Malacca - The state will set up a special fund for archaeologists and historians to carry out research to prove the historic city of Malacca existed prior to the establishment of the 15th Century Sultanate.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the fund, comprising allocations from the state and the Heritage Ministry, would be used to determine the existence of a civilisation before the 1400s.
“It is not disputed that Para–meswara founded the Malay Sul–tanate in the 1400`s but what we want to know is what was Malacca like prior to his arrival.
“There must have been a civilization here before he arrived. How else could he have established Malacca as a thriving port in such a short time?” he told reporters during a workshop on Malaysian historical research recently.
More than 24 speakers and 300 people took part in the workshop aimed at enabling local historians to publish works on the country`s history.
It has been taught in history books that self-exiled Sumatran prince Parameswara arrived in Malacca around 1396 to find a small fishing village and a community of sea gypsies.
He is said to have made a trip to China in 1405, following the arrival of famous Chinese Admiral Zheng He.
Meanwhile, Mohd Ali confirmed that four human skeletal remains discovered last year while excavating the ruins of the Dutch Middleburg bastion at the A`Famosa Fort ruins had been carbon-dated to the Malacca Sultanate period.
He said an analysis of the bones by Universiti Sains Malaysia confirmed that three males and one female aged between 17 and 45 were buried there between 1400 and 1450.
Source: http://thestar.com.my (August 02, 2008)
