 Perlis Travel Guide
Chuling Sugarcane Plantation, Perlis (1 November 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Negeri Perlis Indera Kayangan is the smallest as well as northernmost state in Malaysia. This sparsely populated state has a population of around 230,000 (2011 estimate). Of this, the Malays make up 78% of the population followed by the Chinese (17%). The capital of Perlis is Kangar while the royal capital is Arau. Padang Besar and Wang Kelian are located at the border with Thailand. Kuala Perlis is the main port for Perlis.
Bukit Keteri, Perlis (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Like Penang, Perlis was carved out of the Sultanate of Kedah. Siam conquered Kedah in 1821, and Kedah became an annex to Siam until 1842, when the Sultan of Kedah finally agreed to Siamese terms, which restored him to the Kedah throne. However, Siam carved a big chunk of north Kedah to create the kingdom of Perlis, which continued to be a vassal to Siam until 1909. The ruler of Perlis is called the Raja of Perlis. The first raja of Perlis is Syed Hussain Jamalulail, a grandson of the Sultan of Kedah, but of Arab descent.
Masjid Al-Muqarrabin, Behor Empiang, Perlis (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, also known as the Bangkok Treaty of 1909, which Britain forced on Siam, compelled Siam to give up the Malay states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu to the British, while retaining control of the remaining Malay provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Satun and Yala. The British allowed Siam to retain control of those provinces as a goodwill gesture to Siam for keeping French influence in Indochina in check. The result of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty on present-day Thailand and Malaysia is that the states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu are now part of Malaysia, while the other Muslim states belong to Thailand.
Padang Besar, Perlis (1 November, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
During the Japanese Occupation, Perlis and Kedah were returned to Siam, as reward for Siam's alliance with Japan. However, with the Japanese defeat of World War II, these states reverted back to British rule, and eventually became part of Malaysia in 1957.
The present Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, was a past Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia installed in 2000.
Getting there
The Changlun Kuala Perlis Highway (Route 194) connects to the North South Expressway at Changlun. It is the main artery to Perlis.
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