KELANTAN FOLKLORE: CIK SITI WAN KEMBANG

The legend of Cik Siti Wan Kembang is one of Malaysia’s most enduring tales of female empowerment, leadership, and mysticism. She was a 17th-century queen who ruled over a region in Kelantan, known for her beauty, wisdom, and prowess on the battlefield.

The Life of a Warrior Queen

Cik Siti Wan Kembang is believed to have ruled the state of Kelantan (specifically the area known as Tanah Serendah Sekebun Bunga) from approximately 1610 to 1667.

1. Rise to Power

Following the death of her father, Raja Ahmad, Cik Siti ascended the throne at the young age of 30. Despite being a woman in a traditionally patriarchal era, she commanded immense respect. She never married, earning her the title of the "Virgin Queen of Kelantan."

2. Military Prowess

She was not just a political figurehead; she was a skilled warrior. Legends say she was an expert in Silat (Malay martial arts) and led a cavalry of female warriors. She was often seen riding horseback, dressed in male warrior attire, ready to defend her kingdom against invaders.

3. The Symbol of Kelantan: The Kijang

One of the most famous aspects of her legend is her pet Kijang (barking deer). Cik Siti was so fond of this animal that she had its likeness stamped on the gold coins (Pitis) used in her kingdom.

Modern Legacy: Today, the Kijang remains the official symbol of the State of Kelantan and is also the logo for Bank Negara Malaysia (the Central Bank).

The Mystical Departure

True to the nature of Malay legends, Cik Siti’s story does not end with a typical death. It is said that as she grew older, she decided to retreat from the world to pursue a life of spiritual devotion.

According to local folklore, she entered the forests of Gunung Ayam and vanished into the "unseen world" (alam ghaib). Many locals believe she never truly died but remains a guardian spirit of the land.

Key Takeaways

Feature	Description
Title	Queen of Kelantan (Tanah Serendah Sekebun Bunga)
Era	17th Century
Notable Skill	Silat expert and horse rider
Legacy Symbol	The Kijang (Barking Deer)
Adopted Daughter	Puteri Saadong (another famous Kelantanese figure)

Cik Siti Wan Kembang remains a symbol of sovereignty and strength for the people of Kelantan and a reminder of the powerful female rulers in Southeast Asian history.

Is she really exists?

The question of whether Cik Siti Wan Kembang "really existed" is a fascinating blend of history and folklore. Most historians view her as a semi-legendary figure—someone whose life is based on a real person, but whose story has been enhanced by centuries of oral tradition.

Here is a breakdown of what is known regarding her historical existence:

1. Historical Records

While there is no definitive archaeological "smoking gun" (like an inscription or a contemporary diary), she appears in several significant local records:

• The Kelantan Genealogy: She is listed in the Detik-detik Sejarah Kelantan (Moments in Kelantan History) as the daughter of Raja Ahmad. According to these records, she was born in 1585 and reigned from 1610 to 1667.
• Royal Lineage: She is documented as the last ruler of the line descending from Sultan Iskandar Shah, before the kingdom transitioned to the House of Jembal.

2. Tangible Evidence

There are physical "footprints" in Kelantan that support the idea of her reign:

• Kijang Coins: Gold coins known as Pitis featuring the deer motif have been recovered. While some historians link the motif to earlier Hindu influences, local tradition firmly attributes the design to Cik Siti’s favorite pet.
• Jelasin Fort: The ruins of Kota Jelasin in Kota Bharu are traditionally said to be the site of her palace and a fort built to defend the state from Siamese attacks.
• Gunung Chinta Wangsa: A mountain in Ulu Kelantan is traditionally identified as her seat of government.

3. The "Legend" Aspect

The reason she is often called a "legend" rather than just a historical queen is due to the mystical elements of her story:

• The Vanishing: There is no known tomb for her. Legend says she didn't die but "disappeared" into the mystical world (alam ghaib) at Gunung Ayam.
• Longevity: Some accounts claim she ruled for nearly 70 years and possessed supernatural powers, which are traits more common in folklore than strict historical biography.
• Timeline Variations: Some accounts place her in the 14th century (connecting her to stories told by the traveler Ibn Battuta), while others place her in the 17th century, creating chronological confusion.

Summary

In short: She likely existed as a real ruler, but the woman we know today is a "Srikandi" (heroine)—a figure whose real political achievements have been wrapped in the colorful layers of Malay mythology to represent the strength and identity of Kelantan.

Google Gemini AI

18 January 2026: 6.25 p.m

KELANTAN FOLKLORE: PUTERI SAADONG : FACT AND LEGEND

Puteri Saadong is a figure who exists in the space between historical fact and legend.

While there is strong evidence that she was a real historical queen who ruled Kelantan in the 17th century, her life story has been heavily romanticized over hundreds of years through Malay oral tradition and literature (specifically the Hikayat Seri Kelantan).

1. The Historical Fact

From a historical perspective, Puteri Saadong is recognized as a legitimate ruler of the Jembal Dynasty in Kelantan.

• Timeline: She is believed to have reigned as the Queen of Kelantan from approximately 1667 to 1671.
• Lineage: Her real name was Mariam. She was the daughter of Raja Loyor, the ruler of Kota Jembal, and the granddaughter of Raja Sakti.
• Succession: She was the third female ruler of Kelantan, succeeding her father and her adoptive mother, the famous Cik Siti Wan Kembang.
• Physical Evidence: Several sites in Kelantan are tied to her history, most notably Bukit Marak (her childhood home) and the Tomb of Raja Abdullah (her husband) in Padang Halban, which still exists today.

2. The Legend

The "Legend" aspect comes from the dramatic and supernatural elements added to her biography. According to folklore:

• The Sacrifice: When the King of Siam (King Narai) demanded her hand in marriage due to her legendary beauty, she supposedly surrendered herself to him to save her husband and her kingdom from a Siamese invasion.
• The Curse/Illness: Legend says that while in Siam, she refused to let the King touch her. When he tried, he was struck by a mysterious, incurable skin disease (scabies) that only she could heal. She eventually cured him in exchange for her freedom.
• The Tragic Return: Upon returning to Kelantan, she found that her husband, Raja Abdullah, had broken his vow to wait for her and had remarried. In a fit of rage and betrayal, she is said to have killed him with her hair pin (cucuk sanggul) before disappearing into the forest.

To summarize whether Puteri Saadong is fact or fiction, it is best to view her as a historical figure wrapped in folklore.

The Historical Fact (Reality)

• A Real Queen: Mariam (Puteri Saadong) was a real 17th-century monarch. She ruled Kelantan from 1667 to 1671.
• The Jembal Dynasty: She was the daughter of Raja Loyor and the successor to the famous Cik Siti Wan Kembang.
• Geographical Evidence: Locations like Bukit Marak and the Tomb of Raja Abdullah (her husband) provide physical links to her life.

The Fiction (Legendary Elements)

• The Healing Magic: The story that she cured the King of Siam of a magical skin disease in exchange for her freedom is considered a legendary dramatization.
• The Lethal Hairpin: While she may have killed her husband for his betrayal, the detail that she did it with a single "poisoned" or "magical" hairpin is a staple of Malay oral tradition.
• Mystical Disappearance: Instead of a recorded death, legends say she "vanished" into the spirit world at Gunung Ayam, a common trope in Malay mythology for great figures.

Final Verdict: Puteri Saadong is FACT in terms of her existence and political reign, but FICTION in the supernatural details and romanticized tragedies that have defined her legacy in Malaysian culture.

Google Gemini AI

18 January 2026: 6.10 p.m

HOTEL MEMORIES (KELANTAN & PERLIS)

KELANTAN

2012: DYNASTY INN, KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN

Dynasty Inn Kota Bharu, Kelantan is located in Kota Bharu City Centre. Among the popular attractions near the Dynasty Inn in Kota Bharu, Kelantan are the Siti Khadijah Market, Istana Jahar (Museum), Padang Merdeka, a historical city square etc.

The is another property nearby called Dynasty Inn - Wakaf Che Yeh, which is a separate hotel located about 10-15 minutes drive outside the city center.

My colleagues and I stayed at Dynasty Inn during a health program at the Rukun Tetangga Hall in Ketereh, Kota Bharu in 2012 and a program at the MARA Poly-Tech College, Kota Bharu in 2016.

2018: DIAMOND HOTEL, KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN

Located at Wisma Koop Guru, Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, just right in the Kota Bharu City Center area, close to landmarks like Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium, Chinatown and the Siti Khadijah Market. 

The Hotel is still operating today (in 2025), listed as OYO 1151 Diamond Hotel now. 

My colleagues and I stayed at this hotel during the Health Screening program at the Sultan Mansor Mosque, Kota Bharu and also at the MARA Poly-Tech College in Kota Bharu, in 2018.

PERLIS

2017 : FEDERAL HOTEL, KANGAR, PERLIS

Situated in the city center, it offers easy access to local shops, eateries and the Masjid Alwi. A budget-friendly option in the heart of Kangar.

I stayed at this hotel with my colleagues when we held a health screening program at Arau Community College on 16 February 2017 and also at Kampung Guar Lepai on 18 February 2017.

Compiles by:

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

15 December 2025: 9.23 a.m

PERAK : IPOH > GUA MUSANG > CAMERON HIGHLAND

BY HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

6 MARCH 2024

On August 10, 2018, together with the Awareness Team of The Heart Foundation of Malaysia, we left for Gua Musang from our office in Kuala Lumpur for the Health program at Kg. Pos Brooke Lama, Gua Musang, Kelantan.

We have decided to spend the night at Gunung Rapat Ipoh because the journey from here to Pos Brooke is more comfortable than spending the night at Gua Musang.

The journey from our office in Kuala Lumpur to Gunung Rapat takes 2 hours and 11 minutes covering a distance of 197 km.

HILLCITY HOTEL, GUNUNG RAPAT, IPOH, PERAK

We stayed at the Hillcity Hotel located at Jalan Gopeng, Kg. Gunung Rapat, Ipoh.

Maklumat terkini hotel ini telah pun menutup operasinya (2024)

The name Gunung Rapat was chosen in conjunction with the limestone hills that are close together and have classic caves in them. All these caves have been used as settlements by the Chinese and also as temples for tourism purposes.

The Chinese Settlement was built around 1957 and was once administered by the British government.

BANDAR MERU RAYA

In the evening, we went out for dinner at Meru Raya, Ipoh, and took a walk to appreciate the beauty of Ipoh city at night. Bandar Meru Raya is a new township situated north of Ipoh City, with the closest towns being Jelapang and Chemor.

The distance from Hillcity Hotel to Meru Raya is only 16.6 km (20 minutes drive by car)

Dinner is a bit special tonight because I'm too hungry due to the long-distance travel. Tonight, I ate rice with grilled lamb.

On the morning of August 11, 2018, we left our hotel in Gunung Rapat and headed to Kg Pos Brooke, Gua Musang, Kelantan.

The journey from Gunung Rapat, Ipoh, Perak to Kg Pos Brooke Lama in Gua Musang, Kelantan takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes by car, covering a distance of 80 km.

GUA MUSANG, KELANTAN

Gua Musang is a district located in the south of the state of Kelantan. It borders Pahang State to the south, Terengganu State to the east, and Perak State to the west.

76% of the people in Gua Musang are Malay, 13% are Orang Asli, and the remaining population consists of Chinese and Indians.

Among the historical events in Gua Musang,the most famous is the Battle of Sungai Semur,which took place on March 15, 1950. In that event, 17 soldiers from the 12th Platoon, D Company, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment were killed and 8 were injured in an ambush by the Communist terrorists. However, 29 communist terrorists were killed in the battle.

KG. POS BROOKE LAMA, GUA MUSANG

Kg. Pos Brooke is an indigenous settlement area in Gua Musang district, Kelantan. Post Brooke was created by the British Government during the Emergency era because, at that time, the Aboriginal people were considered by the British Government in the Briggs Plan as the main key to victory against the communists. Therefore, several posts were established at that time, including Pos Telanok in Ulu Jelai, Pos Brooke in Gua Musang, and Pos Betau in Kuala Lipis.

Post Brooke (Fort Brooke in British times) was the training camp of the VAT 69 Pioneer Team (Police Commando) at the beginning of its establishment.

Fort Brooke according to the records of Roy Follows who had served at Fort Brooke in 1954 was built by the British Elite, Special Air Service along with the Jungle Squad (Pasukan Polis Hutan). It was named Fort Brooke after the then British SAS Commanding Officer.

Mr.Kumai - Sejarah Kewujudan 'Fort' di Cameron Highland

After the health screening program in Kg Pos Brooke Lama ended, we continued our journey to Cameron Highlands in Pahang to spend the night there before returning to Kuala Lumpur the next day.

Travel distance from Kg Pos Brooke Lama, Gua Musang to our hotel in Perumahan Makmur, Cameron Highland is 41 km and takes 1 hour.

Perumahan Makmur is located in Cameron Jaya in Tanah Rata, 300 meters from the Orang Asli village. Most homestay facilities are provided here.

CAMERON HIGHLAND

Cameron Highland or Tanah Tinggi Cameron, situated at the northwestern of Pahang, is approximately 90 km east from Ipoh, 200 km north from Kuala Lumpur, and about 355 km from Kuantan, the capital of Pahang. 

The name Cameron Highland is named after Sir William Cameron, a British surveyor who was instructed by the British Government at the time to map the borders of Pahang and Perak in 1885.

Hotel BB Inn is the hotel where we stayed when we came for the coordination meeting on 21 March 2018 before our Health Screening Program in August 2018.

Cameron Highlands is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and unique attractions. The region is famous for its tea plantations, which produce some of the best tea in the world.

Cameron Highlands is a leading producer of flowers in Malaysia. Flowers grown here include roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, dahlias, geraniums, fuchsias, and gladioli.

Cameron Highlands is one of the best places for a weekend getaway or if you just need to go somewhere to unwind. 

1. 17 Things to do in Cameron Highlands

On the way back to Kuala Lumpur, we first stopped at a place to buy souvenirs. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Compiled by:

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

7 March 2024 > 26 Syaaban 1445H: 7.38 pm