Pangkor Treaty 1874

Muzium Negara Gallery C

This is a very important event in the history of Malaysia in which it marked the official intervention of the British in the administration of the Malay States. This treaty was signed between Raja Abdullah of Perak and Sir Andrew Clarke on behalf of the British on 20 January 1874 on the colonial steamship HMS Pluto on the island of Pangkor, Perak.

One of the 14 terms of the Treaty states that Raja Abdullah would be acknowledged as the legitimate Sultan of Perak, and he had to receive a British Resident whose advice had to be sought and adhered to on all matters except those pertaining to the religion and customs of the Malays.

With this Treaty the British introduced the Residential System in Malaya. James Wheeler Woodford Birch or JWW Birch was appointed as the first British Resident in Perak. However, Birch was not very well liked and ended up being assasinated by a mob on 2 November 1875.

The assassination was the ultimate manifestation of anger by the Malay people in Perak as a result of the perceived conspiracy and deceit by the British with respect to the Treaty. However, the system was still used by the British until the Japanese occupied Malaya.

 

Pangkor Treaty