MARITIME MUSEUM PHASE I (Flor de La Mar)
DUTIES AND ROLE
Sultan
- As the head of the state and exercised absolute power in administration
- Maintaining the security of the people and estate
- The symbol of unity and soveregeinity of the state
- Forging diplomatic ties with foreign countries
Bendahara
- Forging diplomatic ties with foreign countries
- Assuming the duties of the King in His absence overseas
- Chief of staff for the navy and army in times of war
- Imposing sentences except the detah penalty
- Appointing the Sultan’s successor to the throne, Chief of the protocol and keeper of the Royal Insignia.
Temenggung
- Settling minor crimes
- Ensuring smooth implementation of Law enforcement
- Escorting the King during processions on Elephant Mounts
- Responsible for the seating arrangements while seeking the Sultan’s audience
- Ensuring the proper calibration of the weight and scale of the markets.
Penghulu Bendahari
- Masters of ceremonies and royal function at the palace
- Chief of the state’s treasury, Superintendant to the Syahbandar in Melaka and
overseeing the King’s slave.
- The Minister of Finance for the Melaka Malay sultanate
- Collecting taxes and managing the state treasury.
Syahbandar
- Arranging the permission to trade with the consent of the Bendahara
- Managing the shipping system and its organization
- Standardizing and implementing tax collection
- Managing affairs of the orphants, ship captains and markets
- Enforcing regal actions for storage in the warehouse and the lodging provided
- Preserving the welfare and interest of the merchants.
Laksamana
- The appointment and role of the Laksamana were originally incorporated with other positions among his duties included the Admiral of the navy to protect the Melaka waters.
Bendahara
Temenggung
Penghulu Bendahari
Syahbandar
Laksamana
THE MELAKA LEGAL CODES
The Melaka Law Codes and Maritime Laws were the earliest and the most important documents. The codes contained several clauses. After the reception of Islam in Melaka, the provisions were augmented to 44. These laws were practiced since the establishment of Melaka and were revised by the succeeding rulers. The Melaka government and were revised by succeeding. Melaka was the first Malay Kingdom to formulate the state laws and stapping regulations. The Melaka legal codes enumerated the stratification and beliefs of early Malays. Ceremonial customs, palace protocol, prohibitions, criminal and civil laws, land ownership and provisions pertaining to forming and busbounding were also incorporated. The syariah law influenced the provisions pertaining to forming and busbounding were also incorporated. The offences such as adultery, aportasy, stealing, murder, alcohol consumption, slander, accusations, declaration, transaction, agreements, debt, qualifications of witness beside marriages and family laws are uniquely written heritage and promulgated to regulate trade and shipping. The contents completedly codified during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah, comprised of 25 clauses, Navigational regulations, duties, titles and authority of personel assigned to the ship were stipulated.
Regulations regarding calamittis at the sea, storms, shipwrecks and others were also tabulated. The sea captain reserved absolute authority of imposing and exceting the death penalty. A navigating ship is equaled to a government. These laws also outlined crimes and punishments. The sea captain was the highest officer, who assumed the power of the King during the voyage. The belsmen determined the directions of the ship. The defence personnel ensured its safety. Apart from that other posts such as the right craftsmen, left craftsmen, middle craftsmen, senawi, awak-awak and the like were responsible for smooth and safe journey.
THE DUTIES OF THE KIWI
- To contribute in the trading activities, in the preparation of the loading and unloading of ships that anchor or leave the harbour
- To discuss with the captain on all matters
- To pay the harbour tax
- To sell or buy things at an appropriate price
- To abide by the law of the seas
The Malacca laws at the seas under the chapter Kiwi Law states 4 ways to do trading
- To buy the right of butches
- Kiwi doesn’t buy the right of butches, but adds to the captain’s capital. In the case of grains, Kiwi gets 2 or 3 koyan from the ship owner.
- To take over 7/8 of the ships good’s area
- If he buys the hatch he will pay 3/10 of his portion as tax to the captain.
The Malacca laws at the seas under the chapter Kiwi Law states 4 ways to do trading
THE ROLE OF PULAU BESAR
Pulau Besar is the one of the islands lying off the coast of Malacca and historically these cluster of islands had been a landmark for the passing mariners. Pulau Besar and its surrounding islands had been known as ‘Wu Shu’ to the Chinese mariners. Pulau Besar contains fresh water and the passing ship used to stop here to get fresh water and gather firewood before proceeding to their destination. It is even believed that Pulau Besar had a settlement long before Malacca was founded by Parameswara.
Pulau Besar is the one of the islands lying off the coast of Malacca and historically these cluster of islands had been a landmark for the passing mariners. Pulau Besar and its surrounding islands had been known as ‘Wu Shu’ to the Chinese mariners. Pulau Besar contains fresh water and the passing ship used to stop here to get fresh water and gather firewood before proceeding to their destination. It is even believed that Pulau Besar had a settlement long before Malacca was founded by Parameswara.
According to Ma Huan, an assistant of Admiral Cheng Ho, the Chinese sailor would visit ‘Whu Shu’ and drop anchor to rest and to gather the necessities. The straits - fisher folks who then stayed around the estuary of Malacca River, would bring dried salted fish and other commodities, to exchange for their needs. Thus the barter trade started in Malacca that was to develop into a well organised trade centre in Southeast.
According to Ma Huan, an assistant of Admiral Cheng Ho, the Chinese sailor would visit ‘Whu Shu’ and drop anchor to rest and to gather the necessities. The straits - fisher folks who then stayed around the estuary of Malacca River, would bring dried salted fish and other commodities, to exchange for their needs. Thus the barter trade started in Malacca that was to develop into a well organised trade centre in Southeast.
