Laluan Penarikan

Last updated

The Laluan Penarikan (Malay 'portage route') were a series of portage routes across the Malay Peninsula. The most famous of these routes connected the Muar River with the Pahang River. The Penarikan shortened the journey of water vessels sailing between the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. [1] [2]

Contents

History

In ancient times, the Muar and Pahang rivers were nearly connected at a place called Jempol specifically in town of Bahau, in present-day Negeri Sembilan, where the Muar meets the Jempol River. The Serting River, not far from the confluence of the former two, flows into the Bera River, a tributary of the Pahang. The Penarikan allowed trading boats between ports and harbours or places from both sides of the Malay Peninsula, such as traders from Malacca or Muar who could continue their journey along the Muar until they reached Kuala Pahang in Pekan, or Kuala Lipis to continue into Terengganu, Kelantan or Perak.

At the Penarikan, the locals help are required, to pull the boats overland. The distance is about 300 meters and because of the action of pulling of boats overland, the route is named Penarikan, which is the Malay word for pulling.

The economically important Silk Road (red) and spice trade routes (blue) were blocked by the Seljuk Empire c. 1090, triggering the Crusades, and by the Ottoman Empire c. 1453, which spurred the Age of Discovery and European Colonialism. Silk route.jpg
The economically important Silk Road (red) and spice trade routes (blue) were blocked by the Seljuk Empire c. 1090, triggering the Crusades, and by the Ottoman Empire c. 1453, which spurred the Age of Discovery and European Colonialism.
The confluence between the Muar (left) and Jempol Rivers at Kampung Jambu Lapan, Bahau, Jempol District, Negeri Sembilan, is the midpoint of the Penarikan. Penarikan.jpg
The confluence between the Muar (left) and Jempol Rivers at Kampung Jambu Lapan, Bahau, Jempol District, Negeri Sembilan, is the midpoint of the Penarikan.

The Penarikan could have been discovered circa 14th century. [3] Arab merchants were actively trading as well as spreading Islam. When Malacca was discovered, they came to Malacca for trade and at the same time; the Pasai came to Malacca too to acquire their daily sundries. The Arabs learned of the Laluan Penarikan from the Pasai.[ citation needed ]

The Penarikan played a vital role in the military operations between Siam and Malacca. Using this route, the Siamese have launched many attacks against Malacca. A troop was sent to make an ambush. Half of the troop stayed near the Penarikan as backup and the other half attacked Malacca. However, the backup group has another mission, they have to dig a big canal measuring 30 feet by 20 feet in depth, so that they could connect the two rivers, Jempol and Serting River.

A leader of the Siamese army was later buried near the Penarikan. The tombstone was believed to have been transported all the way from Siam. The Siamese leader's grave could still be found near the route, which dates back to 1265.

The Penarikan has also witnessed many significant events in history. The famous Malaccan warrior Hang Tuah, while on the run with Tun Teja, used Penarikan to flee to Pahang. The last Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mahmud Shah, after the conquest of Malacca by the Portuguese Empire had also used Penarikan to escape to Pahang. [4]

In 1613, a Portuguese officer wrote that he took a boat ride from Muar to Pekan, and the journey took him six days. A map produced in 1598 showed that the Muar River and the Pahang River is connected at a place which is now called Serting in Negeri Sembilan.

The Muar River - Pahang River Penarikan route is a safer route to the South China Sea or to the Straits of Malacca, because there were no disturbances and threats of piracy that reign the seas.

Apart from that there were also signs of trading activities, whereby goods changed hands at this point. These means the boats from Pahang with the produce they carry stopped here, transact and pick up goods that are east bound and return to Pahang. Similarly, boats from Muar, bringing goods from Malacca and Singapore were brought to the Penarikan, where barter trade occurred.

See also

Successor cross-peninsular routes nearby

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malacca Sultanate</span> State on the Malay Peninsula and surrounding regions (1400–1511)

The Malacca Sultanate was a Malay sultanate based in the modern-day state of Malacca, Malaysia. Conventional historical thesis marks c. 1400 as the founding year of the sultanate by King of Singapura, Parameswara, also known as Iskandar Shah, although earlier dates for its founding have been proposed. At the height of the sultanate's power in the 15th century, its capital grew into one of the most important transshipment ports of its time, with territory covering much of the Malay Peninsula, the Riau Islands and a significant portion of the northern coast of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negeri Sembilan</span> State of Malaysia

Negeri Sembilan, historically spelled as Negri Sembilan, is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titiwangsa Mountains</span> Mountain range in Thailand and Malaysia

The Titiwangsa Mountains, also known as Banjaran Besar by locals, is the chain of mountains that forms the backbone of the Malay Peninsula. The northern section of the range is in southern Thailand, where it is known as Sankalakhiri Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Sultanate</span> Sultanate of Johor

The Johor Sultanate was founded by Sultan of Malacca Mahmud Shah's son, Alauddin Riayat Shah II in 1528.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pahang River</span> River in Pahang, Malaysia

The Pahang River is a river that mainly flows through the state of Pahang, Malaysia. Its drainage basin covers its namesake state as well as the neighbouring state of Negeri Sembilan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahau</span> Town in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Bahau is the principal town of Jempol District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jempol District</span> District in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

The Jempol District is the largest district in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. The district borders Jelebu District to the northwest, Kuala Pilah District to the west, Tampin District to the south, Bera District, Pahang to the northeast and Segamat District, Johor to the east. Bandar Seri Jempol and Bahau are the principal towns in Jempol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muar River</span> River in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

The Muar River is a river which flows through the states of Negeri Sembilan and Johor in Malaysia. Its drainage basin encompasses the states aforementioned, as well as Pahang and Malacca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malacca River</span> River in Melaka, Malaysia

The Malacca River is a river in Malaysia which flows through the middle of the state of Malacca. It was a vital trade route during the heyday of Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malacca General Hospital</span> Hospital in Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca General Hospital is a government-funded public hospital in Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia. A secondary and specialist hospital, it serves as a referral centre for patients from primary and health centres in the state as well as the northern part of Johor and the Tampin district of Negeri Sembilan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serting</span> Hamlet in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Serting is a hamlet in Jempol District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. There are many tourist attractions including Gunung Datuk in Serting Hilir. According to 2021 census, Serting has a population of 5588. The male population is 2858 while the number of females are 2730. The total area of Serting is 2.066 square km. Tourists who want to view Straits of Melaka take a hike to the peak of Gunung Datuk to get a good 360-degree view.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linggi River</span> River in Negeri Sembilan and Malacca, Malaysia

The Linggi River is a river in Malaysia which flows through the states of Negeri Sembilan and Malacca. It is one of two major rivers that serve as water sources for most of Negeri Sembilan's population, the other being the Muar River, which constitutes the state's eastern half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malacca</span> State of Malaysia

Malacca, officially the Historic State of Malacca, is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca. The state is bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to the south. The exclave of Tanjung Tuan also borders Negeri Sembilan to the north. Its capital is Malacca City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008.

Sultan Abdul Jamil Shah I ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad Shah was the third Sultan of Pahang who reigned from 1495 to 1512. He was installed by Sultan Mahmud of Melaka in 1495 following the abdication of his uncle, Ahmad Shah I. Earlier, his cousin and son of Ahmad Shah, Mansur Shah succeeded his father at young age. Abdul Jamil took the responsibility as a regent and exercised greater authority in the government. He reigned jointly with Mansur Shah until his death in 1512.

Sultan Zainal Abidin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Shah was the seventh Sultan of Pahang who reigned from 1540 to 1555. He succeeded on the death of his elder brother in 1540.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Pahang Kingdom</span> Former kingdom in Pahang, Malaysia

Old Pahang Kingdom was a historical Malay polity centred in the Pahang region on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The polity appeared in foreign records from as early as the 5th century and at its height, covered much of modern state of Pahang and the entire southern part of the peninsula. Throughout its pre-Melakan history, Pahang was established as a mueang or naksat of some major regional Malayic mandalas including Langkasuka, Srivijaya and Ligor. Around the middle of the 15th century, it was brought into the orbit of Melaka Sultanate and subsequently established as a vassal Muslim Sultanate in 1470, following the coronation of the grandson of the former Maharaja as the first Sultan of Pahang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piala Tun Sharifah Rodziah</span> Football league

Piala Tun Sharifah Rodziah is a women's football tournament in Malaysia. It was established in 1976 as a women's football competition competed by the teams around Malaysia. The competition is managed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pahang Sultanate</span> Old sultanate of Pahang, Malaysia

The Pahang Sultanate also referred as the Old Pahang Sultanate, as opposed to the modern Pahang Sultanate, was a Malay Muslim state established in the eastern Malay Peninsula in the 15th century. At the height of its influence, the sultanate was an important power in Southeast Asia and controlled the entire Pahang basin, bordering the Pattani Sultanate to the north and the Johor Sultanate to the south. To the west, its jurisdiction extended over parts of modern-day Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Segamat (town)</span> Town in Johor, Malaysia

Segamat is a town and district capital located in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minangkabau Malaysians</span> People of Minangkabau descent in Malaysia

The Minangkabau Malaysians are citizens of the Malaysia whose ancestral roots are from Minangkabau of central Sumatra. This includes people born in the Malaysia who are of Minangkabau origin as well as Minangkabau who have migrated to Malaysia. Today, Minangkabau comprise about 989,000 people in Malaysia, and Malaysian law considers most of them to be Malays. They are majority in urban areas, which has traditionally had the highest education and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The history of the Minangkabau migration to Malay peninsula has been recorded to have lasted a very long time. When the means of transportation were still using the ships by down the rivers and crossing the strait, many Minang people migrated to various regions such as Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Pahang. Some scholars noted that the arrival of the Minangkabau to the Malay Peninsula occurred in the 12th century. This ethnic group moved in to peninsula at the height of the Sultanate of Malacca, and maintains the Adat Perpatih of matrilineal kinships system in Negeri Sembilan and north Malacca.

References

  1. Maps of Malaysia and Borneo: Discovery, Statehood and Progress, By Fr Durand, Richard Curtis
  2. Rizuan Abdul Hamid (4 May 2021). "Laluan Silam: Sejarah, Lagenda dan Rahsia" [Ancient Route: History, Legend and Secret]. Alternatif (in Malay). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. Leaves of the Same Tree: Trade and Ethnicity in the Straits of Melaka, By Leonard Y. Andaya
  4. Sejarah Malaysia, Barbara Watson Andaya, Leonard Yuzon Andaya, Macmillan, 1983 - Malaysia - 391 pages

Further reading

2°47′59.1″N102°22′23.0″E / 2.799750°N 102.373056°E / 2.799750; 102.373056