Perak

This stamp was issued in 1999 on the 125th anniversary of the City of Taiping as part of a series of four showing the progress of transportation over the years. The railroad between Taiping and Port Weld (now called Kuala Sepetang) was completed in 1885, 11 years after the founding of the city to facilitate larger scale tin exports.

In the succeeding year, much more rail track was laid to link the tin producing areas to the ports, with the formation of the Federated Malay States allowing for cross state lines. After an agreement with independent Johore, the line was extended to Singapore.

Taiping means 'Big Peace' and was the site of a British-brokered peace agreement between two rival mining gangs whose disputes threatening to affect shipping through the Malacca Strait. This intervention also provided the pretext for the British to take a greater advistory role in the Sultan's State Administration by appointing an advisor (Resident) to the ruling Sultan.