Perak speaker says Ngah Ibrahim introduced organised police, courts and ports before British colonial rule in Larut.
TAIPING: Tengku Menteri Ngah Ibrahim is being recognised as a model Malay leader whose 19th-century administration in Larut demonstrated structured governance and visionary leadership.
Perak State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid stated that Ngah Ibrahim introduced modern systems such as organised police, courts, and ports long before the British arrived.
“Ngah Ibrahim’s leadership proves that the Malays were not backward and had already developed advanced administrative systems before colonial rule,” he said.
He was speaking at the Seminar on the Struggle of Tengku Menteri Ngah Ibrahim and the launch of the book Kota Ngah Ibrahim in Historical Perspective at Matang Museum today.
Mohammad Zahir urged greater research, seminars and field studies to revisit Perak’s history using newly accessible documents and sources instead of relying solely on oral tradition.
“Many important historical documents were previously held overseas, such as in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, but advances in technology now make them accessible for research,” he said.
He also called for a special committee to trace and repatriate historical artefacts, documents and photographs held overseas.
Mohammad Zahir stressed that these items are symbols of the nation’s dignity and heritage. – Bernama
