession dispute in Perak. The Pangkor Treaty, signed in 1874, brought an end to this lengthy conflict.
• The Pangkor Treaty was signed between Raja Abdullah (the Sultan of Perak) and Sir Andrew Clarke (the Governor of Straits Settlement).
• Clashes among Tin Miners, 1861–1873

  In the 1840s, large tin deposits were discovered in Larut, Perak. This discovery led to a large inflow of Chinese labourers who came to work in the newly opened tin mines.
• Clashes among Tin Miners, 1861–1873

  Many of these Chinese immigrants joined secret societies, which gave aid, settled disputes or negotiated wages for them. As there were no clear physical boundaries between the mines, the different groups often fought for control over existing and newly discovered mining plots and waterways. The fiercest rivalry was between the Ghee Hins (mostly Cantonese who controlled mines in the area of Kamunting) and the Hai Sans (Hakkas who controlled the mines around Taiping).
• In 1861, a battle broke out when the Hai Sans cut off the water supply to a new mine discovered by the Ghee Hins. The Ghee Hins were defeated and fled to Penang.
• In Penang, the Ghee Hins asked the British Governor of the Straits Settlements for help. The Governor intervened and Ngah Ibrahim, who at this point had succeeded his father Long Jaafar as chief of the Larut area, agreed to compensate the Ghee Hins for their loss.
• The Hai Sans were angry with the British for supporting the Ghee Hins. These tensions later led to another clash in 1865. Again, the Ghee Hins lost and fled to Penang.
• This time around, the Governor refused to help. Fighting spread to Penang, leading to the Penang Riots of 1867. A settlement was reached only after the British fined each group 5,000 Spanish dollars (a large sum of money at the time) for disrupting the peace in Penang
• In 1872, another war broke out allegedly over a scandal between a Ghee Hin leader and the wife of a Hai San leader. In truth, this was an excuse to fight over control of mining areas. This time, the Hai Sans were drivenout because the Ghee Hins engaged professional fighters. The Governor refused to take action. Despite this, the Hai Sans launched a counterattack and regained control of Larut.
• In 1873, one of the contenders to the Perak throne, Raja Abdullah, sought the help of the Ghee Hins. In exchange for their support, he promised to give them the mines and to pay for the war against the Hai Sans, who supported Raja Ismail, another claimant to the throne. With the different groups of miners taking sides in the succession dispute, a major civil war broke out in the Larut area in 1873.
• Why was there constant fighting between the two groups of miners in Perak between 1861 and 1873?

  The two groups of miners were made up of immigrants/labourers from two secret societies, the Ghee Hins and Hai Sans. They were fighting for control over mining plots/waterways as there were no clear physical boundaries between mines.
• Succession Disputes Rotation System.

  As groups of Chinese tin miners clashed in Larut, the Malay chiefs of Perak were engaged in a succession dispute. In the Malay states, it was common for succession disputes to break out, as rulers often had multiple wives and sons of rival wives would compete for the throne. In Perak, succession to the throne was made more complicated by a Rotation System
• Succession in Perak 

  The Rotation System allowed for the heirs to the throne to be rotated among the descendants of three different branches of the royal family in Perak. In theory, the successor needed to take on different appointments before he could become the Sultan. This rigorous process was meant to ensure that the person was better equipped to become a Sultan.

  
• What problems did the Rotation System pose to the line of succession in Perak? 

  The son of a Sultan would only move up the chain of appointments after the prince who preceded him moved up the chain when the Sultan has passed on. This means a prince would have to serve three consecutive Sultans.

  However, succession was hardly a smooth process in practice as the next Sultan-to-be often had to contend with the challenges posed by the other claimants. The Rotation System was often ignored, and positions were skipped, leading to succession disputes.
• Who were the three main claimants to the throne after the death of Sultan Ali of Perak in 1871?

  Sultan Ismal (Reign: 1871-1874)

  Sultan Abdullah (Reign: 1874-1876)

  Sultan Yusuf (Reign: 1886-1887)
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  Sultan Ismal (Reign: 1871-1874)

  • Held the office of Raja Bendahara for two previous Sultans and was in charge of administrative matters.
  • In charge of the administration of the Sultanate.
  • Appointed Sultan of Perak when the Malay chiefs gave up after waiting 32 days for Raja Abdullah to claim the throne.
  • Challenged by Abdullah and Yusuf after he became Sultan resulting in the succession dispute.
  • Refused to give up the royal regalia despite being challenged.
• Sultan Abdullah (reign: 1874–1876)

  • Held the office of Raja Muda, the next in line to become Sultan.
  • Invited by Ismail to attend Sultan Ali’s funeral and to be installed as the next Sultan as Malay customs required the successor to be present at the funeral ceremony to receive the royal regalia and the acknowledgements of all the chiefs.
  • Was weak and unpopular among Malay chiefs.
  • Feared having to travel through Yusuf’s territory to attend the funeral, and he lost his claim to the throne as a result.
• Sultan Yusuf (reign: 1886–1887)

  • Bypassed three times because of his unpopularity among the Malay chiefs.

  • Had a stronghold in the southern parts of Perak where important waterways were located.
• Local Appeals for British Intervention 

  As the conflict wore on, local merchants and businessmen appealed to the British to restore law and order in Perak, as well as in the Malay states where the Larut Wars had spilt over and interrupted business and trading. Raja Abdullah, one of the claimants to the Perak throne, also sought the support of the British.
• What motivated Raja Abdullah to seek help from the British?

  Abdullah hoped for the British to support his claim to the Perak throne.

  Abdullah sought British assistance with restoring law and order in Perak, so that business and trade would not be disrupted.
• Clarke's Intervention in Perak 

  As the new governor, Clarke had been instructed by the Colonial Office in London to study the situation in the Malay states and make recommendations to protect British trading interests. He was to explore the possibility of appointing a British Resident (Advisor to the Sultan on all matters of administration and government except those concerning Malay religion or customs) in the Malay states.
• Clarke’s intervention in Perak

  Clarke seized the opportunity presented by Abdullah’s request to intervene in Perak. He was considered as one of the capable “men on the spot”, who made decisions to intervene in local affairs before reporting to their superiors in Britain. Sometimes, this meant going beyond or against the instructions of his superiors. In this case, Clarke did not consult his superiors and his actions catalysed British intervention in Perak, and eventually the rest of Malaya.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  The Larut Wars and succession dispute set in motion the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Upon receiving Raja Abdullah’s letter, Sir Andrew Clarke felt the urgency to act. Reporting to London and waiting for instructions would take too long. He called for a meeting with the Perak chiefs and Chinese leaders on Pulau Pangkor, located off the coast of Perak. His aim was to decide on the rightful Sultan of Perak and to settle the quarrels between the miners.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Assisting Clarke was William Pickering, a Chinese interpreter. Pickering spoke several Chinese dialects and was greatly respected by the Chinese. He was able to persuade the Chinese leaders to allow the British to settle their quarrels.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Clarke sent Frank Swettenham, a young British officer who could speak Malay, to persuade the Malay chiefs to attend the meeting
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  On 15 January 1874, the Malay chiefs, including Ngah Ibrahim and Raja Abdullah, and the Chinese miners arrived at Pulau Pangkor.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Raja Ismail did not attend the meeting as he was not informed in advance by Ngah Ibrahim. Raja Yusuf was not invited as Clarke did not know that he was a claimant to the throne.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Representatives of the Chinese miners and factions were also invited to meet the British officials to settle their dispute. They met on board a British ship and signed the Pangkor Treaty on 20 January 1874.
• What were the key terms to the Pangkor Treaty?

  Recognition and compensation, introduction of a resident and role of the resident

  
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  The people who were pleased with the treaty included the Colonial Office, the Chinese and the local merchants.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  The Colonial Office

  The Colonial Office was initially unhappy with Clarke for acting on his own initiative. However, they later accepted his actions when they saw the positive results.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  The Chinese


  The Chinese were satisfied with the division of the mining lands and ceased their disputes. In the Larut area, order was generally restored and tin production increased.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Merchants


  Local merchants were confident that the decisive step taken by the British government in Perakwould lead to increased protection of trade and commerce and open up more trading and business opportunities. The Treaty became the model for other treaties that brought other Malay States under British control.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  However, some people were not pleased with the Treaty, including Raja Ismail and some of the Malay Chiefs.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Raja Ismail


  Raja Ismail, who was initially recognised by the Malay chiefs as the Sultan, was offered an honorary title. He refused to accept it and the pension that came with it. He also kept the royal regalia and retained control of Upper Perak. Raja Abdullah only controlled Lower Perak. This meant that Raja Ismail continued to control the important waterways in Perak.
• The Pangkor Treaty (1874)

  Some of The Malay Chiefs

  Some of the Malay Chiefs were not happy with the Pangkor Treaty. They felt that the treaty had been signed too hastily before they had the chance to fully comprehend the implications of the terms. Raja Abdullah and the other Malay chiefs soon realised that by accepting a British Resident, they had to accept the latter’s advice on many matters concerning the government of Perak.
• The Larut wars were fought among the Chinese secret socities
• After the death of Sultan Ali in Perak, a succession dispute arose between Raja Abdullah and Raja Ismail