Aceh's Relations with Jiran Malaysia

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and Malaysia have very close historical ties. Malaysia in friendship with Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam both in the context of struggle relations and in the context of the world of trade, business and so on. Aceh's close ties to Malaysia include Aceh once liberating the Malay peninsula or Malacca from Portuguese colonies. 

Aceh at that time was very powerful in the land of jiran or Malaysia, the most famous consort of Sultan Iskandar Muda Raja in Aceh was the Pahang (Malaysia) person Putroe Phang aka princess of Pahang. Meanwhile, in political and military contests, as Aceh was plagued by prolonged conflict, Malaysia became the second base of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). It is evident that Aceh's relationship with Malaysia has been very harmonious since hundreds of years ago, both in political relations and trade. Before the Indonesian state became independent, Acehnese businessmen had been very existing and successful in the country of jiran or Malaysia. One of them they established the business entity "Sabena" which means that there is always.

In the affairs of the world of trade, at that time, Tengku Sayed al-Aidid, in 1808 founded a mosque. It should be noted that engku Sayed Husein al-Aidid, is one of the Acehnese merchants who is very famous among the Acehnese on Penang Island. He emigrated from Aceh to Penang Island, as a spice trader. Entering the 19th century, Acehnese merchants began to use the Penang River as a port, to transport agricultural products such as copra, coffee, rubber and other commodities from Aceh. Penang Island has since become a center for exporting commodity imports from Aceh and Sumatra. Acehnese merchants in conducting their trading business, use Malaysia Raya ships.

Another Acehnese merchant was Sayed Muhammad al Attas. In the 1860s, he founded the Sayed al Attas Religious House. During his lifetime, al Attas had two wives. His first wife was a relative of the Malay Diraja family. While his second wife was the daughter of Khoo Tiang Poh, a black pepper merchant from South China.

During the struggle of the Acehnese people against the Dutch, Sayed Muhammad al Attas provided some assistance to Acehnese fighters. In the 1880s, from Malaysia he sent arms to Acehnese fighters. His house, too, is often used as a headquarters or secret meeting place for Acehnese fighters, both in rallying foreign diplomacy, and seeking weapons supplies.

The next generation of Aceh, there is P Ramlee which is still phenomenal in Malaysia. This artist from North Aceh even received the honorary title of Tan Sri from the Malaysian government, because of his dedication in developing art in the country.

Aceh and Selangor have had a relationship since the 1600s. Aceh and Selangor once helped each other when fighting the invaders. Sultan Iskandar Muda once helped with cannons when Selangor fought against the Dutch. On the other hand, the King of Selangor had also sent the best son, Raja Muda Nala, to Aceh to help Aceh fight against Portuguese colonialism. Around 1795, the Viceroy of Jiran died in Aceh and was buried in Aceh.