Coastal port-towns and the trading network of the Straits-Malay traders

The history of the Straits-Malay merchants and traders has not been fully written, documented, and researched. This article tries to evaluate the role and importance of the Straits-Malay traders from the early period until the mid nineteenth century. Their presence and network cover a vast area and their presence in many ports along the Straits was very important in shaping the economic history of Riau, Aceh, Melaka, and Penang. However, towards the mid nineteenth century, their presence was replaced with the incoming Chinese and the European companies