From Ottoman Outreach to Modern Connections: Türkiye-Malaysia Relations

Introduction

Throughout its historical evolution, “Malaysia” has been identified by a plethora of names, encompassing the Malay Peninsula, Malaya, and Melaka. In the era of colonial dominion, it was denominated as “British Malaya” or the “Straits Settlements.” Analogously, Türkiye has been designated by a multitude of appellations across the annals of history, including Anatolia, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire. Beyond these generic nomenclatures, historical documents attributable to both cultures have employed more nuanced terms to refer to each other. Esteemed works of classical Turkish literature, such as the Kitab-ı Bahriye and the Cihannûma, reference the Malay Peninsula utilizing a variety of expressions, including “Ceziretü’l-Hindiyye” and “Malakka.” Furthermore, traditional Malay texts spanning from the 15^th to 17^th centuries frequently employ terms such as “Turk,” “İstanbul,” and “Rum,” with references to their sovereigns as “Raja Rum.”¹ Thus, the lexicon employed in the historical narratives of both Malaysia and Türkiye reflects the rich tapestry of cultural interchange and underscores the deep-rooted connections and mutual recognition that have evolved over centuries.