Tomb Believed To Belong To First Kedah Sultan Found

By Shanika Abdul Latib

SUNGAI PETANI ( Bernama) -- The name Maharaja Phra Ong Mahawangsa is synonymous with Kedah's ancient history as he was the first ruler who embraced Islam, following which he changed his name to Sultan Mudzafar Shah I and became Kedah's first sultan.

Now, some 900 years later, local researchers believe that they may have discovered his tomb.

In fact, the discovery of several other ancient graves in Kota Bukit Meriam in the district of Kuala Muda, here, has led the researchers to believe that they may have belonged to Sultan Mudzafar Shah's lineage.

The researchers, who are members of the Kedah chapter of the Malaysian Historical Society (PSMCK), are involved in an ongoing project to study the historical relics discovered at Kota Bukit Meriam and Kota Sungai Emas.

According to historical texts 'Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa' and 'At-Tarikh Salasilah' that chronicled Kedah's ancient past, Kota Bukit Meriam was built during the reign of Raja Phra Ong Maha Putisat, the sixth king of Kedah who resided in Kota Aur (located in the modern-day Seberang Perai district in Penang). 

He had two sons, Raja Phra Ong Mahawangsa and Raja Buluh Betong. The former went on to become the seventh king of Kedah and he resided in Kota Bukit Meriam

As recorded in 'At-Tarikh Salasilah', Raja Phra Ong Mahawangsa embraced Islam and became Sultan Mudzafar Shah I, the first sultan of Kedah.  He is believed to have passed away in Kota Bukit Meriam in 1179.

ANCIENT TOMBSTONES  

PSMCK project head Syamsyul Anuar Ismail, who is also a lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia, said their research findings pointed to the existence of a royal cemetery in Kota Bukit Meriam as mentioned in 'At-Tarikh Salasilah'.

According to the ancient text, three sultans who had ruled from Kota Bukit Meriam, namely Sultan Mudzafar Shah I,  Sultan Muadzam Shah and Sultan Muhammad Shah, were buried at the Kota Bukit Meriam royal cemetery.

Sometime last year, the PSMCK researchers came across an ancient grave, complete with a pair of tombstones, which they believed was the final resting place of Sultan Mudzafar Shah 1.

The grave was found on a lot belonging to an aged imam Mohamad Nor at Kampung Bukit Berangan, Kuala Muda, here.

However, for some reason or other, in September last year, the imam had the tombstones shifted to a cemetery at Masjid Sintok Bugis, Kuala Muda, less than two kilometres from the original site, with the assistance of the Kedah Islamic Religious Council.

What gave credence to the researchers' findings was that this lot where the grave was found was located only 200 metres from Kota Bukit Meriam where the remains of a wall were found, believed to be part of the ruins of what could have been an ancient city or perhaps a palace.

TOMBSTONES MADE OF 'BATU KAWI'

"When we first saw the (ancient) grave and tombstones in the private lot, what we found interesting was the fact that the tombstones were made of 'batu kawi' (or pyrolusite, a mineral containing manganese dioxide).

"So far, we have not seen any tombstone made out of 'batu kawi' in Kedah and even in the rest of the peninsula," Syamsyul Anuar told Bernama, adding that his team was still studying the tombstones.

He said their other findings that tallied with their assumption that the grave belonged to the first Kedah sultan included the unique structure of the relatively large tombstones.

"The size indicated that the tombstones must have belonged to royalty and what is more interesting is that no one has seen any ancient tombstone that was just as large in the Bukit Meriam mukim," he said, adding that the tombstones believed to be that of Sultan Mudzafar Shah 1's grave did not have any Jawi inscription while carvings on them showed that they were done by a skilled Malay craftsman.

He said the tombstones were nothing like the other ancient gravestones they had seen, which were made of 'Acheh' stones that were imported from Acheh.

The markings on the tombstones concerned corroborated the period around 1179, which was when Sultan Mudzafar Shah I died, he added.

MUST BE PROTECTED

Pointing out to the need to protect the historical areas concerned from looters, Syamsul Anuar said he believed that many artefacts were buried in the ancient graves in Kota Bukit Meriam.

"Every piece of artefact that we find will throw some light on the history of Kedah," he said, adding that the tombstones made of pyrolusite were quite delicate and could erode due to the weather or get stolen.

He hoped that the Department of National Heritage would take the necessary measures to protect the area in order to safeguard the artefacts that have yet to be discovered.

"We also have to carry out more in-depth research to prove that the (pyrolusite) tombstones belonged to Sultan Mudzafar Shah 1's grave," he added.

Translated by Rema Nambiar 

-- BERNAMA