Surat Raja-Raja (SRR), Surat Undang-Undang (SUU) dan Pensejarahan Negeri Kedah, 1882-1911 (Surat Raja-Raja (SRR), Surat Undang-Undang (SUU) and The History of The State of Kedah, 1882-1911)

Abstract

Surat Raja-Raja (SRR) and Surat Undang-Undang (SUU) have indeed given a new dimension to the written historic record of Kedah, especially from year to year. Both manuscripts contain clearly compiled correspondence, reports, minutes, and agreements. In fact, the SRR and SUU also show the seriousness and efforts made by the Kedah state government, which can be clearly seen through political, economic, and social aspects. At the same time, the SRR and SUU also demonstrate the Kedah state government’s seriousness in maintaining the identity and the challenges faced in protecting the state from the British and Siamese. Therefore, this research aims to see how far the SRR and SUU serve as the main historical sources for Kedah from year to year. The research findings show that the SRR and SUU are indeed reputable historical sources in explaining historical events, covering political, economic and social aspects in Kedah during the period mentioned. The SRR and SUU also complement Kedah’s early sources such as the Sultan Abdul Hamid Correspondence (SMSAH), the Kedah State Secretary’s (SUK) files or files from the State Legislative Council (Council Decisions), official reports from the British (Colonial Office), minutes of meetings (State Council Minute Book), and State Council Circulars. The SRR and SUU have therefore undoubtedly contributed greatly to the historical research of Kedah and Malay historiography in our country.