WHY CAN'T FIND A WRECKAGE OF MALAY GIGANTIC SHIP AS IT WAS TOLD IN HISTORY

SOURCE: SUNGAI BATU 788 BC: THE GREAT KINGCOM OF KEDAH TUA

The common question asked, why we can't find a wreckage of Malay gigantic ship as it was told in the history. The Chinese recorded that Malay ships as large as more than 60 metre length and could accomodate more than 700 passengers or 500 - 1000 tons of load. The Portuguese records that the Malay ship, (probably Mendam Berahi) was so huge that made theirs so tiny.

So, where is the evidence ?

As for now, there is none. But let see what was happened.

When Portuguese invaded and conquered Malacca, what was actually they have control in total ? They did not control every inch of Malacca territorry, but once they had replaced the ruling power of Malacca port, they were in total control of Malacca water and strait.

Once Malacca Straits in their hand, they control the entire maritime power, trade supply chain, logistic, taxes, traffic, feeder port, commodity and it sources.

It was like the Arab Prince took control Manchester City FC, he had total control in every revenues and business affairs of the club.

Although Portuguese have control the Malacca port, the trade among the locals run as usual. The exchanging of commodity and trades were not really disrupted. The invaders still relied on the local traders and feeder ports operator to ensure the invasion served its purpose, which is controlling the entire trade supply chain especially the spices, aromatic stuff and other luxurious local commodities. The invaders still need to maintained the relationship with regional and foreign traders.

But slowly and steadily the colonial, Portuguese, Dutch and British have reduced the roles played by the local traders in order to dominate and manipulate the resources. Among the slick tactics they impose was by restricting the size and capacity of the local traders ship or better known as perahu. Perahu is ship while Jong is very large ship for long haul trade. The smaller the ships, the better for the colonials because competition among the locals will benefit the colonial master and eliminating the local tycoon's influence in systematic way. It was said that, the route to Spice Island or Moluccas Island were kept secret by the local, until Malacca fell, then only the colonial got to know how to reach there.

By controlling the ports, strait, trade and maritime law, they are the Jabatan Laut as it is now, that posses the power to impose law and even burnt the ships that violating the law. Knowing the supreme knowledge of the Malays in building a large ship, it also meant a naval threat to the colonials. By restricting only a small size ships allowed to enter the Malacca water and ports, these will protect them from any ambush by other regional kingdoms, and these could be the major reason why they impose such law. And for 400 years the Malay shipbuilders have to obey, succumb and oppressed by the law sets by the colonial power and for 400 years the ability and skill of building large trading Jong were reduced and eroded. Although others in this region able to build a large Jong, but who is willing to invest if the Jong was not allowed to enter Malacca port.

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22/12/2024: 11.09 p.m