Discover Perak Hydro Building: Neo-Renaissance Victorian Marvel!

Visiting Historical Site, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia. Part 3 of 3 (Eng Sub)

Perak Hydro Building Neo-Renaissance Victorian Style Malaysia

The term "British Malaya" loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries.

British Malaya comprised the Straits Settlements, the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States. Under British rule, Malaya was one of the most profitable territories of the Empire, being the world's largest producer of tin and later rubber.

The Pangkor Treaty of 1874 was a treaty signed between the British and the Sultan of Perak. Signed on 20 January 1874, on HMS Pluto, anchored off the island of Pangkor (off the coast of Perak), the treaty is significant in the history of the Malay states as it legitimised British control of the Malay rulers and paved the way for British imperialism in Malaya. (Wikipedia)

Since Kuala Kangsar is the Royal town of Perak, there’s a lot of British influence buildings and traditional Royal houses. In this video I highlighted a few that have significant impact on Malaysia, there are more significant sites that I did not show in this video.

Even though Malaya got her independence in 1957, later joined by Sabah and Sarawak in 1963 and rename to Malaysia, the positive impact of British rule is apparent in:-

1. 60% of Malaysia population can speak English
2. Rubber – Malaysia produces a vast amount of rubber product.
3. Tin – the British turned it into a huge industry. Mining Industry attracted many Chinese immigrant in the 18th and 19th centuries to work and develop the mine fields.
4. Multiculturalism – Malaysia can boast a vast number of ethnicities.
5. The food – The British did not change the local palate but the waves of migration, especially the Chinese, Indian and Eurasian (mixed of Europe and Asia parentage). With the local Malay and other local Ethnic minorities developed many fusions cuisines.
6. Infrastructure – Railways system were built for growing exports.
7. Architecture – When Malaya getting prosperous, many buildings and Infrastructures have been built. All these buildings funded from State Government or British Individual who became rich who had invested in rubber and tin.
8. Education – The most important heritage – in a way influence the Malaysia education system.