Taiping, Perak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Location | |||
| Country | Malaysia | ||
| State | Perak | ||
| District | Larut, Matang & Selama | ||
| Physical characteristics | |||
| Area | 186.46 km² | ||
| Population (as of 2000) | |||
| Total | 198,112 | ||
| Density | 1062/km² | ||
| Location | |||
| Symbols | |||
| Flower | none | ||
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| Taiping Municipality Hall | |||
| Mayor | Padzil Khalid | ||
| Address | Wisma Perbandaran Taiping, 34000 Taiping |
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| Phone number | |||
| Official website: www.mptaiping.gov.my | |||
Taiping (Chinese: 太平) is a town in the state of Perak, Malaysia. It has a population of 198,112 (2000). It is the largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
It is situated on a plain to the west of the Bintang Range. Alor Star, Kedah lies to the north-west and Ipoh to the south-east.
[edit] History
- Further information: Larut War
The area developed quickly in the 19th century when tin was discovered. The mines attracted large numbers of settlers, particularly Chinese. Feuds began between the different groups of Chinese immigrants became so bitter that, in the early 1870s, the British intervened and assumed control of the town.
Taiping was the town center for the districts of Larut, Matang and Selama in Perak. Before 1937, Taiping was the capital of the state of Perak and was the center of a long drawn out war resulting in a change of rulership for the state. Taiping used to be known as Klian Pauh - Klian means mine and Pauh is a type of small-sized mango. Before the arrival of the British, the district (known in its earlier days as the The Larut Settlement) was governed by the Minister of Larut, Dato' Long Jaafar (and later by his son Ngah Ibrahim) who was empowered by the Sultan of Perak at that time, to govern that territory.
Long Jaafar has been historically credited with the discovery of tin in Larut in 1848. According to legend, Long Jaafar had an elephant named Larut and he used to take this elephant with him when journeying between Bukit Gantang and Lubok Merbau. One day the elephant went missing and when the elephant was eventually found three days later Long Jaafar noticed tin ore embedded in the mud that was on the elephant's legs. It is said that this is how Larut got its name. Eventually in 1850, Larut district was bestowed on Long Jaafar by Raja Muda Ngah Ali and the Chiefs of Perak, Temenggong, Panglima Bukit Gantang, Panglima Kinta, Syahbandar and Seri Adika Raja. Some time later, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Abdullah, passed away in 1857 and a series of Sultan succession disputes ensued. Unhappy with the abuse and favoritism of various royalties, rival Malay camps took sides with one or the other of the two great Chinese secret societies present in that place.
Long Jaafar established and developed his administrative center at Bukit Gantang and made Kuala Sungai Limau at Trong the principal harbour of the Larut Settlement. In 1857 Long Jaafar was succeeded by his son Ngah Ibrahim. Sultan Jaffar Muazzam Shah presented an acknowledgement letter to Ngah Ibrahim on 24 May 1858. This letter was signed by Sultan Jaffar, Raja Muda Ngah Ali and the Raja Bendahara of Perak. In the time of Ngah Ibrahim the Chinese increased in number and in early 1860 two large groups were formed by the Chinese, the "Five Associations" whose members worked in the mines of Klian Pauh and the "Four Associations" whose members worked in the mines of Klian Baharu.
Mining rights were given to the Hakka "Five Associations" or Go-Kuan (五館 or 五群) and the Cantonese "Four Associations" or Si-Kuan (四館). Chung Keng Quee (鄭景貴) was leader of the Hakka Go-Kuan and the Hai San (海山) society they belonged to and began to operate his tin mines in Larut in 1860. Larut was destined to be plagued by four major wars between members of both the Ghee Hin Society (義興私會黨) that owned the Cantonese Go-Kuan and the Hakka Hai San society. Many Hakka fled China when the Taiping Rebellion broke out there and found work in the mines of Chung Keng Quee establishing his position over the mining area in Larut as leader of the Hai San from 1860 to 1884.
The capital of Perak was moved from Bandar Baru (New Town) to Taiping after Datok Maharaja Lela killed JWW Birch at Pasir Salak in 1875. In 1937 the capital of Perak was moved from Taiping to Ipoh.
The town’s mining industry continued to thrive; the country’s first railway was built to transport tin from Taiping to the coast for export. By 1900, an English language school, a newspaper, and the Perak Museum (the oldest in Malaysia) had been established.
Although Taiping’s economy declined with the dwindling tin deposits, the metal still remains an important industry in the area as do rubber and rice.
[edit] Town Layout
The following towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods comprise the area formally (and collectively) known as the Taiping town:
- Kamunting
- Aulong
- Pokok Assam
- Air Kuning
- Changkat Jering
- Simpang
- Kampung Jelutong
- Kampung Cheh
- Kampung Pauh
- Changkat Ibol
- Bukit Gantang
- Tupai
- Green House Area
- Assam Kumbang
- Bukit Jana
- Kampung Boyan
- Larut Tin
- Klian Pauh
- Taiping Heights
- Ayer Putih
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Places of interest
- Taiping Lake Garden (donated by Chung Keng Quee's son, Chung Thye Phin).
- Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill)
- Perak Museum
- Kwan-tung hui-kuan (Cantonese Association), founded in 1887 by Chung Keng Quee and others.
- Taiping Zoo & Night Safari
- All Saints Church, Taiping
- Commonwealth War Cemetery
- British Resident’s Residence (1877)
- Kapitan Chung Keng Quee's Townhouse on Barrack Road. It is now an antique shop.
- Bukit Jana Country Golf Resort, Kamunting
- Bukit Merah Laketown Resort
- Burmese Pool. It has a natural water slide.
- Austin Pool. There is a very deep square granite pool with a waterfall flowing into it.
- Buddhist Retreat in Tupai Cemetery. Travelling to this retreat requires semi 4-wheel drive vehicle but the view from retreat is spectacular and very peaceful.
- Coronation Swimming Pool. It is located at the foothill of Bukit Larut It has very cold mountain stream water even on hot days.
- Taiping public library has numerous old and new book collection. The library is located near Taiping Lake Gardens.
[edit] Night Markets
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Sundays | Kampung Boyan |
| Mondays | Aulong (Taman Pertama) |
| Tuesdays | Simpang (Taman Kota Jaya) |
| Wednesdays | Pokok Assam (Taman Raja Idris) |
| Thursdays | Assam Kumbang (Taman Saujana Jaya) |
| Fridays | Aulong (Taman Pertama) |
| Saturdays | Kamunting (Medan Kamunting) |
[edit] Food
Taiping is famous for its cheap and delicious food. Some of the famous Taiping delicacies are:
- Cendol
- Char kway teow (炒果条) - Pokok Assam night market
- Popiah (薄饼) - Prima Restaurant
- Roast Pork (叉烧) - Pokok Assam morning market
- Nasi Lemak - Jalan Tupai (in front of football field)
- Mee Rebus (吉灵面) - Larut Matang Market
- Steamed Chicken Rice - Jalan Barrack
- Cai Tao Kuey (菜头糕) - Larut Matang Food Court (morning market)
- Fish Ball Fried Kuew Teow - Larut Matang Market
- Laksa
- Shredded Chicken Noodles (Soup & dry kind) - Kakak Restaurant (morning)
- Curry Mee
- Fried chicken - Pokok Assam roadside stall
- Wanton mee - Prima Restaurant
- Bak Chang (肉粽)
- Heo Peah (香饼)
- Dim Sum (点心)
- Chee Chap Cheok Porridge - Taiping Hawker Centre (太平小贩中心)
- Ice kacang - Larut Matang food court (雪山)
- Chee Cheong Fun (猪肠粉) - Taiping Hawker Centre (太平小贩中心)
[edit] Accommodation
There are a few hotels in Taiping for those who wish to spend a night or more. They include:
- Legend Inn.
- Hotel Panorama.
- Hotel Seri Malaysia.
- Hotel Meridien.
- Hotel Furama.
- Hotel New Champagne.
[edit] Shopping
There are a few shopping destinations in Taiping, such as:
- Fajar Jalan Kota, Taiping.(formerly known as Berkat Supermarket)
- The Store Shopping Center (formerly known as Taiping Jaya)
- Fajar Hypermarket Kamunting (formerly known as Larut Matang Supermarket, Jalan Panggung Wayang)
- Big Seed Supermarket Taiping
- Tesco Kamunting (opens in 2007)
- Giant Hypermarket (Under Construction)
[edit] Education
Primary and secondary education in Taiping are provided by national-type schools and Chinese-medium schools. This is a list of schools in Taiping. Currently, there are no significant institution of higher learning in Taiping.
[edit] Primary Schools
- SRK King Edward VII (1)
- SRK King Edward VII (2)
- SRK Treacher Methodist
- SRK Convent Kota
- SRK St George 1 (SRK St George 2 was merged with SRK St George 1 in 2006)
- SRJK(C) Hua Lian 1 (太平华联国民型第一小学）
- SRJK(C) Hua Lian 2 (太平华联国民型第二小学）
- SRJK(C) Hua Lian 3 (太平华联国民型第三小学）
- SRJK(C) Pokok Assam
- SRK Convent Aulong
- SRJK (C) Phui Choi
- SRJK(C) Aulong
- SRK All Saint, Kamunting
- SRK Methodist Pokok Assam
[edit] Secondary Schools
- SMK St George (formerly St George's Institution, then SMJK(I) St George)
- SMK Convent Taiping
- SMK King Edward VII
- SMK Sri Kota
- SMJK(C) Hua Lian (太平华联国民型中学）
- SERATAS
- SMK TMGS
- MRSM Taiping
- SMK Dr. Burhanuddin
- SMK Sri Kota
- SMK Darul Ridwan
- SMK Kampung Jambu
- SMK Taman Tasik
- SMK Taman Panglima
- SMK Convent Klian Pauh
- SMK Simpang
- [SMK Dato' Wan Ahmad Rasdi] http://rasdian.sprinterweb.net/index.php
- Hua Lian High School (Private) (太平华联独中）
- SMV Taiping
- SMK Kamunting
[edit] 40 'Firsts' of Taiping
Due to the booming tin-mining industry in the 19th century and its previous position as capital of Perak, Taiping is the pioneer in many fields achieving many 'firsts' in the country. The list given by Taiping Municipal Council records a total of 40 firsts in the country under Taiping's belt. Dated as early as 1844, these firsts are either in monuments or events.
- Open tin mining activity in the peninsula (1844)
- Hill resort - Maxwell Hill (1844)
- Swimming pool - Kolam Renang Kemahkotaan (1870)
- Mosque - Masjid Tengku Menteri (1870)
- Rest house (1870)
- Artillery warehouse (1870)
- Magistrate court (1874)
- Balai penghulu (1875)
- Resident's house (1877)
- Port - Port Weld (1877)
- English school - Central School Kamunting (1878)
- Police force team (1879)
- Government offices (1879)
- Telegraph and post office (1880)
- Lake gardens - Taman Tasik Taiping (1880)
- Hospital, private and government (1880)
- Club - New Club (1880)
- Railway station and warehouse (1881)
- Museum - Muzium Negeri Perak (1883)
- Market building - Taiping Market Square (1884)
- Prison - Penjara Taiping (1885)
- Railway track - from Port Weld to Taiping (1885)
- Turf club - Perak Turf Club (1886)
- Anglican church - All Saints Church, Taiping (1886)
- English girl's school - Treacher Girls' School (1889)
- Clock tower - Menara Jam Besar (1890)
- Esplanade - Padang Esplanade (1890)
- Malay newspaper - Seri Perak (June 1893)
- English newspaper - Perak Pioneer (July 4, 1894)
- Tamil newspaper - Perak Verthamani (1894)
- Armed Forces - Malay States Guides (1896)
- Teaching college - Maktab Perguruan Melayu)
- Ceylon association (1899)
- Punjabi association - Khalsa Diwan Malaya Association (1903)
- Indian association (1906)
- Recreation park - Coronation Park (1920s)
- Airfield - Padang Kapal Terbang Tekah (1930)
- Golf course (some claimed in Southeast Asia)
- Library - Perpustakaan Merdeka
- Fire brigade
- 5 Group of Friends known as MRC05 - Former St.George's Student(1999)
[edit] Reference
[edit] Articles
- Travel Times 2, New Straits Times, 5 September 2001
- THE KAPITAN SYSTEM - XI Sunday Gazette, June 19, 1960, By Wu Liu (pen name of Mr. C. S. Wong)
- A gallery of Chinese kapitans. by Mr. C. S. Wong; Published in Singapore: Ministry of Culture, 1963. 114p. [DS596 Won]
- Twentieth Century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources, by Arnold Wright, Published 1908 - Page 130, 203, 252, 262, 508, 509, 568
- "Record of Meritous Deeds of the Chung Family", op. cit., pp. 9-12
- "Miscellaneous Chronicles of Penang", Kuang, Kuo-hsiang op. cit., pp. 112-113
- "The Case of the Chinese in Penang", 1890s-1910s ; SHINOZAKI Kaori, Ph.D. student
- "200 years of the Hakkas in Penang" (檳城客家兩百年) By the Federation of Hakka Associations of Malaysia
- "Reveal the True Face of Secret Societies" (揭開私會黨真面目) Written by Guo Rende (郭仁德) Published by the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Center
- "The Luxuriant Tree" and "Chung Keng Kwee, the Hakka Kapitan" by CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
- "Heritage Road named in honour of Chung Thye Phin" by Sita Ram, Stories Of Yesteryear, The Ipoh Echo 16 March - 31 March 2006
- "Honoured in Penang for his generosity" [on philanthropist Chung Keng Kwee,]. The Star, December 6, 2001 by Catherine Chong
- "66 Usahawan Malaysia (66 Malaysian Entrepreneurs)" by Ashadi Zain, ISBN :-X Cerita 50 Mendiang Chung Keng Kwee
- "Producer hopes to make movie on Kapitan Cina of Perak" By CHOONG KWEE KIM, THE STAR
- "A History of Malaya" by R.O. Winstedt Published in March 1935
- "The Chinese in Malaya" by Victor Purcell C.M.C. Ph.D published in 1948
- "Kapitan’s great-grandson" By CHOONG KWEE KIM, The Star Thursday September 9, 2004
[edit] Departments
- Perak State Government Website
- Perak Tourist Information Centre, Ipoh City Council
- Taiping Town Council
[edit] People
- Timothy Tye who has been researching Chung Keng Quee for the Pinang Peranakan Mansion and historian Khoo Salma Nasution
- Lee Eng Kew (AH Kew The Digger), self-taught field researcher
- Jeffery Seow (great grandson of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee)
