Ki-WaterColor: 1st Prime Minister of Malaysia #3

genre: public figure

title: 1st Prime Minister of Malaysia #3

medium: water color (Aquarelle 300gsm)

size: 30.0.5 cm x 20.5 cm

year: 2013

price: myr 350.00

Malay Archipelago, a region which is the largest group of islands in the world. It consists of more than 20,000 islands comprising the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines with the area of it is stretching along the equator with more than 3,800 square miles vastness, and spanning across the area between the Pacific Ocean and the India Ocean covering an area of 2,200 square miles. This is a transition region and convergence of various elements such as climate, culture, economy, and religion. This situation has formed and diversified in culture, which producing the uniqueness of multi-cultural in the region.

Malay Peninsula is one of the areas in the Malay Archipelago. It has combined with two other states that is, Sabah and Sarawak. The combination of three states then formed the country named Malaysia. Malaysians have some custom, influenced from their ancestral cognate. Custom of them has much in common with other residents in this archipelago. One of the most important things is in the field of architecture. If viewed in terms of development of the architecture in the region, it can be seen some of the artworks which still have in common. Although there are some differences due to factionalism of life and scattered, it appears to have resulted in a very interesting and distinctive architecture. Due to the Malay architecture in Malaysia is part of a clump of the Archipelago architectural, so, there are still have some globule similarities in appearance of the artworks of the residents in the region. Maybe by looking at the architecture development in other areas that is, outside of Malaysia Peninsula, it would add more effective to understand and appreciate for the local architecture.

Looking at the geographical position in the region, Malaysia Peninsula is located amongst the route of ancient maritime powers, thus the cause it became a strategic area and often coveted by superpowers. This situation is the cause of it in the cultural clash area. But, thankfully to the people those who are able to handle the situation so as to maintain the local culture, despite modification were happening, but they still retain the local characteristics. One of the important privileges of Malays in olden days, they were able to receive and adapt the positive elements that applied them to the local architecture without much discarded the existing values, and subsequently used to help expanding the own of Malay culture. Thus are the matters in the history and development of the architecture, despite a clash of culture elements occurs, however the traditional elements were not eliminated. The architecture relics, which still existing should be recorded for referencing.

Malay Peninsula with the mainland of Asia linked by Segenting Kra and is separated from Sumatra and other islands in Indonesia by the Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea from Borneo and from the Philippine Islands. In prehistoric times, this peninsula has become a natural bridge to various waves of migrants to the peninsula, and the migrants then turned as evenly scattered over Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands.

The climate of the peninsula belongs to the humid heat. The peninsula has four major seasons which are highly influenced by the situation and change in winds. A northeast monsoon season starts in November or December and ends in March in the year afterward. A northeast wind brings heavy rains onto the east coast. This season is replaced with the first transition monsoon seasons which is a start from March until April or May. Then followed by the southwest monsoon which begins in May till October. The second transitional season starts from October to November. 

Shift of the monsoon winds on Peninsula brings good luck to the host population in many terms, especially in trade and culture development in the past. Monsoon seasons brought foreign merchants came from various states to do business or visit in the peninsula. Northeast wind blows from the South China Sea to Peninsula. It allowed Chinese traders sailed easily to the south to do business and return to China with the help of the southwest wind. The southwest wind also brought merchants of Indian and Arabian to Peninsula to trade. Here, they exchanged goods amongst merchants from other places such as merchants of Siamese, Javanese and Bugis. For merchants who commuted from continental of China and India, they have to sail through along the Peninsula coastline before blown by the monsoon winds to their respective destinations. They had to stop at the peninsula to wait the change of monsoon winds, and looked for supplies before continuing their voyage to other places. So, Peninsula became an important transit point. Some merchants had perpetuated the peninsula as a halfway stopover and also jointly for developing the area. Some other merchants continue to stay here with the locals.

Besides being the confluence of the monsoon seasons which brought many foreign merchants here, local residents were also exposed to various foreign cultures such as Indian, Chinese, Javanese, Persian, and  Arabian brought by foreign merchants. This situation provided an opportunity for local residents to get to know closer the foreign cultures as well as to learn and absorb the good elements into the local culture. Such disclosure has also influenced and more on shaping the existence of local culture. Besides, the convergence of the foreign cultures has also helped toward the development of literary, artistic, administrative systems and practices in local custom.

In respect of the earliest residents in the world, there were various opinions. However, members of the anthropologists agreed, human divided in three groups, namely Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid. Caucasoid terms began to be used by a scientist named J. F. Blumenbach at the beginning of the 17th AD to describe a group of people. Interpretations of his statement are as following:

•The people who occupied most of Europe, West Asia, and North Africa have a whitish, brown, and dark brown of skins; blue and brown eyes; sharp of a nose; and their stature and taller regarding body shaped, makes them are more noticeable than other human beings.

•The second set of human beings is known as Mongoloid. Most of them have a yellowish skin; black hair; flat of a face; and a nose is not so sharp. The Mongoloid also divided into two main groups which are easily distinguished by significant of the slant-eyed shaped. This group includes Eskimos, Japan, Korea and North China. The second group of Mongoloid has no slant-eyed who composed of Tibet population; Malays in the Malay Archipelago cluster including the people of Myanmar; Southern China; The Philippines; Siam; and Native American who are recognized as Red Indians.
•The third set of human beings is Negroid of Africa. They have black skin and thick lips those are among the significant of physical features. Negroid population is also found in Asia, including in Papua New Guinea. Negritos are in Malaysia and Pacific islanders. According to Professor Edward in his book titled 'The Wall Chart of World History', the human races were divided into five main groups namely European or referred to as Caucasian, Negroid in Africa, Malay, America Indian, and China or Mongoloid. Malay people are a distinctive group who occupies an area of the Malay archipelago.

History of the first human occupation in the Malay Archipelago alleged has begun since 230,000 years ago, based on the discovery of 'Java Man'. Aside it, the human tools in Paleolithic Age are also found in several other places in Southeast Asia such as South China; Indonesia; Burma; Thailand; The Philippines; Borneo; and Java. These places showed evidences which humans have been occupied by the group, since 50,000 years ago. In the Ice Age, the region of Southeast Asia remains a region of the plateau. Evidence of human settlement in Malaysia can also be based on the discovery of some fragments of human skulls which kinds of 'Homo Sapiens' and hunting tools in the Paleolithic Era in Gua Niah in Sarawak. The archaeological results indicate this area has been occupied by humans since 35,000 BC years. Evidence of other excavations in the land of Malay Peninsula showed a relic fragments of human tools that only about 10,000-year-old. Also, human who lives in Mesolithic Era between 8,000 BC and 2,000 BC years have been said to have made the set of stones and limestone caves as their shelters. The impression can be seen as existing in the rock caves in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and a few other places. Impression of paintings on the cave walls show they use tools such as javelin and hunting spear. One of the important tools is an axe which was made with smoothing a stone until sharp, and tied on a piece of wood as a handle. This axe was also used for a variety of use, including cutting down timber and as meat and bone cutter. They were a group of people who was also known as Melanesia. This group was the first immigrant into the peninsula. They were also the ancestors of the indigenous people who are now well-known as Semang and Jakun. They are who inhabiting in inland of Malay Peninsula.

Subsequently around the year 2500 BC, the peninsula and the Malay islands had also been visited by Neolithic, a person group who was known as the proto-Malay, that is said came from the land of Yunnan in China.  Like the preceding Paleolithic people, they had also used tools made of stone material but a little bit more advanced. Apart from being hunters, they also could be farming, rearing, and fond for sailing from one place to another looking for food sources and new knowledge. They built their shelters from materials around their place. They settled in places especially in the area of lush valleys and estuaries. Their arrivals had triggered competition with the Negritos. Because the proto-Malay group more advanced in agriculture, finally they control most of the fertile lands. Indirectly forcing Negritos moved into rural areas and forests which could provide a wide variety sources of food. Knowledge in the intricacies of sailing and making sailboat has led to many people sailed to find a better place for farming. Such preceding of Paleolithic people, they had also used tools made of stone materials but a little bit more advanced.

Every wave of the immigrants was more advanced than the previous. The humans who in a group called Melayu-Polynesia was from the Mongoloid group. They consist of Temiar, Semai, Dayak, Iban, Jakun, Kadazan and Murut. Next century around the years 300 BC, a group of humans known as the Melayu-Deutro had also migrated to Peninsula. This group was more advanced than previous races. They were adept at using the materials of bronze and iron, for hunting and farming tools. Therefore, that time was recognized as the Era of Metal. In addition, they also introduced the technique of rice planting in the peninsula. Aside life relying on agriculture, they also fishing and became the skilled fishermen. They sailed to Malay Archipelago to exchange goods and finding out new experiences. Due to their highly skilled in sailing, almost all the areas of the cluster of islands have been explored. They are the ancestors of the Malays today.

By the evidence of excavations on several historic sites in the peninsula, the archaeologists have encountered some impressions of the Stone Age in human history. It was the time of the beginning of Bronze Civilization that proved the existence of human settlements in the peninsula which has begun since more than 8,000 years ago.

In addition, there are several other placements which more advanced may be driven by a nexus with outside of the region, probably through the trade and so on. Note as to the presence of the earliest settlements in the peninsula is little fuzzy due to have no written record for referencing. However, the history of Peninsula can be seen more clearly from a number of records of foreign notes, including notes from Indian, Chinese, and Arabian sailors. The earlier notes regarding Malay Peninsula were recorded by the Chinese envoys in the 3rd AD, during the reign of Wu Chi a man who had sent a mission to Funan. Several other missions were also sent by the Emperor of China in period after, they were to record the places and data concerning Malay Peninsula. Fa-Hsein's cruise in year 413 AD and some other cruises afterwards recorded by I-Ching. Also, some records wrote by an envoy of Sui's cruise in the 607 AD. So, by all records of the envoys have stated that is, Peninsula was an important stopover.

Apart of the Kedah port which was an important port in the past, there were also other ports in the East Coast of Peninsula. These ports had been used as the important stopover ports. These places were clearly illustrated as in the Malay Peninsula map completed by Ptolemy in the last 2nd AD based on information provided by Indian merchants. The map also indicates two harbors on the east coast that is, Perimoula or Kuala Terengganu and Kole or Kemaman. This note clearly shows that there were other stopovers than Kedah port, which were used as the stopovers by the sailors those who used the route between China and India at that time.

Among the notations explain that the inhabitants in the peninsula had a system of government. This system had been administering the major settlements such as in valleys and in estuaries. The records also describe a belief shared as Animism, Hinduism and Buddhist. Whereas there are recorded intermarriages between the Indian men with some local women as regarded as the earliest days of the Hindu influence in Peninsula. This process continued for some time and reached the highest influence during the government of Sri Vijaya as can be seen in some of the relics in Lembah Bujang in Kedah.

A famous chronology member of China nationality named I-Ching, a man who also was a Buddhist priest had sailed to Nalada in India in year 671 AD. He had stopped at the port of Kedah and visited the surrounding area then known as Kataha. He also recorded the lives in Kedah as described by other sailors. In addition, notes by Chinese sailors that is, Kedah was also mentioned in the notes of Arab sailors. Kedah was named Kalah or Kaah or Kala they knew. It was a city adopting the Hindu culture. An Arabian sailor named Abu Dulaf Misa during his voyage to China in 940 AD explained that Kedah was the end of the voyage from China, and the start of a voyage to the India subcontinent. All cruises amongst two continents stopped off at Kedah port, replenishing supplies while waiting for the shift of monsoon winds.

Position of Malay Peninsula amongst the ancient trading route, particularly from India subcontinent and China was the cause Peninsula as an important transit point for ships especially to replenish the supplying of food and waiting for the monsoon wind shift. Due to the communication system amongst the two areas was only dependent on relationship with a sailing ship powered by wind. Wind of change was important, and Malay Peninsula coincidence is a place of a wind shift between northeast and southwest winds.

By the nature of Peninsula, it became an important stopover. Northeast wind brought traders from China, Siam, Java, and Bugis to Malay Peninsula. Instead, Southwest wind blows in a month of May and brought traders from India subcontinent and Arab Middle East.

Position and trade relations have given opportunity to the peninsula residents to get to know more intimately about culture of India and China. Indian sailors were said to have sailed to Peninsula since the beginning of the ADs era. They had made Peninsula as a place to fill in supplies and awaiting for the monsoon wind shift before continuing their voyage to other places in the east. During in Peninsula, they also searched local trade materials such as gold, spices, and so on that could be traded elsewhere. Eventually, they encountered the new stopovers along the Strait of Malacca. Also through this relationship, many local residents had been exposed to many cultures and religions such as, Hindu and Buddhist. Local residents too, who had helped built many complex of worship as can be seen in Lembah Bujang in Kedah. Certain of these states had directly received the Hindu government. They also adopt custom of Indian culture. Meanwhile, relationship with China also existed in Peninsula and in the North of Borneo.

Apart of the Hindu kingdom in the peninsula, there were also several other Hindu kingdoms such as, The Kingdom of Funan in Cambodia, Government of Sri Vijaya in Sumatra, and The Majapahit Kingdom which dominated in North Borneo. Those governments were often at loggerheads with one another to become a major influence. They also often argued about government stability in the peninsula. However, kingdoms in Peninsula were also able to continue to survive and eventually build one influential power in the region.

By the opening of the city of Malacca in 1403 by Parameswara, a first trade route switched to Malacca. Malacca then became an increasingly important transit point. Many traders stop by at Malacca whether to do business, collecting supplies, or exchange of goods. Malacca fame was as a trading point. Since then, it was prevalent up to limelight of the Chinese government. In 1409, Malacca had received the visitation of representatives of the Emperor of China, led by Muslim admiral. His name is Cheng Ho. In addition, to be strengthening multilateral relations, China also declared Malacca as an independent city. As a result of this understanding, it had also paved the way for Parameswara visiting to China in the year 1411. It was as a reply to some courtesy call government representatives of China before. A courtesy call of Parameswara was quite favourable, in addition, to prove he was as sovereign ruler of Malacca. Thus, Malacca was also given protection by China Government.

Malacca became a developed city and an important trading center in the Asian regions, and was able to attract many traders from China, India and a group of Malay Archipelago came to trade to the area. Chinese traders brought goods such as, sugared, silk, silver, pottery and decorative items. From Malacca they brought back materials such as spices, incense and bird's nest. Traders from India were bringing items such as woven cloth and bringing back local goods from Malacca and goods from China. Also, traders from Java sold their goods such as spears, knives, iron, gold and food.

Compared with the traders from China, the traders from India had profound effects into the local population. This is due, traders from India were not only coming to trade but they introduced the Indian culture to the host. Apart of the Indian literature, they introduced also the religions of Hindu and Buddhist. But at the end of the 13th AD Century, traders from India too, who introduced the religion of Islam to the local population. In the 15th AD century almost the entire populations under the government of Malacca have converted to Islam. Apart of the development of Malacca as the most important trading center in Southeast Asia, various other aspects such as culture; education; and the standard of living had also grown. Bahasa MeIayu had been becoming the lingua-franca in Southeast Asia. The highlight of the greatness of Sultanate of Malacca was reached during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah.

In early 15th AD Century showed some coups and turmoil occurred in Europe. Competition to gain a monopoly of trade with the east had caused dispute effect. It had caused the merchants of Portuguese finding out a way to get trade supplies outright from the east without going through a middleman. The arrivals of Portuguese in the beginning to trade were well received by the local population, but having proven that they had other intentions, there was then a myriad of issues.

In 1511 AD, the Portuguese army attacked in Malacca. Since the fall of Malacca in the hands of the Portuguese, Malacca had no longer safely as it once was. Thereafter, in 1641 the hands of the Portuguese in Malacca then moved to Netherlander forces. Spice trade was a lucrative job in Europe at that time. It also attracted attention for British traders. But, due to the breach of Spain against Portugal, the Port of Lisbon which had been controlling the spice trade was closed to British and Dutch merchants.

Such Dutch, British traders had to find a continuous path in the east and the need to establish a central depot. It forced Francis Light to set foot in Penang and seized the island. The seizure happened in 1786 AD. With craftiness and the agreement were never fulfilled by Francis Light against the Sultan of Kedah, Penang was foreclosed and had been become the property of British. Revolution has led to all ports of Dutch-owned must be submitted to British rule, for a while. In 1795 AD, Malacca was under British rule. By the signing of the treaty between Great Britain and Netherlands, Malacca had to be submitted to the British power, it was in 1824 AD.

Upon completion of the war against French, Dutch tried to dominate the container trading ports. That action worrying the British and another port should be sought to replace the Penang port. In 1819, Stamford Raffles made Singapore as a new trading center. In 1826, Singapore developed into an important trading center in the region. Singapore, Malacca and Penang were merged into the Straits Settlements. This combination was initially intended to preserve the interests of travel and trade with China, but gradually British realized they had stepped into the rule of the Malay states. Since then, British appeared to establish a rule in Malay land. 

The British rule in Malay states had been malfunctioning in their administration be caused a breach of the Japanese army in 1941 AD.. British then left the peninsula and various upheavals occurred during the Japanese rule. It included the rising of communist influence which its ideology tried to oppose the Japanese occupation. 

The Japanese occupation did not last long. By the falling of two atomic bombs onto two main cities of Japan namely Nagasaki and Hiroshima, it forced Japan to back down. The disaster had also led to be ending the war in Malay land.

Once Malay land had recovered, then British came back on September 1945 AD. They tried again to rule over Malay land. Their re-presence to the Malay land faced various obstacles. It included the resistance from the Malay residents who were waking up for frustrating various of the British planning that were created by them for re-conquering over the land. In addition, instability the reign circumstances had been taken opportunity by communists those who tried to rule. Their attempt to seize the power was successfully defeated.

By the end of the emergency period and success of demanded the own rule, finally in the year 1957 Malaya gained independence from British. By careful planning and work harder in our government then the lands of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah have been successfully combined. It was on Sept 16 1963. These lands then were given the name Malaysia. Malaysia has been a sovereign country since August 31 1957.

Peace and stability of economic will be enabling prosperity. Therefore, progress will be attained in various fields. Maybe we can enjoy the progress together. Could it be ?

This article is a compilation of notes in Malay. I then combined them as the writings in English. Also, I submitted some thoughts. This article is presented via my way. There may be parts of the writings that cause dear readers confused, yet submission of suchlike writings is inadvertent. If it happened too, it was not my intention. So, I beg forgiveness so much.