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Outbreak of 1st Larut War
Battle broke out between Hai Sans and Ghee Mins over tin mining -
Outbreak of 2nd Larut War 1865
Fighting broke out between Ghee Hin and Hai San -
Request for British Intervention by Harry Ord rejected by Colonial Office
Sir Harry Ord, the Governor of the Straits Settlements requests for permission to intervene to stop the disorder in Perak. He is denied permission by the Colonial Office under the Secretary of Colonies Lord Carnarvon who insisted on sticking to the policy of non-intervention. -
Opening of Suez Canal
Suez Canal was opened leading to increased traffic through the Straits of Malacca. However, the disorder in the Malay peninsula led to an increase in piracy along the Straits which the British needed to stop in order to safeguard their trade route. -
Change of Government in the UK
The Liberal Party in the UK won the elections leading to the appointment of Lord Kimberley as the Secretary of Colonies. Beginning of the change of British attitudes toward intervention. -
Death of Sultan Ali and beginning of succession dispute
Death of Sultan Ali led to succession dispute between Ismail, Abdullah and Yusuf. -
Creation of state of Germany
Prussia leads the Germanic states to defeat France during the Franco-Prussian War. The victory leads to the unification of the Germanic states led by Prussia into the new country of Germany. -
Outbreak of 3rd Larut War
Fighting broke out again between Ghee Hin and Hai Sans -
Expansion of Larut War into civil war
Abdullah enlists the help of the Ghee Hin to help him ascend the throne, Ismail enlists the help of the Hai Sans. Larut Wars escalate into a large scale civil war. -
Petition by Chinese Merchants in Straits Settlements for intervention
248 Chinese merchants from the Straits Settlements write letter to the Colonial Office requesting for British intervention to restore order and trade. -
Clarke arrives in Singapore and takes up position of Governor of Straits Settlments
Andrew Clarke takes up position of Governor of Straits Settlements -
Instructions from Kimberley to Clarke
Lord Kimberley issues a set of instructions to Sir Andrew Clarke the Governor of the Straits Settlements to study the situation in Perak and explore the possibility of appointing a British Resident. http://britishmalaya.blogspot.com/2012/03/chapter-viii-1874-sir-andrew-clarke.html -
Clarke receives letter from Abdullah requesting for intervention
Clarke received letter from Abdullah requesting for intervention in Perak to restore stability. Clarke saw the need to act quickly to restore order and called for a meeting with the Malay Chiefs and Chinese Secret Societies at Pangkor Island. His aim was to decide who was the rightful Sultan of Perak and to settle the disputes between the miners. -
Signing of Pangkor Treaty
Pangkor Treaty was signed.
Chinese Secret Societies agreed to settle their disputes.
Abdullah recognised as Sultan of Perak
Abdullah agreed to accept a British Resident whose advice would be sought and acted upon for all matters except religious and Malay Customs.
Resident would advise the Sultan on the collection of revenue and the general administration of Perak. -
Outcomes of Pangkor Treaty
Malay Chiefs were unhappy with Pangkor Treaty:
- Ismail was not informed and did not attend
- Yusuf did not attend as he was not invited.
- Felt Treaty was signed to hastily before the full implications were known.
- Possibility that they had not fully understood role of the Resident due to the translation issue as they had signed a translation of the Treaty which was shortened.
- Ismail unhappy and kept the Royal regalia and continued to control Upper Perak. -
Appointment of James Birch as Resident
After a gap of almost 10 months, James Birch was appointed as the Resident of Perak. Abdullah and Ismail had 10 months to consolidate control Birch was hampered by:
- a lack of clarity about the roles and power of the Resident [see pages 36-37 of TB] e.g. "Protection", "Advice" open to interpretation.
- Unhappiness of Sultan and Malay Chiefs towards losing power to the British
- Inability of Birch to speak Malay and his lack of understanding of Malay culture and customs. -
Birch's failed attempts to change society
Attempts to change tax collection - no proper system and hence Birch attempted to take responsibility for tax collection. Stopped collection by Sultan and chiefs which angered the Malays. Code of Civil and Criminal law introduced. Malay Chiefs and Sultan lost all administrative power. Birch attempted to abolish debt slavery. Malay Chiefs unhappy as it was a traditional practice and was a symbol of power. Malay Chiefs unhappy with the British and were uncooperative. -
Birch's attempts to ask Abdullah to sign proclamation giving the British power to take over tax collection
Birch asked Abdullah to sign the proclamation to give the Resident power to take over tax collection. Abdullah refused to sign but Birch distributed the proclamation throughout Perak. Malay Chiefs were now determined to murder Birch and began plotting to murder him. -
Jervois' attempts to introduce Queen's Commissioner
William Jervois, the new Governor of the Straits Settlements had come under pressure from the merchant community to impose direct rule on Perak due to the ineffectiveness of the Residential System. Introduced the Queen's Commissioner system which would see a British Officer rule Perak in the name of the Sultan in exchange for compensation. Abdullah initially refused and was threatened with being deposed and accepted the system in October 1875. -
Murder of Birch
Birch was speared to death by Maharaja Lela and his men at a river bath hut. Sparked off Perak Wars in which British fought the Malays from 1875 to 1876. The British won:
- Maharaja Lela was executed
- Abdullah was deposed and replaced by Yusuf. -
Mutual Recriminations between Jervois and Lord Canarvon
There was an exchange of letters between William Jervois and Lord Carnarvon who was now back in power after the Conservative Party won the election in 1873. Jervois claimed that the Residential System was for all intents a form of direct rule and attempted to justify the Queen's Commissioner system. Carnarvon clarified that the Residential System was always meant to be indirect rule and there should be no change to the system. -
Appointment of Hugh Low as Resident of Perak
By 1877, Hugh Low as appointed as Resident of Perak and the British began adopting a more tactful approach toward indirect rule in Malaya.