‘Hang Li Po, Hang Tuah did not exist’
Historian Prof Khoo Kay Kim says that the Ming dynasty's records do not mention the princess or the famous warrior. He also points out that early Malaysian history is based on stories.
PETALING JAYA: According to history, Chinese Princess Hang Li Po was the fifth wife of Malaccan Sultan Mansur Shah who reigned from 1456-1477.
During this period, there was also the legend of the Sultan’s five famous warriors, Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. It is a tale of friendship and loyalty, which every Malaysian had heard.
However, renowned historian Prof Khoo Kay Kim told radio station BFM this morning that Hang Li Po and the five warriors never existed.
Speaking to FMT later, he explained: “The Chinese Ming dynasty of the 16th century does not have records on them. These are very well preserved records.”
The KDU college chancellor also said he had read the writings of two Western historians and another prominent historian Wang Gung Wu on the Ming records which did not mention the characters either.
“History must be based on empirical records. Historians must only accept written records,” he said, adding that empirical records available here were at best “skanky”.
“There is no evidence in the Malaysian records,” he said. “These are stories. Early Malaysian history is based on stories.”
“We have had many stories. Only recently historians have taken the trouble to research the early Malaysian history period. A lot of stories accepted in the past cannot be proven,” he added.
Khoo also told FMT that there are rumours that the Malacca kingdom was founded in 1292 even though there were records to prove that it was formed in the 15th century.
He added that the government had instructed the syllabus committee to go through the school history syllabus to rectify the errors.
The syllabus, said Khoo, would be introduced in the year 2014.
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After reading this article online today, somehow my world came crashing down! If what is written here is true..... all the years I grew up studying in elementary (primary) school and high (secondary) school are all for naught! All crap!! So meaning everyone in Malaysia has been studying stories all these years? Stories that will make Malaysia look good in the lime light?! This is absurd! Outrageously devastating to read and to realize that all my 12 years of school is for crap! Then I should be passing my History test with flying colours instead of failing as whatever we learnt is not real and the answers in exams are somewhat "fraud"......
I wonder who in the world is the "history" writer for Malaysia that he or she doesn´t check their facts before publishing books for the younger generation to read and study about!
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