Last month, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said The Malacca Malay Sultanate began in 1278 and not in the 1400s. The year (1278) was chosen based or the Raja Bongsu version of the Malay Annals or the "Sulalatus al-Salatin" (Raffles 18). The discovery found by a research team appointed by the Malacca government. Following the discovery, the research committee, chaired by Melaka Islamic University College vice chancellor Prof. Emeritus Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Yusoff Hashim, agreed that Malacca began as a political entity, known as the Malacca Malay Sultanate, in 1278.
Photo by The Star: Jason Yoong showing off the celadon shard and tin piece found here over the years that support the 1278 founding year.
The findings of the research was tabled to the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Malacca Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at his office in Ayer Keroh here yesterday. The research, headed by Prof. Dr Abdullah Zakaria Ghazali from the Department of History, Universiti Malaya, started in June last year. While many are in support of the findings, there are also calls for a public forum to be held before the state-appointed panel officially declares 1278 as the date of the founding instead of the widely accepted date of either 1396 or 1400.
Maritime Archaeological Museum’s Jason Yoong, who supports the findings, said there were artefact's proving the existence of the city in that period.
“Shards of green glazed pottery dating back to the Song Dynasty of between 960 and 1279 have been found over the years.
“There are also odd-shaped tin artefact's discovered from the Malacca River, thought to be a simple form of currency before standard minted coins were used here in the 1400s,” he said, calling for a forum for experts to share their views on the matter.
Another supporter is Dennis De Witt, a 45-year-old local expert on 17th Century Dutch history in Malaysia.
“There will be those who may dispute the date. Yet, it seems logical if one traces backwards from the 15th century Malacca Sultanate’s lineage,” said the author of Malaysian Dutch History, adding that he was eager to share his views during such a forum.
The findings by the panel, comprising 11 professors from local universities such as Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, still have to be approved by the state authorities. The panel, which has for its members academicians like Tan Sri Prof Dr Khoo Kay Kim and Tan Sri Aziz Tapa, began its research in June last year to fix the date of Malacca’s founding. Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaacob had mooted the setting up of the panel, which would make an official declaration in October. Panel chairman Prof Datuk Yusof Hashim said both local and foreign experts, including those from the Netherlands, England, Australia, Indonesia and Brunei, would be invited to discuss their findings later this year.
They should verified that the artefact's found is truly from Melaka. If this is true, Malaysian history will need to be rewritten for at least for 100 years. That's mean, it is a new history lesson for all of us. This is something that really exciting not just for historian but also to numismatic world. Wish that the researcher report will be available to the public.
Source: Malaysia Star, Bernama.
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