Undang-Undang Laut Melaka

Undang-Undang Laut Melaka (Malay for 'Maritime laws of Melaka', Jawi: آوندڠ٢ لاوت ملاك) was a legal code of Melaka Sultanate (1400-1511) that deals specifically on matters related to maritime laws and regulations, as well as nautical procedures concerning seafaring affairs of merchant vessels. The other important legal code of Melaka was the "Undang-Undang Melaka" ('laws of Melaka'), though it still contains certain provisions related to maritime laws, was sometime known as "Undang-Undang Darat Melaka" ('laws on the land of Melaka') instead. The clauses contained in the "Undang-Undang Laut Melaka" cover an extensive area, taking into account a wide variety of circumstances that could arise on a ship, with respect to social issues, such as slavery, adultery, murder, stealing, disrespecting an officer and negligence in carrying out duties; also, economic aspects such as tax and trade, including measurement of weight and area. The legal code also outlines a very well-structured organisation on ships, with titles of the officers are clearly specified complete with their responsibilities. In Melaka's court, matters related to the enforcement "Undang-Undang Laut Melaka" was placed under the authority of "Laksamana" ('admiral of the fleet').
History.
The actual date when the legal code was drafted remains unknown. However, based on its manuscript, the promulgation of "Undang-Undang Laut Melaka" was the result of a meeting of a group of Melakan "nakhodas" (sea captain) during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1424-1444):
Content.
According to Stamford Raffles, the clauses of "Undang-Undang Laut Melaka" which numbered up to 20, can be grouped into four distinctive chapters: