The Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, just as important as the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal. The Malacca Strait forms a canal passage between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The boundaries of the Malacca Strait
- West: A line joining Pedropunt, the Northernmost point of Sumatra (5°40'N 95°26'E) and Lem Voalan the Southern extremity of Goh Puket, Phuket Island, in Siam Thailand (7°45'N 98°18'E).
- East: A line joining Tanjong Piai (Bulus), the Southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula (1°16'N 103°31'E) and The Brothers (1°11.5'N 103°21'E) and thence to Klein Karimoen (1°10N103°23.5'E).
- North: The Southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula.
- South: The Northeastern coast of Sumatra as far to the eastward as Tanjong Kedabu (1°06'N 102°58'E) thence to Klein Karimoen. Source
History
The Strait of Malacca has a long history for the surrounding kingdom. As an economically strategic strait, the Malacca Strait from the 15th century has become a bone of contention for major kingdoms including the Portuguese.
The Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam with the Kingdom of Malacca in charge of guarding the gate of the Strait of Malacca is often disturbed by the outside country because of it. Just as it was in 1508 AD. At that time, Aceh was led by Sultan Ali Mughayat Shah. As the new leader, Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah was immediately confronted with a test of the arrival of the Portuguese fleet intent on controlling the Strait of Malacca. The Portuguese fleet is led by Diego Lopez de Sequeira.
Referring to historical records, de Sequeira fleet consists of four ships with war equipment. The arrival of the Portuguese to the region was successfully attacks by the Royal Aceh Darussalam assisted by the Kingdom of Malacca.
After his defeat, the Portuguese again attacked and controlled Malacca. Since then, Aceh under the leadership of Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah continued to attempt to free Malacca from Portuguese interference for 10 years, or until August 7, 1530 AD.
After the death of Sultan Mughayat Syah, successors of the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam continue to run the basics of political policy to free Malacca from Portuguese influence. Salah ad Din, for example. This sultan attacked Malacca which had been mastered by the Portuguese in 1537 AD. But the liberation effort failed.
This policy is then continued by Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah Al Kahar or known Sultan Mansyur Syah. The kingdom of Aceh Darussalam at this periode had received full support from the Turkish army, Kambay and Malabar. This was written Mendez Pinto as quoted by Denys Lombard in his book The Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam Sultan Iskandar Muda.
Efforts to free Malacca from the influence of the Portuguese then successfully made after Perkasa Alam or known Sultan Iskandar Muda became leader of the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam, 1605 AD.
Nonetheless, Portuguese influence still exists in the Malacca Sultanate. Until finally Sultan Iskandar Muda launched a massive attack in 1629 AD. At that time, Iskandar Muda deployed 236 ships with 20 thousand troops to drive the Portuguese from Malacca.
Efforts made Sultan Iskandar Muda is obtain optimal results, when the Portuguese withdraw from the Malacca Sultanate. The bad luck of the Portuguese was then dampening the Dutch move at that time to rule the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam. They (the Dutch) at that time prefer to colonize the kingdoms on the island of Java, until the Dutch political policy changed, long after Iskandar Muda died (1636 AD). The Dutch had only dared to try to harass Aceh, long after Iskandar Muda died.
Straits of Malacca Now
Now, the Strait of Malacca has changed considerably. The warships were out of sight and replaced by giant tankers and fishing boats. These ships are frolicking in the Malacca Straits Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) connecting India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries in the region.
Malacca Straits Sea Potential
- Big Pelagic Fish
- Small Pelagic Fish
- Demersal Fish
- Coral fish consumption
- Panacid Shrimp
- Lobster
- Squid. Source