Many of you have undoubtedly came across the term “Mat Salleh”. While most Malaysian knows that Mat Salleh refers to caucasian male, many does not have a slightest clue as to the origin of the term. Of course, yours truely will now don square hat and attempt to educate the nescient public.

disclaimer: this information is drawn from word of mouth and online sources with no academic backup whatsoever, and of course, a bit of fill-in-the-blank by me.

The term Mat Salleh has been documented for well over a hundred years in the Malaya Peninsula and the Borneo island. A entry to the Timeline to The Rise of The Melacca Empire

1895-1905: The Mat Salleh Rebellion in North Borneo

Now, long before people residing in this part of the world speaks the western languages, contact with caucasians were aplenty, especially around the various habours such as the once great, but now reduced to ‘a place with delicious chicken rice balls’, Melacca.

The caucasians were mostly sailors. Like all sailors who live on the ship for months on end, liberation (liquor, women, party) were the norm whenever they dock. To the locals, they looked like a bunch of mad men, always drunk and usually acted silly.

The locals spoke the Malay language, and when one of them heard another English speaking referring those caucasians as “Mad Sailors”, he tried his best to learn that term.. and inevitably prounounced it wrongly as “Mat Salleh”. The term stuck till now.

If this story hasn’t convinced you enough, please check out a recent picture of this Mat Salleh and tell me if he does not look like a mad sailor here.


p/s: i still love you, ST

Mat Salleh
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12 thoughts on “Mat Salleh

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  • June 28, 2007 at 7:36 pm
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    Good Evening

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    Reply
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  • April 29, 2010 at 2:39 am
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    I lived in Penang in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Then I was in Miri, Sarawak(Borneo) and Singapore in the mid 1970’s.
    I was often called “mat saleh” as I passed someone by.
    There are many “fighting” names I have been called in many countries but I never felt anyone was being disrespectful calling me
    “mat saleh.”
    Now, I was a rebel but I was never drunk or crazy.
    I still miss Malaysia and Malaysians. I love the friends, schoolmates, and teachers of
    all types. Malay, Tribal, Chinese and Indian.
    May God bless you all.
    Joel Braughton

    Reply
    • July 18, 2012 at 2:08 pm
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      no one ask you to tell where you live, you pretty fucked Damm Human!!!

      Reply
  • April 29, 2010 at 9:16 am
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    Joel,
    it is usually an endearing term nowadays 😛

    Reply
  • July 18, 2012 at 10:46 am
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    i think this site is only presenting the smoker guy back there…dont you have guts to tell the real story, you jackass…??!! at least dont waste your blog to show this… Mother fucker son of bitch!

    Reply
    • July 18, 2012 at 2:47 pm
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      Patrick: you do realise this is just a joke made in 2005 right?

      Reply

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