Mahsuri binti Pandak Mayah was born in the early 18th century in a village called Kampong Mawar, Langkawi. Her father name is Pandak Mayah and her mothers name is Endah Elang. Mahsuri is also known as Puteri Langkawi for being rumored to be of her beautiful appearance.
Both of Mahsuri's parents were from Phuket, Thailand or formerly known as Siam. They migrated to Langkawi to change their living conditions for the better. This married couple worked as farmers and rattan seekers. Over time, their livelihood became improved and they were able to buy land from the local community. It is also told by the old people in Langkawi that the Pandak Mayah family has been running incense business as well as bird nests. This has doubled their family's livelihood and become one of the richest families in Langkawi.
The couples has named their baby girl after Mahsuri. Some sources say that Mahsuri is also known by her nickname, Siti. Mahsuri grew up and was nurtured with full customs and manners by her parents. Since childhood Mahsuri has shown unusual traits that she is not like other children. Mahsuri often stands out among his playmates because it is said that she often wears black, this is her favorite color, in addition, in terms of her tireless appearance, speech and her manners-filled behavior is quite symbolic of how high manners and morals Mahsuri are. Until she grows older, her femininity features are more prominent, with her beautiful face, as well as an excellent heart. So much so that it became the mouthpiece of the people of Langkawi and finally reached the ears of Wan Yahya also known as Dato Pekermajaya. He was the representative of the sultan to rule Langkawi at that time. Mahsuri was married to a young man and a local warrior, Wan Derus, who was the younger brother of Datuk Pekerma Jaya and Wan Mahora.
The Slander
During the reign of Sultan Abdul Halim Shah II Ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ziyauddin Mukarram Shah (1803-1843), Kedah-Siam relations became murky. Mahsuri was pregnant when Wan Derus left Langkawi (unknown to the purpose but sources say he fought with the Siamese army in Kuala Kedah). As a result, Mahsuri is rumored to be living with his parents. At that time, Deramang, a wandering poet (merchant from Sumatra) stopped by Langkawi. His ability to win the hearts of the people of Langkawi then courtesy of Mahsuri's parents, Deramang stayed at Mahsuro parents home to teach poems.
Deramang's ingenuity in the poem raised Mahsuri's name as the host and caused the jealousy of Wan Mahura, her sister-in-law as the wife of the Langkawi Islander. The birth of Mahsuri's son, Wan Hakim, sparked defamation when Wan Mahura accused Mahsuri of having an affair (having an affair) with Deramang. For that reason, Mahsuri and Deramang were arrested and sentenced to death by Dato Pekermajaya her own brother-in-law after his wife's sedition. Without waiting for Wan Derus to return, Mahsuri and Deramang were taken to Matsirat field, the centre of Langkawi at the time, to be sentenced. Mahsuri was tied to a tree trunk and stabbed with a spear. According to legend, the spear used could not penetrate the body of Mahsuri. At last, Mahsuri revealed that she could only be stabbed with a magic spear (there was a party stating that the weapon was a dagger belonging to his ancestors) found in her home reed.
The Curse
Mahsuri's last words are especially famous when they are often repeated in any performance. Mahsuri's last verses are in the form of a curse not to legalize his blood falling to earth because she is a victim of slander and condemns the island of Langkawi to be unsettled and like a field of seven generations.
Despite being persuaded and courted by Mahsuri's parents, a nonetheless sentence was carried out and Mahsuri was executed without the alleged sin. According to legend, Mahsuri drained white blood only because of her words that did not legalize her blood falling to earth. Deramang was also killed later despite his violent actions. Mahsuri was buried by her parents next to the ransom property she wanted to use to redeem her. Mahsuri is said to have died in 1819 AD, equivalent to 1235 Hijrah.
A week after Mahsuri was killed, Wan Derus returned home after Kedah failed to defeat Siam. After learning about his wife, he was upset and took his son, Wan Hakim, out of Langkawi. Immediately, the Siamese army attacked the island. Langkawi is devastated and charred.
Datuk Pekerma Jaya fled with his strongman, Panglima Hitam. Unfortunately, Datuk Pekerma Jaya was captured by the Siamese army in Sungai Langkanah and brutally tortured and killed. The same goes for Wan Mahura who was raped and tortured by Siamese soldiers. Their son, Wan Muhamad Ali rushed home from Penang for revenge. His success prompted the sultan to appoint him as his father's successor. However, the island of Langkawi has never prospered due to pirate activities and severe crimes.
Closing of the Curse
Before the 1980s, Langkawi was so not prosperous that people said that there were more buffaloes than humans there. When Tunku Abdul Rahman was still a district officer, Tunku always visited Langkawi but no one knew where Mahsuri's burial place was. Thus, Tunku searched to find a hidden grave and built a tomb, known as the Mahsuri Mausoleum. By the 1980s, Langkawi became more prosperous (one of which was due to the arrival of workers to build the Mahsuri tomb). Some claim that prosperity is due to the birth of the seventh descendant of Mahsuri (some say the eighth) ending all Mahsuri's curse on the island of Langkawi. The seventh descendant of Mahsuri, Sirintra Yayee or Nong May or her Malay name, Wan Aishah Wan Nawawi settled in Kampung Kemala, Phuket, Thailand when it was first tracked.
Incidentally, at that time, Langkawi became a tourist and duty-free selling centre and attracted more visitors to the island. The fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir also helped promote Langkawi by adding infrastructure and making it a show centre like LIMA
About the Creator
Peanuts and Crackerjack
Bottom of the ninth inning. The game is tied with two outs, two strikes and a man on second. I tap the bat on home plate. The rigid vibrations it creates reminds my aching digits that this isn't over. The practice swing only adds to the heft of mental burnout... Man on second, willing to chance it. Pitcher eyes him but doesn't give in to the dangerous bluff. I kick up dust, readying the peculiar stance I've had since the days of little league. The bat lays stiff upon my cramping shoulder. Pain has no reason to be acknowledged; it's a fleeting afterthought. The sun sits passed high noon, but the stadium lights are on anyway. They trick my brain into believing they are the cause of this sweltering heat. Sporadic clouds are motionless, they too, don't want to miss this exhilarating predicament. Anticipating the next pitch, intensifying roars from the crowd rumble the stadium... Behind me, the crafty catcher adjusts his stance and spits to the dry dirt. Behind him, the staunch umpire doesn't flinch or even blink; he knows how important his call will be. The pitcher winds up, his grip tells me its gonna curve. The release is fierce! Beads of sweat from his hair and face disperse in every direction as the force of his might is unfailing. My left leg lifts—an instinctual move that will increase the power of my swing. It's all down to my two, bloodshot eyes. They lock onto the speeding, white dot as it instantly becomes the target I intend to destroy. The swing is late, but I manage a solid tip. The ball is taking a fast bounce toward the pitcher who is recovering from the almighty throw! Man on second leaves in a desperate rush! I fling the bat to the side with a sense of urgency and make a mad sprint to the only destination I have—first base. Three defenders race inward to be the first to retrieve the skidding ball. Man is almost on third! I watch the open glove of my adversary, wondering if I’ve done enough to win this race. I switch my attention to his eyes, looking for a clue, some kind of reaction that tells me the ball is in the air and heading his way. All I see is frustration. The deafening roar of the crowd spikes! Something happens that I can’t see! My opponent abandons his post right as my left stride touches the bag. I waste no time turning my head to see the pitcher laying on his stomach, pounding the mound with an open glove. He misses the opportunity to out me and the ball has quickly bounced past him. Excitement grows! This isn’t over yet... It's become an imperative fight to tag out the runner heading homeward. The catcher falls to his knees in obvious despair as he watches my teammate make the run of his life. He knows it’s going to be close when he sees the shortstop fumble the ball a second too long. I jump up and down with no plans on leaving first base. All my chips are on the speed and agility of the active runner. His cleats dig into the dirt, trailing a dust-filled cyclone from the rapid and strenuous strides. With a thrusting dive and an outstretched arm, he lands on his chest to begin the crucial slide to home plate. The shortstop fires the ball to the catcher! It immediately begins closing the gap! Nail-biting doesn't begin to describe the anxious vibe permeating the stadium. The bench begins to celebrate even before he reaches the plate. Forty thousand cheering fans reach maximum crescendo, filling the air with a glorious sound. Everyone knows how this story will end… My teammate is met by the entire bench as his fingers inch across home plate, instantly followed by the unmistakable motion of the catcher's glove attempting to tag him out—its milliseconds too late. The ump swings his arms outward, officially calling him safe.
By Lamar Wiggins6 days ago in Fiction
My To Be Read List
I have been taking some time away from writing. I haven't forgotten about Vocal, the truth is I just have been too busy pursuing other things to write online and honestly, my little family and I just had a really hard month between the flu and a weird eye infection/cold circulating our house. I'm currently sipping some warm peppermint tea because my throat is sore.
By Chloe Rose Violet 🌹7 days ago in BookClub
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