Page 28 - The Guide To Malaysia 9th Edition

24 INTRODUCTION TO THE STATES OF MALAYSIA Malaysia Maps
Perlis
of the majority party or coalition). A professional Civil Service (under the State Secretary) administers and implements policy.
Major Economic Activities
Perlis’s economy is
dominated by the
services sector, followed
by agriculture including
fruit farming (especialLlyabuan
“Harumanis” mangoes),
paddy farming, livestock
breeding (cattle, goat,
sheep, chicken), fisheries and
aquaculture. Manufacturing
is focused around food
processing, especially fruit
PERLIS
Population: 253,800
Area: 819sq km
State Capital: Kangar
State Website: perlis.gov.my
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air: Sultan Abdul Halim Airport
Historical Background
The 1821-1842 Siamese invasion forced the Sultan
of Kedah to surrender Perlis as an autonomous Siamese vassal state. In 1843, the Sultan of Kedah consented to his grandson Syed Hussain Jamalullail being appointed the first Raja of Perlis. Perlis came under British colonial rule but was returned to Siam as a reward by the Japanese for their allegiance in WWII. With the Japanese surrender, Perlis once again came under British rule. Perlis became
also some manufacturing of plastic, electrical, metal and textile products.
Main Industrial Areas
The Perlis State Economic Development Corporation (PSEDC) has developed Jejawi Industrial Area (24.43ha), Chuping Industrial Area (22.35ha), Kuala Perlis Industrial Area (26.88ha) and Padang Besar Industrial Area (42.54ha). New industrial zones under development are Kuala Perlis Industrial Area (26.88ha), and Pauh Putra Industrial Area (30.51 ha) constructed for heavy and environment-friendly industries. These will all be dwarfed by the planned Chuping Valley Industrial Area, a 1,215ha former sugarcane plantation scheduled to become
the state’s economic and industrial hub by 2025.
in Alor Setar, Kedah, is 40km away. International airports at Langkawi, accessible by ferry, and Penang, 110km away.
By Road: Perlis is the northernmost state in Peninsular Malaysia, bordering Satun and Songkhla Provinces, Thailand. The Kuala Perlis-Changlun Highway connects to the North–South Expressway running from Kedah in the North to Johor in the South.
By Rail: Malaysian Railway (KTM) Intercity North-South Line stations are in Padang Besar, Bukit Keteri and Arau. State Railway of Thailand
(SRT) operates a daily sleeper service from Padang Besar to Bangkok and a twice-daily shuttle to Hat Yai.
By Sea: Kuala Perlis is the state’s main cargo port and the ferry terminal for services to Langkawi (Kedah).
independent under the Federation of Malaya in 1957, and later joined Malaysia as its smallest state in 1963.
State Government
The Head of State is the Raja (King) of Perlis, currently HRH Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail (2000 - present). The State Legislative Assembly is the elected legislature. The State Executive Council (EXCO
or state cabinet) acts as the executive, headed by the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister, usually leader
and meat products. There is
SARAWAK