Kedah-Perlis District: Map & History

History

Perlis was originally part of Kedah, although it occasionally came under the rule of Siam or Aceh. Perlis was historically an important realm within the Kingdom of Kedah. Sultan Muhyiddin of Kedah made his capital in Kota Sena, while Sultan Dhiauddin II made Kota Indera Kayangan his capital. Sultan Dhiauddin II of Kedah was honorifically titled as Raja Muda of Perlis and Kedah, akin to the title Prince of Wales in the United Kingdom. During his reign as the Sultan of Kedah, he oversaw a treaty with George Leith to cede Province Wellesley to Penang. He was titled as Raja Muda of Perlis and Kedah. This fact depicted Perlis was a special realm within the Kedah sultanate.

Government

Perlis is ruled by the House of Jamalullail. Unlike most other Malay states, in which the ruler is a "sultan", the ruler of Perlis is called the "raja".

Consisting of 20 chapters and 83 articles, the Constitution of the State of Perlis is the highest form of law in the state. It came into force on 1 March 1959 and was separated into four parts. Under the 1959 constitution, Perlis is a constitutional monarchy.

The raja appoints menteri besar (chief minister) and an Executive Council (akin to a Cabinet). Generally, the chief minister is a member of the legislative assembly who can command a majority on the assembly's floor. The raja's appointment powers were at the center of a brief constitutional crisis in the state after the 2008 general election.

Geography

Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia, covering a total land area of 819 km2. Like other west coast states, it has a coastline facing the Strait of Malacca, measuring around 20.4 km (12.7 mi) from Kuala Sanglang at the border with Kedah's Kubang Pasu District up north towards the Malaysia-Thailand border near Pos Batu Putih, in the vicinity of Kuala Perlis.

From south to north, its topographical profile consists of flat, arable lands of the Kedah–Perlis Plain dotted with numerous mogotes, and abruptly rises up high as rolling karstic hills of the Nakawan Range, which forms the natural boundary between the state and the province of Satun on the Thai side.

Tourism

Perlis State Park - Situated on the southern slopes of the Nakawan Range, the park consists of Mata Ayer and Wang Mu Forest Reserves with a total area of about 5,000 ha. Some of the attractions in the park include caves such as Gua Kelam and Gua Wang Burma, which is located within the 500-year-old Setul limestone formation.

Gua Kelam - A limestone cave that is one of the most visited destinations in Perlis. Located about 33 km north of Kangar, the capital of Perlis, near Kaki Bukit.

Padang Besar - Located near the Malaysia-Thai border, the town is famed for its duty-free shopping scene.

Kuala Perlis - One of the popular activities here is fishing.