17/05/2026

theSunday Special III ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026

Some lifestyle and worship objects (above, right and below) used by the inhabitants are similar to those found in Sumatra, Java and the Indochinese region. – HIMANSHU BHATT/THESUN

merchants, scholars and seafarers to traverse between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea via the Strait of Malacca, with Kedah having special geographical prominence along the route. Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, who heads the Centre for Global Archaeological Research in Universiti Sains Malaysia, explains that there was also a broader shift in global commerce from elite luxury goods towards bulk commodities such as ceramics, metals, forest products and beads. “Ancient Kedah was well positioned to meet this demand, functioning as an entrepôt and a producer,” he said in a commentary in theSun on April 1. “Historical sources across Asia attest to Ancient Kedah’s importance. Early Tamil literature refers to it as a source of valued goods while Sanskrit and Buddhist texts describe it as a prosperous port. “Arab geographers between the ninth and 14th centuries CE knew Ancient Kedah, often called Kalah, as a key maritime stopover rich in tin and forest products. The merchants came from Persia, Arabia and India.” The people of Kedah must have also been in contact with neighbouring settlements such as Kutai Martadipura in east Kalimantan, Sri Vijaya centred in Sumatra and the Khmers of Indochina. These advanced civilisations that once inhabited the Southeast Asian region have disappeared, but their remnants continue to exist. Unlike physically imposing landmarks such as those at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Borobudur in Java and Bagan in Myanmar, the Bujang Valley shows its significance in numerous small but richly important structures and artefacts. They form a precious legacy of an enigmatic settlement once inhabited by the forebears of our landscape, and they must be protected and preserved at all costs for future generations to understand and appreciate the depths of our nation’s grand history. called Kalah, as a key maritime stopover.” – Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw “ Arab geographers between the ninth and 14th centuries CE knew Ancient Kedah, often

Last month, in a poignant and symbolic reconnection of sorts with these forgotten ancients, members of the Malaysia-India Heritage Society conducted an expedition to the Bujang Valley. It was an opportunity to experience for themselves the wonders of the age-old artefacts as they exist today. Reflecting on the eye-opening trip, society president Prabhakaran Nair said the discoveries reminded them that the land was once part of a vibrant civilisation connected to the wider world through trade, culture and ideas. “They stand as evidence that Malaysia’s history is ancient, cosmopolitan and deeply rooted in intercultural exchange,” he said. “The discoveries remind us that human history has always been shaped by movement, encounter and exchange.” “Long before the modern nation-state, peoples, traders and ideas have traversed lands, seas and frontiers, enriching civilisations through interaction and coexistence.” Strategic maritime location More specifically, Bujang Valley highlights the shared heritage and long civilisational links between Malaysia and India, Prabhakaran stressed. “Such evidences of shared heritage are important in fostering cultural

diplomacy as a pathway to mutual respect and understanding between nations,” he added. Interestingly, it has been recorded that the prosperity of Kedah during that era occurred in tandem with a wave of advancements in related fields across the ancient world. These include knowledge of oceanic navigation based on improved understanding of stellar astronomy and monsoon winds, and heightened mastery in the construction of large resilient ships. Such factors made it possible for

A replica of the Mahanavika Buddhagupta (Great Navigator Buddhagupta) inscription stone found in Seberang Perai in 1834. – HIMANSHU BHATT/THESUN

An archival photo showing ground conditions after excavation at site 50, Candi Pendiat (9th century CE), in 1974. – PIC COURTESY OF BUJANG VALLEY MUSEUM