Legend, Gender Inequalities and the Politics of Heritage in Malaysia in the Mahsuri Narrative as Living Folk Literature
Abstract
The legend of Mahsuri is one of the most prominent narratives in Kedah’s folk literature, originating from Langkawi’s oral tradition and later transformed into various written and cultural forms. Although commonly interpreted as a moral tale centred on slander, purity, and a generational curse, the narrative has undergone significant transformation that positions it within Malaysia’s modern cultural and heritage discourse. The main problem addressed in this study is the tendency of previous scholarship to approach Mahsuri descriptively without examining its role in identity formation, heritage institutionalisation, and the positioning of women within postcolonial structures of power. The objectives of this study are to analyse the transformation of Mahsuri from oral tradition to state narrative, to examine the symbolic positioning of the female body in the construction of cultural memory, and to assess how heritage institutions reinterpret the legend in contemporary Malaysia. This study employs qualitative methods combining critical textual analysis of folk literature, colonial sources, and academic writings, together with field observations conducted at Kota Mahsuri. The findings show that the legend has been institutionalised through heritage sites, incorporated into tourism practices, and reframed to serve cultural and political interests of the modern state. While the narrative further reinforces the symbolic role of women as moral and cultural markers, it continues to limit women’s voices within social and heritage structures. This study contributes to the enrichment of Malay folk literature studies by emphasising the importance of critical readings that examine the interconnections between memory, heritage, gender, and power within Malaysia’s postcolonial context.
Keywords: Mahsuri, folk literature, legend, women’s representation, cultural heritage, postcolonial power
Full text: PDF
References
2. Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic Interactism: Perspective and Method. University of California.
3. Bogdan, R.C. & Biklen, S.K., (2007). Qualitative Research for Education: An Introduction to Theory and Methods (5th. Edition). Allyn & Bacon.
4. Bungin, B. (2016). Analisis Data Penelitian Kualitatif. PT. Rajagrafindo Persada.
5. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, Vol. 3(2)p.77-101.
6. Chemaline, O. (2006). Tesis Leka Main: Puisi Rakyat Iban-Satu Analisis Bentuk dan Fungsi. Universiti Sains Malaysia.
7. Chemaline, O. (2011). Waris Daya Idup Iban Vol. I, II, & III. Pegari Iban Production.
8. Chemaline, O. (2011). Sang Budiman. PTS. Akademia.
9. Cobley, P. (1997). Introducing Semiotics. Mc Pherson’s Printing Group.
10. Creswell, J.W. (2017). Research Design: Qualitative & Quantitative Mixed Methods
11. Approaches. Edisi ke-2. Sage Publications.
12. Daille, F.R. (2002). Alam Pantun Melayu-Studies on the Malay Pantun. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
13. Denzin, N.K. & Linkolin, Y.S. (1998). Handbook of Qualitative Research Third Edition. Sage Publications LTD.
14. Freeman, J.D. (1957). The family system of the Iban of Borneo. In Jack Goody (ed.) The Developmental Cycle in Domestic Groups, pp.15-52. Cambridge Papers in Social Anthropology, No. 1. Cambridge University Press.
15. Gumbang, E. (1963). Tungkat and the other Iban system for transmiting important messages. Sarawak Gazete (April):34-40.
16. Guang, J.J. (2003). Cultural Change, Adaptation and Natural Resource Use by the Iban of Sarawak, Malaysia. Michigan University.
17. Janang, E. et al. (2015). Bup Sereba Reti Jaku Iban. Tun Jugah Foundation.
18. Jensen, E. (1974). The Iban and Their Religion. Clarendon Press.
19. King, V.T. (1993). The People of Borneo. Blackwell.
20. Kris, B. (1999). Kosa Kata Semiotika. Gambiran UH.
21. Miles, M.B. & Huberman, A.M. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. Edisi ke-4. Sage Publication.
22. Noria, T. (2014). Pua Identiti dan Budaya Masyarakat Iban. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
23. Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Method (2nd Ed.). Sage.
24. Publications. LTD.
25. Peirce, C.S. (1965). Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce (Vol. I & Vol. II). Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
26. Puji, S. (1993). Ancangan Semiotika dan Pengkajian Susastra Indonesia. Angkasa Bandung.
27. Pradopo, R.D. (1993). Pengkajian Puisi. Analisis Strata Norma dan Analisis Struktural dan Semiotik. Gajah Mada University Press.
28. Richards, A.J. (1959). The Iban People (1). dlm. Tom Harrison (ed.) The People of Sarawak. Sarawak Museum, hlm. 9-27.
29. Sandin, B. (1967). The Sea Dayaks of Borneo Before White Rajah Rule. Universty Press.
30. Sandin, B. (1969). Pengap Gawai Sakit. Borneo Literature Bureau.
31. Sandin, B. (1976). Gawai Pangkong Tiang. Borneo Literature Bureau.
32. Sandin, B. (1977). Gawai Burong: The Chants and Celebrations of the Iban Bird Festival. Universiti Sains Malaysia.
33. Sandin, B. (1977). Sengalang Burong. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
34. Sandin, B. (1981). Pengap Gawai Burong. Borneo Literature Bureau.
35. Sandin, B. (1990). Sources of Iban Traditional History. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia.
36. Sandin, B. (1994). Sources of Iban Tradisional History. Sarawak Museum Journal XLVI (67): 79-327.
37. Sather, C. (1985). Iban Agricultural Augury. Sarawak Museum Journal XXXIV(55):1-36.
38. Sidek, M.N. (2002). Reka Bentuk Penyelidikan: Falsafah Teori dan Praktis. Percetakan Info MEDITASI Sdn. Bhd.
39. Steve, A.P. (2012). Patung Burung Kenyalang dalam Budaya Masyarakat Iban. Thesis. UMAS.
40. Sutlive, V.H. (1989). The Iban in Historical Perspective. Sarawak Museum Journal XL
(Special issue 4, pt 4. No. 61):33-44.
41. Tesch, R. (1995). Qualitative Research: Analysis Types & Software Tools. The Falmer Press.
42. Zoest, V.A. (1990). Fiksi dan Non Fiksi dalam Kajian Semiotik. Manoekmi Sardjoe (perj.). Jakarta: Intermasa.
43. Zuchri, H.A.(2021). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Syakir Media Press.
