Origin

I am writing this article to address one particular matter, especially in light of the state election in Malacca. It concerns historical context and how we Malaysians should understand our history. This is an extremely important part of Malaysia’s DNA and identity, as history can help a nation stay strong and united, or it can also easily break a nation apart. It is usually easier to hold everyone together when you have an almost identical, homogeneous ethnic group within a nation, such as, let’s say, the Japanese in Japan or the Romans in Italy. But it’s much harder to build a historical narrative or context when you talk about the United States, or even a continent like Africa.

But as a nation moving forward progressively and confidently, Malaysia needs a strong, consistent narrative that external influences cannot dilute or distort. It must be a historical context and narrative supported not only by empirical journals or essays, but also by logical theories backed by evidence through various means, including language, culture, geography, food, skills, songs, folklore, laws, adat, and more. Reviving Malaysia’s true historical narrative must also consider evidence through the lenses of other nations, not just Western perspectives. China, for example, has already portrayed its former glorious civilization as far greater than Western civilization, since it has made breakthroughs in modern civilization itself, including the economy, technology, and manufacturing, not to mention the military and politics.

If we watch Chinese-made movies about the so-called historical dynasties, no one would dare defy them or ask for evidence of battles or wars with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and sophisticated weapons, because the narrative (about China’s military might in the movies) has already become the norm. The masses accept this because they see real evidence of China’s achievements in the post-WWII era and in the modernization of its current communist state. Even the United States and Western critics never dare to question it, because they lack the guts to challenge the sensible Chinese logic behind these movies they have orchestrated. It doesn’t matter whether the movies portray old Chinese civilization as producing heroes who can fly, destroy thick brick walls with their bare hands, or vanish into thin air; what matters the most is who made those claims.

These nonsensical claims usually rest on the logic that if present-day China is so great and mighty, and its scientists can imitate technological wonders, we should also accept that all Chinese dynasties in the past had similar technological advantages compared to other civilizations, including the West. It is also a waste of our energy to contest any historical findings from Chinese universities or historians, as the simple logic would say: “It does make sense for China to claim anything they like about themselves, because they know their history better than anyone else, as it is all written in their languages, well kept in their libraries, and we can still see these historical buildings remain intact in various places within China, such as the Great Wall of China.”

In contrast, consider other nations with limited historical evidence that still manage to shape their historical narratives. Let’s take a good look at Scandinavian countries, which use Vikingdom as their narrative. What real evidence do they have that the Vikings were so great that they were cultured enough to create a mighty kingdom? If we read their histories, it’s hard to balance reality, hypothesis, and folklore, because the winners can claim all they want, including that they were descendants of the immortals. Still, only a bigger winner can counter-claim these illogical narratives. The only reason no one can counter their historical narrative is that no nation outside Europe has ever been there and conquered their territories except Europe itself. There was no reason for Asians to go there and conquer their lands, because they already have vast resources and lands for themselves here, such as spices and minerals. Our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir, once said that “Europeans are a war-mongering race and that they like to go to war for resources and lands, and they always create issues against one another because they are actually addicted to going to war.” He said something like that, and I can still remember the essence of it.

So, in Southeast Asia, unfortunately, most ancient kingdoms or nations have tasted the bitterness of colonialism by Europeans or fascist regimes in Asia, except for Thailand. There are many reasons Thailand was spared, but the most important is that Thailand, or Siam, was regarded as a “neutral party” in the region, with no relationship whatsoever to Europe’s enemies at that time, such as the Arabs and the Ottomans. This was not necessarily because they were much stronger than the Malays or Indonesians per se, but because of geopolitical relationships and alliances at that specific point in the historical timeline. They also acted as “a thorn in the flesh” by feeding strategic information to the enemies of the Malays and Indonesians (or historically, Nusantara) whenever they had the opportunity, because before the era of colonialism, the Nusantara kingdoms were seen as the wealthiest and mightiest collective establishments in Southeast Asia, with a strong reputation and alliances with China, India, and the Muslim world. They saw these kingdoms as a constant threat and competition.

Thailand and its sphere of influence always knew that neutrality was the safest path, especially in a chaotic and turbulent world. Similarly, during WWII, Thailand chose not to support or back anyone and remained neutral. Still, the Malay archipelago, where most of its territories were under British influence and those that were independent, like Johor, who were seen as British or Western allies, became an easy target for opponents of the British Empire and its allies. Being a neutral party like the Kingdom of Siam can be a safer way to survive, but the world will see you as unprincipled and a coward; as simple as that. At least, historically, we can confidently say that the Malays have always been principled, standing up for what is right, especially standing against aggressors or occupiers of their territories, lands, and resources, despite sitting on one of the most lucrative and strategic areas in the world.

So, let us dive into the debate about the history of Malays and Nusantara. Historians are divided over the most important elements, mainly because evidence is very limited. Only certain artifacts or excavation sites remain for archaeological study, such as places of worship, graveyards, posts or bases, and perhaps some literature written on stones that are well-kept in the libraries of former colonial powers. Yet who cares about the history of the Malays enough to study it or even narrate it truthfully? Even if anyone cares, will you be granted billions of dollars if you wish to bring a testament to the world that the Malays were once a dignified and civilized race or nation? No one cares. Rather, better for them to care about the history of Jews or Israel, because, even when they are a minority in number, they still control the world through various means, especially in the world’s financial systems.

This is very true. Many nations are neglected and left behind, including the nations of Africa. They have been seen as the outcasts of the world or, worse, the degraded race that was once taken over as enslaved people and sold to their masters in Europe and other parts of the Western world. It is all because of their skin color and also because they were lost in the battles or wars trying to defend their territories, or were unwilling to negotiate wisely and let the greedy colonialists of the past take away their resources. As a result, they cannot restore the historical glories of the golden era of the Mali Empire, Songhai Empire, Ghana Empire, Kingdom of Kongo, Benin Kingdom, Ife Empire, Great Zimbabwe, and the Ethiopian Empire. Why do we not normally hear about these empires or kingdoms, you might ask? The main reason is that they cannot provide concrete evidence of their nation’s current state as modern and civilized; as a result, the world questions their right to claim that they were once a great nation.

But being a black person does not mean that they cannot perform as competently as a white person. An Asian can also be as capable or competitive as any Western person. Someone else’s brain is the same as mine; the only differences are perhaps the food we eat, the worldview we grow up with, and the opportunities we are given throughout our lives.

We need to put a stop to any negative perception towards any race, just because they profess certain beliefs or because of their skin color. What matters to me is whether they behave like a dignified person, follow the rule of law, act justly and fairly, are humane, are principled, and want to unlearn and relearn for the betterment of the world. If immigrants in Europe behave, follow the rule of law, learn, become intellectuals, contribute to society, and improve their way of life, they too should be given a chance to be part of Western society. This concept should apply everywhere, including in Malaysia.

Consider Prof. Dr. Solehah, who is being criticized for claiming that the Malays were once a great race and civilization, and also the descendants of Prophet Abraham through the marriage with Qanturah. The most controversial point she made is that the Malays were never a pagan race and always believed in the oneness of God (or Tauhid or Hanif in Arabic). Because of this strong narrative about the oneness of God and that Malays were never pagans before Islam, all of a sudden, her other claims about Malay history, such as that the old Malay civilization was excellent at seafaring, skilled in shipbuilding, and able to use steel and its technologies, were also being trashed out and ridiculed. Her other claims have also been ridiculed and rejected as foolish or, worse, as mere hoaxes to make the Malays look greater without any empirical basis. The idea that the Malays were originally believers in the oneness of God is so hurtful and damaging to some kiasu historians, especially those who believe that this part of the world has always been the center point of Hinduism and Buddhism.

If the Malays are now Muslims, why can’t the Malays decide what should be the most sensible history for themselves? I can also say that all humankind once came from Adam and Eve, and all of them believed in One True God, Allah the Almighty. All religions other than the concept of monotheism are just inventions or ideas fused by the unseen worlds or by Satan and the Jinn. Will that make me an idiot just because I make that claim based on my belief?

Obviously, scientists might say that engineering requires a fundamental mathematical model with reliable data points and statistics. However, historians can claim all they want about what happened in the past, and only God knows what really happened, especially hundreds or thousands of years ago. Even with huge monuments such as the pyramids or the Great Wall of China, historians still disagree and debate the real stories behind those structures. For example, historians who study the pyramids can claim many things because Muslim historians can refer to the Quran, Jewish historians to the Torah, and British historians to artifacts. None of them knows for certain the real stories of who built the pyramids and why, because the evidence is scattered. They can’t possibly know Egypt’s history with certainty; they can only narrate it with a certain percentage of confidence. Perhaps they know certain specific stories with certainty, such as the Muslims and Jews who believe that Moses crossed the sea miraculously with divine intervention. Yet other historians believe it never happened, because their way of looking at history is rather different from the way the Abrahamic faith scholars, i.e., the Muslim, Christians, and Jews, look at history.

So, if you ask me about the history of Malays, I must always include their Islamic beliefs as part of that history. Consider the place of worship, for example. We all know that Mecca is the place of worship of Muslims. It is the holiest and most sacred site for Muslims. But even the Kaaba and the areas surrounding it were defiled by paganism before the era of Islam, despite being built by Prophet Abraham; so what more about places beyond the Kaaba? So, just looking at historical archaeological buildings with statues does not prove that the people who live around that area also believe the same thing as the people who built the statue. Prophet Abraham’s father was the mason who carved statues for King Namrod, but he never believed what his father believed.

In Uttar Pradesh, India, for example, the main reason the Taj Mahal still stands where it is today is that it is not “a place of worship”; rather, it is a very expensive structure built over the grave of someone the great king loved so much. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the mausoleum to remember his beloved wife, and because of that message, no one dared to destroy the building; instead, they claimed it as one of the miracles of the world. But if we look at other structures, such as the temples and mosques, the people in India kept destroying each other’s places of worship, just because they wanted to prove their own points about their status in India. That is in India, I tell you.

But we are now in Malaysia and Nusantara. We are not in India.

In Malaysia, we can now be almost 100 percent sure this geographical place was once a trading hub where many civilizations of the world converged for business, trade, cultural exchange, manufacturing, fishing, farming, and more. This is not only logical but also empirically supported by various scholarly publications and essays. It does not matter whether those publications were found in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Turkey, China, or Malaysia itself. Still, we can all agree that Malaysia, Nusantara, or anywhere in that region used to be where people around the world met and did business together. There’s no doubt about that.

So, was this place the same as Mecca before? No. Not the same at all. We will never find any mention of Nusantara or Malays in any holy books of Abrahamic religions. How about other religions? They don’t mention Nusantara specifically either. Does that mean that the Malays never existed? That’s a very good question, because it leads to other important questions.

That is why we also need to understand the difference between ethnicity and a nation. The term Malays has been closely, though uniquely, tied to the religion of Islam. If you go to Indonesia, you will never find any Malays who are not Muslims. I am one hundred percent sure that the Malays in Nusantara are Muslims. If you go to Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Africa, or anywhere in the world, the Malays are all Muslims. Why? Even if you think that they are not because of their practice or looks, the moment they admit that they are Malays, they will definitely also be Muslims.

Why are the Christian Filipinos not also called the Malays? Don’t they all look the same? How about the people of Bali? Why do you call them Balinese? Don’t they look the same as Indonesians in Sumatra, Java, or Riau? Even if there’s any case in the past where a Malay decided to convert and become a murtad or leave Islam. That person would never call themselves Malay anymore. So, we must first define a Malay before we can better understand the origin and history of Malays. If we cannot fully understand that first step, to understand “who is Malay?”, we will face many other confusions during discussions about Malay history.

Because of this confusion, many historians struggle to uncover “the truths” about the Malays. This is because the definition of Malays has already become intertwined with the belief in Islam, or believing in and submitting to the Oneness of God, the true God Almighty, the Lord of the Worlds.

Consider the history of Arabs, before and after the Islamic period. The Islamic period began when Prophet Muhammad PBUH received divine revelation from God, the One and Only True God of the Worlds. Before that period, Arabs lived in an ignorant age, worshipping statues as pagans or idol worshippers. But before that, other prophets brought them the message of God’s oneness, such as Abraham PBUH and Ishmael PBUH, when they built the Kaaba in Mecca. The Arabs were not yet called Muslims during Abraham’s time; they were called Arab Nomads who traveled from one oasis to another.

The same goes for the descendants of the Sons of Israel, descendants of Prophet Jacob PBUH, because God gave Prophet Jacob another name: Israel. So, there is actually no difference in terms of faith between the descendants of Israel or the Jews and the descendants of Ishmael, or the Arabs. The only difference is that they look slightly different because of their place of origin and the surrounding areas between these two great nations. One nation originally settled in Greater Syria, and the other in Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula, before many events unfolded later in history.

But of course, the Middle East’s history revolves around Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, but the world’s overall history is more than those stories. There are many views about other beliefs, and many Muslim scholars believe that they, too, once believed in the Oneness of God, but then the followers of the prophets went astray and adopted paganism or, worse, even worshipped Satan and jinns. Otherwise, the idea of heaven and hell would never have been the same across all beliefs we found on this planet, regardless of where they are from, except for atheism and Darwinism.

Looking back, the history of Malays must first be structured around the context of beliefs. We must first debate and eventually conclude that the Malays were the Nusantaran people who have professed belief in the Oneness of God since time immemorial. There are probably some minorities who were not Hanifans (the believers of One True God), but we know that there are those groups of people on the planet who have had those beliefs since the time of Adam and Eve, until today. If anyone tries to doubt that and is trying to deny that fact, they are the enemies of the Abrahamic religion or believers of the One True God because only Abrahamic believers understand the truth about Adam and Eve and continue to believe in that story.

History is meaningless if you don’t “believe” the story we heard from historians. It just gives us nothing except knowledge and pride. But “history with faith” will eventually help a nation thrive, stand on its own, and become stronger as it seeks to please its master, the Lord of the Worlds. The only people who have less motivation to relook at history are the atheists, whose only motivation is perhaps to disprove the findings of other nations with faiths, especially the Abrahamic religion followers.

And the best way to do that is to ensure that the followers of Abrahamic faiths will never find peace amongst themselves, and keep fighting until they kill each other and become extinct. They will also make them forget their duty to the Lord of the Worlds through greed, obsession with power, and sinful acts. They want us to fight and kill each other until we are all extinct. So, what’s left in the world are those so-called “immortal gods” living in the unseen world as Satans and Jinns. That is their hope, and they hope that this “immortal god,” or “dajjal,” who can live among humans or in human form, will soon emerge and save them from this mortal world. May the One True God, the Lord of the Worlds, save us from this imminent threat.