Mahsuri Legend

The story of Mahsuri


Mahsuri is about a young beautiful woman Langkawi, and the wife of Wan Darus, a brave warrior. As was by the country, her husband had to go to war, leaving Mahsuri behind to fend for herself. It was during this time that Mahsuri befriended a young man named Deraman.
Their close friendship lead others in her village to believe that their relationship was sexual in nature.The legend claim that the parties who perpetuated the gossip were those who were envious of Mahsuri's beauty. Eventually the rumours grew strong enough that the villagers falsely accused (fitnah) her of adultery. Mahsuri pleaded her innocence, but no one believed her.

Mahsuri was to be tied to a tree (or pole) and stabbed to death by her father’s kris. It is believe that no other person’s kris can kill her as her father had a special spell that will prevent other kris to penetrate her other than her father’s own kris. When they stabbed her, white blood flowed from her wound, signifying her innocence. With her dying breath, Mahsuri cursed Langkawi to have seven generations of bad luck.

Many locals of Langkawi believe the legend to be true, citing the Siamese invasion of 1821 and decades of failed crops that followed Mahsuri's death. It is only at the end of the 20th century, after the seven generations have supposedly come to pass, that Langkawi began to prosper as a tourist destination.

The decendents of Mahsuri is now staying in Thailand, believed to be somewhere in Phuket. However they are not able to converse in Malay anymore.


A kris is a Malay dagger .