 The houses of the <unk> people were built in rows on both sides of the <unk> River , mostly furnished by <unk> and <unk> <unk> . Each house had its own shed projection into the entrance of the river , which was used for the processing of <unk> <unk> . On 8 September 1867 , the first <unk> General Council meeting ( now <unk> State Legislative Assembly ) took place here . It was made up of 21 elected local community members ( five British officers and 16 Malay and <unk> local chiefs ) . The Council was formed by Raja <unk> Charles Brooke under orders from <unk> James Brooke . The Council is the oldest state legislative assembly in Malaysia . 
