Abstract
ABSTRACTThe legend of Hang Tuah plays a prominent role in the official Malay-centric history of Malaysia. Hang Tuah, a warrior of the 15th-century Malaccan royal court, represents the perfect Malay subject and, to this day, continues to be an icon for Malay nationalism. In the cybersphere, there are heated discussions of an alleged government conspiracy to conceal the ‘true’ identity of this Malay folk hero. According to a myth circulating in the cybersphere, DNA analysis of ancient graves revealed that Hang Tuah was actually Chinese. This article examines the significance of this cybermyth, situating the phenomenon within the current context and political discourse. I explore how the myth of the Chinese Hang Tuah has created an entry point and space for discussions on issues such as rights, belonging and entitlement that are otherwise not available in the public sphere. I suggest in circulating and debating this myth, the public is reinterpreting a multicultural Hang Tuah and participating in an act of history making.
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