Re-evaluating modern Malaysian historiography through oral tradition

Oral history can be defined as the interviews (with individuals usually) in the form of sound recordings or transcripts thereof, intended for research use. The process of collecting, copying, restructuring, publishing and storing of data according to a specific system from invidividuals having any connection with a meaningful event is part of oral history as an inquiry method. In Malaysia, this method is still regarded new and the use of oral history in fact and evidence finding is yet to be accepted wholly. Doubts arose among scholars about the truth behind data collected through the methos of oral history. This paper, however, argues that the challenge is a matter of giving time for all the systematic and technical methods of oral history to gain its own strength among Malaysian researchers. The rewritting of Malaysian history, in particular, of highly important and meaningful events, is an imperative as the diverse variety of information sources utilised hitherto has give way to different perceptions of real events. The event of Memali is presented as a case in point where the government’s version of the event differed vastly from those of the individuals involved and arrested during the event. The use of oral history in finding further facts and evidences may rectify gaps of understanding the Memali event. In short, the use of oral history in re-examining Malaysian history will only add value to the vital inquiry process.