Isu-isu wanita dalam Manuskrip Melayuabad ke-15 hingga abad ke-18

Issues on Women in Malay Manuscripts of 15th to18th Century

Abstract

The history of Malay sultanates as recorded in the traditional historiography showed evidence of the roles of women as saviours or the cause of political instability. On the other side of the sultanates of Malaysia, women did play a role, not only behind the scene, but history has proven that they became leaders of states. They not only stood besides their husbands but were able to become kings or sultans. In Kelantan, Cik Siti Wan Kembang became a woman icon who played the role as a ruler. Puteri Sa’don was no less important in defending the stability and sovereignty of the institution of sultan in Kelantan. In the Malay Sultanate of Melaka, there appeared a number of women played important roles such as Tun Kudu, Tun Teja and Tun Fatimah. They played the role to reconcile two parties who were at loggerhead, and to unite political components as well as to influence the sultan in the appointment of heirs of the throne. In the Johor-Riau government also saw the appearance of a number of women who gave great impacts on the peace and stability of the politics and the administration. Starting with the killing of Dang Anum, then the apperarance Encik Pung to the dispute between Tengku Tengah and Tengku Kamariah, these incidences ckearly had caused black episodes in the political and administration crisis in the Johor-Riau government. A Malay proverb says that ‘the hand that rocks the cradle can rock the world’. The extent of the role of women in influencing the stability, order and peace will be discussed in this study by analyzing manuscripts of Malay histiography such as Sejarah Melayu, Tuhfat al-Nafis, Hikayat Siak dan Rengkasan Cetera Kelantan.