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Seberang Perai, formerly ''Province Wellesley'', is a narrow hinterland opposite Penang island on the Malay Peninsula, which together with the island forms the Malaysian state of Penang. Its principal town is Butterworth. From the 2010 National Census, Seberang Perai has a population of 815,767, the second most populous local government area in Malaysia. == History == Seberang Perai was originally named Province Wellesley after Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, Governor of Madras and Governor-General of Bengal (1797–1805). Earliest records of the history of Seberang Perai can be traced back to pre-historic times with evidence of human settlement in Guar Kepah at the south of Muda River about 5,000-6,000 years ago. Seberang Perai is located between two main important archaeological sites which are Bujang Valley and Sungai Selinsing. There is evidence of human remains and seashells as food leftovers found at the site. These areas were once settled by Melanesians from the Pacific Island dated back to the Neolithic era. Seberang Perai is also part of the Bujang Valley civilisation with the finding of Cherok Tok Kun Relics and Buddhagupta stone with Pali inscriptions dated back to the 4th century which was part of the Buddhist and Hindu civilisation in the Malay Peninsula. It was originally part of the state of Kedah. The recent history of Seberang Perai started with the Seberang Perai ceded to the British East India Company by the Sultan of Kedah in 1798 under the Burney Treaty, and has been part of the settlement and state of Penang ever since. 〔Mahani Musa, 2011. ''Sejarah Awal Pulau Pinang'', p. 5-61. USM Penang. ISBN 978-983-861-356-9〕 Prior to 1800, Province Wellesley had a total population of 5,000 and by 1850, much of the forest land and swamp land was cleared to make way for agricultural land. At that time it covered an area of 489.3 km2. After the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874, the area was expanded to 740.12 km2. By then the population increased significantly with the establishments of towns such as Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Brief History Of MPSP )〕 The land included the river basins of Muda River, Prai River and the Kerian River across the channel from Penang Island. Among the factors which led to the secession is the prevention of the ongoing piracy, the need of more land for agriculture, place of refuge for the Kedahan Malays, the prevention of criminals and convicts escaping from Penang Island and the prevention of the creation of a trading port in Perai which may threaten the position of Penang Island as an important trading port. Major changes in the history of Seberang Perai occurred after many Kedahan Malays seek refuge in Seberang Perai after Kedah was invaded by the Kingdom of Siam in 1821. This attributed to a sharp increase in population. This is because by fleeing to Seberang Perai, the Malays were provided protection by the British and its close proximity to Kedah Sultanate. Many settlements were established including Teluk Air Tawar, Penaga, Bagan Jermal and Permatang Tok Jaya. Rice was cultivated in many parts of Seberang Perai by the ethnic Malays to provide food supply to the people in Penang Island. During the colonial days, Seberang Perai was administered under Penang by a superintendent. 〔Mahani Musa, 2011. ''Sejarah Awal Pulau Pinang'', p. 5-61. USM Penang. ISBN 978-983-861-356-9〕 In 1896, the first Municipal Ordinance was introduced to regulate the local authorities in Penang. Then in 1973, the Rural Board of Province Wellesley was established and in 1952, Butterworth Municipal Council and three rural authorities, namely North, Central and South District Council were established. Following the Local Government Act in 1976, the four local authorities merged to form the Seberang Perai Municipal Council.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Seberang Perai」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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