MELAKA: The Hikayat Hang Tuah: Ampun Tuanku Titah Dijunjung theatre’s final curtain fell to thunderous applause from the audience on July 1.
The musical theatre, held here, was part of efforts by the state government to honour the legendary Malay warrior Hang Tuah.
Despite extensive documentation in several famous historical records, the son of Dang Merdu Wati and Hang@Tun Mahmud, born around 1431 in Sungai Duyong, has long been considered a myth.
His roles included serving as Laksamana or Admiral during the reigns of four Melaka Rulers: Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1446-1456), Sultan Mansur Shah (1456-1477), Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah (1477-1488) and Sultan Mahmud Shah (1488-1511).
To reinforce the history of this legend, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has appointed 10 researchers and historians from various local universities to complete research to affirm Hang Tuah’s existence through new sources collected from 22 countries in 20 world languages, Bernama reported.
Following the identification of new, unexplored sources and the discovery of numerous treasures and artefacts still preserved in nations like Japan, India, Portugal, Turkiye, China, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand, several members of the research group took action.
Ab Rauf said misconceptions, including claims that Hang Tuah’s history is a myth, must be corrected.
He is determined to bring back documents and artefacts related to the renowned warrior to Melaka and display them to the public.
Among the significant evidence being collected and documented are the Keris Lok 9 and the official records of the “Rekidai Hoan” from the Ryukyu Kingdom at the Okinawa Archaeology Centre in Japan, which contain 19 letters from the Ryukyu Kingdom to the Melaka government and 11 letters from the Melaka government around 1480, some of which mention “Admiral Hang Tuah”.
Chief researcher of the Hang Tuah study and Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Islam Melaka, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Taib Dora, said the Malay community in the Nusantara region generally accepts Hang Tuah’s existence, unlike a few who regard him as a myth.
Therefore, a comprehensive study and collection of evidence from international scholars will be necessary.
“The so-called new sources refer to materials or findings that previous researchers have not fully analysed, such as the unexamined manuscript of Hikayat Hang Tuah, burial sites, and weapons such as keris.
“We need to gather, study, and document all these materials using the best methods to correct facts and reject the myth.”
Taking examples from three main narratives – Hikayat Hang Tuah, Sulalatus Salatin and Tuhfat al-Nafis – Mohd Taib said they all agree on Hang Tuah’s origin, family lineage, positions, voyages and burial details.
“From these findings, we agree that Hang Tuah’s existence is clear and can be proven through studies in the mentioned locations.
“Moreover, his role as an admiral and diplomat brought him to various countries like India, China and Majapahit, with records indicating that Hang Tuah was fluent in at least 10 languages,” he said.
Mohd Taib said the research team was fortunate to receive excellent cooperation from various parties, including Malaysian embassies abroad.
“We also received assistance from the Leiden University Library, the British Library, the Royal Asiatic Society and the National Archives of Turkiye,” he said, adding that Indonesia, India, and Japan had also cooperated in finding evidence of Hang Tuah’s existence.
He suggested creatively adapting the research and discussions from the recent International Symposium on Hang Tuah Research 2024 using modern technology and other platforms like comics, social media, documentaries, films and theatre.
“Programmes like Jejak Hang Tuah can begin from where Hang Tuah was born and trace his steps from Melaka to Bintan, Indonesia, highlighting Hang Tuah not just as a Malaysian but as a regional and world figure,” he said.
