Interesting Facts About the State of Perak
Perak Darul Ridzuan holds many interesting facts that many people, including some Perakians themselves, are unaware of. Here, we would like to share a few interesting facts about the state of Perak Darul Ridzuan.
The land area of Perak Darul Ridzuan
Perak Darul Ridzuan is the second-largest state in Peninsular Malaysia with an area of 21,005km², following Pahang Darul Makmur. It covers 6.4% of Malaysia's total land area and is the fourth-largest state in Malaysia!
Rafflesia
Perak Darul Ridzuan has also been home to several Rafflesia flowers, which are typically only found in Pahang and East Malaysia. One of them was named Rafflesia Azlanii in honor of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah. In the Royal Belum forest, the world's first 10-petaled Rafflesia was also discovered.
Durian
Perak is a paradise for durian lovers, as durian is one of the major crops in the state, which is home to the best local durian varieties. If Perak were a country, durian might be its biggest export. It reminds us of the song by Mr. Os.
Perak River
The Perak River is the second-longest river in Peninsular Malaysia after the Pahang River, stretching 400km and flowing through almost every district in Perak from Hulu Perak to Hilir Perak. This river played a vital role in the past as a route for the Sultan from Kuala Kangsar to Indonesia, and its tributaries were rich in tin ore. The name 'Perak' was derived from this river, whose water once appeared silvery-white (though it is brown today).
Taming Sari Keris
Many people think that the Taming Sari keris is lost, relegated to history, or just a fairy tale. You are wrong, as it is currently under the custody of the Perak government. How did this keris from Melaka end up in Perak? This is because the Perak royal lineage descends from Sultan Muzaffar, who was sent to rule Perak. In other words, the Perak royal family shares the same ancestry as the Melaka Sultanate.
Bukit Larut
Bukit Larut, Taiping, is the wettest place in Malaysia, with rainfall occurring 325 days a year. Rain falls here almost every evening and serves as a sign of whether it will rain in Taiping or not. Strange clouds shroud this hill almost all the time, influencing the weather in Taiping. If you have the chance to visit Taiping and cross the overpass above the railway tracks during a rainstorm, you will notice a "dividing line" in the middle of the bridge where one side is raining while the other is not.
Poco-Poco
Perak is the only state in Malaysia that has banned the Poco-poco dance. This is based on a fatwa issued by the Mufti of Perak around March 2011, which claimed that the dance forms a cross symbol and is practiced in Jamaica. Therefore, there is no Poco-poco in the state of Perak!
Language
Perak is the only state in Malaysia with 5 dialects: the Northern dialect for the Kerian and LMS districts, the Kelantan dialect for Hulu Perak, the Indonesian archipelago dialect for Kinta and Kampar, the Perak River Basin dialect for Kuala Kangsar, Manjung, and Perak Tengah, and the Southern dialect for Batang Padang and Hilir Perak. Don't be surprised if you hear people in Perak speaking with a Northern or East Coast accent, because it really exists. Perhaps there are more interesting facts you know; come share them with us! Adios!!!
