Shipbuilding: Did the Malays Teach the Romans?

 

Prof Dr Solehah Yaacob, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) senior academician is at it again. Her latest claim is mind boggling – “the Romans learned to build ships from the Malays!” This has earned a rebuttal from Facebooker SEA Heritage & History (“SEA Heritage) that there is no strong evidence based on credible research that the Roman Empire specifically learned shipbuilding from the Ancient Malays. More likely from the Carthaginians who once controlled the Mediterranean.

 

Source: https://www.wikiwand.com

The digital creator (SEA Heritage) went on to debunk the presumed myth by “the pride of IIUM”:

   

1.      No documents – archaeological, or historical records – have been found that clearly demonstrate the Romans acquired their shipbuilding technology from the Malays. These claims often appear as legends or modern interpretations, and are not supported by adequate scientific evidence.

2.      Interaction routes between Rome and Southeast Asia did exist (through trade in India and the Indian Ocean) but direct technical influence on Roman shipbuilding from Malay technology has not been proven.

 

3.    Many such claims are classified as “myths” or “unverified hypotheses” in studies of the history of maritime relations.

While SEA Heritage & History has been very diplomatic in his rebuttal of Solehah, the same cannot be said of political commentator Prof James Chin. “I can tell you from mainstream history – including mainstream historians from this region – her entire lecture is at best pseudo-history,” reacted the inaugural director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania on his FB page. “Real historians would simply label her as “nuts”! But she is a full professor at UIA and she has been saying this sort of things for the past decade. “As far as I know, UIA has never asked her to go up against other historians or even check if her work is legitimate. The fact that she is a still a professor tells you a lot about UIA, right?” 

It is one thing to break into the global arena for the right reasons and another for a comedy show! I don’t understand why she is submitting weird theories – to gain recognition or to give us a bellyache! She may need help and IIUM may want to disassociate  from this individual for the sake of their own reputation. 

Reference:

IIUM professor makes Malaysia a laughing stock by claiming “Romans learned to build ships from Malays”, Focus Malaysia, 3 November 2025