Exotic Short Stories

From the Northernmost and Smallest Malaysia

Tiny Malaysian state of Perlis is exotic even to a Sabahan like me who live on the other far end of Malaysia, across the South China Sea.

Exotic Short Stories of Indera Kayangan

200 years ago, an Arab immigrant was lucky to win the hand of a princess in marriage. She was daughter of the Regent of Kedah and she bore a son named Syed Hussein Jamalullial.

Syed Hussein grew up to be a defender of Kedah. Together with a group of young royal patriots, he drove out Siamese and Ligor invaders from Kedah.

The grateful ruler of Kedah, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin rewarded his cousin Syed Hussein by appointing him to be the Raja of Kayang district. The official residence of the Sultan of Kedah is called "Indera Kayangan". To show close ties between Kedah and Kayang which later became Perlis, the first Sultan of Perlis Syed Hussein named his new dominion " Perlis Indera Kayangan" with full endorsement from his former enemies, Siam and Ligor!

Exotic Short Stories of Moody Old Snake

Once upon a time, there was an old man called Tok Perlis, he died and was buried at the foot of Bukit Ngolang. Superstitious folks said this Tok Perlis possessed supernatural powers. Anyone who broke taboos on his burial ground ( I wouldn't know the taboos, would you?) incurred the displeasure of Tok Perlis who would appear in the form of a snake before the transgressor. The snake refused to leave until a medicine man appeased its anger with rituals and offerings. Errr, does this mean that Perlis gets its name from a moody dead old man?

Exotic Short Stories of Floating Coconuts and Muddy Road

Wan :

Lihat! Kelapa hanyut di sungai.

Si Bongok:

Dahulunya di kuala Sungai Perlis, banyak lagi kelapa hanyut di sana.

Wan:

Kalau begitu, negeri Perlis patut digelar " Negeri Kelapa Hanyut."

Si Bongok :

Sebenarnya kamu sependapat dengan orang Siam yang merantau ke Perlis. Mereka menggelar tempat itu "kelapa hanyut". Perkataan Siam ini menjadi "Perlis" dalam Bahasa Melayu.

Wan :

Alamak, aku perlus ke dalam lumpur! Itulah asyik mendengar cerita kamu.

Si Bongok :

Orang Perlis dahulu pun senasib dengan kamu apabila berjalan kaki melalui kawasan sawah ke istana sultan mereka.

Wan :

Ha! Mari kita perlus sambil pergi mengadap sultan Perlis.

Si Bongok :

Nampaknya banyak orang yang berkata demikian kerana ceritanya perlus ini beransur-ansur menjadi "Perlis".

Wan :

See! Floating coconuts at the river.

Si Bongok :

Previously at the river mouth of Perlis river, there were even more floating coconuts there.

Wan :

If that is so, the state of Perlis should be called " The State of Floating Coconuts."

Si Bongok :

Actually, you are of the same opinion as the Siamese who come from abroad to Perlis. They called that place ( In Siamese,Phrau Loi) "floating coconuts". This Siamese term became "Perlis" in the Malay language.

Wan :

Oh dear, I slipped into the mud! That's from being engrossed in listening to your story.

Si Bongok :

In the past, the people of Perlis shared your fate when they went on foot through paddy fields to the palace of their sultan.

Wan :

Ha! Let us fall into the mud as we go to see the Sultan of Perlis.

Si Bongok :

Apparently many people said so because according to the story, "perlus" gradually becomes "Perlis".

So...which one of the Perlis stories is more authentic to you?

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