Melaka to work with Dutch to conduct Hang Tuah research

MELAKA: The state government will form a special working committee with the Netherlands to research historical records, artefacts and heritage-related aspects of the Melaka Sultanate, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Ab Rauf said this matter was among key collaborations discussed during a visit by delegates from the Melaka government to The Hague, Netherlands, to research the history behind the fabled Malay warrior Hang Tuah.

The Dutch ruled Melaka from 1641 to 1825 and among the structures they left behind is the Red Square, which hosts the landmark Stadthuys building.

Ab Rauf also met the Malaysian ambassador to the Netherlands Roseli Abdul, who helped to seal a memorandum between stakeholders in the state and Leiden University in the Netherlands, to explore the facts behind Hang Tuah.

Ab Rauf said his delegation also discussed strengthening bilateral ties between Melaka and the Netherlands.

“The state also focused on investment and trade opportunities during the discussion.

“In addition, Roseli was informed that some 70,000 Dutch tourists had arrived in Melaka throughout 2023,” he added.

Ab Rauf’s media statement on his visit to Netherlands was updated by his officials from the Chief Minister’s Office yesterday.

Apart from Ab Rauf, the delegates to The Hague included Melaka tourism, heritage, art and culture committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman and state rural development, agriculture and food security committee chairman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

On March 6, Ab Rauf said the state government would bring back artefacts and documents related to Hang Tuah from various countries to be displayed this year in conjunction with Visit Melaka Year 2024.

He said the state government had previously conducted a research mission to several countries in Europe and Asia to prove the existence of Hang Tuah.

“The artefacts found during the mission include the world’s oldest Hang Tuah Tale manuscript dating back to 1758 and the Hikayat Hang Tuah, which was translated into several foreign languages at the Leiden University,” he said.

Ab Rauf said the Peca de Malaca, a cannon given by the Indian King to the Sultan of Melaka when he resisted the Portuguese attack, is now in the Lisbao Military Museum in Portugal.