Exiled sultan in history rewrite

A member of the royal house of Perak State wants Britain to admit it was at fault in sending his great grandfather into exile in the Seychelles 122 years ago.

Raja Azam Raja Kamaralzaman claims the charge against Sultan Abdullah that he had failed to honour undertakings in the Treaty of Pangkor was based on a deliberate mistranslation of the original Malay version. He says the English interpretation was later destroyed.

The prince's desire to set the record straight follows other moves by Malays to rewrite British accounts of their history. Earlier this month, four men hanged for murdering a British colonial governor in Sarawak State in 1949, were moved from prison graves to a mausoleum where they were reburied with full state honours.

Raja Azam said the issue involving the sultan hinged on a clause in the 1874 treaty which the British interpreted in their favour.

The Malay version says the sultan 'shall have to consult' with the British Resident 'on all matters and the working of Perak State' except Muslim religious affairs and Malay customs.

The official British translation said the British Resident's advice 'must be asked and acted upon on all questions' except Malay religion and customs.