Mr. H.C. Eckhard, the First Perak Palace Dignitary of European Descent

Mr. H.C. Eckhard, the First Perak Palace Dignitary of European Descent

In early 2020, while our Orang Perak members were conducting a tour of historical sites in Kuala Kangsar, we were surprised to discover a Muslim grave bearing a European name within the Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum, Kuala Kangsar.

As we know, the Al-Ghufran mausoleum area is quite famous in the state of Perak as it houses the graves of the Sultans of Perak, as well as those of dignitaries and the Perak royal family.

Adding to the intrigue, the tombstone inscription states that Mr. H.C. Eckhard was appointed as the Comptroller of the Royal Household by Sultan Iskandar (the 30th Sultan of Perak).

It is a fascinating fact to share with everyone, as it turns out that at that time, positions of high dignity could also be bestowed by the Sultan of Perak upon non-Malays.

Unfortunately, there was no information regarding the owner of this grave, so we simply took photos and conducted an internet search once our activity concluded.

After searching online, we found the only available source of information from the 'Sembang Kuala' website, which is managed by the descendants and relatives of the Perak Sultanate.

Mr. Eckhardt, also known as H.C. Eckhardt, was born on April 27, 1877. He was an Englishman of German descent, with his grandparents hailing from Frankfurt.

There are two letters published in the New Straits Times by his son, Ahmad Aris Eckhardt, stating that his father was highly gifted in mathematics, despite being a scholar in literature from the University of Cambridge.

Mr. Eckhardt had a long and interesting career in Malaya, beginning in 1899 in Kajang as an Assistant District Officer and second-class magistrate.

From 1911 to 1928, he held the position of British Advisor for the states of Perlis, Kelantan, and Kedah.

In 1924, he wrote a book titled "Land Administration and Land Laws" in Kedah. In the same year, he married a Kelantanese Malay woman named Che Wan Fatimah, and from then on, he was known as Aris bin Abdullah after converting to Islam.

Before his appointment as the Comptroller of the Royal Household to Sultan Iskandar (the 30th Sultan of Perak) in 1932, Mr. Eckhardt was the Commissioner of Trade and Customs and Chairman of the Retrenchment Commission for the Federated Malay States.

The position of "The Comptroller of the Royal Household of Perak" was a newly created role, which he held from his retirement from the Malayan Civil Service until the end of his life.

He served three Sultans of Perak throughout his life: the late Sultan Iskandar (the 30th Sultan of Perak), the late Sultan Abdul Aziz (the 31st Sultan of Perak), and the late Sultan Yusuf Izzudin (the 32nd Sultan of Perak).

His duty as the Comptroller of the Royal Household of Perak was to ensure that the administration and all affairs of the Perak Palace ran smoothly and in an orderly manner.

All matters involving the education and welfare of the Sultan's children and the Perak royal family were always close to his heart, and he ensured that every task was carried out excellently.

Mr. Eckhardt continued to serve the late Sultan Iskandar (the 30th Sultan of Perak) even after the Sultan's passing, in his capacity as the Administrator of the late Sultan Iskandar's estate.

He passed away on July 1, 1955, and was honored by the Sultan of Perak to be buried in the Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum, Kuala Kangsar.

References:

• Sembang Kuala Website