MASYARAKAT MELAYU TRADISIONAL DI DAERAH HILIR PERAK PADA TAHUN 1874

MALAY TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES IN LOWER PERAK DISTRICT IN 1874

Abstract

Kajian ini adalah berkenaan kemunculan serta perkembangan masyarakat Melayu tradisional di daerah Hilir Perak pada tahun 1874 semasa pentadbiran kolonial British. Perkembangan masyarakat Melayu Tradisional bertambah maju kerana kewujudan kepelbagaian masyarakat etnik yang berhijrah masuk ke kawasan daerah Hilir Perak. Hal ini menyebabkan beberapa kawasan di daerah Hilir Perak telah menjadi tumpuan bagi kegiatan awal masyarakat Melayu tradisional. Disebabkan oleh kesediaankemudahan infrastruktur yang pesat telah mewujudkan hubungan di antara masyarakat Melayu tradisional dengan kawasan persekitaran daerah Hilir Perak bagi memenuhi segala keperluan dan kehendak bagi kelangsungan hidup masyarakat pada tahun 1874. Oleh itu, kajian ini sepenuhnya dijalankan dengan menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui pendekatan analisis dokumen seperti Fail Perak Secretariat serta Perak Annual Report yang diperolehi dari Arkib Negara Malaysia. Penggunaan sumber sekunder seperti buku, dan penulisan kajian berkenaan ekonomi dan sejarah masyarakat Melayu Tradisional ketika era sebelum kedatangan kolonial British pada tahun 1874 turut digunakan untuk mengukuhkan lagi hasil kajian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bukan hanya masyarakat tempatan yang menetap di kawasan tersebut tetapi golongan pribumi lain juga  turut mendiami kawasan daerah hilir perak. Hal ini secara tidak langsung akan menyebabkan kegiatan ekonomi menjadi semakin maju serta secara tidak langsung laluan pengairan sungai turut menjadi salah satu kepentingan kepada masyarakat yang tinggal di kawasan daerah Hilir Perak bagi menyara kelangsungan kehidupan seharian mereka.

This study is about the emergence and development of the traditional Malay community in the Lower Perak district in 1874 during the British colonial administration. The development of the traditional Malay community has progressed due to the existence of a diversity of ethnic communities who migrated into the Hilir Perak district. This led to some areas in the Lower Perak area becoming a focus for the early activities of the traditional Malay community. Due to the rapid availability of infrastructure facilities, the relationship between the traditional Malay community and the surrounding area of Lower Perak district was established to meet all the needs and requirements for the survival of the community in 1874. Therefore, this study was entirely conducted using qualitative methods through document analysis approaches such as the Perak Secretariat file and the Perak Annual Report obtained from the National Archives of Malaysia. The use of secondary sources such as books, and writing studies on the economy and history of the traditional Malay community in the era before the arrival of the British colonial in 1874 were also used to further strengthen the results of the study. The findings showed that not only the local community living in the area but other indigenous groups also inhabit the Lower Perak district. This will indirectly lead to economic activities becoming more developed and indirectly the River Irrigation route is also one of the interests of the people living in the Lower Perak area to support the survival of their daily lives.