Is a Mandailing merchant, Sutan Puasa, the founder of Kuala Lumpur?

The statement made by prof Khoo Kay Kim in several discourses last year that “the founder of Kuala Lumpur was Sutan Puasa, from Mandailing,” had raised questions, since Malaysian history has stated that Yap Ah Loy, the third Kapitan Cina was the founder of the city.

However, a newly published book titled “Sutan Puasa Founder of Kuala Lumpur,” authored by Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, reveals new information about the city’s history.

University of British Columbia's Terry McGee, who specialises in Asian research and geography stated in his forward that the book “introduces a new interpretation of the early history of the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur and its hinterland.”

McGee, who had carried out a considerable research of Malays urbanisation both in Kuala Lumpur and the Malayan Peninsula in 1960s for his PhD, said the book, which focuses on the role played by Sutan Puasa in the early period of tin mining in Kuala Lumpur in mid-19th century, had “sparked” his interest on the subject.

“(Abdur Razzaq) Lubis provides convincing answers to two deceptively simple questions. First, who was the true founder of Kuala Lumpur? and second, are the existing historical accounts of the founding of Kuala Lumpur accurate?” he said.

McGee also said the author had carefully carried out research to provide information which formed the basis of reinterpretive history that all nations need and feeding into the debates about the in-between periods of Southeast Asian history before colonial rule created fixed boundaries.

He said the author also recognised that the idea of the Malay in the 19th century included not only riverine-based sultanates of the west coast, but also the migrant communities from Indonesia that were moving into the Malayan Peninsula.

In his 615-page book, which include old maps and pictures of Kuala Lumpur, Abdur Razzaq starts off with a chapter on “The Naming of Kuala Lumpur,” which among others touched on Sungai Lumpur and Pangkalan Lumpur that had been used in old documents.

He also touches on several names that had been named founder of Kuala Lumpur by various personalities and writers, which include Yap Ah Loy, the first Kapitan Cina Hiu Siew, and Raja Abdullah, who was the terroritorial chief of Klang.

He then moves onto on the role of Sutan Puasa and the Mandailings in the early Kuala Lumpur.

The book, which has been one of the bestsellers at Books Kinokuniya over the past three weeks, will be launched by Malaysian jazz queen Sheila Majid, a family of Sutan Puasa, on April 7 at the Ilham Gallery.

Abdur Razzaq will be also be participating in a panel discussion with International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) Malaysia chairperson, and also the National Heritage Council chairman Hajeedar Abdul Majid on the book at Galeri Petronas on April 8 at 10am, in conjunction with the Art for All Art Fair 2018, before proceeding to  Kinokuniya for a book signing at 3pm.

- Bernama