Malaystates

Taiping

Malay States Guides

In order to restore law and order among the feuding Chinese miners, the Mantri of Larut, Ngah Ibrahim, hired Captain Speedy, formerly Superintendent of Police in Penang, to recruit a sepoy force. In 1873, Captain Speedy returned from India with 110 soldiers consisting of Sikhs, Hindus and Pathans. After the Larut Wars, the mercenary band formed the "Perak Armed Police", stationed in the cantonment in Taiping. On special occasions, the show regiment would parade on the Esplanade field.

Statue of Col. Walker, "Father of the Malay States Guides", now at the Perak Museum

Under Col. Walker, the predominantly Sikh regiment was styled the "1st Perak Sikhs" and, with the federation of the Malay States in 1896, they served as the Malay States Guides". The Guides joined the Aden Field Force during the First World War. Two Regiments, comprising

Punjabi and Pathan Muslims almost revolted when asked to fight against the Turkish caliphate. Upon their return, the Malay States Guides were disbanded in 1919. They were replaced with the Burma Rifles, seconded by the Indian Government, who remained until the Japanese Occupation.