Chapter 4: The Residential System in PerakASMZ/2016

Section 2: Developments under British ruleChapter 4 : The Residential System in

Perak KEY POINTS:

1. What were the responsibilities of the British Resident?2. Who was J.W.W Birch and why was his residency a disaster?

3. Who was Hugh Low and what were the changes that he made in Perak?4. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of the Residential System?

WHAT WERE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESIDENT?In the Pangkor Engagement:

1. The Sultans were to consult Residents on all matters except those to do with Malay customs and religion.

2. The Residents were to advise on the collection and control of revenue.

Over the century, the role of the resident became more defined:1. The Residents were responsible for setting up systems which would allow efficient

collection of the state revenue.2. He was to encourage economic growth in the state to create maximum wealth. This

meant that he was to improve several factors in the state: Improving communications Maintaining good relationship between workers in the tin mines. Carrying out land surveys to bring accurate maps.

3. The Residents are expected to restore and maintain peace in their states,4. The Sultan was to provide the salary of the Resident.5. They had a diplomatic rule:

They had no army or police force to help them. They had to rely on the Sultan’s power for their advice to be taken seriously. They had to persuade the local Malays that changes made by the British were

beneficial. They had to not offend the Malay local chiefs and Sultan.

THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM IN PERAK: J.W.W. BIRCHIn November 1874, Sir Andrew Clarke appointed J. W. W. Birch as the first Resident of Perak. It was a disaster. He was efficient and able with experience in British government both in Sri Lanka and the Straits Settlements. However, he lacked many skills that showed that he was not suited for the job.

1. He did not speak Malay:a. Which meant that he was not able to establish an effective relationship with

Sultan Abdullah and the other Malay chiefs.2. He had a very poor opinion of the value of Malay customs and opinions.

a. He regarded that the Malay customs were not valuable.b. He wrote to Clarke that the customs of the country was not worthy of

consideration.3. He was intolerant and personally arrogant towards the Malays.4. This led to the breakdown of the Residential System in Perak.

Why was J.W.W. Birch’s time a disaster?

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Chapter 4: The Residential System in PerakASMZ/2016

Birch’s side of the story Raja Abdulllah’s side of the story He was not prepared to accept Abdullah’s

actions and introduced measures which antagonize the Perak chiefs.

He completely disregarded the powers of the Sultan and the Malay chiefs.

He did not realize the power of the Resident when he signed the Pangkor Engagement.

He was not prepared to accept that Birch had authority over revenue collection.

He gave $15,000 per year to a Chinese citizen in Singapore.

What did J.W.W. Birch do to antagonize the Malay chiefs?1. He intervened with the Malay economic system.

He declared Abdullah’s farming out revenue collection to be illegal and that collection should only take place by his authority.

He introduced new taxes and license fees which led to a decrease in the income of the chiefs.

2. He demoted the local chiefs.

He announced a new Code of Civil and Criminal Law. This stated that the local village Penghulu would be responsible to

the Resident and not the local chiefs. Since the role of the Sultan as Chief Justice was to be replaced by a

British judge, this effectively placed the judiciary in the British hands.

3. He intervened with Malay customs trying to end debt slavery.

He wanted to end debt slavery. He provided sanctuary for runaway slaves.

When Sir William Jervois replaced Sir Andrew Clarke, he forced Sultan Abdullah to accept that Birch was the Queen’s Commissioner who would rule Perak in the name of the Sultan. Sultan Abdullah would merely receive pensions to compensate for their loss of power.

J.W.W Birch’s murderSultan Abdullah and the Malay chiefs wanted him murdered. On the 1st November 1875, Birch was stabbed to death while he bathed at Pasir Salak. Jervois’ actions:

1. He launched a series of attacks on Perak.2. He used British forces from Penang, Singapore, India and Hong Kong.3. By July 1876, all those who were involved were captured. The punishments were to be

severe.a. Sultan Abdullah was deposed and sent to exile, together with the Malay chiefs and

Raja Ismail.b. The Maharaja Lela, Dato Sagor and Pandak Ingot were considered to be the main

conspirators were amongst those who were hanged.c. Raja Yusof was the only Malay chief who did not get himself involved was

appointed Regent and consequently, Sultan of Perak.

J.G. Davidson In 1875, a Singapore lawyer named J.G. Davidson was appointed to replace Birch. He was a former resident of Selangor. He understood the huge task ahead of him and needed military backing to restore law

and order in the troubled state. When the Straits Settlements could not finance this backup, Davidson resigned.

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Chapter 4: The Residential System in PerakASMZ/2016

Sultan Abdullah and his sonJ.W.W. Birch Raja Yusof

The Pangkor Engagement: J.W.W. Birch (far left), Sir William Jervois (center) & Frank Sweetenham (far right)

Pasir Salak (above)Murderers of J.W.W. Birch (left)

HUGH LOW

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Hugh Low was appointed as the Resident of Perak in February 1877. He was popular and a success. Why?

1. He was fluent in Malay.2. He had great respect for Malay customs and traditions.3. He was tolerant and he understood how to approach the Malays.4. He wanted to maintain a trusting and friendly relationship with the Malay chiefs.

CHANGES BY HUGH LOWPolitical

1. He set up the State Council to represent Malay, British and Chinese sectors of Perak society.

2. State Council became governing body of Perak. It had legislative, judicial and executive powers.

Economic1. Resident controlled the collection of revenue.2. He took measures against debt slavery.

First he announced that he disapproved of debt slavery. Then he abolished it in 1884. He paid the sultan and chiefs compensation.

3. Regulated land usage and introduced land titles.4. Improved communications by building roads, telegraph lines and railway.5. Boosted agriculture through experimenting with rubber seeds, tea and coffee growing.6. Brought investors to Perak.7. By Low’s retirement in 1889, Perak had a credit balance of 1.5 million dollars.

Administration1. Improved efficiency of administration through dividing Perak into districts controlled by

appointed officers.2. Low set up courts of justice with both European and Malay magistrates.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEMAdvantages

1. Brought about political stability and enforcement of law and order.2. More effective government. The State Council was introduced in other states.3. It enabled economic growth because it had more foreign investment and exploitation of

natural resources.4. It brought in greter revenue and higher standard of living for the native population.5. It made Malaya a more multi-cultural society.

Disadvantages1. There was no uniformity between the four states.2. It made the Residents too powerful at the expense of the local Sultans and chiefs.3. It had varying amounts of economic growth. Perak and Selangor became increasingly

wealthy while Negeri Sembilan and Pahang remained poor.

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Chapter 4: The Residential System in PerakASMZ/2016

Raja Yusof (wearing white sitting down) andHugh Low (standing up, holding staff)

Hugh Low

Perak State Council set up to represent multi-cultural Perak’s point of view

Hugh Low and foreign investors

This road in Ipoh was named after Hugh Low because he was responsible for the

development of roads and communications in Ipoh, which he did

effectively

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