Taiping, Perak

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Taiping
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Malaysia
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Perak
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Larut, Matang & Selama
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government_type = Municipality
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Dato' Mahmud Bin Morsidi [http://pdttaiping.perak.gov.my/index.php?bhg=pentadbiran&isi=pdaerah]
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area_total_km2 = 186.46
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population_total = 191,104 [http://pdttaiping.perak.gov.my/index.php?bhg=geografi&isi=statistik&id=1]
population_density_km2 = 1197
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = +8
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latd=4 |latm=51 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=100 |longm=44 |longs= |longEW=E
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postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 34xxx
area_code = 05
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number plate prefix = A
website = [http://www.mptaiping.gov.my/ www.mptaiping.gov.my]
footnotes = Taiping is a town in the state of Perak, Malaysia.With a population of 191,104 (2007) fact|date=July 2008, it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital. It took over from Kuala Kangsar as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh [Malaysian States http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Malay_states.htm] . Its development slowed down after that, but in recent years the town has begun developing rapidly again.

Taiping also receives some limelight as the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia. The average annual rainfall is about 4,000mm in Taiping while the peninsula’s average is 2,000mm – 2,500mm. Its unusual rainfall has also blessed its Lake Gardens with a fertile and splendid collection of flora and century-old rain trees.

Geography

It is situated on a plain to the west of the Bintang Mountains. Alor Star, Kedah lies to the north-west and Ipoh to the south-east.

History

The area developed quickly in the 19th century when tin was discovered. The mines attracted large numbers of settlers, particularly Chinese. Feuds began between the different groups of Chinese immigrants became so bitter that, in the early 1870s, the British intervened and assumed control of the town. Taiping was the town center for the districts of Larut, Matang and Selama in Perak. Before 1937, Taiping was the capital of the state of Perak and was the center of a long drawn out war resulting in a change of rulership for the state. Taiping used to be known as Klian Pauh - "Klian" means mine and "Pauh" is a type of small-sized mango. Before the arrival of the British, the district (known in its earlier days as the The Larut Settlement) was governed by the Minister of Larut, Dato' Long Jaafar (and later by his son Ngah Ibrahim) who was empowered by the Sultan of Perak at that time, to govern that territory.
Long Jaafar has been historically credited with the discovery of tin in Larut in 1848. According to legend, Long Jaafar had an elephant named Larut and he used to take this elephant with him when journeying between Bukit Gantang and Lubok Merbau. One day the elephant went missing and when the elephant was eventually found three days later Long Jaafar noticed tin ore embedded in the mud that was on the elephant's legs. It is said that this is how Larut got its name. Eventually in 1850, Larut district was bestowed on Long Jaafar by Raja Muda Ngah Ali and the Chiefs of Perak, Temenggong, Panglima Bukit Gantang, Panglima Kinta, Syahbandar and Seri Adika Raja. Some time later, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Abdullah, died in 1857 and a series of Sultan succession disputes ensued. Unhappy with the abuse and favoritism of various royalties, rival Malay camps took sides with one or the other of the two great Chinese secret societies present in that place.

Long Jaafar established and developed his administrative center at Bukit Gantang and made Kuala Sungai Limau at Trong the principal harbour of the Larut Settlement. In 1857 Long Jaafar was succeeded by his son Ngah Ibrahim. Sultan Jaffar Muazzam Shah presented an acknowledgement letter to Ngah Ibrahim on 24 May 1858. This letter was signed by Sultan Jaffar, Raja Muda Ngah Ali and the Raja Bendahara of Perak. In the time of Ngah Ibrahim the Chinese increased in number and in early 1860 two large groups were formed by the Chinese, the "Five Associations" whose members worked in the mines of Klian Pauh and the "Four Associations" whose members worked in the mines of Klian Baharu.

Mining rights were given to the Hakka "Five Associations" or Go-Kuan (五館 or 五群) and the Cantonese "Four Associations" or Si-Kuan (四館). Chung Keng Quee (鄭景貴) was leader of the Hakka Go-Kuan and the Hai San (海山) society they belonged to and began to operate his tin mines in Larut in 1860. Larut was destined to be plagued by four major wars between members of both the Ghee Hin Society (義興私會黨) that owned the Cantonese Go-Kuan and the Hakka Hai San society. Many Hakka fled China when the Taiping Rebellion broke out there and found work in the mines of Chung Keng Quee establishing his position over the mining area in Larut as leader of the Hai San from 1860 to 1884.

The capital of Perak was moved from Bandar Baru (New Town) to Taiping after Datok Maharaja Lela killed the first British Resident of Perak Mr. James Wheeler Woodford Birch at Pasir Salak in 1875. In 1937 the capital of Perak was moved from Taiping to Ipoh.

The town’s mining industry continued to thrive; the country’s first railway was built to transport tin from Taiping to the coast (Port Weld. Now is known as Kuala Sepetang) for export. The first train in Malaysia took its schedule was at June 1st 1885.

By 1900, an English language school, a newspaper, and the Perak Museum (the oldest in Malaysia) had been established.

Although Taiping’s economy declined with the dwindling tin deposits, the metal still remains an important industry in the area as do rubber and rice.

Town Layout

The following towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods comprise the area formally (and collectively) known as the Taiping town:
* Kamunting
* Aulong
* Pokok Assam
* Air Kuning
* Changkat Jering
* Simpang
* Kampung Jelutong
* Kampung Cheh
* Kampung Pauh
* Kampung Dew
* Changkat Ibol
* Bukit Gantang
* Rancangan Perkampungan tersusun Kpg Ulu Tupai
* Tupai Industrial Area
* Green House Area
* Assam Kumbang
* Bukit Jana
* Kampung Boyan
* Larut Tin
* Klian Pauh
* Taiping Heights
* Ayer Putih
* Kampung Pinang

Healthcare

The main healthcare centres in Taiping are:
*Taiping General Hospital - Jalan Taming Sari, Taiping
*Selama General Hospital- Selama, LMS
*Taiping General Clinic - Jalan Tupai, Taiping
*Taiping Medical Centre (TMC) - Medan Taiping, Taiping
*Apollo Medical Centre - Jalan Taming Sari, Taiping
*Columbia Asia Hospital - Jalan Istana Larut, Taiping
*Pokok Assam Community Clinic- Pokok Assam, Taiping
*Kamunting Community Clinic- Kamunting, Perak
*Changkat Jering General Clinic- Changkat Jering, Taiping
*Port Weld Community Clinic- Kuala Sepetang, Taiping
*Larut Medical Centre- Medan Taiping
*BP healthcare- jln kota
*pathlab- medan taiping

Tourism

Places of interest

[

* Taiping Lake Garden is donated by Chung Keng Quee's son, Chung Thye Phin. It is serene, tranquil and peaceful. The man-made lakes were former tin mines.
* Bukit Larut (formerly known as Maxwell Hill) is a hill resort. Currently, tourists reach the top of Maxwell Hill by 4WD vehicles.
* Perak State Museum is the first museum in Malaysia.
* Kwan-Tung Hui-Kuan (Cantonese Association), founded in 1887 by Chung Keng Quee and others.
* [http://www.zootaiping.gov.my/index.html Taiping Zoo] & Night Safari
* Esplanade - for sports activities
* All Saints Church, Taiping
* Commonwealth War Cemetery
* British Resident’s Residence (1877)
* Kapitan Chung Keng Quee's Townhouse on Barrack Road. It is now an antique shop.
* Bukit Jana Country Golf Resort, Kamunting
* Bukit Merah Laketown Resort
* Burmese Pool. It has a natural water slide.
* Tupai River(SG Tugoh). Man made swimming pool using river nearby Chinese Tiger Temple.
* Austin Pool. There is a very deep square granite pool with a waterfall flowing into it.
* Taman Suria streams. Cool streams flowing from Bukit Larut.
* Buddhist Retreat in Tupai Cemetery. Travelling to this retreat requires semi 4-wheel drive vehicle but the view from retreat is spectacular and very peaceful.
* Chinese cemetery at Tupai Hokkien Tiong - Situate One huge grave for Chinese those who lost their life during Japanese invasion
* Coronation Swimming Pool. It is located at the foothill of Bukit Larut It has very cold mountain stream water even on hot days.
* Taiping Public Library has numerous old and new book collection. The library is located near Taiping Lake Gardens.
* Taiping Airport holds monthly (sometimes twice a month) parachute jumping programme organised by Parachuters Club.
* Stadium Sultan Yusuf - Taiping football league important venue.
* Hot water well (Air Panas) - Batu 9 off Jalan Trong (near Changkat Jering)
* Kuala Sepetang Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kota Ngah Ibrahim - in Matang
* Ng Boo Bee fountain - Jalan Air Terjun
* British graveyard. Near to Burmese pool and please try it.

Night Markets

40 'Firsts' of Taiping

Due to the booming tin-mining industry in the 19th century and its previous position as capital of Perak, Taiping is the pioneer in many fields achieving many 'firsts' in the country. The list given by Taiping Municipal Council records a total of 40 firsts in the country under Taiping's belt. Dated as early as 1844, these firsts are either in monuments or events.

* Open tin mining activity in the peninsula (1844)
* Hill resort - Maxwell Hill (1844)
* Swimming pool - Coronation Swimming Pool (1870)
* Mosque - Masjid Tengku Menteri (1870)
* Rest house (1870)
* Artillery warehouse (1870)
* Magistrate court (1874)
* Balai penghulu (1875)
* Resident's house (1877)
* Port - Port Weld (1877)
* English school - Central School Kamunting (1878)
* Police force (1879)
* Government offices (1879)
* Post and telegraph office (1880)
* Lake gardens - Taiping Lake Gardens (1880)
* Taiping General Hospital, private and government (1880)
* Club - New Club (1880)
* Club - Perak Club
* Railway station and warehouse (1881)
* Museum - [http://www.museumperak.gov.my/?p=Main&id=&lang=en Perak Museum] (1883)
* Market building - Taiping Markets (1884)
* Prison - Taiping Gaol(1885)
* Railway track - from Port Weld to Taiping (1885)
* Turf club - Perak Turf Club (1886)
* Anglican church - All Saints Church, Taiping (1886)
* English girl's school - Treacher Methodist Girls' School (1889)
* Clock tower - Taiping Clock Tower (1890)
* Esplanade - Esplanade (1890)
* Malay newspaper - Seri Perak (June 1893)
* English newspaper - Perak Pioneer (July 4, 1894)
* Tamil newspaper - Perak Verthamani (1894)
* Armed Forces - Malay States Guides (1896)
* Teaching college - Maktab Perguruan Melayu
* Ceylon association (1899)
* Punjabi association - Khalsa Diwan Malaya Association (1903)
* Indian association (1906)
* Recreation park - Coronation Park (1920s)
* Airfield - Tekah Airport (1930)
* Golf course (some claimed in Southeast Asia)
* Library - Perpustakaan Merdeka
* Fire brigade

List of old and new road names in Taiping

This is the list of some road names used during the British rules and also around the year 1960s to 1970s. The road names are almost similar with other town in Malaysia or probably in other British territories.

Other streets

References

Articles

* [http://www.emedia.com.my/Weekly/TravelTimes/Friday/Destinations/20011206154503/recent_article Travel Times 2, New Straits Times, 5 September 2001]
* THE KAPITAN SYSTEM - XI Sunday Gazette, June 19, 1960, By Wu Liu (pen name of Mr. C. S. Wong)
* A gallery of Chinese kapitans. by Mr. C. S. Wong; Published in Singapore: Ministry of Culture, 1963. 114p. [DS596 Won]
* Twentieth Century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources, by Arnold Wright, Published 1908 - Page 130, 203, 252, 262, 508, 509, 568
* "Record of Meritous Deeds of the Chung Family", op. cit., pp. 9-12
* "Miscellaneous Chronicles of Penang", Kuang, Kuo-hsiang op. cit., pp. 112-113
* "The Case of the Chinese in Penang", 1890s-1910s ; SHINOZAKI Kaori, Ph.D. student
* "200 years of the Hakkas in Penang" (檳城客家兩百年) By the Federation of Hakka Associations of Malaysia
* "Reveal the True Face of Secret Societies" (揭開私會黨真面目) Written by Guo Rende (郭仁德) Published by the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Center
* "The Luxuriant Tree" and "Chung Keng Kwee, the Hakka Kapitan" by CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
* "Heritage Road named in honour of Chung Thye Phin" by Sita Ram, Stories Of Yesteryear, The Ipoh Echo 16 March - 31 March 2006
* "Honoured in Penang for his generosity" [on philanthropist Chung Keng Kwee,] . The Star, December 6, 2001 by Catherine Chong
* "66 Usahawan Malaysia (66 Malaysian Entrepreneurs)" by Ashadi Zain, ISBN :-X Cerita 50 Mendiang Chung Keng Kwee
* "Producer hopes to make movie on Kapitan Cina of Perak" By CHOONG KWEE KIM, THE STAR
* "A History of Malaya" by R.O. Winstedt Published in March 1935
* "The Chinese in Malaya" by Victor Purcell C.M.C. Ph.D published in 1948
* "Kapitan’s great-grandson" By CHOONG KWEE KIM, The Star Thursday September 9, 2004
* http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2007/9/6/north/18796585&sec=north

Departments

* [http://pdttaiping.perak.gov.my/index.php Larut Land Office]
* Perak State Government Website
* Perak Tourist Information Centre, Ipoh City Council
* Taiping Town Council

External links

* [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/24/sundaymetro/17950110&sec=sundaymetro/ Recent TheStar article on Taiping]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Taiping WikiTravel]