Malaysia's Kedah Endeavours To Bring Back 'Bunga Emas' From Thailand

ALOR SETAR (Kedah, Malaysia), Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The Kedah state government in north Malaysia will continue effort to bring back some of the Bunga Emas (Gold Flower) and Bunga Perak (Silver Flower) which were presented by the Kedah Sultanate to the royal government of Siam. State Religious, Siamese Community Affairs, Tourism and Heritage and Public Works Committee chairman Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid said the 27 Bunga Emas and Bunga Perak given by the Kedah Sultanate were currently in Thailand. "We will continue to use informal approaches in seeking to get back the Bunga Emas and Bunga Perak," he told a media conference on the organising of the International Kedah-Siam Seminar which will be held on Oct 5 and 6, here, Wednesday. He said the state government had never submitted a formal request to get back the historical artifacts until today because it was of the opinion unofficial channels were the best way. According to Mat Rawi, a request to get back the tributes had been voiced out unofficially to the Thais prior to this but no answer had been received to date. It is learnt, some of the Bunga Emas and Bunga Perak given by the Kedah Sultanate to the royal government of Siam in the past were now exhibited at the Royal Grand Palace, Bangkok. The Kedah Sultanate was believed to have present the Bunga Emas and Bunga Perak as a sign of friendship with the Siamese government and presents for its help in several wars with other governments. On the seminar titled "Kedah-Siam Relations in the Colours of History", Mohd Rawi said 18 scholars and historical experts from Malaysia and Thailand would table working papers. The seminar will end in Hatyai on Oct 7. Mohd Rawi, who is also Kedah State Museum chairman, said Kedah had long ties with Thailand, with some historical researchers saying that it extended to the 13th century. "The long relationship has resulted in numerous historical remnants in Kedah which can be used to attract Thai tourists to the state in conjunction with Visit Kedah Year next year," he said. --BERNAMA