Mahsuri - The Mystical Maiden.

The Story

In a study of cultural tourism which was presented during 3^rd Global Summit of Peace through Tourism reveals that the Mahsuri Mausoleum with its rich cultural and historical legends was one of the top two tourist attraction destination in Langkawi. (Rahim , et al., 1995). Langkawi, comprises of 99 islands that forms an archipelago, the land area cover approximately 478 square kilometres with a population of 86,000. As of 2009, 2,380,000 visitor has been recorded to visit Langkawi, approximately 27 times more of it population (Liu, et al., 2010). Langkawi was also recognised as the 52^nd UNESCO global network of national geopark on 1^st June 2007 (Norzaini , et al., 2011). The Kedah Historical society has already reported more than 30 version of the Mahsuri Myth (12, 1989).

 

Mahsuri was born to a Thai couple Pandak Maya and Mak Andam from Phuket who migrated to Langkawi. Langkawi was known as Koh Ka Wee to the Thais (The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows, 2007). She was said the be the most beautiful maiden in the whole of Langkawi and was later married to Wan Darus. (Mohamed, 2010). Wan Derus was called away by the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah II in a battle against the Siamese.

 

During this time, Mahsuri befriended a traded who was also a poet. She would often ask him to recite poem and is frequently seen with him. Her mother in law was not very fond of seeing Mahsuri with a stranger and began spreading rumours to the villagers of here being an adulteress.

 

Mahsuri became a victim of conspiracy plotted against her was wrongfully put to death in 1819 or the year 1235 hijrab. (Ooi , 2006). The penalty for adultery at the time was death by stabbing. She was stabbed with knife to her abdomen but despite the sharpness of a knife, it would not puncture her abdomen. Mahsuri later said that she could only be killed with her family Keris. She also said that if she did commit adultery, she would bleed like any human being but if she was did not commit the adultery as accused, she would bleed white blood which will prove her purity, and then she would put a curse to the Langkawi Island that there shall be no peace and prosperity in the island for seven generations. (Mohamed, 2010).

 

Not long after her death, Siam invaded Langkawi. In a losing battle the village headmen who was also the father in law of Mahsuri, Datuk Seri Kerma Jaya has ordered the villages to burn their paddy field and granaries to cut the food supply to the Siam army shall they lose the battle. The remains of the paddy fields is now known as Padang Mat Sirat. The burnt rice is said to have been buried a few metres below ground but often appears on the surface after a rainy day.

 

After this incident, it is said that the family members of Mahsuri and Wan Darus moved back to Kamala, Phuket. Her son, Wan Arkem (Achem) married and had six children—two sons and four daughters. (12, 1989)

 

Sirintra Yayee also known as Wan Aishah bt Wan Nawawi, the seventh generation descendant of Mahsuri. Wan Aishah's lineage to Mahsuri was ascertained by the Kedah Museum and the Kedah Historical Society. Sirintra Yayee came back to Malaysia in the year 2000 when she was 14 and was received by then Malaysia Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed (12, 1989).

 

According to Kamala resident from Phuket Heritage Website, the genealogy of Mahsuri's descendant is:

 

           “ Sirintra is the eldest child of Nawawi and Sumaini,

              the son of Wan Hashim @Chern Yayee ,

              the son of Wan Husin and Khatijah,

              the Son of Tuk Akil

              the son of Wan Hakim And Aishah,

              the son of Mahsuri and Wan Derus ”

The Remains

Mahsuri's tomb also known as Makam Mahsuri is situated in the Village of Mawat, some 12 Kilometres from Kuah Town. Her tomb, which was enshrined by the villagers, has been relocated numerous times and the exact location of its origin may not be known (Ooi , 2006). Initially her burial site was without a tomb, its was Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, the first prime minister of Malaysia who ordered the construction of the tomb. He was then a district officer and Mawat fall under his jurisdiction (Liu, et al., 2010).

 

The tomb is now a museum complex, beside Mahsuri’s tomb, you can see the house that she was said to live in, a well where there water is said to have mystical powers which Mahsuri used to bathe and wash, Kedah Kampung Houses and an open hall or theatre with a band playing local folk songs and the tale of Mahsuri. While touring the museum you will witness dioramas depicting the life of Mahsuri, and some evidence of the story taking place such as the Keris that killed Mahsuri and her actual tomb stone. You will also find two mini halls where locals perform Caklempung and Gamelan.

 

Appendix

(Anon., n.d.)

Image from : Author

Image from : Author

Diorama 1 depicting Mahsuri's Life.

Image from : Author

Diorama 2 depicting Mahsuri's Life

Image from : Author

Burnt rice or Beras Terbakar in Padang Mat Sirat

(Mustafa, n.d.)

Burnt Rice collected from the field

(Mustafa, n.d.)

Mahsuri’s House

Image from : Author

Mahsuri’s Well

Image from : Author

Sirintra Yayee also known as Wan Aishah bt Wan Nawawi When she was 12

Image From : (Mustafa, n.d.)

Sirintra Yayee was presented portrait of Mahsuri during her visit

Source: (Mustafa, n.d.)

The Family Lineage as displayed in the museum

Source: Author

 

References

12, P. N., 1989. Hari Sastera Kedah. Darulaman, 5-6 Aug 1989. Kedah, s.n.
Anon., n.d. All About Langkawi. [Online]
Available at: http://allaboutlangkawi.blogspot.com/2011/01/mahsuri-tomb-makam-mahsuri.html
[Accessed 27 9 2014].
Liu, O. P., Yusoff, N. H. & Halim, S. A., 2010. Tracking The 'Kawi' Spirit. Akademika, Volume 80, pp. 55-68.
Mohamed, B., 2010. Regional Conference on Tourism Research - The State of the Art and its Sustainability. Penang, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Mustafa, M., n.d. The End Of 7 Generations. [Online]
Available at: http://muzzalifahmustafa5b.blogspot.com/p/the-end-of-7-generations.html
[Accessed 27 9 2014].
Norzaini , A., Abdul Halim, S., Ong , P. L. & Komoo, I., 2011. The Langkawi Global Geopark: local community’s perspectives on public education. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 17(3), pp. 261-279.
Ooi , G. L., 2006. Mahsuri’s curse—globalisation and tourist development in Pulau Langkawi. GeoJournal, 66(3), pp. 199-209.
Rahim , A., Mustafa, R. A., Mohamed , B. & Sia, R., 1995. EXPERIENCING CULTURAL TOURISM THROUGH THE IDENTIFICATION OF CULTURAL ROUTES WITHIN THE IMT-GT. Pattaya, s.n.
The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows, 2007. Reflections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity. 1st ed. Bangkok: LDSK&COMPANY CO., LTD..