Perak Darul Ridzuan (Jawi: ڨيرق) is one of the 14 states of Malaysia. It is one of the largest states in Peninsular Malaysia. Perak also means silver in Malay language. The name comes most probably from the silvery colour of tin, the main output of Perak a long time ago.
Its current Sultan is Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lahu, who was the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and formerly the Lord President of Malaysia's supreme court. His chief minister or Menteri Besar is currently Dato' Seri Diraja Tajol Rosli bin Mohd Ghazali of Barisan Nasional, a former teacher.
The capital city of Perak is Ipoh and the royal town is Kuala Kangsar. Other major cities include Taiping and Teluk Intan (formerly known as Teluk Anson). Pangkor Island is a small offshore island that provides some activities such as snorkelling.
Perak has 9 district or "daerah" in the Malay language. The districts are:
- Hulu Perak
- Kerian
- Larut, Matang dan Selama
- Hilir Perak
- Kinta
- Perak Tengah
- Batang Padang
- Manjung
- Kuala Kangsar
Perak's population is now approximately 2 million. Once Malaysia's most populous state, the decline in the tin mining industry caused an economic slowdown from which it has yet to recover, leading to a massive drain in manpower to higher growth states such as Penang, Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
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