Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths

Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths (29 December, 2006)


B. Melayu

Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths (GPS: 2.45007, 102.01522) are megaliths in the village of Pengkalan Kempas, in Linggi, Negeri Sembilan. The site, which is now known as the Pengkalan Kempas Historical Complex, holds perhaps the most famous cluster of pre-historic megaliths in the country. These megaliths are regarded as living stones or "batu hidup". They are believed to date back to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. They are now preserved and have a shelter built over them to protect them from the elements.

The megaliths of Pengkalan Kempas are called "Batu Bersurat", or inscription stones, as there are inscriptions on them. The most famous is a collection of three upright stones. Owing to their shape, they were named such as batu kemudi (rudder), batu sudu (spoon) and batu pedang (sword). In the old days, the locals believed that these stones held magical powers that allowed them to grow.

In addition to the megaliths, there is another interesting stone in the historical complex. It is a cylindrical stone with a hole through it. This stone is also believed to possess magical properties. It acted as a "divine lie detector". Whoever is thought to have lied is forced to put his hand through the stone. He is then forced to answer questions. Untrue answers will cause the stone to tighten around the person's hands until he answers truthfully.

Next to the cluster of megaliths is the grave of Syeikh Ahmad Majnun, a noted Muslim theologian from the 15th century. His name is also written as Ulama Sheikh Ahmad Makhtum and Syeikh A. Majnun. Syeikh Ahmad Majnun is credited for propagating Islam in the region during the time of the Malacca Sultanate. He is believed to have been killed in a battle in 1467 against the army of Sultan Mansor Shah (1457-1477). His grave is today venerated as a local shrine, the Keramat Sungai Udang. Based on the year inscribed on the tombstone of this grave, it is believed to be the oldest recorded Muslim grave in the country.

Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths, Linggi, Negeri Sembilan (29 December, 2006)


One of the Pengkalan Kempas megaliths (29 December, 2006)


Timothy Tye with Pengkalan Kempas megaliths (29 December, 2006)

Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths on Google Maps Street View

Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths

Pengkalan Kempas Megaliths is on the map of Linggi

Back to Discover Negeri Sembilan mainpage; list of Megaliths in Malaysia, Historic Sites in Negeri Sembilan and Historic Sites of Malaysia

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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