Ban on Keris

Raja Muda · 7th February 2005, 05:25 AM

Salam Sejahtera and greetings.

I'm helping out a friend on an article she's writing on the Keris. I'm trying to recall when the keris was first banned as a weapon in the Malay states of the peninsula.
I vaguely remember the ban happening during the time of Sultan Hussein of Singapore (was Farquhar or Raffles governor at that time?).
I think the Sultan and the Temenggong implored the British East India company to not go through with the plan since a Malay would feel naked going out of his home without a Keris.
I've lost my only copy of Hikayat Abdullah which probably contained the relevant quotation.
Can anyone out there help

rahman · 7th February 2005, 09:06 AM

Yes, it was from the Hikayat Abdullah. Raffles decided to ban the wearing of sidearms following frequent fights between the followers of Tengku Hussein and the Temenggong. He partly solved the problem by relocating the Temenggong's followers from the town centre (by the Singapore River) to Telok Blangah.

Interestingly, it was Sultan Hussein who remarked that a Malay would be naked without his keris. Apparently, that quote came to be attributed later to Raffles.

"Tuan, ini-lah pusaka raja-raja Melayu yang tidak boleh tidak. Ada pun jikalau tiada bersenjata itu seperti orang yang tiada berkain rasa-nya," he said when Raffles broached the idea of banning the wearning of sidearms.

My source is Hikayat Abdullah published by Pustaka Antara (1963). It's supposed to be in 2 volumes but I only have vol. II

Raja Muda · 7th February 2005, 09:18 AM

Thanks Bang Rahman. That confirms what I have at the back of my mind. However, I'm also interested to know if similar legislations are made elsewhere in or outside the Malay lands. Anyone?

Rick · 7th February 2005, 03:59 PM

Wasn't it Pershing that ordered the Moros to disarm early in the 20th century ? It's in the archives here somewhere .

Anyway the upshot of it was that there was so much wrangling between the US troops over them that an incredibly large amount of weapons were loaded in boats and dumped overside out beyond the reefs .

rahman · 7th February 2005, 04:33 PM

Raja Muda

My history is very rusty, but I believe a similar ban was imposed following the Pangkor Treaty (bad on the dates, sorry). I think the first British Resident was murdered, and this had something to do with it. Do a google search on pangkor... I think there's a lot of stuff online. I checked it a few weeks ago.

Keris lovers might also be interested that John Crawford, the first Resident in Singapore, was also stabbed by a keris. However, because his attacker stabbed from a crouching/hiding position, he was badly wounded in rthe chest but survived.

This lends proof that the keris was indeed seen and used as a weapon in the Malay world.

I'm now ploughing thru the arcane language of Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu. Wonderful references in there about the use of Keris Panjang and Keris Pandak (keris pendek?). I can tell you that the keris panjang was a slashing weapon, and is not the same as the keris penyalang (executioner's sword).

Raja Muda · 8th February 2005, 07:55 AM

Hi Rick, Bang Rahman,

It would be great if I can get more info on the banning of various sidearms throughout the archipelago, the dates and the motives as well.

I've read somewhere that after the Indian mutiny, the East India Company offloaded a lot of swords in the Southeast Asian markets, which perhaps accounts for the origins of the piso podang? Maybe it was in Gardner's book.
Bang Rahman, while you're patiently untangling the ancient language of Sejarah Melayu, do look out for references on Keris Tempa Melaka ( I think the blade is three palms long, in Malay tiga jengkal/tiga hasta).
If the blade is broad enough, then this keris could have functioned like a short sword I suppose, like a Roman gladius.
There's some other references to weapons throughout, including a slave murdering a prince of the ruling house by stabbing him through the house's floor (probably during the unfortunate reign of Sultan Mahmud, I have to check). Do tell me if you unearth anything, as I'll be checking through mine.
Are you using the Shellabear version, the Samad version or the more recent hardcover edited by Prof Muhammad Haji Salleh. I believe there are some minor variations between them as they are from different handwritten originals.

7th February 2005, 05:25 AM	#1
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Ban on Keris Salam Sejahtera and greetings. I'm helping out a friend on an article she's writing on the Keris. I'm trying to recall when the keris was first banned as a weapon in the Malay states of the peninsula. I vaguely remember the ban happening during the time of Sultan Hussein of Singapore (was Farquhar or Raffles governor at that time?). I think the Sultan and the Temenggong implored the British East India company to not go through with the plan since a Malay would feel naked going out of his home without a Keris. I've lost my only copy of Hikayat Abdullah which probably contained the relevant quotation. Can anyone out there help

7th February 2005, 09:06 AM	#2
rahman Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 84	Yes, it was from the Hikayat Abdullah. Raffles decided to ban the wearing of sidearms following frequent fights between the followers of Tengku Hussein and the Temenggong. He partly solved the problem by relocating the Temenggong's followers from the town centre (by the Singapore River) to Telok Blangah. Interestingly, it was Sultan Hussein who remarked that a Malay would be naked without his keris. Apparently, that quote came to be attributed later to Raffles. "Tuan, ini-lah pusaka raja-raja Melayu yang tidak boleh tidak. Ada pun jikalau tiada bersenjata itu seperti orang yang tiada berkain rasa-nya," he said when Raffles broached the idea of banning the wearning of sidearms. My source is Hikayat Abdullah published by Pustaka Antara (1963). It's supposed to be in 2 volumes but I only have vol. II Last edited by rahman; 7th February 2005 at 04:36 PM.

7th February 2005, 09:18 AM	#3
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Terima Kasih Daun Keladi Thanks Bang Rahman. That confirms what I have at the back of my mind. However, I'm also interested to know if similar legislations are made elsewhere in or outside the Malay lands. Anyone?

8th February 2005, 07:55 AM	#6
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Contraband Hi Rick, Bang Rahman, It would be great if I can get more info on the banning of various sidearms throughout the archipelago, the dates and the motives as well. I've read somewhere that after the Indian mutiny, the East India Company offloaded a lot of swords in the Southeast Asian markets, which perhaps accounts for the origins of the piso podang? Maybe it was in Gardner's book. Bang Rahman, while you're patiently untangling the ancient language of Sejarah Melayu, do look out for references on Keris Tempa Melaka ( I think the blade is three palms long, in Malay tiga jengkal/tiga hasta). If the blade is broad enough, then this keris could have functioned like a short sword I suppose, like a Roman gladius. There's some other references to weapons throughout, including a slave murdering a prince of the ruling house by stabbing him through the house's floor (probably during the unfortunate reign of Sultan Mahmud, I have to check). Do tell me if you unearth anything, as I'll be checking through mine. Are you using the Shellabear version, the Samad version or the more recent hardcover edited by Prof Muhammad Haji Salleh. I believe there are some minor variations between them as they are from different handwritten originals.

7th February 2005, 03:59 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Wasn't it Pershing that ordered the Moros to disarm early in the 20th century ? It's in the archives here somewhere . Anyway the upshot of it was that there was so much wrangling between the US troops over them that an incredibly large amount of weapons were loaded in boats and dumped overside out beyond the reefs .

7th February 2005, 04:33 PM	#5
rahman Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 84	Raja Muda My history is very rusty, but I believe a similar ban was imposed following the Pangkor Treaty (bad on the dates, sorry). I think the first British Resident was murdered, and this had something to do with it. Do a google search on pangkor... I think there's a lot of stuff online. I checked it a few weeks ago. Keris lovers might also be interested that John Crawford, the first Resident in Singapore, was also stabbed by a keris. However, because his attacker stabbed from a crouching/hiding position, he was badly wounded in rthe chest but survived. This lends proof that the keris was indeed seen and used as a weapon in the Malay world. I'm now ploughing thru the arcane language of Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu. Wonderful references in there about the use of Keris Panjang and Keris Pandak (keris pendek?). I can tell you that the keris panjang was a slashing weapon, and is not the same as the keris penyalang (executioner's sword).