Hulu Perak District (Upper Perak) is a district in Perak, Malaysia. It is the largest district in Perak. In the east of the district it borders the districts of Jeli and Gua Musang in Kelantan, to the west it borders Baling and Kulim Districts of Kedah, to the south it borders the district of Kuala Kangsar while to the south-west it borders the district of Larut, Matang and Selama. Hulu Perak also shares a border with Yala province's Betong district on the border with Thailand. The seat of the district is Gerik, which is also the largest town of the district. The highest point in the district is the Ulu Titi Basah peak in the Titiwangsa Mountains. The peak is 1,533 m tall and is located near the Malaysia–Thailand border and Temenggor Lake.

History

In 1511, after the fall of the Malacca Sultanate to the Portuguese, Sultan Mahmud Shah retreated and established his government in Bentan. In 1526 the Portuguese attacked his domain again and forced him to retreat to Kampar where he re-establish his rule. At that time, Tun Saban had moved to Upper Patani and stayed at Beredung Budi. He then moved to Belum Forest in Hulu Perak, founded a village at a place called Relap Hati, and became the chief of the peoples in Belum Forest. For sometime until the 19th century, a good part of this district was under the sovereignty of Siam, as part of the old Malay Kingdom of Reman. The area then under Thai control included what is today Gerik, Pengkalan Hulu (Kroh), Kerunai, the Belum forest and the Temenggor Lakes. The capital of Reman was near Pengkalan Hulu. In 1882, the border between the British protected state of Perak and the Siamese vassal state of Reman was delimited at Bukit Nasha, some 5 km south of Gerik town. An adjustment in 1899 transferred Gerik town and the surrounding commune to the Federated Malay States, which Perak was part of. The present-day border, part of the longer Malaysia–Thailand border, was finalised in 1909, when the districts of Pengkalan Hulu, Kerunai, Belukar Semang, Belum and the present-day Temenggor Lakes were transferred to the Federated Malay States. The British also gained control of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Administrative divisions

Hulu Perak District is divided into 10 mukims and three district councils, which are: The municipalities of Pengkalan Hulu and Lenggong are autonomous subdistricts (daerah kecil).

Demographics

The following is based on Department of Statistics Malaysia 2010 census.

Federal Parliament and State Assembly Seats