The Story of the British Resident's House on Bukit Kerajaan, Kuala Kangsar

The Perak Resident's house featured in this article is located on Bukit Kerajaan, Kuala Kangsar, Perak. It was previously known as Changkat Residen, and before that, the hill was known as Bukit Cik Midah.

The name Bukit Cik Midah was taken from the name of the widow of Ngah Lamat, who later married the late Sultan Yusof (the 27th Sultan of Perak). Cik Midah later married Nakhoda Terang. The original site before the British Resident's house was built in Kuala Kangsar was actually the site of Cik Midah's house. In 1876, Cik Midah's house was seized by the British colonialists, and in 1877, the original house was demolished. Cik Midah's original house was demolished by the British to make way for a residence for the first British Resident of Selangor, who was to serve in Perak as the third British Resident of Perak, J.G. Davidson. However, J.G. Davidson never got to live in the house built for him because he resigned before it was completed.

Cik Midah and her husband Nakhoda Terang

Eventually, the British Resident's house was occupied by the fourth British Resident, Sir Hugh Low, in 1905. The original house built did not look like it does today, as it was demolished and rebuilt with stone masonry.

The British Resident's house that stands firmly on Bukit Kerajaan, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, is also known as King Pavilion. In 1909, King Pavilion was occupied by the eighth British Resident of Perak, Ernest Woodford Birch, who was the son of J.W.W. Birch, who was killed by Sepuntum in Pasir Salak on November 2, 1875.

After Ernest Woodford Birch (the 8th British Resident of Perak) finished his service as a British Resident in Perak, the house was occupied by Sir Reginald George Watson, the 12th British Resident of Perak.

In 1960, the British Resident's house was finally converted into a school, which is known today as Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Raja Perempuan Kelsom. The name Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Raja Perempuan Kelsom was taken from the name of the mother of the late Sultan Idris II (the 33rd Sultan of Perak).

The steps to the Resident's house showing flood levels by year

According to Anthony Burgess's writing in the book 'Little Wilson and Big God', there were several specific reasons related to various stories of hauntings and supernatural entities that caused many British Residents in Perak to refuse and fear living in the provided residence.

That is the reason why not many British Residents in Perak who succeeded previous residents lived in this official residence. The building is quite beautiful, and its structure was designed in the Victorian era, with the added benefit of a very beautiful view from up there. Sources and references:

• Official Website of SMKRPK
• Perak and the Malays: Sarong and Kris
• Tempat-Tempat Bersejarah Perak - N.A. Halim (p. 188)
• Little Wilson and Big God - Anthony Burgess