KUALA LUMPUR – Historians and academics have poured cold water on recent claims that ancient Malays could fly and even taught the Chinese the art of “flying kung fu,” calling such statements illogical and damaging to historical understanding.
Dr Sahul Hamid Mohamed Maiddin, a Faculty of Human Sciences lecturer at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), stressed that history must be grounded on verifiable evidence, not myths or fantastical tales.
His remarks came after Professor Solehah Yaacob, a lecturer in Arabic language and literature at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), claimed in a Gabungan Nasionalis podcast that ancient Malays possessed supernatural abilities, including flight, and shared these skills with the Chinese.
“Such claims are simply not logical. History must be based on sources that can be cross-verified. Myths, on the other hand, are folk stories infused with imagination, romanticism and superstition,” Sahul told Scoop.
He emphasised the need to distinguish between myth and history.
“Myths or legends exist in many societies as a form of entertainment or inspiration. But history is about real events that truly happened — events that can be proven and whose authenticity can be defended,” he said.
Sahul warned that the unchecked spread of myths could weaken society, citing the colonial era as an example.
“The British, for instance, did not teach proper historical discipline to their colonies. Instead, they introduced tales and legends so that the people would remain lost in dreams and fantasies. This is a form of escapism,” he explained.
He described the distortion of history — or pseudohistory — as dangerous.
“Pseudohistory is false history built on fabricated stories and imagination, compiled from unreliable materials and conclusions drawn carelessly without the necessary skills to sort and evaluate information,” he said.
The consequences, Sahul added, could be severe.
“As a nation, we risk being humiliated by the academic community when such claims are debunked — as happened when a UPM paper on the ‘jong’ was criticised by French historian Serge Jardin.
“For the younger generation, we risk producing individuals who are vulnerable and gullible, those who believe anything without evidence. This is the long-term damage we are witnessing today, especially on social media,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Board of Governors chairman Professor Datuk Seri Dr Md Salleh Yaapar urged Solehah to avoid exaggeration when discussing history.
He acknowledged that Malays had ties with ancient China, particularly during the Tang Dynasty from 618 to 907 AD, through trade and shipbuilding.
“In fact, early Chinese literature from that period cites that Malays were present in the royal courts during the Tang Dynasty,” he said.
“But the so-called ‘ability to fly’ refers to the Malays’ distinctive flying kick in pencak silat, which some fighters demonstrated in imperial courts. It does not mean they were literally able to fly.
“It is not right for Solehah to misinterpret something factual and mislead the public. I understand she champions the greatness of the Malays, but she must do so properly — without exaggeration, without taking things out of context, and without distorting facts,” Salleh added. — October 1, 2025