As one of the Curator’s of Muzium Pahang, this presentation contributed to Day 1 Panel 2. Pahang forms part of the Malay Archipelago – a region inhabited predominantly by a maritime community with a strong maritime identity.
The establishment of a maritime museum in Pahang is imperative, as a state with a rich culture and history as well as identity that is deeply influenced by riverine and maritime life which is highly intertwined with the concept of ‘tanah air’ – the term homeland that directly translates into ‘water land’. This paper will be looking into the current and ongoing effort of reconstructing Pahang’s riverine and maritime past through the establishment of a maritime museum in Pulau Beram, Pekan, Pahang. The museum will be delineating the story and narrative of a port town, which includes the historical, geographical, cultural, archaeological, technological and the local genius aspect of a port civilisation. From looking at the importance of Sungai Pahang (Pahang River) in history and prehistory to its underwater cultural heritage, this paper will also be highlighting the evidence of trade history in Pahang based on archaeological findings like ceramics and shipwrecks. Through the presentation of the historical narrative and the exhibition of artefacts including traditional boats, old maps, currency and goods traded along the Maritime Silk Road (Spice Route), it is hoped that the museum will encourage or instill a sense of appreciation towards the port civilisation history of Pahang and the Malay World as well as the principal role it once played in the global maritime history.
