Origins of Hang Tuah: Lesson to learn
I received several emails regarding the origins of Hang Tuah which facinated me in the process. Originally I thought that it was another one of those pranks that seems to circulate into my mailbox. As I searched the internet, I realise the complexity of these issues and the basis of such information.
I used to study in the history books about Hang Tuah, a now disputed Malay warrior of the Melaka Sultanate. His allegiance to the Sultan was unwavering that he eventually killed his comrade, Hang Jebat after he reneged on the Sultan. Thus Hang Tuah was a model Malay warrior. Well, at least, that is what was taught or at least recorded in the Hikayat Melayu.
Interestingly, there is now debate as to the origins of Hang Tuah. Was he actually a Malay? Or was he a Chinese or Javanese? Much of this is still disputable from my readings. However, the evidence is growing stronger that he was indeed NOT a Malay.
Shockingly, the Ministry of Education has purportedly removed this topic from the history syllabus in schools. Why? Was it not part of history, regardless of the origins of Hang Tuah? They could have been frank about the disputes on his background, although his identity was definitely that of a warrior to protect the Melaka Sultanate. Is it not what history should all be about?
Or did they feel that it will dent the shouts of 'Malay superiority'?
One thing is certain that makes Malaysia unique. The races in this country are so intertwined over the centuries that racial backgrounds are blurred. The allegiance of the Chinese to Malaysia is unquestionable over the centuries. Even the other races have contributed enormously to the richness in Malaysian history. Without which, Malaysia could not have been what she is today.
The moral of the Hang Tuah dispute should be that Malaysians are here for the country, to protect and defend if the needs do arise. Therefore racial squabbles and racists remarks smacks of disrespect to Malaysia and her history. It equates treason.
The Ministry of Education should not remove this important part of history. It does not make the Malays any less respectable but in contrary reflects the forward thinking of the Melaka Sultans at that time, when the West was still shrouded with racism.
Additional reading here.
I used to study in the history books about Hang Tuah, a now disputed Malay warrior of the Melaka Sultanate. His allegiance to the Sultan was unwavering that he eventually killed his comrade, Hang Jebat after he reneged on the Sultan. Thus Hang Tuah was a model Malay warrior. Well, at least, that is what was taught or at least recorded in the Hikayat Melayu.
Interestingly, there is now debate as to the origins of Hang Tuah. Was he actually a Malay? Or was he a Chinese or Javanese? Much of this is still disputable from my readings. However, the evidence is growing stronger that he was indeed NOT a Malay.
Shockingly, the Ministry of Education has purportedly removed this topic from the history syllabus in schools. Why? Was it not part of history, regardless of the origins of Hang Tuah? They could have been frank about the disputes on his background, although his identity was definitely that of a warrior to protect the Melaka Sultanate. Is it not what history should all be about?
Or did they feel that it will dent the shouts of 'Malay superiority'?
One thing is certain that makes Malaysia unique. The races in this country are so intertwined over the centuries that racial backgrounds are blurred. The allegiance of the Chinese to Malaysia is unquestionable over the centuries. Even the other races have contributed enormously to the richness in Malaysian history. Without which, Malaysia could not have been what she is today.
The moral of the Hang Tuah dispute should be that Malaysians are here for the country, to protect and defend if the needs do arise. Therefore racial squabbles and racists remarks smacks of disrespect to Malaysia and her history. It equates treason.
The Ministry of Education should not remove this important part of history. It does not make the Malays any less respectable but in contrary reflects the forward thinking of the Melaka Sultans at that time, when the West was still shrouded with racism.
Additional reading here.
8 Comments:
Although I am a Malay, recently I believe that Hang Tuah was not a Malay. It may be hard for the Malays to swallow this fact but sometimes history are like this. His name alone was so much different compared to the others during the Malacca sultanate.
(What's written below should be read with a big smile)
And what exactly makes a Malay?
My great-great maternal grandfather is a Muslim Chinese trader who came to Sumatra from Xinjiang, my paternal great-grandfather is a Yemeni Arab...I'm married to man whose father is an Old Klang Road Chinese..and mother a Gombak Chinese-Malay... and these all, according to the Constitution, makes my children Malays... :)
It is human nature to 'pack and label' everything and everyone. Anyone or anything that has no packaging or labels, no matter who they are and which ethnicity they belong to, are deemed as nobody and has no place in this society. No matter how much freedom of speech we have or the freedom to-do-whatever-we-want-to-do given to us, this social fact is something that we shall never have liberty from. It is after all written in the Constitution.
Because of my family's diverse 'rojak blood' when I walk up to a fellow citizen I see/address her/him as a Malaysian first. But alas, I find that most of my fellow citizens cannot see beyond my color, ethnicity and religious views (a familliar theme, eh?).
I don't care if Hang Tuah is a Chinese or a Malay...the most important thing is that he is the symbol of the Asian spirit caught in the political turbulence of the period(Hang Tuah was the Asian Renaissance Man...he is not just a warrior, he is a scholar, a diplomat, a linguist, a tactician, a politician and more)he is willing to sacrifice his own friend for the sake of peace in the Kingdom (not for the foolish Sultan as popularly believed by many, because I do believe that Hang Tuah saw the Sultan as a foolish, self-centred man, but had his hands tied because of the current socio-political system and structure where the King is the absolute locus of power)...
Anyway, before we start examining Hang Tuah's origin, why not start with ours? It's fun and and may let the steam off the racial stress that is very much plaguing our society today.
Maybe we can take turns being Chinese, Malays or Indians for a day just to get the feel how it is to be in another's shoe...? Anyone game enough for this?
Anyway, please read up on the Human Genome Diversity Project or Dr. Spencer Wells' NGS Genographic Project...one will become quite humbled by the findings of these projects...you can even get your dna analyzed, a very blonde and pale Scandinavian friend of mine was quite surprised to find that he has traces of African genes in him!
Meanwhile, I am in the process of socializing my kids that they are Malaysian Muslim Malays who have Chinese, Arab and Malay blood in them...and the eldest had just asked me the 'cepu-mas' question...Why am I a Malay and why is Grandpa a Chinese? :) Help me anyone?
Interesante, yo cotizaciуn en mi sitio mбs tarde.
[url=http://www.affhtf.com/]Dolly[/url]
Even in China, there are some foreigners serving the emperors, e.g Matteo Ricci an Italian Jesuit priest serving the Ming Emperor. Matteo, an Italian,had influenced not only China but also Japan and Korea with his knowledge in astronomy, mathematics and geography. Marco Polo also contributed his knowledge to the Chinese during the Yuan Dynasty. In fact, during the Yuan dynasty, the Mongolian brought many Muslim scholars to serve their government. If I have not mistaken, almost half of the population of Xian, an ancient capital of China, are presently still Muslim.
Its nice to see so many positive comments, but sometimes, I feel our government is using religion and race to hide its true agenda.
Sometimes I even feel as if I'm leaving in a communist country instead of a democracy one. Why can't we live in peace like the Americans? They have people of all sorts of colours in their government system, Africans, Caucasian, Asian...practically the whole world.
Honestly, if this government system goes on like this, we will all going to die before the world ends.
When I studied at University that time we were force to study Tamadun Islam as one of the subject totally not related and no need in our degree course. All things which is invented and great achievement by those who embrace Islam as their religion is consider as the history of the Tamadun Islam which I view it as not too correct. If we were to view it in that way, then KFC should be consider inside the Tamadun Kristian because it was invented by a Christian?
There is a lot of dispute on things around. Just because Hang Tuah is a Chinese originate, he is still a warrior that contribute to the nation and should be remembered. History should not be written based on people's interest but based on facts even if it is not so good to be remembered as of May 13.
When I studied at University that time we were force to study Tamadun Islam as one of the subject totally not related and no need in our degree course. All things which is invented and great achievement by those who embrace Islam as their religion is consider as the history of the Tamadun Islam which I view it as not too correct. If we were to view it in that way, then KFC should be consider inside the Tamadun Kristian because it was invented by a Christian?
There is a lot of dispute on things around. Just because Hang Tuah is a Chinese originate, he is still a warrior that contribute to the nation and should be remembered. History should not be written based on people's interest but based on facts even if it is not so good to be remembered as of May 13.
Read this page and if you could find other excuses... http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100813010239AAxXVWS
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