Tun Perak | |
---|---|
![]() | |
5th Bendahara of the Sultanate of Malacca | |
In office 1456–1498 | |
Preceded by | Sri Nara Diraja Tun Ali |
Succeeded by | Tun Perpatih Putih |
Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Perak (Jawi: بندهار ڤدوک راج تون ڤيراق, died 1498) was the fifth and most famous bendahara, a Malay rank similar to a prime minister, of the Sultanate of Malacca. He served under four sultans (Sultan Muzzafar Shah, Sultan Mansur Shah, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah and Sultan Mahmud Shah)[1] from 1456 to 1498. Early in his life, Perak was a soldier-statesman for Malaccan rulers. In 1445, he led the Malaccan army to victory by defeating Siamese invaders. As a result, he was made bendahara in 1456.
Tun Perak was the son of Malacca's first bendahara, Sri Wak Raja Tun Perpatih Besar. In 1445, he was appointed as Malacca's representative in Klang. After a Siamese invasion that began in 1445 that lasted until 1446, he later was made Bendahara in 1456.[2] Tun Perak was also instrumental in colonising Pahang, Terengganu, Johor, Riau, Lingga, Bengkalis, Karimon, Rokan, Siak, Kampar, Jambi, Inderagiri and Aru. The rulers of these governments converted to Islam due to Malaccan influence. Tun Perak was very loyal towards the Malaccan Sultanate. When his son, Tun Besar was killed by Sultan Mahmud Shah's son Raja Muhammad due to a misunderstanding, he did not seek revenge against the sultan. Instead, he requested Raja Muhammad to be crowned elsewhere. The sultan honored Tun Perak's request, therefore Raja Muhammad was made a sultan in Pahang.
He died in 1498 and was replaced by his younger brother Tun Perpatih Putih. His death signified what is widely held to be the beginning of the Malaccan Empire's decline.