Where are the Seychelles Islands and What is Their Connection to Perak?
The Republic of Seychelles is located in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar, Mauritius, Somalia, the Maldives, and other African nations.
The name Seychelles is quite synonymous with the Malay people and the history of Perak. But does the new generation of our country delve into the events that occurred and know the story and connection between the Seychelles and the state of Perak? If you are a Malaysian citizen, especially a native of Perak, you should know that the Seychelles was actually the archipelago where the British colonialists exiled Sultan Abdullah (the 26th Sultan of Perak), Tengku Menteri Ngah Ibrahim, Laksamana Muhammad Amin, Syahbandar Uda Maamor, and 47 other Perak dignitaries in 1877. All these Perak dignitaries who were exiled to the Seychelles were accused of being involved in the assassination of J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident in Perak, an event that took place in Pasir Salak, Perak, in 1875. According to history passed down through generations, they were all exiled and deported using the ship Carherstone, which departed from the port of Singapore. The journey from Singapore to the Seychelles took over a month. The colonialists exiled all the accused because they were worried, fearful, and intimidated by the strength of the Malays. Just look at the forward-thinking mindset of Ngah Ibrahim in various aspects compared to other Perak dignitaries. Even though he was exiled to the Seychelles, it can be said that almost every year he sent letters to the British government (Queen Victoria) to request his release and pardon.
Fate had already been written for them. Ngah Ibrahim passed away in Singapore on February 4, 1895. His remains were successfully transferred from Singapore to the Matang Museum, Taiping, Perak, on September 9, 2006.
Finally, after their period of exile, Sultan Abdullah and his family were allowed to return to Perak. The late Sultan passed away in Perak in 1922, and his remains were laid to rest at the Bukit Chandan royal mausoleum in Kuala Kangsar. You should also know that the Republic of Seychelles was once colonized by the Portuguese, French, and British. The impact of colonization is evident in the names of places, streets, rivers, hotels, and buildings. The Republic of Seychelles, formerly known as the Seychelles Islands, consists of 116 small islands. The major islands that are the focus of the population are Mahe Island, Praslin Island, La Digue Island, and Facilite Island, which can be explored by large ferries, helicopters, and speedboats.
The capital of the Republic of Seychelles, Victoria, is a port city with an international airport that attracts tourists for scuba diving, fishing, and picnicking. Poets in Western countries consider the Seychelles Islands a lost paradise because of the island's beauty, with its blue waters surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. The climate in the Republic of Seychelles is similar to that of Malaysia. Perhaps this is why the British colonialists exiled Sultan Abdullah and the Perak dignitaries to the Seychelles, as the climate was similar to that of the Malay Peninsula.
The currency used is the Seychelles Rupee. However, the US Dollar and British Pound Sterling are also accepted in transactions, alongside credit cards. Seychellois use the Seychellois Creole language as their primary means of communication, in addition to French and English. The main sources of the Republic of Seychelles' economy are the tourism and fishing sectors. The original inhabitants of the Seychelles Islands consisted of French colonists and slaves brought by colonialists in the 19th century, with some arriving even earlier, around the 17th century. The population of the Republic of Seychelles is around 80,000, concentrated on Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, and Facilette islands. Muslims number only about 1,000, mostly concentrated on Mahe and Praslin, which have beautiful beaches and waters.
The Seychelles Islands also served as a place of exile for African kings who opposed the British, French, and other colonial powers. Similarly, kings from other countries who resisted colonial rule were all exiled to this island. Although Sultan Abdullah and the Perak dignitaries were exiled by the British colonialists, they were given an allowance and were free to move around the Seychelles. They were simply not allowed to return to Perak for several decades. For your information, loyal readers of orangperak.com, Sultan Abdullah (the 26th Sultan of Perak) was the individual who introduced nasi lemak to the people of the Seychelles. He and his followers also planted mango trees and other fruits commonly found in the Malay Peninsula.
While living in the Seychelles, Sultan Abdullah heard a local folk song called "La Rosses." He loved the song and proposed it as the state anthem for Perak. The late Sultan Idris Shah agreed to make this song the official anthem of Perak, titled "Allah Selamatkan Negeri," which was adapted and later inspired the rhythm and creation of the current national anthem, "Negaraku."
