Editing Perlis

{{Short description|State of Malaysia}}
{{about|the Malaysian state|the computer scientist|Alan Perlis}}
{{Redirect|Indera Kayangan|the state constituency|Indera Kayangan (state constituency)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Perlis
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = ''Peghelih''
| settlement_type    = [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|State]]
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Perlis.svg
| flag_size          = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Perlis.svg
| shield_size        = 90px
| shield_alt         = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| anthem             = ''[[Amin, Amin, ya Rabaljalil]]''<br />{{small|Amen, Amen, o Majestic Lord}}{{center|[[File:Perlis_State_Anthem.ogg]]}}
| image_map          = Perlis in Malaysia.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Locator map of Perlis in Malaysia (northwest) 
| coordinates        = {{coord|6|30|N|100|15|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{MYS}}
| seat_type          = [[List of capitals in Malaysia|Capital]]<br>{{nobold|(and largest city) }}
| seat               = [[Kangar]]
| parts_type         = Royal capital
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Arau]]
| government_type    = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary]] [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional]] [[monarchy]]
| leader_title       = [[Raja of Perlis|Raja]]
| leader_name        = [[Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin|Sirajuddin]]
| leader_title1      = [[Menteri Besar of Perlis|Menteri Besar]]
| leader_name1       = [[Mohd Shukri Ramli]] <br> ([[Perikatan Nasional|PN]]–[[Malaysian Islamic Party|PAS]])
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="statistics">{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.my/ccount12/click.php?id=2127 |title=Laporan Kiraan Permulaan 2010 |publisher=Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia |page=27 |access-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227065717/http://www.statistics.gov.my/ccount12/click.php?id=2127 <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=27 December 2010}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 819
| area_water_km2     = 
| elevation_max_m    = 733
| elevation_max_point = Mount Perlis
| population_total   = 292700
| population_as_of   = 2023
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2018 population">{{cite web |url= https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=430&bul_id=azJaVlY0RjVKWkwwaURWTENxMVBhdz09&menu_id=L0pheU43NWJwRWVSZklWdzQ4TlhUUT09 |title= Perangkaan Demografi Suku Tahun Pertama |publisher= Department of Statistics, Malaysia |year=2018 |access-date= 25 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160212125740/http://pmr.penerangan.gov.my/index.php/info-terkini/19463-unjuran-populasi-penduduk-2015.html |archive-date= 12 February 2016 |url-status= dead}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Perlisian
| demographics_type2 = State Index
| demographics2_title1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] {{nobold|(2023)}}
| demographics2_info1 = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 0.770&nbsp;(<span style="color:#090;">high</span>) ([[List of Malaysian states by Human Development Index|14th]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Subnational Human Development Index (2.1) [Kedah – Malaysia]|publisher=Global Data Lab of Institute for Management Research, [[Radboud University Nijmegen|Radboud University]]|access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref>
| demographics2_title2 = [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] {{nobold|(2019)}}
| demographics2_info2 = {{increase}} [[Malaysian ringgit|RM]] 6.518 billion ($1.564 billion) ([[List of Malaysian states by GDP|10th]])<ref name="GDP">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Department of Statistics Malaysia Official Portal|url=https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=102&bul_id=TExzYmVmRC83S1hBMEUrUDVzczdLUT09&menu_id=TE5CRUZCblh4ZTZMODZIbmk2aWRRQT09|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-30|website=www.dosm.gov.my}}</ref>
| demographics2_title3 = Per capita {{nobold|(2019)}}
| demographics2_info3 = {{increase}} [[Malaysian ringgit|RM]] 25,656 ($6,157) ([[List of Malaysian states by GDP#Gross Domestic Product per capita by state|15th]])<ref name="GDP"/>
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Malaysia|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 01xxx to 02xxx
| area_code          = 04
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Malaysia|Calling code]]
| iso_code           = MY-09
| registration_plate = [[Malaysian vehicle license plates|R]]
| blank_name_sec1    = Establishment of Kota Sena as capital of Kedah
| blank_info_sec1    = 1653
| blank1_name_sec1   = Vassal state of Siam governed by Raja Long Krok
| blank1_info_sec1   = 1839<ref>{{cite web| url=https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/kewujudan-perlis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915081955/https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/kewujudan-perlis |archive-date=15 September 2021 |title=Kewujudan Perlis }}</ref>
| blank_name_sec2    = Kingdom formed when Syed Hussain appointed as King by Siam<ref>[https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/institusi-beraja Institusi Baraja] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915081957/https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/institusi-beraja |date=15 September 2021 }}</ref>
| blank_info_sec2    = 20 April 1843
| blank1_name_sec2   = Accession into the [[Federation of Malaya]]
| blank1_info_sec2   = 1 February 1948
| website            = {{URL|www.perlis.gov.my}} {{URL|www.perlisroyalty.gov.my}}
| footnotes          = 
| blank2_name_sec2   = Independence as part of the Federation of Malaya
| blank2_info_sec2   = 31 August 1957
| image_map1         = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe|frame-width=250|zoom=8}}{{hidden end}}
}}

'''Perlis'''{{Refn|"Perlis" singular is used officially in the state's constitution.<ref name="TheStar">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/05/26/perlis-indera-kayangan-raja-perlis/|title=State should be called 'Perlis' only, no 'Indera Kayangan', says Raja of Perlis|date=26 May 2015|newspaper=The Star}}</ref>|group=note}} ([[Kedah Malay language|Kedah Malay (Perlis dialect)]]: ''Peghelih'') is a [[Negeri|state]] of [[Malaysia]] in the northwestern coast of [[Peninsular Malaysia]]. It is the smallest state in [[Malaysia]] by area and population. The state borders the [[Thailand|Thai]] [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] of [[Satun province|Satun]] and [[Songkhla]] to the north and the Malaysian state of [[Kedah]] to the south. Perlis is the only Malaysian state that is not divided into districts, due to its small size, but it is still divided into several communes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Richmond |first=Simon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WI2cEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT385 |title=Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei |date=May 2022 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-83869-658-0 |pages=385 |language=en}}</ref> It was called '''Palit''' ({{langx|th|ปะลิส}}) by the Siamese when it was under their influence. Perlis had a population of 227,025 as of the 2010 census.<ref name="statistics"/>

Perlis experiences a [[tropical monsoon climate]]. Much of the state's highlands are part of the [[Nakawan Range]], a subrange of the [[Tenasserim Hills]] system that spans through southern [[Myanmar]], [[Southern Thailand]] and the [[Peninsular Malaysia]], with Mount Perlis as the highest point at 733&nbsp;m. The Nakawan also forms a natural frontier between Perlis and [[Thailand]].

The capital of Perlis is [[Kangar]], and the royal capital is [[Arau]]. Another important town is [[Padang Besar, Malaysia|Padang Besar]], at the Malaysia–Thailand border and Kuala Perlis, the ferry town to Langkawi. The main port and ferry terminal is at the small village of [[Kuala Perlis]], linking mostly to [[Langkawi Island]]. Another important lately developed area is Pauh Putra within the subdistrict of Kurong Anai which houses the main campus of [[Universiti Malaysia Perlis|Malaysia University of Perlis]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sinarharian.com.my/pm-rasmi-perpustakaan-unimap-april-ini-1.21961 |title=PM rasmi perpustakaan UniMAP April ini - Sinar Harian |website=www.sinarharian.com.my |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014091340/http://www.sinarharian.com.my/pm-rasmi-perpustakaan-unimap-april-ini-1.21961 |archive-date=2018-10-14}}</ref> and Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. Perlis has a snake sanctuary and research centre at Sungai Batu Pahat. Perlis State Park and Gua Kelam are among the popular tourist attractions.

==Etymology==
The origin of the toponym 'Perlis' is vague. However, there are several theories:
* According to a Malaysian historian, Mohd Yusuf bin Adil, the name comes from the [[Thai language|Thai]] phrase ''"phrao loi"'' ([[Southern Thai language|Southern Thai]]: พร้าวลอย) which means ''kelapa hanyut'' ([[coconut]] washed ashore) since there were many coconuts found on the shores of [[Kuala Perlis]]. The phrase has been shortened by locals until it sounded like ''"pereleh"'' or Perlis.
* It has also been suggested Perlis may be a shortened form of a [[Malay language|Malay]] word ''"peroleh"'' (obtain) as the state was a "gift" from [[Kedah]], since it was a part of Kedah before becoming a state on its own.
* According to ''Negeri Perlis Indera Kayangan: Sejarah Pembentukan Sebuah Negeri Berdaulat'' by Ahmad Ismail, the name comes from a tree of the same name, which may have gone extinct.
* Some researches suggests the name is derived from a northern Malay dialect word ''"perelus"'' which roughly translates as "foot falling into a crack", since Perlis is said to have a wide land filled with mud, and the people's feet may sink into the mud.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Perlis: Dari Jajahan Takluk Ke Negeri Berdaulat|last=Yazid Mat|first=Dato’}}</ref> 
* Additional suggestions include being named after someone, or derived from the French word ''"[[perlite]]"'' which means "rock" due to a huge rock near Sungai Perlis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://says.com/my/lifestyle/the-origins-of-state-names-in-malaysia|title=The Stories And Facts Behind How The 13 States Of Malaysia Got Their Names|last=Ruxyn|first=Tang|date=2017-04-26|website=SAYS.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

The honorific "Indera Kayangan" was given by Tuanku Raja Syed Hussin Jamalullail (who ruled Perlis from 1843 to 1873) after the royal town of Indera Kayangan II (1797 until 1813) he was raised in now located in Kampung Langgar, Kayang within the [[Kuala Perlis]] area.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://melayu.library.uitm.edu.my/3473/1/SyedSirajuddinPutraJamalullail.pdf|title=Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail|publisher=Kerajaan Negeri Perlis & Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Negeri Perlis|year=2001|isbn=983-99768-2-6|location=Kangar, Perlis|pages=18, 20}}</ref> However, this epithet became less popular under the recommendation of [[Sirajuddin of Perlis|Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail]] in 2015, in which according to him is inline with the official singular name given in the state constitution his father signed without any long epithets in general "which is related to [[Indra|deities]], or any 'Darul'..."".<ref name="TheStar"/>

==History==
[[File:Map of Siam in 1900.png|thumb|Map of Siam in 1900 with Perlis as a [[vassal state]]]]
Perlis was originally part of [[Kedah]], although it occasionally came under the rule of [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Siam]] or [[Aceh Sultanate|Aceh]]. Perlis was historically an important realm within the Kingdom of Kedah. Sultan Muhyiddin of Kedah made his capital in Kota Sena, while Sultan Dhiauddin II made Kota Indera Kayangan his capital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/pusat-pentadbiran|title=Pusat Pentadbiran|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229043331/https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/pusat-pentadbiran|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sultan Dhiauddin II of Kedah was honorifically titled as Raja Muda of Perlis and Kedah,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sejarah: Tempat Bersemayam|url=https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/tempat-bersemayam|url-status=dead|access-date=18 May 2021|website=Raja Perlis|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229043428/https://perlisroyalty.perlis.gov.my/index.php/ms/sejarah/tempat-bersemayam}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hids.arkib.gov.my/-/perjanjian-inggeris-dengan-sultan-kedah?searchGoBack=true&keyword=perlis |title=Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah |website=hids.arkib.gov.my |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425031832/http://hids.arkib.gov.my/-/perjanjian-inggeris-dengan-sultan-kedah?searchGoBack=true&keyword=perlis |archive-date=2018-04-25}}</ref> akin to the title [[Prince of Wales]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. During his reign as the Sultan of Kedah, he oversaw a treaty with [[George Alexander William Leith|George Leith]] to cede [[Province Wellesley]] to [[Penang#History|Penang]]. He was titled as Raja Muda of Perlis and Kedah.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.arkib.gov.my/documents/10157/34f25242-cc92-4bb1-85d1-b518199dbde0|title= Dato' Yazid Mat, Page 3|access-date= 14 April 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180414034946/http://www.arkib.gov.my/documents/10157/34f25242-cc92-4bb1-85d1-b518199dbde0|archive-date= 14 April 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref> This fact depicted Perlis was a special realm within the Kedah sultanate.

Sultan Dhiauddin then made Syed Harun Jamalullail, father of the future first [[Raja of Perlis]] as chieftain of [[Arau]] as a wedding gift to his marriage with his daughter, Tengku Sofiah. Syed Harun's descendant eventually become deputy governor (1839) and Raja of Perlis.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.arkib.gov.my/documents/10157/34f25242-cc92-4bb1-85d1-b518199dbde0|title= Dato' Yazid Mat, Page 4 and 5|access-date= 14 April 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180414034946/http://www.arkib.gov.my/documents/10157/34f25242-cc92-4bb1-85d1-b518199dbde0|archive-date= 14 April 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref>

After the Siamese [[Siamese invasion of Kedah|conquered Kedah]] in 1821, the British felt their interests in [[Perak]] were threatened.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Andaya |first=Barbara Watson |url=http://archive.org/details/historyofmalaysi0000anda |title=A History of Malaysia |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-312-38120-2 |location=New York |pages=117, 120 |language=en}}</ref> This resulted in the 1826 Burney and Low Treaties<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pattayamail.com/563/columns.shtml#hd6 |title= Dr. John Crawfurd and the Mission to Thailand, 1822 |access-date= August 11, 2011 |last= Stern |first= Duncan |date= May 14–20, 2004 |format= Column |work= A Slice of Thai History |publisher= Pattaya Mail
|quote= This in turn helped Capt. Henry Burney conclude a treaty of commerce with Thailand in June 1826.}}</ref> formalising relations between the two [[Malay states]] and Siam, their nominal overlord. In the [[Burney Treaty]], the exiled Sultan of Kedah, [[Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II|Ahmad Tajuddin]] was not restored to his throne. Sultan Ahmad and his armed supporters then fought in a series of war known as Perang Musuh Bisik for his restoration from 1830 to 1842.<ref name="Suzalina Halid 2015">{{cite news|last=Suzalina Halid|first=|title=Sultan Kubang Pasu|newspaper=Berita Harian|url=https://www.bharian.com.my/node/41657|date=18 March 2015}}</ref> Towards the end of the conflict and the death of Siam's [[Nakhon Si Thammarat province|Ligor]] governor in 1839 (Siam's main authority figure over Kedah), Perlis was separated with Kedah.<ref name=":0" />

In 1842, the Sultan agreed to accept Siamese terms and was restored to the throne of Kedah. However, Siam separated Perlis into a separate principality which was a direct vassal of [[Bangkok]]. The Siamese made Raja Long Krok as the Governor of Siam in Perlis while Syed (or Sayyid) Hussain Jamalullail as deputy governor. On 20 May 1843, the [[Siam]]ese made [[House of Jamalullail (Perlis)|Sayyid Hussain Jamalulail]], the paternal grandson of a [[Hadhrami people|Hadhrami]] [[Arab]] [[Sayyid]] immigrant and maternal grandson of the Sultan of Kedah, the first [[Raja]] of Perlis<ref>{{cite book|title=Power Hadhrami Traders, Scholars, and Statesmen in the Indian Ocean, 1750s–1960s
|author=Ulrike Freitag, W. G. Clarence-Smith|publisher=BRILL|pages=85–7|year=1997|isbn=90-04-10771-1}}</ref> which made Perlis a sovereign state. His descendants still rule Perlis, but as ''[[raja]]s'', instead of as ''[[sultan]]s''.

In 1897, Kedah led by its prime minister, Wan Mat Saman began efforts to end the sovereignty of Perlis (similar to the [[Kingdom of Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam|Kingdom of Kubang Pasu]] which was absorbed into Kedah). After several tense occasions and disputes, the Siamese king [[Chulalongkorn]] sided with Perlis.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.arkib.gov.my/documents/10157/34f25242-cc92-4bb1-85d1-b518199dbde0|title= Dato' Yazid Mat, Page 8|access-date= 14 April 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180414034946/http://www.arkib.gov.my/documents/10157/34f25242-cc92-4bb1-85d1-b518199dbde0|archive-date= 14 April 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref> Perlis also had several disputes with the state of [[Setul]] before the 1900s.

As with Kedah, the [[Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909]] forced Siam to relinquish its southern Malay vassal states of [[Kelantan]], [[Trengganu]], and Monthon Syburi (comprising [[Kedah]], Perlis, and [[Satun Province|Satun]] (but Satun remained with Thailand)) to Great Britain. The British installed a [[British Resident|Resident]] in the Perlis royal capital of [[Arau]]. Perlis was returned to Siam in [[World War II]] as a reward for Siam's alliance with [[Empire of Japan|Japan]], but this brief annexation ended with the Japanese surrender. After World War II, Perlis returned to British rule until it became part of the [[Malayan Union]], then the [[Federation of Malaya]] in 1957, and lastly, [[Malaysia]] in 1963.

Since 2000, the raja has been [[Sirajuddin of Perlis|Sirajuddin]]. He was the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] (King of Malaysia) from 13 December 2001 to 12 December 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.majlisraja-raja.gov.my/index.php/bm/maklumat-perkhidmatan/senarai-yang-di-pertuan-agong|title=Pejabat Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja - Senarai Yang di-Pertuan Agong|website=Majlisraja-raja.gov.my|access-date=25 November 2017|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707091013/http://www.majlisraja-raja.gov.my/index.php/bm/maklumat-perkhidmatan/senarai-yang-di-pertuan-agong|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra]] was the Regent of Perlis during the five-year period when Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin was Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Chief Executive or ''[[Menteri Besar]]'' is currently [[Mohd Shukri Ramli]] of the [[Perikatan Nasional]].

==Geography==

[[File:Limestone formations in Perlis.jpg|thumb|Bukit Chabang, a landmark [[twin-peaked]] [[mogote]] towering over [[paddy field]] squares]]
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia, covering a total land area of 819&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Like other [[Peninsular Malaysia#Other features|west coast states]], it has a coastline facing the [[Strait of Malacca]], measuring around 20.4&nbsp;km (12.7&nbsp;mi) from [[Kuala Sanglang]] at the border with [[Kedah]]'s [[Kubang Pasu District]] up north towards the [[Malaysia-Thailand border]] near Pos Batu Putih, in the vicinity of [[Kuala Perlis]].

From south to north, its topographical profile consists of flat, arable lands of the Kedah–Perlis Plain dotted with numerous [[Mogote|mogotes]], and abruptly rises up high as rolling [[karstic]] hills of the [[Nakawan Range]], which forms the natural boundary between the state and the province of [[Satun province|Satun]] on the [[Thailand|Thai]] side. In general, [[paddy fields]] dominate much of the state's landscape as the Perlisian portion of the Kedah–Perlis Plain had been utilized for [[rice farming]] since antiquity. Meanwhile, the [[Nakawan Range|Nakawan]] runs southwest–northeast along the Thai border from [[Kuala Perlis]] towards [[Kaki Bukit]]. The range is home to the 733-metre tall Mount Perlis, the highest point in the state.

===Climate===
Along with northern [[Kedah]], the entirety of Perlis experiences [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: '''''Am'''''). 
{{Weather box
|width = auto
| location = Kangar
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| Jan high C = 30.2
| Feb high C = 32.4
| Mar high C = 32.4
| Apr high C = 31.1
| May high C = 30.2
| Jun high C = 29.9
| Jul high C = 29.5
| Aug high C = 29.4
| Sep high C = 29.1
| Oct high C = 28.9
| Nov high C = 28.9
| Dec high C = 28.9

| Jan mean C = 26.4
| Feb mean C = 27.7
| Mar mean C = 28
| Apr mean C = 27.6
| May mean C = 27.4
| Jun mean C = 27.4
| Jul mean C = 27
| Aug mean C = 26.9
| Sep mean C = 26.5
| Oct mean C = 26.1
| Nov mean C = 26
| Dec mean C = 25.9
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 23.7
| Feb low C = 24.1
| Mar low C = 24.8
| Apr low C = 25.2
| May low C = 25.4
| Jun low C = 25.3
| Jul low C = 25
| Aug low C = 24.8
| Sep low C = 24.6
| Oct low C = 24.4
| Nov low C = 24.3
| Dec low C = 24
|precipitation colour= 
|Jan precipitation mm=48
|Feb precipitation mm=44
|Mar precipitation mm=121
|Apr precipitation mm=171
|May precipitation mm=205
|Jun precipitation mm=161
|Jul precipitation mm=167
|Aug precipitation mm=196
|Sep precipitation mm=220
|Oct precipitation mm=272
|Nov precipitation mm=218
|Dec precipitation mm=129
|source 1 = Climate-Data.org<ref> {{cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/malaysia/perlis/kangar-971701/|title =Climate:Kangar|access-date =June 30, 2023}} </ref>
}}

==Government==
{{main|Government of Perlis|Perlis State Executive Council|Perlis State Legislative Assembly}}
{{see also|Menteri Besar of Perlis}}
[[File:Perlis State Legislative Assembly.jpg|thumb|[[Perlis State Legislative Assembly]]]]

Perlis is ruled by the [[House of Jamalullail (Perlis)|House of Jamalullail]]. Unlike most other [[Malay states]], in which the ruler is a "sultan", the ruler of Perlis is called the "raja".<ref>{{cite book|last=Ooi Keat Gin|title=Historical Dictionary of Malaysia|year=2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|page=252}}</ref>

Legislative power in the state is exercised by the [[Perlis State Legislative Assembly]], a unicameral chamber in which all 15 seats are elected from single-member constituencies. After the [[Results of the Malaysian general election, 2022 by state constituency|2022 state election]], the [[Perikatan Nasional]] coalition, led by the [[Malaysian Islamic Party]], holds 14 of the assembly's 15 seats.

The raja appoints [[menteri besar]] (chief minister) and an Executive Council (akin to a Cabinet). Generally, the chief minister is a member of the legislative assembly who can command a majority on the assembly's floor. The raja's appointment powers were at the center of a brief constitutional crisis in the state after the [[2008 Malaysian general election|2008 general election]]. The Raja sought to appoint a Barisan Nasional assemblyman, [[Md Isa Sabu]], as chief minister despite Prime Minister [[Abdullah Badawi]], who led the national coalition, nominating the incumbent [[Shahidan Kassim]] to continue in office. The Raja prevailed and swore in Md Isa, who served a full term as chief minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2f2008%2f3%2f15%2fnation%2f20658063&sec=nation|title=Palaces intervene in appointment of two MBs|date=15 March 2008|work=The Star|access-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629201542/http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2f2008%2f3%2f15%2fnation%2f20658063&sec=nation|archive-date=29 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The state elects three members of the federal [[Dewan Rakyat|House of Representatives]] for the constituencies of [[Arau]], [[Kangar]] and [[Padang Besar, Malaysia|Padang Besar]]. The Perikatan Nasional has held all three seats since the [[Perlis state election, 2022|2022 general elections]].

The state also has two [[Dewan Negara|federal senators]]; like all other states, the senators are not directly elected but appointed by a vote of the state legislative assembly.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
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| colspan=6 | [[File:Svgfiles 2022-11-25-13-19-14-752065-14842915061957288095.svg|300px]]
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Affiliation
! rowspan="2" |Coalition/Party Leader
! rowspan="2" |Status
! colspan="2" |Seats
|-
![[2022 Perlis state election|2022 election]]
!Current
|-
|{{Color box|#031e61|border=darkgray}}
|[[Perikatan Nasional]]
|Mohd Shukri Ramli
|Government
|14
|14
|-
|{{Color box|#CC2200|border=darkgray}}
|[[Pakatan Harapan]]
|Gan Ay Ling
|Opposition
|1
|1
|-
! colspan="4" |Total
!15
!15
|-
! colspan="4" |Government majority
!9
!9
|}

=== Subdivisions ===
[[File:Mukims of Perlis labelled.svg|thumb|300px|Mukims of Perlis]]

Perlis, the smallest state by area in Malaysia, is not divided into administrative districts. It is, however, still divided into 22 [[mukim]]s (communes), namely:
* Abi
* [[Arau]]
* Beseri
* [[Chuping]]
* Jejawi
* [[Kaki Bukit]]
* Kayang
* Kechor
* [[Kuala Perlis]]
* Kurong Anai
* Kurong Batang
* Ngulang
* Oran
* Padang Pauh
* Paya
* Padang Siding
* [[Sanglang]]
* Sena
* Seriab
* Sungai Adam
* [[Titi Tinggi]] ([[Padang Besar, Malaysia|Padang Besar]])
* Utan Aji; and
* Wang Bintong

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|1970 |121062
|1980 |144782
|1991 |183824
|2000 |198288
|2010 |225630
|2020 |284885
|source={{my10|2020kf}}
|graph-pos=bottom
}}
[[File:Perlis Hokkien Association.jpg|thumb|Perlis Hokkien Association]]

=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Perlis – 2010 Census<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/census2010/Taburan_Penduduk_dan_Ciri-ciri_Asas_Demografi.pdf|title=2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia|access-date=17 June 2012|publisher=Department of Statistics, Malaysia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113165406/http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/census2010/Taburan_Penduduk_dan_Ciri-ciri_Asas_Demografi.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2013|df=dmy-all}} p. 13</ref>
|titlebar=
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|87.9}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|Yellow|10.0}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|Orange|0.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Blue|0.6}}
{{bar percent|Others|Gray|0.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Chinese Folk Religion|Chinese Ethnic Religion]]|Magenta|0.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|No Religion]]|Black|0.2}}
}}
As of 2010 the population of Perlis is 87.9% [[Muslim]], 10.0% [[Buddhist]], 0.8% [[Hindu]], 0.6% [[Christians|Christian]], 0.2% [[Taoism|Taoist]] or [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese religion]] followers, 0.2% non-religious, 0.2% unknown / none, and 0.1% followers of other religions.

The Malaysian defines "Malay", as those who are Muslim, speak Malay regularly, practise Malay customs, and lived in or have ancestors from [[Brunei]], Malaysia and/or [[Singapore]].<ref name="Marshall">{{Cite book|title = World and Its Peoples: Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei|publisher = Marshall Cavendish Corporation|year = 2008|pages = 1160, 1166–1192, 1218–1222 |isbn =978-0-7614-7642-9}}</ref> Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers of adherents following Christianity (11.1%) and Taoism (3.4%), along with small [[Hui people|Hui-Muslim]] populations in areas like Penang. The majority of the Indian population follow Hinduism (86.2%), with a significant minority identifying as Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%). Christianity is the predominant religion of the non-Malay [[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|bumiputera]] community (46.5%) with an additional 40.4% identifying as Muslims.<ref name="Population">{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/census2010/Taburan_Penduduk_dan_Ciri-ciri_Asas_Demografi.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522234002/http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/census2010/Taburan_Penduduk_dan_Ciri-ciri_Asas_Demografi.pdf |archive-date=22 May 2014 |title=Population Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristics |publisher=Department of Statistics, Malaysia |page=82 |access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>

===Languages===
Majority of Perlis' population speaks [[Kedah Malay|Perlis Malay]] which is a sub-dialect of Kedah Malay but has its own unique features compared to those of neighbouring Kedah. Perlisian Chinese people are mostly [[Hokkien]] by ancestry and speak a dialect of [[Penang Hokkien|Hokkien]]. Besides that there is also [[Hokkien]], [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], [[English language|English]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Malayalam]] as well as small numbers of [[Southern Thai language|Southern Thai]] speakers, mostly ethnic [[Malaysian Siamese]]. However, large numbers of Perlisians regardless of ethnic origin mainly uses Perlis Malay as a [[lingua franca]]. In particular, Perlis is well known for its distinctive [[Hokkien]] language, known as [[Penang Hokkien]]. [[Hokkien]] serves as the lingua franca among the various ethnic Chinese communities in Perlis. Perlis Chinese are predominantly [[Hokkien]] and thus mostly speak [[Penang Hokkien|Hokkien]] as their [[first language]].

==Tourism==
Some of the tourist attractions in Perlis are:

[[File:The_Cave_of_Darkness,_Gua_Kelam,_Perlis,_Malaysia_(4676312227).jpg|thumb|''Gua Kelam'' (Kelam Cave) entrance in 2010]]
* Perlis State Park - Situated on the southern slopes of the [[Nakawan Range]], the park consists of Mata Ayer and Wang Mu Forest Reserves with a total area of about 5,000 ha. Some of the attractions in the park include [[caves]] such as Gua Kelam and Gua Wang Burma, which is located within the 500-year-old Setul limestone formation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Perlis State Park|url=http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/web-page/places/states-of-malaysia/perlis/perlis-state-park?page=/2|work=Tourism Malaysia|access-date=22 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522105406/http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/web-page/places/states-of-malaysia/perlis/perlis-state-park?page=%2F2|archive-date=22 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
**Gua Kelam - A limestone cave that is one of the most visited destinations in Perlis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/201493/actionline-dark-future-gua-kelam|title=(Actionline) Dark future for Gua Kelam &#124; New Straits Times|date=3 January 2017}}</ref> Located about 33&nbsp;km north of Kangar, the capital of Perlis, near [[Kaki Bukit]].
* [[Padang Besar, Malaysia|Padang Besar]] - Located near the [[Malaysia-Thai border]], the town is famed for its [[duty-free shopping]] scene.
* [[Kuala Perlis]] - One of the popular activities here is fishing. There are also many restaurants that offer fresh [[seafood]] that is relatively cheaper than in the capital city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kuala Perlis|url=http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/web-page/places/states-of-malaysia/perlis/kuala-perlis|work=Tourism Malaysia|access-date=22 May 2014}}</ref> The town is also a transit point for tourists to be [[Ferry|ferried]] to [[Langkawi]].
* [[Kota Kayang Museum]]
* Melati Lake Gardens
* Perlis Snake Park
* Batu Layang Island – Sole natural island in Perlis waters.

==Transport==
The [[KTM West Coast railway line]] runs through Perlis with stations at {{stnlnk|Padang Besar}} and {{stnlnk|Arau}}. [[KTM ETS]] (towards [[KL Sentral]]) and [[KTM Komuter Northern Sector]] (towards {{stnlnk|Butterworth}}) trains regularly call at both stations.

Perlis does not have an airport; [[Sultan Abdul Halim Airport]] serving [[Alor Setar]] in nearby [[Kedah]] is the nearest airport within Malaysia and can be reached by one hour's drive from [[Kangar]]. A bus service from Arau to the airport is also available.

==Recreation==
There is an outdoor [[rock climbing]] area in the limestone hills of Bukit Keteri with over 50 sport climbing routes that are bolted by the world's climbing team; the crags are split into two, both next to each other and the rockfaces rise to 350 m. The range of difficulty is from beginner to expert and many varieties of climbs are available.

== See also ==
{{commons category|Perlis}}
* [[Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2018-)#Perlis|Breakdown of State Seats Representatives elected 2018]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Perlis}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204940/https://www.perlis.gov.my/ Official Perlis State Government web site]
*[http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/web-page/places/states-of-malaysia/perlis Tourism Malaysia – Perlis]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090409023603/http://www.perlisroyalty.gov.my/ Website of His Majesty, the Raja of Perlis]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Perlis
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[File:Seal Songkhla.png|15px]] [[Songkhla Province]], {{flag|Thailand}}
|East      = 
|Southeast = {{flag|Kedah}}
|South     = 
|Southwest = ''[[Straits of Malacca]]''
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[File:Seal Satun.png|15px]] [[Satun Province]], {{flag|Thailand}}
}}

{{Perlis}}
{{States and Federal Territories of Malaysia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Perlis| ]]
[[Category:Andaman Sea]]
[[Category:States of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Strait of Malacca]]
[[Category:Malaysia–Thailand border]]