The Malay Traditional Boat: Defending Malay Heritage Objects in Kelantan, East Coast of the Malaysian Peninsula

Abstract

All nations have their own historical heritage and artifacts as proof of their glory and achievements. The cultural heritage of the coastal community in the Malay World is one of its highest achievements. The development of boat-making technology and navigation by the stars have been recognized by many local and foreign scholars as contributing to the advancement of humankind. The creation of various types of boats in the Malay World has also attracted the attention of many Western scholars who study these traditional boats. This article attempts to rediscover the precious Malay historical heritage of the East Coast, the Malay traditional boat, by connecting research conducted by Smyth, Gibson-Hill, Masengi and Shibata and that of other renowned scholars who carried out studies by recording information on traditional Malay boats on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. However, the recordings made by previous researchers were done at a time when traditional boat findings were few, and these were not in perfect condition. The discovery of only four traditional boat types in seven different locations suggests that the Malay heritage—which was once the glory of the Malays—has been forgotten.