MUZIUM ISTANA KESULTANAN MELAKA / MELAKA SULTANATE PALACE MUSEUM
SISTEM PERUNDANGAN MELAKA
THE MALACCA LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
Pada zaman kesultanan Melayu Melaka terdapat 2 buah teks undang-undang tradisional di Melaka. Undang-undang tersebut ialah Hukum Kanun Melaka dan undang-undang Laut Melaka. Hukum Kanun melaka merupakan buku undang-undang Melayu yang terawal sekali dalam sejarah perundangan tanahair. Sistem undang-undang yang sedia ada membuktikan kepada dunia bahawa betapa suatu masa dahulu Melaka adalah sebuah kerajaan yang makmur, lengkap dengan segala peraturan-peraturan yang telah sedia ada. Kewujudan undang-undang ini dapat dijadikan pemangkin kepada kekuatan politik kerajaan Melayu Melaka suatu masa dahulu. Melaka mempunyai empayar yang luas dan mempunyai banayak jajahan takluk. Kebanyakan negeri yang di bawah taklukan empayar Melaka seperti Johor dan Kedah banyak menerima pengaruh daripada undang-undang Melaka. Negeri-negeri ini mengamalkan undang-undang yang hampir sama seperti di Melaka.
There were two traditional legal texts during the era of the Malacca Sultanate. They were the Malacca Penal Code and the Malacca maritime Laws which were the earliest books on the Malay legal system. The existing legislative system was proof that Malacca at one time was a prosperous Kingdom, complete with its rule and regulations. It was a catalyst to the stability of the Malacca government then. Malacca at the time was huge empire and colonized many territories. Many of these territories, such as Johore and kedah were influenced by Malacca, and practiced similar laws.
Undang-undang Melaka (Hukum Kanun Melaka)
The Laws of Malacca (The Malacca Penal Code)
Hukum Kanun kesultanan Melaka merupakan sebuah teks undang-undang yang dipakai di zaman kesultanan Melayu Melaka. Teks ini dapat memperlihatkan nilai kekuasaan yang ada pada raja-raja melaka. Menurut sumber Sejarah Melayu, pada peringkat awal, Hukum Kanun Melaka telah ditulis pada zaman pemerintahan Sultan Muzaffar Syah. Kemudian teks ini telah dijadikan sebagai satu undang-undang yang lengkap pada zaman pemerintahan Sultan Mahmud Syah. Secara keseluruhannya, Hukum kanun Melaka membincangkan tentang perkara yang berkaitan dengan undang-undang jenayah, muamalah dan munakahat serta sistem dan peraturan pentadbiran negara. Penulisan Hukum Kanun Melaka tidak dilakukan secara sistematik, di mana terdapat campur aduk antara undang-undang Islam dan undang-undang Hindu. Namun, kebanyakannya Hukum kanun Melaka jelas kelihatan dalam undang-undang perkahwinan dan juga undang-undang jual beli serta prosedurnya.
The Malacca Sultanate Penal code was a legal text used during the era of the Malacca Sultanate and displays the powers of the Sultans. According to the Malay Annals, in the early days, the Malacca Penal Code was written during the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Syah and amended during the time of Sultan mahmud Syah. In general, it discussed matters relating to crime, muamalah and munakahat, as well as the rules of governance. It was not written systematically, and there were additions in several laws. There have also been additions from Muslim and Hindu laws. Even so, the influence of Islam is obvious in the Malacca Penal Code, especially in laws on marriages and trade.
Undang-undang Laut Melaka
Malacca Maritime Laws
Undang-undang laut Melaka merupakan satu ketetapan peraturan yang dibuat bagi sesuatu pelayaran. Ia juga dikenali sebagai adat pelayaran Melaka. Kitab peraturan Pelayaran dan Hukum Undang-undang Laut. Undang-undang Laut Melaka adalah sangat penting kerana melaka sememangnya terlibat secara langsung dengan pelayaran antarabangsa yang melibatkan pedagang asing. Dengan adanya Undang-undang laut Melaka ini, dapat memastikan segala masalah yang berlaku di kawasan perairan dapat di atasi dengan mudah dan berlandaskan Undang-Undang. Undang-Undang ini mengandungi tatacara jual beli di atas kapal, peraturan pelayaran, bidang kuasa nakhoda dan tanggungjawab pegawai-pegawai kapal. Selain itu, ia juga mengandungi hal ehwal peraturan dan sistem perkastaman, cukai dan tanggungjawab serta bidang kuasa Syahbandar.
The Malacca Maritime Laws determined the rules of a sea journey. It was also known as the Adat Pelayaran Melaka, Kitab Peraturan pelayaran and Hukum Undang-Undang laut. The Maritime laws were important as Malacca was directly involved in international shipping trade. They were used to resolve any problems related to the seas, and contained regulations on all sales procedures on board ship, rules of sailing, areas of jurisdiction and duties of ship officials. They also covered the customs and tax system, as well as the responsibilities and powers of the Syahbandar.
| Name | Roles and Duties |
|---|---|
| SULTAN |
|
| BENDAHARA |
|
| TEMENGGUNG |
|
| PENGHULU BENDAHARI |
|
| SYAHBANDAR |
|
| LAKSAMANA |
|
HUKUM KANUN MELAKA (THE MELAKA CODE OF LAWS)
The orderly and efficient administrative system of Melaka was also due to the enforcement of statutory laws that further strengthen its stability and sovereignty. One of the positive effects of the Melaka Empire at that time was the existence of this bill of laws that was adopted, known as Melaka’s Code of Laws, which had a great influence on even other Malay Kingdoms as well as the lives of the Malay people.
The Melaka legal document known as the Melaka Code of Laws and related canon law (risalat in Arabic) is the oldest-known written traditional law in the country. However, the Melaka Code of Laws was originally an unwritten set of rules. It was written and compiled properly during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Syah in 1489-1511. The Melaka Code of Laws was promulgated to protect the people, the government and the state of Melaka itself.
The Melaka Code of Laws has 44 clauses that touch on the power and jurisdiction of the King and the dignitaries, conduct among members of the community, offenses and punishments for general crimes, and other laws for Malacca.
UNDANG-UNDANG LAUT MELAKA (MELAKA LAW OF THE SEAS)
The Melaka Law of the Seas is a written set of laws specifically covering maritime activities at sea as well as the port of Melaka, which must be complied with by all ship owners, sailors and merchants. It was promulgated with the aim of promoting and protecting shipping and trade. The contents were compiled in writing during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Syah, and it contains twenty-five clauses.
The regulations therein cover also the field of navigation, including the titles and duties of officials as well as the jurisdiction and responsibilities of officers in shipping, trade procedures, unloading of goods, sale and purchase on vessels, prohibitions and punishments for breaching the rules, as well as specific jurisdictions and responsibilities of the ship-masters and workers of all ships.
