Nazri said archaeological studies carried out by the National Heritage Department only discovered artefacts connected to the existence of Kota Melaka. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The Tourism and Culture Ministry has confirmed that experts have yet to come across any archaeological evidence linking to the existence of the legendary Malay warrior Hang Tuah.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said archaeological studies carried out by the National Heritage Department only discovered artefacts connected to the existence of Kota Melaka.

“Studies on the history of Malacca have always been of great interest to the department and will be continued from time to time,” he said in a written reply at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

He was replying to a question from Sim Tong Him (DAP-Kota Melaka) on Hang Tuah’s existence during the Malacca Sultanate.

According to the minister, the National Library also conducted studies based on local documents such as the Malay manuscripts, as well as foreign documents, in search for the truth behind the existence of Hang Tuah.

“In the Malay manuscripts, the Hang Tuah character is mentioned in Hikayat Hang Tuah, Sulalatus Salatin (Sejarah Melayu) and also Tuhfat al-Nafis.

“Apart from that, Hang Tuah is also mentioned in foreign sources such as Rekidai Hoan from Japan, Vijayanagara (India), The Commentaries of The Great Alfonso Dalboquerque: Second Viceroy of India (Portuguese) and Ming Shi document (China),” he said.

Mohamed Nazri said that a majority of local scholars had agreed that the the mausoleum of Hang Tuah was located in Tanjung Keling, Malacca while the Taming Sari kris had become part of Perak royalty’s regalia.

“Stories revolving around Hang Tuah have been deeply ingrained within the Malay community and have evolved as intangible cultural heritage through oral tradition, poetry, proverbs and so on,” he said. — Bernama