PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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confidence be substituted for the additional troops at present stationed in the Malay
Peninsula.
2. In replying to the 16th paragraph of your Lordship's despatch, No. 135, of the 1st June last, I stated that there should be in Perak a Resident's guard consisting of about 200 men, Seikbs and Patans, irrespective of any such police force as would be necessary in connexion with the general administration of the country. I will presently refer further to the organization, equipment, and other points relating to this guard.
3. Before considering the question of the strength and organisation of the police force. as distinguished from the guard, it is necessary to form a clear view of the system under which the future Government of Perak will be carried on; for the numbers and descrip- tion of police required will differ according to the principles of administration which may be adopted.
4. If a police force were to be organised, with the object of carrying on the business of the State largely through its agency, it would necessarily far exceed in number that which would be requisite if the old-established system be continued of governing through Native Headmen. After carefully considering the subject, I have no doubt that the latter system possesses great advantages over the former, as being more economical, more palatable to the population, more calculated to interest the natives themselves in the Government of the country, and more practical in every respect.
It is, moreover, in accordance with the views (in which, whatever may be our relations with the states, I beg leave to express my entire concurrence) set forth in paragraphs 11 and 12 of your Lordship's Despatch, No. 135, of 1st June; viz., that the best use should be made of existing materials in arranging the affairs of the State, and that British officers should not interfere more frequently or to a greater extent than necessary in the minor details of Government.
5. In every village of Perak there is a Headman or "Punghulu," who, subject to good behaviour, generally holds his office by right of descent. The Punghulus of villages are subject to the Datu or Headman of the district, and, under him, collect the local taxes, receiving for their services a per-centage thereof, arrest offenders, are responsible for the peace of their villages; and provide, on requisition from the Datu, a certain number of men and boats for the public service. Such being the custom of the country, the establishment of a police force, with duties similar to those hitherto performed by the Datus and Punghulus, would be regarded unfavourably, as subversive of former
pre- cedent, and as antagonistic to the just influence of the Headien. Nearly all the villagers in a village in Perak are more or less related to each other; so that upon the commission of any crime or misdemeanor the police might have much difficulty in tracing and securing the offenders, whilst the Punghulu on the other hand, responsible as he is for the order of his village, and anxious as the villagers would be to support their chief, would have no such difficulty. Taxes, again, would be paid more readily to the Pung- hulu than to the police officer, whom the natives might not regard as the rightful collector of their local imposts.
6. The country will then be divided as at present into districts, over each of which will be a Datu, reporting at stated periods to the ruler of the State, and over each village in a district a Punghulu, responsible and reporting periodically to the Datu. If a Datu or Punghulu be guilty of any misdemeanor, such as "squeezing" the people or collecting illegal taxes, he will be liable to be deprived of his office. Under this system, I propose that the police shall be stationed in positions from whence they can be readily made available for the support of the Datus and Punghulus, and, when necessary, for the maintenance of law and order in the district.
7. It will also be necessary to station police at the mines, the custom houses, on the sea coast, and at the residencies.
The mines are the principal seats of Chinese labour, and here police stations are more especially necessary, to prevent faction fights amongst the Chinese, and generally to keep in order the Chinese population, which is beyond the control of a Malay Headman. Such a population must be managed through a Chinese Headman, and police are required to keep the peace between the Chinese and Malays. Of course the same remark applies to places having a mixed population of Chinese, Klings, and Malays.
8. The presence of police at the mouths of rivers is necessary for the prevention of smuggling, and in connexion with the collection of excise dues. Police are also required at the custom houses, to act as excisemen, to support the European collector of revenue, and enforce his authority and to guard the collections, especially from the Chinese population, which invariably collect around a custom house.
9. A force of police, irrespective of the guard, is necessary also at the residencies,
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which will be at the centres of Government, for the conduct of business, the trial of cases, the conveyance of messages, and to act as boatmen. Another consideration is that the residencies are in immediate proximity to the principal Malay villages in Perak, and the neighbourhood of the force will much support the authority and power of the Datus and Punghulus.
10. I have considered most carefully at what places it will be necessary to station police, in accordance with the principles to which I have just referred, and I have consulted with those most qualified to assist me in forming a judgment on this important point. I have paid a special visit to Perak to consult personally with Mr. Davidson and Mr. Maxwell on the subject, and I have also had the benefit of the opinion of Major Dunlop, who, besides his knowledge of police duties, has an intimate acquaintance with the country and the people.
After weighing all circumstances, I have arrived at the conclusion that a police force of 500 men will be required for Perak, irrespective of the guard of 200 men to which I have previously referred. I am decidedly of opinion that it is desirable there should be two separate bodies, one of a more decidedly military character, for duties which are usually performed by troops (as mentioned in paragraph 26 of my Despatch No. 397, of 19th August), the other for the more special duties of police, as stated in this Despatch. Whilst the former will consist of Seikhs and Patans, whom I find already in amply sufficient numbers to select from, with every probability under efficient officers of forming a good and reliable force, the men who will compose the police force should I think be selected from the Malay race. They should be acquainted with the Malay language in order that they may be able to communicate with the natives, and readily procure information; they should understand and respect Malay customs, habits, and prejudices; they should be used to the management of boats, in order that they may be able to get about the country with facility; and they should be accustomed to jungle work. To meet these conditions, I propose that the force should be composed of Manila men, Javanese, and Malays from Province Wellesley, Malacca, Quedah, and Salangore. It will probably be desirable not to employ natives of Perak.
11. The force will be distributed in three districts as shown in Appendix A. annexed. In the district of Larut, I propose that there shall be one assistant superintendent, two inspectors, and 250 non-commissioned officers and men; in that of Qualla Kangsa, one assistant superintendent, one inspector, and 150 non-commissioned officers and men; in that of Bandar Bahru, one inspector, and 100 non-commissioned officers and men. The guard will be distributed between Larut, Qualla Kangsa, Bandar Bahru, and Kinta. Eventually it will I think only be necessary to station them at the three first-named places. 12. The recruits, both of the guard and of the police, should in the first place go to the central depôt, to be drilled and instructed in their work generally. In paragraph 28 of my Despatch No. 297, I have recommended that this central station should be at Qualla Kangsa, where also the Residency will be established. A portion of the force will be instructed in artillery drill, so that they may be able to take charge of a battery of mounted guns.
13. The force should be under the orders of a European superintendent, who will also have command of the guard, and whose headquarters will be at Qualla Kangsa; by an assistant superintendent in the Larut district, and another in the Qualla Kangsa district; by four inspectors, two in Larut, one at Qualla Kangsa, and one in the Bandar Bahru district. The superintendent of police will be directly responsible to the Resident, the assistant superintendents and inspectors to the superintendent. These officers should be Europeans. In another Despatch I have reported with reference to these appointments.
Subordinate to the superintendent, the guard will be officered by a Subahdar and two Jemahdars, for whom it will be necessary to apply to the Indian Government. The non-commissioned officers of the guard may be selected from amongst the Seikhs already in Perak. The sergeants and corporals of the police should be selected from the best behaved and the most intelligent and efficient natives of that force.
14. As regards the equipment of the whole force, I propose that the men of the guard shall be dressed in blue drill tunics, and trowsers with a red piping, and that they should have blue turbans. As the police force will be much employed in boat duty, I propose that they shall have blue "jumpers" (sailors' frocks) and trowsers, a sailor's cap with "Perak police" on a black band. The few marine police already in Perak wear this costume and look very well in it. The men also like it themselves. White trowsers will be issued to both guard and police, also ammunition boots. The men of the guard should wear a shoulder belt and waist belt with pouch, such as already supplied to the Seikhs in Perak, except that it should be of untanned leather. The police should have a waist belt and pouch.
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