hief Minister of the State of Kedah, Dato’ Seri Mukhriz bin Tun Dr Mahathir, claims that his is not only the oldest state in the country, but one of the oldest in Asean. According to his records, they have been trading with India, the Middle East and China since 300 BC, and historical annals say that some of the best iron in the world can be traced back to Kedah.
Surprising archaeological findings confirm that before the Muslim sultanate, an ancient Hindu-Buddhist civilisation flourished in Bujang Valley near the town of Merbok. In an area spanning more than 77 square miles, archaeologists have excavated remains of the kingdom, consisting of a Hindu-Buddhist temple and more than 50 ancient tomb-temples known as candi, that date back to 110 CE.
Mr Mukhriz bin Mahathir feels that due to the popularity of archaeology, developing the site and museum for tourism will benefit the economy and "will also help remind ourselves of our roots." The government is working to see the location recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserved for future generations to visit and study.
Findings support the theory that the Hindu-Buddhist kingdom was a thriving civilisation when the ninth Hindu king, Phra Ong Mahawangsa, converted to Islam in 1136. He became the first Sultan in the region, forming what is today one of the oldest sultanates in the world, "only slightly younger than the Tudor dynasty," Mr Mukhriz bin Mahathir remarks.
He explains how different the geography of the state was in the era of the temple: "The sea was against Jerai Mountain, and now it is 10km away."
Such a position made Kedah an ideal point for international commerce, as the big ships of the time could sail right into the valley.
Excavation also uncovered the remains of jetties, iron smelting sites, and clay brick monuments dating back to the same period, all testifying to the sophisticated nature of the ancient society.
Even throughout the Muslim Sultanate, Kedah continued to play an important role in international trade due to its ideal geographic location. Great Britain first established relations with Kedah during the booming spice trade of the 18th century and its commercial links with the state continue to go from strength to strength.
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