History of Malaysian Legal System

-FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO MALACCA’S DEVELOPMENT

1. POLITICIAL
China was a major power during the15th Century and expanding its political power and influence
in South China Sea regions.China used to send its admiral YinChing and Cheng Ho to Melaka to
reinforce China’s recognition of Melak. Melaka accepted their friendship.Threats from Siam and
Majapahitwere kept at bay. n 1414, with the coming of Muslim traders / missionaries from
Arab,Parameswara wisely embraced Islam and changed his name to Sultan Mahkota Iskandar
Syah. Since then,the term Raja also changed to Sultan.(zul-illahi-fil-alam)His marriage to a
princess from Pasai strengthened his relationship with Pasai.

2. SOCIAL

 Parameswara’s success as a ruler of Malacca is contributed by his charisma with his people.
 He had inherited the attributes of sovereignty from the rulers of Malay-Palembang or Sri
Vijaya empire. Besides this, other factors included the presence of the Malay nobility who had
been with him since he was ruler of Palembang, and the support of the Orang Laut (Orang
Selat)throughout his reign in Palembang and Singapore until the early period of his settlement
in Malacca.
 All these factors formed the basis that contributed towards the creation of a state with an
orderly administrative and political system.

3. GEOGRAPHICAL
The kingdom conveniently controlled the global trade vital point; the narrow straits that today
bear its name, the Strait of Malacca. The port city had become the centre of regional trade; it
attracted most of the traders from in the archipelago; traders from Sumatra, the port of Sunda,
Java and Bugis are reported to frequent the port. It was also due to the geographic location of
Malacca that gave the port city strategic advantage.

The monsoon wind that blow to northwest conveniently brought during dry season trade vessels
sailing from southern Sumatraa, Java, Borneo, Mollucas and eastern parts of the archipelago to
Malacca; in wet season (October to March)the wind blow from mainland Asia to southeast,
conveniently brought trade-vesselss sailing from ports in Northern Sumatra, India, Siam,
Cambodia, Vietnam and China to converge in Malacca. The Malaccan Empire had turned from a
maritime empire into an entrepot empire.

TWO FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO DISPUTE AND THE EMERGENCE OF

EUROPEAN COLONIZATION

1. INTERNAL FACTOR

1. After the demise o fBendahara Tun Perak, the Melacca Government did not have a good
successor.Bendahara Tun Mutahir had a weak administrative system and it led to the misuse of power.
2. Sultan Mahmud also was a weak leader and he did not care about the administration.
3. Bribery and slander spread. This was reflected in the murder of Bendahara Tun Mutahir and Tun Ali
instructed by Sultan Mahmud because of slander by Kitu and Raja Mandaliar, both from India.
4. The increase in taxes led to traders changing their view about Malacca and look for other ports to do
business transaction. This created separation among people.
 5. It became more critical when the Portuguese came twice and Alfonso D’Albuquerque attacked Malacca
before it fell to the hand of the Portuguese in 1511.

2. EXTERNAL FACTOR

-The Cape of Good Hope was founded by Bartholomeu Dias (~Bartholomew Diaz ) in 1488 and
hastened the journey of European to Malacca.
- At the same time Malacca was having some problems that give the opportunity to Portuguese to
extend their power