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Raja Bilah Bin Raja Asal

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Subject :Raja Bilah bin Raja Asal
Published By : Tokoh-tokoh Batu Gajah, Perak; Arkib Negara Malaysia (National Archives) 
Location : Perak
Estimated Year : 1880
Media Type : Photograph
Source : National Archives of Malaysia
Remark :

Raja Bilah bin Raja Asal was the son of Raja Todung Barani, a Mandailing descendent from Sumatera, Indonesia. His father was from the Nasutron clan, while his mother was from the Rangkuti clan - in short, Raja Bilah was a Namora (a nobleman). He was born in 1834, and in the 1860s he moved to Selangor with his uncle Raja Asal.

Raja Asal himself was another famous Mandailing; noted as the greatest Mandailing leader who led the Mandailing through 3 civil wars and times of great hardships in the 1840s. When Raja Asal passed away in 1877, this leadership-role was passed on to Raja Bilah.

Raja Bilah married Engku Naimas and they had 5 children. One of their daughters was born in 1883 ‘at an orchard by the sea, where the clouds seemed to be marching (Awan Berarak)’ - hence she was named ‘Sitiawan’. This birth place (in Perak) later took the name Sitiawan, after Raja Bilahs daughter.

Raja Bilah and his family moved to Perak after the (Mandailing) civil war. Sultan Idris had let them stay at Changkat Piatu, near Pengkalan Pegoh. Raja Bilah then started a tin business in Perak and Klang. In 1876, the State Government appointed him as a tax collector for Papan and Ulu Johan; the letter of appointment came from the then Magistrate of Kinta, H W Leech. A year later, Raja Bilah and his family moved to Papan.

In 1882, with an appointment letter from Sir Hugh Low (then British Resident), Raja Bilah was made the Penghulu (Chief) of Mukim Blanja (Kinta). This made him the first Penghulu of Kinta. Meanwhile in Papan, Raja Bilah opened a tin mine but later closed it in 1890 due to loss. His residence - the Rumah Raja Bilah - was built in 1896, in conjunction with a visit from Sultan Idris I to Papan.

Raja Bilah passed away in 1911. His house and a mosque (named Masjid Raja Bilah) have been gazetted as National Heritage sites by the Department of Antiques (under the National Museum.

To learn more about Raja Asal (the uncle of Raja Bilah), click here.

Filename : 20100304-008