Chapter 3.2: The Arab Traders

Question 1

Where were many of the Arabs in Southeast Asia from originally?

Answer 1

Hadhramaut in southern Arabia which is in the south-eastern part of present-day Yemen.

Question 2

Were the Arabs active traders in Southeast Asia?

Answer 2

Yes, since the 7th century.

Question 3

Name two Arab traders who were among the first Arab traders to arrive in Singapore.

Answer 3

Syed Sharif Omar bin Ali Aljunied and his uncle, Syed Mohammed bin Harun (Haroon) Aljunied. Both were Hadhrami Arab merchants from Sumatra.

Question 4

Why did the Arab traders sail from parts of Malaya, Sumtra and Java in their ships to Singapore?

Answer 4

To escape heavy custom duties, i.e. taxes.

Question 5

Why did another wave of Arabs move from Hadhramaut to Singapore in the 19th century?

Answer 5

Because their travels were made easier with steamship travel and the opening of the Suez Canal.

Question 6

Who was Syed Sharif Omar bin Ali Ajunied?

Answer 6

1. Probably one of the first Arabs to come to Singapore.
2. Travelled to Palembang, Sumatra and establised himself as a successful trader of spices.
3. Imported spices from the Malay Archipelago and exported them to the Middle East and London.
4. He in turn imported cotton from England and then sent them to Indonesia to be made into textiles with batik prints.
5. His uncle, Syed Mohammed bin Haroon Aljunied, set up business in Singapore in June 1819. Syed Sharif Omar soon followed and was personally welcomed by Sir Stamford Raffles.