Tun Kelalang, the Earliest Malay Ruler in the Kinta District

Once, the Kinta area was a district or state inhabited by the Orang Darat, who were part of the Semai Orang Asli community. In 1528, Tun Kelalang, the son of the Ruler of Hulu Perak, Tun Saban Balik, traveled downstream along the Perak River and entered one of its tributaries, the Kinta River, where he established a settlement named Kampung Kepayang, located in the Mukim of Ulu Kinta. Tun Kelalang was the earliest Malay ruler in the Kinta district or state. His descendants assimilated with the Orang Darat people through intermarriage. His descendants held the title of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa. The first Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was his son, Toh Pasir Panjang bin Tun Kelalang. The administrative center for this title holder was located in Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh.

The title of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was later absorbed into the Perak Sultanate Monarchy System as one of the Orang Besar 16 (16 Great Chiefs) following the marriage between the daughter of the 4th Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa, Toh Nyior Manis, named Toh Puan Intan, and the son of the Maharaja Kinta Toh Chandang, named Toh Tambak.

As a result of this marriage, the titles of Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja and Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa were held by the same family. It became customary for the eldest son to 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 last Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was Toh Itam Dewi bin the 5th Panglima Kinta, Toh Ngah Abdul Ghaffar. His involvement, along with his elder brother, the 7th Panglima Kinta, Ngah Abdul Jaafar or Ngah Jabor, in the assassination of JWW Birch led to his exile to Skudai, Johor, alongside the 25th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Ismail Mu'abidin Riayat Shah. Subsequently, the title of Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa was abolished by the British in the Perak Sultanate Monarchy System.

After his period of exile ended, he returned to Kampung Kepayang. His grave is located in the Kampung Kepayang Muslim cemetery, Fair Park, Ipoh. References:

• Genealogy of the Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa Di Raja and Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa, compiled by Tuan Haji Fazil Shuhaimi Talib, published by the Kulop Kinta Family Association (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.
• Getting to Know Kampung Kepayang, directed by Mukriz Mahader, published by Astro AWANI.
• Tanah Secupak Documentary: Kampung Kepayang, directed by Faizal Zainol, published by Continuallybebas.
• Documentary on the Last Dato Panglima Kinta Pasak Kepayang: Toh Ngah Abdul Jaafar or Ngah Jabor, directed by Faizal Zainol, published by Continuallybebas.
• Papers on Malay Subjects, written by R.J. Wilkinson.
• Pasir Salak, The Center of the Anti-British Movement in Perak, written by Abdullah Zakaria Ghazali.