Forbidden to Set Foot in Sungkai for Seven Generations
The Batang Padang district would not be complete without Sungkai, which complements the district as one of the southernmost areas in the state of Perak.
The Sungkai area is said to have existed since the early 1800s, and the name Sungkai is derived from a tree. The 'sesungkai' or 'sungkai' tree is said to have grown abundantly in the wild in that area once upon a time. Since long ago, the trunks of the sesungkai tree were used as pillars for huts in village orchards, and they were also used as piles on riverbanks to prevent erosion.
The existence of the Sungkai area is also linked to various mysteries involving the 'bunian' realm, spirits, and the Perak Royal family, with the story being passed down from generation to generation as folklore. This folklore can be considered a myth as there are no official recorded facts, and it is recorded here only for the public's knowledge regarding Perak's folklore. According to the story passed down, a man from the 'bunian' realm imposed two conditions on the Sultan of Perak because the Sultan wished to marry one of his family members, Puteri Buih. One of the two conditions imposed on the Sultan of Perak was that the Sultan's descendants could not set foot in the entire Sungkai area for seven generations. Meanwhile, the second condition was that the entire lineage of the Sultan of Perak could not drink water from rivers originating in the Sungkai area for seven generations as well. These conditions were imposed on the Sultan of Perak as a symbol of the high status of their family in the 'bunian' realm. Thus, since the marriage between the Sultan of Perak and Puteri Buih, their descendants for seven generations have had to abide by the agreement. If any descendant of the Sultan of Perak and Puteri Buih were to break these conditions within seven generations, a disaster would occur in the Sungkai area. One such incident occurred some time ago when Sultan Nazrin (the 35th Sultan of Perak) set foot on land in the Sungkai area to officiate a mosque in Sungkai.
Suddenly, by coincidence, the area was struck by wind and a storm. This is the event that continues to fuel the perception and belief of the people of Perak regarding the myth mentioned earlier. Many local residents claim that there was once a 'bubble palace' (istana buih) in Changkat Sulaiman. It is said that this was where Puteri Buih was raised by a man known as Tok Raja Tua, who originated from Indonesia. Everything might just be a coincidence. We must understand that such folklore was synonymous with Malay society in the past and is still told today as a source of moral lessons and entertainment.
