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Perlis

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Perlis is a state located on the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It sits along the Strait of Malacca.

Mukims of Perlis labelled
Mukims of Perlis labelled

To the north, it borders the Thai provinces of Satun and Songkhla. To the south, it meets the Malaysian state of Kedah. Perlis is unique because it is the smallest state in Malaysia. This applies to both its total land area and its population.

Map of Siam in 1900
Map of Siam in 1900

Because of its small size, the state is not divided into districts. Instead, it is divided into 22 smaller areas called mukims, or communes.

The physical landscape of Perlis is quite varied. Much of the state consists of the Kedah–Perlis Plain. This area is made of flat, arable lands. These lands are used extensively for rice farming in large paddy fields. Rising from these plains are many mogotes. These are isolated limestone hills that stand out from the flat ground.

Limestone formations in Perlis
Limestone formations in Perlis

Further north, the land rises into the Nakawan Range. This range is a subrange of the Tenasserim Hills. It forms a natural frontier between Perlis and Thailand. The highest point in the state is Mount Perlis, which reaches 733 meters.

Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Perlis, 2001-2024
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Perlis, 2001-2024

Perlis experiences a tropical monsoon climate. This weather pattern is known scientifically as the Am classification under the Köppen system. The state's history is closely tied to the neighboring Sultanate of Kedah. Originally, Perlis was a realm within the Kingdom of Kedah. It occasionally fell under the influence of Aceh or Siam. In 1821, Siam conquered Kedah. This led to a period of conflict and changing authority. During this time, the Siamese made Perlis a separate principality. It became a direct vassal of Bangkok.

Seal Songkhla
Seal Songkhla

A major turning point occurred on May 20, 1843. The Siamese officially recognized Perlis as a sovereign state. They appointed Sayyid Hussain Jamalullail as the first Raja of Perlis. He was the grandson of a Hadhrami Arab immigrant. He was also the maternal grandson of the Sultan of Kedah. His descendants have continued to rule the state as rajas. This is different from other Malay states where the ruler is called a sultan. The state later moved from Siamese influence to British control through the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909.

Seal Satun
Seal Satun

The government of Perlis is organized around the House of Jamalullail. The raja appoints a Menteri Besar, which is the chief minister. The Menteri Besar leads an Executive Council. Legislative power is held by the Perlis State Legislative Assembly. This is a unicameral chamber, meaning it has only one house. It consists of 15 seats that are elected from single-member constituencies. After the 2022 election, the Perikatan Nasional coalition held 14 of these seats.

Perlis State Legislative Assembly
Perlis State Legislative Assembly

Perlis is home to a diverse population. According to the 2010 census, there were 227,025 residents. The majority of the population is Muslim, making up 87.9 percent. Other groups include Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians.

Kuil Kuil Sri Kamatchi Amman di padang besar
Kuil Kuil Sri Kamatchi Amman di padang besar

Language is also diverse in the region. Most people speak Perlis Malay, a sub-dialect of Kedah Malay. The Chinese community often speaks Hokkien. Other languages used include Mandarin, English, Tamil, and Malayalam. There are also small numbers of Southern Thai speakers.

Perlis Hokkien Association
Perlis Hokkien Association

Tourism and education are important to the state. The capital city is Kangar, while the royal capital is Arau. Padang Besar is a key town near the border. Kuala Perlis is a small village that serves as a ferry terminal. It provides a link to Langkawi Island. For nature lovers, Perlis offers the Perlis State Park. People also visit Gua Kelam, which is a famous cave.

The Cave of Darkness, Gua Kelam, Perlis, Malaysia (4676312227)
The Cave of Darkness, Gua Kelam, Perlis, Malaysia (4676312227)

For scientific study, there is a snake sanctuary at Sungai Batu Pahat. The state also hosts higher learning, such as the Malaysia University of Perlis in Pauh Putra.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
Perlis_State_Anthem.ogg
File:Map of Siam in 1900.png
Map of Siam in 1900.png
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Perlis, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:Limestone formations in Perlis.jpg
Limestone formations in Perlis.jpg
File:Perlis State Legislative Assembly.jpg
Perlis State Legislative Assembly.jpg
File:Svgfiles 2022-11-25-13-19-14-752065-14842915061957288095.svg
Svgfiles...
File:Mukims of Perlis labelled.svg
Mukims of Perlis labelled.svg
File:Kuil Kuil Sri Kamatchi Amman di padang besar.jpg
Kuil Kuil Sri Kamatchi Amman di padang besar.jpg
File:Perlis Hokkien Association.jpg
Perlis Hokkien Association.jpg
File:The_Cave_of_Darkness,_Gua_Kelam,_Perlis,_Malaysia_(4676312227).jpg
The_Cave_of_Darkness,_Gua_Kelam,_Perlis,_M...
File:Seal Songkhla.png
Seal Songkhla.png
File:Seal Satun.png
Seal Satun.png
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