Perak's First Treaty with an External Power in 1739
A treaty aimed at establishing closer ties between the State of Perak and the Dutch East India Company to face the threat of the Bugis was signed in 1746, where the State of Perak was represented by Sultan Muzaffar Shah III (the 13th Sultan of Perak) and the Dutch were represented by the Governor of Melaka, H. M. Bernhard Albinus.
For the first time since the establishment of the Perak Sultanate, the Bugis attacked Perak in December 1739. This was in response to a quest for vengeance over the death of Daeng Chelak's cousin, who was said to have been poisoned. Daeng Chelak arrived in Perak in June 1740, and his arrival greatly concerned the Sultan of Perak. While in Perak, Daeng Chelak seized four boats and 200 bahara of tin ore. Because of this, Sultan Muzaffar Shah III (the 13th Sultan of Perak) decided to seek assistance from another major power to deal with the Bugis threat that had entered the state of Perak.
The arrival of the Dutch East India Company in Perak provided an opportunity for the Sultan to establish friendly relations. With the agreement of both parties, a treaty was signed. Among the important terms of the treaty were:
- The Sultan agreed to maintain lasting relations with the Dutch.
- The Sultan agreed to cede an island named "Tanjung Putus" (approximately 48 kilometers from Kuala Perak) to the Dutch East India Company.
- The Sultan agreed to grant a plot of land on the riverbank to the Dutch East India Company for trade facilities and security.
- The Sultan agreed to allow only the Dutch East India Company to collect all tin ore revenue from the state of Perak.
- The Dutch agreed to purchase all tin ore at a price of 26 ducatoons (currency) per 375 bahara (weight).
- The Dutch agreed to pay two rials for every bahara of tin ore exported to Sultan Muzaffar Shah.
- All ships leaving the state of Perak must dock at the Dutch East India Company's area to be inspected to prevent smuggling.
- If any smuggled tin ore is found, it must be divided equally between both parties.
The treaty signed in 1746 between the state of Perak and the Dutch East India Company marked the starting point of Perak's relations with the outside world. This was also the first treaty ever signed by the state of Perak with an external power.
