TANAH ABANG, PERAK: THE LAYOUT AND PLANNING OF A 16TH CENTURY FORTIFIED MALAY ROYAL TOWN

Abstract

The layout and planning of royal towns as capitals of Malay sultanates are based on principles of forming a palace complex complete with defence systems, infrastructures for economic activities, transportation systems, religious centres and surrounded by settlements. Sultan Muzaffar Shah I (1528-1549) built such a complex with a defence system in Tanah Abang as the first capital and administrative centre of his newly founded Perak sultanate. Regretfully today no trace of it have been found. However, based on the remains of the fort surrounding the area, the layout and planning of the palace complex in Tanah Abang, Kota Lama, Perak can be ascertained. Based on the period of 15th-19th centuries’ layouts of other Malay royal towns as references, this study employs geomorphological study and topographic mapping to study the layout and milieu of Tanah Abang. Upon further probe the area was found to meet the essential characteristics of the layout of a Malay palace complex which often consisted of a complete and intricate network of centres for administration, defence, socioeconomic activities and population concentration. The study also found that the remnants of the compacted earthen ramparts need an in-depth analysis regarding their structural condition, still well-preserved after almost 500 years.