[1] In 1877, Raja Yusuf was made Regent of Perak and he moved to Sayong after Sultan Abdullah Muhammad Shah II went to Singapore after being called by the British Government in connection with the investigation into the murder of James W. W.

[1] Following this, a state council whose members consisted of Raja Yusuf as President, Hugh Low (British Resident), Raja Idris, Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee (Chairman of Chinese Ho Kuan or Hai San) and Kapitan Chin Ah Yam (Chairman of the Chinese Group Si Kuan or Ghi Hin) was formed.

The first conference of the Council was held in Kuala Kangsar on 10 September 1877 to negotiate Perak's government policies.

In June 1885, the first railroad in Malaya from Taiping to Port Weld (now known as Kuala Sepetang) was built and operated.

[1] Sultan Yusuf Sharifuddin Muzaffar Shah ruled Perak for only ten months, and died on 26 July 1887 in Sayong.