MELAKA: Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh (pic) is unfazed by criticisms of the state’s efforts to honour legendary Malay warrior Hang Tuah.
He stressed Hang Tuah’s significance in promoting Melaka as a tourism destination.
“I intend to relive the history of Melaka and market it as an intriguing tourism product, and Hang Tuah is significant. There were records of him throughout the globe, and we made an effort to relive the history,” Ab Rauf said.
He cited solid evidence of Hang Tuah’s existence, including Okinawa records where three letters were delivered to the Kingdom of Ryukyu during the 15th century when the Melaka Sultanate thrived as a global trading hub.
The Vijayanagar Empire of South India also corroborated Hang Tuah’s historical presence.
“Hence, there should be no doubt of Hang Tuah’s existence and, who was a symbol and epitome of Melaka Sultanate then,” he added.
Ab Rauf was commenting on an article by an Indonesian news portal alleging that keris (Malay daggers) handed over to the Melaka government by a man claiming to be a descendant of Hang Tuah were not genuine and had no links to the Malay warrior.
On May 21, Ab Rauf received the three keris from Muhammad Amin Tun Ahmad who travelled from Bintan Island, Riau.
Muhammad Amin, who claimed to be a descendant of Hang Tuah, had loaned the relic from the Hang Tuah Museum in Bintan Island as part of the exhibit being held at the Melaka International Trade Centre to showcase the greatness of Hang Tuah.
Ab Rauf defended the artefacts’ exhibition and said he would continue his responsibility to bring the state to greater heights.
He said he had to do what was right to ensure the tourism industry, which is generating the largest revenue for the state, continues to grow.
“Naysayers will be there but my focus is solely on seeing a rapid growth of the state and bringing prosperity to the people,” he added.
Ab Rauf also said the exhibition has attracted close to 10,000 people over the past two weeks since it was first held on June 10.
He said visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to get a glimpse of the replica of “Peca de Malacca”, a matching cannon gifted by King Calicut of India to the Sultan of Melaka during the Portuguese attacks as well as fresh historical pieces on Hang Tuah obtained from Europe, Japan, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
