The 9th Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa, Toh Itam Dewi bin Panglima Kinta Ngah Gapor

Toh Pasir Panjang bin Tun Kelalang was the first Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa in the Kinta Malay governance system, which existed before the formal Perak Malay Sultanate monarchy was fully established. The Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was a position that emerged in the late 15th century for dignitaries governing the Ulu Kinta region, with its administrative center located in Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh.

The title of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was later absorbed into the Perak Malay Sultanate monarchy as one of the 'Orang Besar 16' (16 Major Chiefs) around 1670. This followed the marriage between two prominent Malay ruling families in Kinta: Toh Puan Intan, daughter of the 4th Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa, Toh Nyior Manis (a descendant of the first Kinta Malay ruler, Tun Kelalang), and Toh Tambak, son of the Maharaja Kinta Toh Chendang (a descendant of the 2nd Sultan of Perak, Sultan Mansur Shah I).

This marriage led to the creation of a new title, Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja, while the Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa position remained. However, its role shifted to become a deputy (Kapit) to the Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja. The administrative area for the Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa remained in Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh, while also assisting the Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja in governing Kinta as a whole. Traditionally, the eldest son would hold the title of Orang Besar 8, Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja, while his younger brother would hold the position of Orang Besar 16, Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa.

The title of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa could only be held by descendants of the Panglima Kinta Pasak Kepayang, as it required the specific criteria of possessing the bloodline of Tun Kelalang bin Tun Saban Balik, who was the first Kinta Malay ruler and the founder of Kampung Kepayang in 1528.

The final Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was Toh Itam Dewi bin the 5th Panglima Kinta, Toh Ngah Abdul Ghaffar. His involvement, alongside his younger brother, the 6th Dato Maharaja Lela, Pandak Lam, and his elder brother, the 7th Panglima Kinta, Toh Ngah Abdul Jaafar (Ngah Jabor), in the assassination of JWW Birch led to his exile to Skudai, Johor, along with the 25th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Ismail Mu’abidin Riayat Shah. His younger brother was sentenced to death by hanging, while his elder brother was imprisoned for 10 years (1877-1887) in Singapore by the British.

He and his elder brother were related to Dato Maharaja Lela Pandak Lam through their shared mother, Anjang Neh, though they had different fathers. The father of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa Itam Dewi and Panglima Kinta Ngah Jabor was the 5th Dato Panglima Kinta, Toh Ngah Abdul Ghaffar (Ngah Gapor), while the father of Dato Maharaja Lela Pandak Lam was the 5th Dato Maharaja Lela, Tok Maulud.

According to the views of P.L. Burns in the Perak Enquiry Papers, Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa Itam Dewi, Dato Panglima Kinta Ngah Jabor, Dato Sagor Ngah Kamdin, and Dato Maharaja Lela Pandak Lam were strong supporters of Sultan Ismail as the Sultan of Perak, whereas Laksamana Mohamad Amin was hostile toward Sultan Ismail, although he still acknowledged him as the Sultan of Perak.

Following the involvement of these three brothers in the Perak War of 1875, the position of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was abolished by the British, who were governing Perak at the time. The title of Dato Maharaja Lela also ceased to exist within the Perak Malay Sultanate monarchy. As for the position of Panglima Kinta, there is no longer a rotation between the descendants of the Panglima Kinta Pasak Paloh and the descendants of the Panglima Pasak Kepayang (of which Panglima Kinta Ngah Jabor was the last). Today, the position is held exclusively by the descendants of the Panglima Kinta Pasak Paloh.

Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa Itam Dewi returned to Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh after his exile in Skudai, Johor with Sultan Ismail Mu’abidin Riayat Shah and lived there until the end of his life. His grave is located near the Kinta River within the Kampung Kepayang area, Fair Park, Ipoh. The grave was later relocated to the Muslim Cemetery at Surau Al-Taufiqiah, Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh. According to local elders, the relocation was carried out by four individuals. Following the successful relocation, all four individuals reportedly died under mysterious circumstances, which some believe to be linked to the relocation process, though the validity of this story cannot be confirmed. References / Sources:

• "Salasilah Keturunan Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa Di Raja dan Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa", compiled by Tuan Haji Fazil Shuhaimi Talib, published by Persatuan Keluarga Kulop Kinta (PK3).
• "Titles and Ceremonial Traditions of the Royalty and Nobility of the State of Perak, Malaysia", written by Dr. Adib Vincent Tung, published by Perak Academy.
• "Kenali Kampung Kepayang", directed by Mukriz Mahader, published by Astro AWANI.
• "Papers on Malay Subjects", written by R.J. Wilkinson.
• "Pasir Salak, Pusat Gerakan Menentang British di Perak", written by Abdullah Zakaria Ghazali.
• "Particulars on the Royal Family and Chiefs in Perak", National Archives of Malaysia, ANM 3003/0008160.