Malacca was named after a tree, this is how it looks like

There is arguably no greater Malay civilization that existed than Malacca, which was once seen as the centre of commerce of the world (think Venice, but Malay). So great was Malacca’s influence that Malay was once the lingua franca (common/trade language) in the region, similar to how English is used internationally today.

Like Penang, Malacca also got its name from a tree, and we’ve all heard the origin story: After being attacked by the neighbouring Majapahit Empire, Parameswara, the Hindu ruler of Temasek (now Singapore) fled to Muar, where he failed to establish a government because they kept getting bugged by lizards (no, really). Eventually, he found himself in a small fishing town.

Here, Parameswara and his party decided to rest under a tree by Sungai Bertam after a hunt. There, he witnessed his hunting dog getting kicked into the river by a mousedeer (pelanduk). The sheer badassery of the native mousedeer convinced Parameswara that the land had good fortune, so he named it ‘Malacca’ after the tree he was resting under. Looking at the depiction of the Malacca tree on the state’s crest…

…you might imagine that it’s one of those trees with thick trunks and having big, shady leaves, maybe like a durian or a mango tree. However…

Here’s what a real-life Malacca tree looks like

That’s the most common image of a melaka tree circulating among local sites. Also called amla or Indian gooseberry, there are two popular scientific names for the Melaka tree: either Phyllanthus emblica or its synonym Emblica officinalis. Here’s a close up of the leaves and fruits:

Regardless, with their tiny leaves and edible, bitter-sour fruits, the melaka tree is indeed mythical: besides being in Malacca’s origin story, this was also the tree species under which Phussa Buddha (one of the 24 Buddhas predating Gautama Buddha) supposedly gained enlightenment.

Anyway, Parameswara’s prediction on the fortune of the land was proven right; in the span of a decade, Malacca went from a quiet fishing village to the centre of trade in the world, playing host to traders and dignitaries from as far as China, Persia, India, and the Arab lands, to name a few. As a Portuguese official put it:

“Whoever is lord of Malacca has his hand on the throat of Venice.” – From ‘The Last Crusade’ by Nigel Cliff (2012)

Of course, the Portuguese wanted Malacca for themselves, and their navy eventually toppled the Malaccan Sultanate in 1511, marking the end of a glorious empire. Anyways, if you want to discover more interesting origins of our states’ names, pick one from the list below!

Kedah | Terengganu | Kelantan | Perlis | Johor

Selangor | Penang | Perak | Pahang | Malacca

Negeri Sembilan | Sabah | Sarawak | Federal Territories