Historical evidence on the system of government, civilization and way of life in the Malay Peninsula before 1400 is not clear and does not allow us to trace the origins of the Malay Sultanate. The founding of the Malay Kingdom at Malacca by Parameswara in 1403 can be regarded as the starting point from which the monarchial government in the peninsular clearly began to flourish and to develop a rich fabric of Malay culture and custom. Although they vary in details, all the historical traditions and legends about the Malay Sultanate of Malacca agree that the sovereignty Malacca Sultanate which is said to have been passed on to Parameswara by Iskandar Dzulkarnain through Seri Teri Buana of Bukit Si Guntang Mahameru, Palembang.

The success and integrity of the Sultanate’s system of government resulted in Malacca becoming one of the busiest port citiesin South East Asia, known to traders from both the east and west. The Malaccan Kingdom included almost the whole of the peninsula, Sumatera, the islands to the south of Singapore and Brunei. Its influence was felt throughout most of the Malay Archipelago, making the Malacca sultanate the center and source of social, cultural, political and economic dynamism in its day. The role of Malacca as the most important center for the spread of Islam in South East Asia was closely connected to conversion of the Sultan to Islam as well as to the institution of the Sultanate itself.

The original writings and documents which have survived the times suggest that Malacca had a unique style of government which was based on a highly developed monarchial system. In addition to traditional and customary laws, which had a strong influence on society, there were also the written laws to safeguard the welfare of the community and which constituted the legislative system. This is evident in the ‘Hukum Kanun Melaka’ or ‘Undang-Undang laut Melaka’ (Laws Of The Rulers Of Malacca), the ‘Kitab Hukum Kanun’ (Handbook Of Laws) and the ‘ Undang-Undang Laut Melaka’ (Malacca Maritime Laws).

The titles and functions of the leading officials of Malacca such as the Bendahara, Temenggung, Penghulu Bendahari, Laksamana dan Syahbandar continued to be used in Malay Peninsular long after the fall of Malacca until the coming of the British in the 19th century. The Malacca Sultanate also laid the basis of the Malay cultural and customs system, such as the concept of daulat (royal power) and durhaka (disloyalty), menjunjung duli (homage to the royalty), royal protocol, palace language, conferring of titles, dress codes, loyalty to King and country and so forth. The sovereign power of the Sultan of Malacca was preserved and applied in other states although Malacca itself fell to the Portuguese in 1511. it was the custom, whenever a Sultan was being appointed, to trace his ancestry to the Sultan of Malacca or the descendants of the Sultan of Malacca, to ensure that a new Sultan would be ceremonially recognized as the legitimate ruler of the state concerned.