The Treaty of Pangkor was a pivotal agreement that marked the beginning of profound changes in the governance of Perak, one of the states in Malaya. Sultan Abdullah, who was seeking consolidation of power and legitimacy against rival factions within Perak, entered into this treaty with the British to secure their support. The British, represented primarily by Captain Henry Luce, were keen to stabilize the lucrative tin mining activities in the region, which had become contentious due to local conflicts and piracy. The signing of the treaty allowed British officials to establish a Resident in Perak, thereby initiating a system of indirect rule that would define British colonial administration in Malay states.The treaty stipulated that the Sultan would act on advice from the British Resident, thus placing the ultimate authority in the hands of British colonial administrators while ostensibly maintaining the Sultan's role. Additionally, the treaty was part of a broader context of British imperial policy aimed at consolidating power in Southeast Asia, in response to increasing trade interests and geopolitical competition in the region. The ramifications of the treaty would unfold over the subsequent decades with other states in the Malay Peninsula following a similar pattern of agreements with the British, paving the way for a more extensive colonial presence and a system that would greatly influence the political landscape of Malaya.