April 2025 - Malay Sultanates
Malay Sultanates: History and Royal Matters
On Wednesday 9th April, 20 of us sat engrossed listening to Nadge Ariffin talk on Malay Sultanates. Nadge, of paternal Javanese royal descent with maternal Qing Dynasty blood, whose family hails from Perak was born in Kuala Lumpur. Nadge wears many hats – architect, historian, heritage guide and speaker. He’s especially passionate about Malaysia both ancient and modern.
For as long as history can trace, the Malay peoples of Southeast Asia have organised their socio-territorial governance under royal and/or noble systems. In Malaysia, this system has remained essentially intact and functional, despite over two thousand years of local and foreign influences, including those from India, the Middle East, and colonial powers. Even in regions without royals, self-proclaimed royalty was revered, such as in Sarawak under the White Rajah Brooke.
One interesting aspect of the Malay Sultanates is how they were interconnected in the region. Around 15,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower than it is today. The Straits of Malacca did not exist, and what is now the Straits was once an entire river valley. Early kingdoms that existed around 300 AD included Pan Pan (now Kelantan), Bruas (now Perak), and Kedah.
The various Malay Sultanates were Southeast Asian kingdoms located in the Malay Archipelago, covering parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and southern Thailand. As with the Indochinese kingdoms, they were initially influenced by Indian Hindu-Buddhist culture. They played a key role in shaping local political structures, encouraging trade, especially along maritime routes, and eventually in spreading Islam in maritime Southeast Asia.
The Malay Sultanates were primarily trading empires rather than military ones. Unlike military empires, which often built castles to defend their realm, the Malay Sultanates had royal residences made of timber. Traditional Malay houses were built of interlocking wood for fast assembly and disassembly, requiring no nails, making it easy to relocate them, as with Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman on BWM’s grounds. Their architecture (especially mosques) and culture were transformed by Islam, which was brought by Muslim traders from Arabia, Persia and India.
East Malaysia: Sabah and Sarawak did not have sultans. Western Sabah was under the rule of Brunei, while eastern Sabah was once controlled by the Sultanate of Sulu.
Kelantan: in the 4th century AD was known as Pan Pan. A notable female ruler, Cik Siti Wan Kembang, has her coinage design featured on the current Ringgit notes with the symbol of the barking deer.
Kedah: is the oldest sultanate, bordering today’s southern Thailand (where Pattani was also a Malay Sultanate). The Kedah Sultanate was established in 1136 AD, when it was Islamised. Kedah’s Bujang Valley is one of Malaysia’s early built archaeological sites, from the 4th century, with remains of temples heavily influenced by Indian culture. Recently, a new site was discovered in Sungai Batu, with ruins of brick structures predating the Sultanate to as far back as 788 BC, known as the Old Kedah Kingdom.
The Malacca Sultanate: established around 1400 after the decline of the Srivijaya Empire, became a major centre for trade, culture and Islam. Founded by Parameswara, Malacca became a key port connecting China, India, and Arabia. The Sultanate is notable for three key reasons:
- Malay became standardised and entrenched as the main language of maritime Southeast Asia through Malacca’s extensive trading empire.
- Malacca became the centre for the promotion of Islam across the region.
- The administrative system was set up with a ruler (Sultan), his Bendahara (prime minister), and a ‘cabinet’ of ministers (Melaka needed just four), and a hierarchy of other administrators; a basic system that is still used in Malaysia today.
Perak: is a direct descendant of Malacca, founded by a Malaccan prince in 1528 AD.
Selangor: was established in 1766 by Bugis princes whose ancestors had fled back to Sulawesi after the fall of Malacca, and the descendants returned to the Malay Peninsula.
Perlis: is the youngest Sultanate, carved out of Kedah in 1840.
Negeri Sembilan: The Minangkabau people, originally from West Sumatra, came to Negeri Sembilan, where they intermarried with the Orang Asli of the area. The Minangkabau were primarily farmers, also known for their merantau (migratory) and entrepreneurial spirit.
Colonial Impact: In 1511, the Portuguese conquered Malacca, weakening the Sultanate, but the Malacca Empire continued from Johor. Penang was established by Francis Light as a trading post. Light convinced the Sultan of Kedah to cede Penang to the British for military protection from Siamese attacks. Under British rule, the nine Malay States were Protectorates, while the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore) were under direct British control.
Royal Matters:
1.The Sultan’s Role: The Sultan serves as both a political and religious leader, supported by councils of nobility or religious figures. The term Daulat Tuanku originates from Arabic “daulah” and refers to a sacred covenant that rulers must uphold to ensure the wellbeing of their citizens.
- Legitimacy & Titles: Royal legitimacy was tied to divine right and ancestry, variously traced back to Iskandar Zulkarnain or the Prophet Muhammad’s family lineage. Intermarriage is common for socio-political alliances.
- Islam’s Role: Islam influenced governance and law, with the Sultan serving as the Defender of the Faith, supporting mosques and Islamic education.
- Ceremonies & Court Culture: Yellow is the royal colour. In Malaysia, there are no coronations. Instead, a Sultan is installed and reads an oath. The nine rulers take turns to serve as the Agong (King of Malaysia) for a five-year term, in order of seniority. If the government falls, the Agong steps in until a new government is formed.
Malaysia Today:
The Malay Sultanates played a crucial role in Southeast Asia’s development, particularly in spreading Islam. Although their direct political influence is no longer absolute, they remain significant cultural symbols today.
Malaysia is a Federation with Constitutional Monarchy. All the royals are located in the states of Peninsular Malaysia. Of the nine states that have royal houses, seven have Sultans, while Perlis has a Raja and Negeri Sembilan has a Yam Tuan Besar; all are of equal status.
Reported thanks to Nisha Dobberstein with many thanks to Nadge Ariffin.
