Historical flaws, damn lies: French historian warns PMX downside of whitewashing history
CAREFUL what you lend your name to.
That was the clear warning from renowned historian Serge Jardin to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when officiating events, in particular those involving poorly curated exhibitions that are masquerading as historical fact.
In case anyone unfamiliar with him, the Malaysia-based French historian is synonymous for being the whistle-blower on academics presenting misleading or erroneous findings, especially on the ancient Melaka Sultanate.
Previously, such historical revisionism was said to damage institutional reputation of local universities.
Such shenanigan was also said to be harmful to the country’s image as well as tourism industry as it treated visitors with disdain. It has now become gone beyond a joke that can ultimately affect the standing of the Prime Minister’s office.
Slipshod curation
In a letter to FocusM, the French historian who is married to a Malaccan highlighted the slip-shod work related to the state’s historical past.
The contents are too lengthy to re-produce verbatim but these are some of the highlights. They include sign boards with factual errors with the author of Réver Malacca pointing out:
“In October 2024, Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB) displayed 16 new information signboards in the UNESCO Core Civic Zone.
Serge Jardin: A four-decade Malaysian resident
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“Twelve are faulty, scattered with 37 mistakes. So far, MBMB removed only the signboard of the Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower. The mistakes are still there to be enjoyed by all and sundry.”
The geography degree holder also pointed out the incredible wastage of public funds caused by these errors, stating:
“In August 2025, after I raised the alarm, PERZIM (Melaka Museum Corporation) replaced 35 faulty information plaques (out of 36 which were just affixed two months earlier) in St Paul Church. Six plaques are still faulty.”
It was also lamented that some of the fact-finding trips abroad were pointless as they did not uncover hitherto unknown facts:
“In June, a team of researchers went to Europe (for what purpose?). They didn’t bring back and show single new evidence which was not already well-known in Melaka.”
‘Not a discovery’
The former teacher also questioned the historical provenance of a character known as Enrique de Melaka, a slave with apparently Malay ancestry who rose to prominence in Ferdinand Magellan’s navy (see main image):
On June 30, Melaka Chief Minister, back from Europe, said on TV3:
“The discovery of an original manuscript from Spain opens a new chapter in world history when it is discovered that a Melaka native, Panglima Awang or known in records as Enrique de Malacca or Henry the Black, was the first individual to circumnavigate the world.
“The manuscript is currently being translated into Malay and will be exhibited to the public later.’”
The only two manuscripts presented at the exhibition were the Magellan’s will and the ships’ crew list.
First, it is not really a discovery as they are known since the 19th century and available in Melaka since 2010.
Then, Henry the Black is not mentioned in either document. Last but not least, both documents are dated 1519; they cannot prove the issue of a circumnavigation which has yet to start.
Embarrassment for PMX
It was then added: “In September 2025, the exhibition about Enrique de Melaka, launched by none other than PMX is the latest example to date of PERZIM’s disaster.”
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“Twelve are faulty, scattered with 37 mistakes. So far, MBMB removed only the signboard of the Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower. The mistakes are still there to be enjoyed by all and sundry.”
The geography degree holder also pointed out the incredible wastage of public funds caused by these errors, stating:
“In August 2025, after I raised the alarm, PERZIM (Melaka Museum Corporation) replaced 35 faulty information plaques (out of 36 which were just affixed two months earlier) in St Paul Church. Six plaques are still faulty.”
It was also lamented that some of the fact-finding trips abroad were pointless as they did not uncover hitherto unknown facts:
“In June, a team of researchers went to Europe (for what purpose?). They didn’t bring back and show single new evidence which was not already well-known in Melaka.”
‘Not a discovery’
The former teacher also questioned the historical provenance of a character known as Enrique de Melaka, a slave with apparently Malay ancestry who rose to prominence in Ferdinand Magellan’s navy (see main image):
On June 30, Melaka Chief Minister, back from Europe, said on TV3:
“The discovery of an original manuscript from Spain opens a new chapter in world history when it is discovered that a Melaka native, Panglima Awang or known in records as Enrique de Malacca or Henry the Black, was the first individual to circumnavigate the world.
“The manuscript is currently being translated into Malay and will be exhibited to the public later.’”
The only two manuscripts presented at the exhibition were the Magellan’s will and the ships’ crew list.
First, it is not really a discovery as they are known since the 19th century and available in Melaka since 2010.
Then, Henry the Black is not mentioned in either document. Last but not least, both documents are dated 1519; they cannot prove the issue of a circumnavigation which has yet to start.
Embarrassment for PMX
It was then added: “In September 2025, the exhibition about Enrique de Melaka, launched by none other than PMX is the latest example to date of PERZIM’s disaster.”
The 71-year-old Jardin further explains that “Melaka is my favourite playground to study history. However, the information provided to the resident and to the visitor in the brochures, on the monuments and in the museums are far from satisfactory.”
Such sloppy approach to historical facts can seriously harm Melaka’s reputation as a tourist destination as well as its status as a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Furthermore, as pointed out by the Melaka resident, such boos-boos can even affect the political standing of PMX given that he is often invited to officiate and launch exhibitions with such dubious provenance.
It looks like the newly-formed National Council of Historians has its work cut for them since they are to advise the government on the narrative of Malaysian history.
As the four-decade Malaysian resident noted: “Narrative is yours; empirical evidences are not negotiable.” – Nov 21, 2025
Such sloppy approach to historical facts can seriously harm Melaka’s reputation as a tourist destination as well as its status as a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Furthermore, as pointed out by the Melaka resident, such boos-boos can even affect the political standing of PMX given that he is often invited to officiate and launch exhibitions with such dubious provenance.
It looks like the newly-formed National Council of Historians has its work cut for them since they are to advise the government on the narrative of Malaysian history.
As the four-decade Malaysian resident noted: “Narrative is yours; empirical evidences are not negotiable.” – Nov 21, 2025
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