PANGKOR TREATY 1874

finding aids



PANGKOR
treaty 1874

finding aids: Pangkor TREATY 1874 2

FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Puncak Perdana Campus

No 1 Jalan Pulau Angsa A U10/A,
Seksyen U10, 40150 Shah Alam

Selangor Darul Ehsan

FIRST ISSUE 2022/ COPYRIGHT
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any


means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written

permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial


uses permitted by copyright law.

ADVISOR
Dr. Saiful Farik Mat Yatin

EDITOR
Miss Nurul Syfa' binti Mohd Tokiran

COMPILER
AQILAH HUMAIRA ABD RAHIM (2021149509)

MUHAMMAD DANEIL (2020834206)
NURAFAZIERA DANIA RAMLI (2021112799)
NURIN ADRIANA BINTI MUHAMMAD AMIR (2021120711)
SONNIA SEDANG ANAK MADANG (2021340643)

SITI SURAYA ASHAR (2021100409)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The success and outcome of this assignment required a lot of effort and guidance from many people. We
are very thankful that we managed to finish it successfully even though there are some difficulties
through the completion. First and foremost, our greater gratitude to Allah SWT for His blessings and
strength until we managed to complete the finding aids.

First of all, we would like to thank Allah SWT for His blessing and mercy for giving us strength in
completing this proposal successfully without any big trouble occurring while completing it.

Next, a special thanks to our family for giving us support and motivation. Their positive advice and a
supportive word makes us feel excited and able to complete this assignment.

Not to forget, to our lecturer, Dr. Saiful Farik Mat Yatin and Miss Nurul Syfa' binti Mohd Tokiran, we
would like to thank him for guiding and assisting us on what we should do until we completed our
finding aids successfully even though via online platforms only.

Last but not least, thank you to our friends because we always correct each other's mistakes and give
opinions when we have trouble or have questions about something related to this finding aids.
Thank you.

3

INTRODUCTION

Finding aids are documents that contain information about the material that is part of a
fonds or a collection. Finding aids are used by researchers to determine if the records in
the collection or fonds hold information that is significant to their research.
In this project, our group will demonstrate about political and history documentation.
The historic event that we chose is about the Pangkor Treaty 1874. The treaty was signed
at Pangkor, Perak on 20th of June 1874 between the British government and Malay chiefs
of in Perak. The purpose of the meeting was to settle a Perak succession dispute and stop
warface between Chinese secret societies.
It was the beginning closure of the establishment of British dominion over the the
Malays. Clarke negotiated the Pangkor Treaty which result the changes from sultanate
control to British resident control.

4

Explanatory Notes

The purpose of this finding aids book is to make it easier to find and use documents and
archival resources that are relevant to the subject of Pangkor Treaty. Electronic sources of
information that is used to compile the finding aids. The list of available materials also includes
material in form of documents and records relating to a variety of image types. This book
seeks to make it simple for researchers to locate and get the needed information. All of the
materials are listed in accordance with the collection type, which records a straightforward
inventory and description of particular materials. The resources that are available in the
National Archives of Malaysia served as the basis for the content of these finding aids.

5

ABBREVIATIONS

No Abbreviations Description
1 Clarke Sir Andrew Clarke
2 BO
3 Pangkor British Office
4 RMI Pangkor Agreement
5 Woods
6 RBI Raja Muda Abdullah
R.C. Woods

Raja Bendahara Ismail

6

No Abbreviations Description
7 GoL Governor of Larut
8 GB
9 Ord Great Britain
10 Pickering Sir Harry Saint George Ord
11 Swettenham
12 Birch W.A. Pickering
13 Sultan Muda Sir Frank Swettenham
14 H.M.S Pluto
J.W.W. Birch
Sultan Ismail
Ships of the Royal Navy

7

TABLE OF CONTENT Page

Item 2
3

Title page
4
Acknowledgement 5

Introduction 6-7
Explanatory notes 8-9
10-15
Abbreviations 16-20
Table of Content
Chapter 1: History
Chapter 2: During Pangkor Treaty

8

TABLE OF CONTENT Page

Item 21-26
27-31

Chapter 3: After Pangkor Treaty 32-36

Chapter 4: Occasions 37
Chapter 5: Notable Individuals 38-40

Conclusion 41-
2
List of Materials
Indexes

References

9

CHAPTER 1:
HISTORY

10

HISTORY Pangkor Treaty

On 20 January 1874, Raja Muda Abdullah, the then Raja Muda of Perak
who controlled the areas in Hilir Perak, signed the Pangkor Treaty
together with the dignitaries who supported him before the Governor of
the Straits Settlements, Sir Andrew Clarke. The dignitaries involved are
the Treasurer, Temenggung, Orang Kaya Menteri, Syahbandar, Raja
Mahkota, Laksamana and Dato’ Sagor. In an excerpt from an article of
the Pangkor Treaty it is explained that the Sultan has received and
provided a suitable resident to be made a resident to the BO (British
Office). The privilege of the resident is to comment on any problem in
court but it must not touch on the rights of the Malays and religion at all.
All the advices of the national government ministries are only regulated
under the control of the residents.

11

Pangkor Treaty The Pangkor Treaty of 1874 was the trigger
for the British to expand their colonial wings in
HISTORY Malaya. This agreement also established
formal relations between the British and the
Sultan and Malay dignitaries. Indirectly, the
agreement also took over the ruling power of
the Malay Rulers.

FIGURE 1 12

Title: PERJANJIAN PANGKOR : 1874.
Accession No : 2001/0025944W

Chronology of Pangkor Treaty

1871

During the death of Sultan Ali in 1871, Raja Abdullah, as Raja Muda, was supposed
to be appointed as the new sultan but because he did not attend the funeral, Raja
Bendahara Raja Ismail was appointed on 28 June 1871. Raja Bendahara Ismail was
appointed and enthroned according to the coronation ceremony. Malay rulers, he is a
legitimate sultan because he has the tools of royal greatness. He was powerful and had
many followers in Hulu Perak. At the same time, there was animosity between two
Chinese secret societies, Ghee Hin led by Chin Ah Yam and Hai San led by Chung Keng
Quee to seize the tin mines. Raja Abdullah who wanted to claim the throne of the Perak
government had asked for British help to solve the two problems.

13

Chronology of Pangkor Treaty

30 December 1873

Raja Abdullah sent a letter to the FIGURE 2
Governor of the Straits Settlements,
Sir Andrew Clarke asking the British Title: MAJOR GENERAL SIR ANDREW CLARKE
to investigate the Perak Affairs. The Accession No: 2001/0029239W
letter signed by him also asked the
Governor to restore peace in Perak
and allow Perak to take refuge under
the British.

14

Chronology of Pangkor Treaty

1874 FIGURE 3

With the arrival of the British delegation to Pangkor Title: SULTAN ABDULLAH, GROUP PHOTOGRAPH,
Island, a negotiation was held on Pangkor Island which BATAK RABIT, PERAK; APRIL 1874
later signed an agreement between Raja Abdullah and Accession No: 2001/0025991W
the Perak dignitaries with the British which later became
known as the Pangkor Treaty in 1874 which took 15
advantage of disputes between Malay dignitaries and the
Chinese Secret Society.

CHAPTER 2

During Pangkor Treaty

16

Terms of the treaty
1.Raja Muda Abdullah (RMA)is recognized as the Sultan of Perak.
Figure 4: 2.Raja Bendahara Ismail, who is now the Acting Sultan, was allowed
Muzium Negara Exhibition, exhibits of
painting on the Pangkor Treaty signing to retain the title of Sultan Muda by being given a pension and a
small territory assigned to him.
occasion, Kuala Lumpur, 1961. 3.All appointments of other high officials made at the time RBI

received the instrument of royal majesty must be confirmed.
4.The power given to the Rich Minister over Larut by the Al-
Accession No.: Marhum Sultan shall be confirmed.
2001/022366W 5.All state revenue shall be collected, and all appointments shall be
made in the name of the Sultan.
6.The Sultan received and provided a suitable residence for a British
officer named Resident. This officer will be commissioned to the
Sultan's palace, and his advice must be sought, and action taken
on all questions other than those touching on Islam and Malay
customs.

17

Terms of the treaty
7. An Assistant Resident, i.e., a British Officer acting under the Resident of
Figure 5: Perak, with similar powers and subject only to such Resident shall be
Old Dutch Fort, Pangkor Island, Dindings stationed at the palace of the Governor of Larut.
8. Funding for these Residents and their Appointments shall be determined
Accession No.: by the Government of the Straits Settlements and shall be the first
2001/0026815W responsibility of the revenue of the State of Perak.
9. The royal provision governing the income to be received by the Sultan,
Treasurer, Minister, and other Officers shall be the next liability of such 18
revenue.
10. The collection and control of all revenue and the general administration
of the state are regulated under the advice of these Residents.
11. The treaty in which the Walled Islands and the Pangkor Islands were
ceded to Great Britain was misunderstood, and as such, it was necessary to
readjust so as to give effect to the real purposes of the drafters of the
Treaty, and it was hereby declared that the boundaries of the ceded territory
should corrected as follows: From Bukit Segari,

Terms of the treaty

12. That the southern slope of the Krian River, i.e., the part of the area whose drainage enters the river
from the south is declared a British Territory, as correcting the Boundary of Wellesley Province
(Seberang Perai). The boundary shall be marked by a Commissioner, one nominated by the Government
of the Straits Settlements, and another nominated by the Sultan of Perak.
13. That when the present state of chaos has ceased in the State of Perak and peace and order have
been restored among the warring factions in the State, then immediate measures under the control and
supervision of one or more British Officers shall be taken to restore to the extent practicable the work
of mining and the possession of machinery, etc., as before the disturbance, as well as to arrange for the
payment of compensation for damage, and the decision of the officer or officers in such case shall be
final.
14. The Dissolved Minister pledged to acknowledge his debt to the Government of the Straits
Settlements for all charges and expenses incurred on this investigation, as well as for charges and
expenses incurred by the Colonies of the Straits Settlements and Great Britain in their efforts to establish
a military in Perak. and trade security.

19

Figure 6: Figure 7:
F.A. SWETTENHAM AND J.W.W BIRCH; BLANJA Kota Belanda, Pulau Pangkor


Accession No.:
Identifier Number: 2013/0022046W
2001/0028498W




20

CHAPTER 3

After Pangkor Treaty

21

THE IMPACTS Figure 8:
OF TREATY Sir Andrew Clarke's letter
to Sultan Abdul Samad -
Governor Sir Andrew
Clarke demoted Appointment of Frank
Swettenham
Sultan Ismail from
the rank of sultan but Identifier Number:
2001/0026787W
allowed to wear the
title " Sultan Muda" Sultan was no longer the
absolute ruler in the
But the power is administration and
limited by other
parties eventhough governance of state except in
Sultan has power religion and customs of
over His Majesty's Malays

state.

22

British continued They had a conspired
to be directly to assassinate J.W.W
involved in Birch, who became the
administrative first British Resident

matters in Malay in Perak at Pasir
state. Salak.

The Malays in Figure 9:
Perak start act J.W.W Birch, group
against British photograph, Kuala
because their Kangsar September
power had been
1875
lost. Identifier Number:
2001/0025990W

23

People who involved in J.W.W Birch's
murder were Dato Maharaja Lela, Datuk

Sagor, Si Puntum, Pancak Endut,
Laksamana Mohamad Amin, Ngah Ibrahim

and others.



FIGURE 10:
BATU PERINGATAN, J.W.W. BIRCH
IDENTIFIER
NUMBER:2001/0047786W




24

British knew they Figure 11:
cannot expect Sir Andrew Clarke,

that the Malays Governor of the

will be murder Straits settlement,

their people.
T.T.
All of them have Identifier Number:
been expelled to 2001/0022159W
Seychelles Island.
25
The British
succeed maintain
their position in

Perak and open
more tin dig.

Chinese The authority of tax
community agreed collection through
to stop the fights
administration
and accepted system have been
British as introduce which is
known as resident
middleman for tin
digger business. system

It successed to end Pangkor treaty
the chaos at Larut became as their
and they can tin dig
first step for
without possession in
disturbances.
economy.

26

CHAPTER 4
Occasions
27

The Business of Meeting

On 16 January, the business of meeting began by the time Sir Andrew
and Lady Clarke along with their attendants arrived on the Pluto, Pangkor.

Ceremonial Visits

The meeting started with ceremonial visits on board the ship by the chiefs to
the Governor. The Mantri and Abdullah were the only to present of the four
major contendors for the position of Sultan.

Interview between Clarke and Mantri

The proper proceedings started at 3:30 p.m. with an interview between Clarke and
Mantri whereby The Mantri was accompanied by his Penang-based lawyer, R.C
Woods, but Woods was not allowed to attend the actual proceedings.

28

Ord's recognition of the Mantri

A further puzzle over the Pangkor Proceedings is Clarke's apparent
lack of knowledge of the Mantri as an independent ruler earlier in
1873.

Plenary Session

On the afternoon of Saturday, 17 January, a plenary session of the
chiefs was held. The Mantri's prompt attendance was by force where
twenty soldiers were sent to secure his attendance, together with
Speedy and two other lesser chiefs after Swettenham and Pickering's
first attempt failed.

Figure 12:
COLONEL SIR HARRY SAINT GEORGE ORD



Accession No.:
2001/0029238W

29

Figure 13: Figure 14:
SIR FRANK SWETTENHAM; 1884. A PORTRAIT OF W.A. PICKERING, N.D.




Accession No.: Accession No.:
2001/0025972W 2001/0022411W

30

Pangkor Engagement

The terms of Pangkor Engagement were drawn up on Monday, 19 January,
discussed that afternoon, and was signed on Tuesday, 20 January in the afternoon.

British Intervention

Clarke admitted in a letter to his patron that he has hustled the Malay chiefs into an
agreement and that had he not done so, nothing would have been achieved.

31

CHAPTER 5

Notable Individual

32

KAPITAN CHUNG AH KWEE

ABOUT INVOLVEMENT IN PANGKOR TREATY
Kapitan China

Representative of Chinese
groups that involved in the He was one of the two main
agreement signatories to the treaty known as
Member of Commission for the the Pangkor Engagement entered
Pacification of Larut into aboard the H.M.S. Pluto at
Member of the State Council of Pangkor Island by twenty-six
Perak headmen of the Chinese Secret
Societies.
Figure 15: Chung, Keng Quee and Chin, Ah
KAPITAN CHUNG AH KWEE, KAPITAN CINA
Yam, leaders of the and Ghee Hin,
THAT SIGNED THE PANGKOR AGREEMENT
respectively, were ennobled by the
British with the title of Kapitan
ON 2ND JAN 1874 China and the town of Larut was

renamed Taiping as a confirmation
of the new state of truce
Accession No.:
2001/0053417W 33

SULTAN ABDULLAH

ABOUT INVOLVEMENT IN PANGKOR TREATY


Sultan Abdullah Muhammad Shah Ibni
Almarhum Sultan Ja'afar Mua'azzam Received special service by
Shah British officials with thousand of
The 26th enthroned of Perak's Sultan pension money every month
Journey of being Sultan 1874 - 1876 Member of Pangkor Treaty that
Being called as Sultan Muda by agreed with the terms and
approval Gabenor Sir Andrew Clarke condition
Sent official letter to BO about
Figure 16: their disagreement
SULTAN ABDULLAH OF PERAK, N.D. He was once arrested at Pulau
Sechelles with other people


Accession No.: 34
2001/0022419W

SIR FRANK A.SWETTENHAM

ABOUT INVOLVEMENT IN PANGKOR TREATY
Born 28 of March 1850 and died 11
of June 1946

British Officials in Malaya
Learned Bahasa Melayu Swettenham contributed significantly
A British-Malay intermediary
Resident of Selangor in 1870 to the shape of this treaty
Cadet in the civil service of the
Straits Settlements Swettenham’s interest in the people
He promoted the development of
coffee and tobacco estates in the of Malaya can be seen in the many
state
Boost tin earnings by constructing records, personal accounts and
a railway from Kuala Lumpur
journals he wrote during the time he

spent in Asia and long after he left the

region

Act as Malay Speaker that discuss

matters about the terms and

condition between Malays officials

and B0

Figure 17: Successfully influenced the Malay to
SIR FRANK A. SWETTENHAM, G.C.M.G , C.H.
signed the agreement even they were


Accession No.: oppose at first
2001/0029211W

35

J.W.W BIRCH

ABOUT
James Wheeler Woodford Birch
Born on 3 April 1826 and died on 2 November 1875
One of BO
Was killed on 2 November 1875 by Local Malay chief,
narrated by Dato Maharaja Lela and Sepuntum

Figure 18: INVOLVEMENT IN PANGKOR TREATY
DURING J.W.W BIRCH (PERAK RESIDENT) VISIT TO



KUALA LUMPUR Distributing proclamations defining the authority of the

Resident under the terms of the Treaty
Most of chief officers of Perak bowed to him expect for
Accession No.: Dato Maharaja Lela
1998/0005234W Act rude and harsh to the Malays
Was killed by Malays due to disagreement of him
appointed as the resident

36

Conclusion

In conclusion, the finding aids helps researchers to find the needed and useful information to a
specific topic. In this case, this finding aids can be usefull to researchers in their research about
Pangkor Treaty. this finding aids have stated several material from reliable sources related to
Pangkor Treaty that can be used for the researches not just in this specific topic but other
related topic. This is due to the Pangkor Treaty is one of the most important event that
happens in the malay land that lead to the invasion trough out Malaya. Therefore, the events of
Pangkor Treaty need to be studied in more depth and understood by the entire community in
Malaysia in order to increase the spirit of patriotism.

37

LIST OF MATERIALS

Num
ber Accession
Number Description


1.
2001/002
5944W PERJANJIAN PANGKOR : 1874.

2.

3.
2001/002
9239W MAJOR GENERAL SIR ANDREW CL
ARKE
4.
2001/002
5991W
5.
2001/002
2366W SULTAN ABDULLAH, GROUP PHOTOGRAPH, BATAK RABIT,

6.
2001/002
6815W
PERAK; APRIL 1874

MUZIUM NEGARA EXHIBITION, EXHIBITS OF PAINTING ON THE
PANGKOR TREATY SIGNING OCCA
SSION, KUALA LUMPUR, 1961

OLD DUTCH FORT, PANGKOR ISL
AND, DINDINGS

2001/002
8498W F.A. SWETTEHAM AND J.W.W BIRC
H; BLANJA

38

LIST OF MATERIALS

7
. 2001/002
2046W KOTA BELANDA, PULAU PANGKO
R

8
. 2001/002
6787W SIR ANDREW CLARKE'S LETTER TO SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD-
APPOINTMENT OF FRANK SWETT
ENHAM

9
. 2001/002
5990W J.W.W. BIRCH, GROUP PHOTOGRAPH, KUALA KANGSAR


SEPTEMBER 1875

10
. 2001/004
7786W BATU PERINGATAN, J.W.W. BIRCH


11
. 2001/002
2159W SIR ANDREW CLARKE, GOVERNER
OF THE STRAITS
SETTLEMENT, T.T

12
. 2001/002
9238W COLONEL SIR HARRY SAINT GEO
RGE ORD

13
. 2001/002
5972W SIR FRANK SWETTENHAM; 1884.


39

LIST OF MATERIALS

1
4. 2001/00
22411W A PORTRAIT OF W.A. PICKERIN
G, N.D.

1
5. 2001/00
22419W SULTAN ABDULLAH OF PERAK
, N.D.

1
6. 2001/00
53417W KAPITAN CHUNG AH KWEE, KAPITAN CINA THAT SIGNED

THE PANGKOR AGREEMENT ON
2ND JAN 1874

1
7. 2001/00
29211W SIR FRANK A. SWETTENHAM, G
.C.M.G , C.H.

1
8. 1998/00
05234W DURING J.W.W BIRCH (PERAK R
ESIDENT) VISIT TO KUALA

LUMPUR

40

INDEXES

B I R
British Raja Muda Abdullah
Birch 5,11, 12, Islam 17 Raja Ismail 13, 25

5, 25

23

C K 33
Kapitan

Compensation 19 L S 11
Laksamana Mohamad Amin 24 Signed

Coronation 14

D P T 13
Dignitaries Pasir Salak Throne
Patriotism
11, 12 Perak 23
37
4, 11, 12

41

References

Freddie, A.J. (2019). Perjanjian Pangkor. Orang Perak. Retrieved June 26, 2022 from
https://www.orangperak.com/perjanjian-pangkor.html

Azmi, Arifin. (2012). Perak disturbance 1871-75: British colonialism the Chinese secret societies
and the Malay rulers. Jebat: Malaysian Journal of History, Politics & Strategic Studies, Vol.39(1),
51-76. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20184506005

The Pangkor Engagement. (n.d.). Sejarah Melayu. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from
http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/perak1.htm

(2022). 26. Sultan Abdullah Muhammad II. Senarai Sultan Terdahulu. Retrieved June, 28, 2022
from http://sultan.perak.gov.my/index.php/informasi-kesultanan/senarai-sultan-perak

(2022). Sir Frank Swettenham: British Colonial official. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica.
Global Exploration. Retrieved June, 27 2022 from
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frank-Athelstane-Swettenham

42

References

‌Kesan-kesan perjanjian Pangkor 1874 terhadap negeri-negeri Melayu. (n.d). Dokumen.
https://dokumen.tips/documents/kesan-kesan-perjanjian-pangkor-1874-terhadap-negeri-
negeri-melayu.html

Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain. (2017, September 9) Menyorot Perjanjian Pangkor 1874. Berita

Harian. https://www.bharian.com.my/rencana/muka10/2017/09/323112/menyorot-

perjanjian-pangkor-1874

Perjanjian Pangkor Ditandatangani. (2018, Januari 20). PeKhabar. https://pekhabar.com/h-i-d-s-
perjanjian-pangkor-ditandatangani/

(n.d.). Pasir Salak Historical Complex. Top Perak Attractions. Retrieved July, 7 2022 from
https://www.malaysia-traveller.com/pasir-salak-historical-
complex.html#:~:text=J.W.W.,those%20involving%20customs%20and%20religion.

43