The 1912 Agreement Between the Sultan of Perak and the Sultan of Kedah

On March 4, 1912, an important agreement was signed between the Sultan of Perak and the Sultan of Kedah. The Sultan of Perak at the time was the late Sultan Idris I (the 28th Sultan of Perak), and the Sultan of Kedah at that time was the late Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (the 26th Sultan of Kedah).

The agreement concerned the border between the states of Kedah and Perak. The demarcation location involved the area in the Baling district and the Tasek area located in Hulu Perak. Additionally, it also related to the construction of a road from the Baling district to Padang Serai in the state of Kedah. After deliberation and reaching a consensus, the agreement was finally signed by both Sultans for the benefit of both states, Perak and Kedah. Among the contents of the agreement reached were as follows:

1. The Sultan of Perak agreed to build a first-class road from the Baling district to the Kuala Ketil area, spanning 22 miles. This road to be built would connect the Klian Intan area in Hulu Perak with the Baling district up to the Kuala Ketil area.
2. The construction of this 22-mile road would be fully funded by the Perak State government, and in return, the Kedah State government agreed to oversee and maintain the road after it was handed over to the Kedah State government, just like other first-class roads in the state of Kedah.
3. The Kedah State government also agreed to continue the construction of the road from Kuala Ketil to Padang Serai for 12 miles, and the Kedah State government would also maintain and oversee that road just like other first-class roads in the state of Kedah.
4. The Kedah State government would hand over to the Perak State government all areas in Baling and the area above Gua Baling to the Perak government so that in the future, the border between the states of Kedah and Perak in the Hulu Perak area would be marked by the hilly areas within that district.

The late Sultan Idris I (the 28th Sultan of Perak)

The agreement was signed by the Sultan of Perak, the late Sultan Idris I (the 28th Sultan of Perak), in the presence of the Acting British Resident in Perak, Oliver Marks, and the Sultan of Kedah, the late Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (the 26th Sultan of Kedah), and witnessed by Encik Md. Ariffin, secretary to the Sultan of Kedah.

The late Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (the 26th Sultan of Kedah)

Sources and references:

• National Archives