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Taiping is situated in the District of Larut and Matang in the northern state of Perak Darul Ridzuan. The original name for it was Klian Pauh. The word Taiping was derived from the Chinese words "TAI PENG", meaning 'Everlasting Peace'. It was coined after an armed conflict between the Hai San Society and the Ghee Hin Society had been brought to an end.

Taiping was founded in 1840 by Long Jaafar upon his accidnetal discovery of tin ore around Klian Pauh. He encouraged the Malays to open up the land and mine for tin ore. The mines gave good returns He then brought Chinese labourers from Penang.

In 1850, Sultan Abdullah Muhammad Shah, the Ruler of Perak, conferred on Long Jaafar the power and authority to administer and develop Larut. This raised his rank to Orang Besar Jajahan (District Chief). When he died in 1857, his second son, Ngah ibrahim was appointed to succeed him.

The tin mining industry expanded rapidly at Permatang, and the Sultan made Ngah Ibrahim the Menteri Besar (Minister). The Hai San and Ghee Hin who were the first at the tin mines at Permatang were always at odds and squabbled often, especially about the supply of water. In 1861 the Hai San drove the Ghee Hin out of Larut, which resulted in serious fighting. Voilence broke out again the following year, then again in 1865, and for thethird timefrom 1871 to 1874. Subsequently the British took the opportunity to intervene and Pangkor Treaty was signed.

Taiping was the capital of Perak from 1873 until 1937. During this time the British built the official buildings such as the treasury, police barracks, hospitals, armoury and government store. The population of Taiping was around 6,000, mainly comprising of ethnic Chinese, and a small percentage of Indians from the Chettiar community. By 1883, the development of Taiping took a step forward, with the building of government offices, a courthouse, a reading room and a library. Communications wree also improving rapidly. A good road connecting Taiping to Parit Buntar was almost completed by 1883 with a parallel telegraph line. A railway line was built connecting Taiping with Port Weld (now called Kuala Sepetang). The first passenger train made its way from Port Weld to Taiping on 12th February 1885. At this time, Port Weld was a fine harbour, with trading between Taiping and Penang. Port Weld was also used by the upper Perak and Kinta Districts as an alternative to the port at Teluk Anson (now called Teluk Intan).

The Ying Wah Hospital, intended for the poor, was founded around this time. A Tamil newspaper was published during this period by Syed Abdul Hassan Ibnay Burhan; a Malay of Arab ancestry. It was called the Perak Verthaman and it was the first of its kind in Malaya. A Malay newspaper, Sri Perak, was also started by the same publisher at the same time. A second Malay newspaper, Jajahan Melayu, followed three years later. Finally an English language newspaper 'Perak Pioneer' began on 4th July 1894.

The police were made up mainly of Punjabis and Pathans. An army corps called the Malay States Guide was also set up in Taiping. Taiping also had the first English school, in the Malay States. It was built and opened by Sir Hugh Low at Kamunting in 1878. Called the Central School, its pupils were the children of tin mine owners and their workers. Another school was built in 1877, especially for girls. In 1902 it was named Treachers Girls School in honour of the service of Mrs Treacher, the wife of the Resident of Perak, William Treacher. Later, many more schools were built and the original Central School moved to a new building and was renamed King Edward VII School.

Although Taiping continued to grow, it lost its role as the state capital, after the First World War, to Ipoh. Today it is a place of great history interest. The buildings constructed in Taiping when it was then the capital are still there and in many cases, still in use.


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