Rafflesia name not tied to colonialism, expert clarifies
While the history of its discovery involved Stamford Raffles, the naming followed international scientific standards.
SHAH ALAM - A forest ecology expert has clarified that the scientific name Rafflesia is not tied to colonialism but is instead derived from Latin.
He emphasised that while the history of its discovery involved Stamford Raffles, the naming followed international scientific standards.
The scientific naming of the Rafflesia species has no connection with colonialism, said Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Faculty of Earth Sciences Dean Associate Professor Dr Zulhazman Hamzah.
He clarified that the name Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, is a Latin-based scientific name.
While its discovery was linked to Stamford Raffles and Dr Joseph Arnold in Bengkulu, West Sumatra, in 1818, the official registration was carried out by botanist Robert Brown in 1821.
“Scientific names are given so that if they are found anywhere in the world, they will have a standard reference. For example, Rafflesia. But local names may differ,” said Zulhazman.
He further added that Rafflesia has many local names, including bunga pokma in Kelantan, bunga malang among the Temiar Orang Asli in Lojing, bunga patma among the Kadazan-Dusun, bunga kekmo among the Malay-Thai community and bua put in Thailand.
“Raffles discovered it during his expedition in Bengkulu and the specimen was brought to Kew Gardens in London. There is no connection to colonialism at all.
"For instance, if I or anyone else were to discover a new species that has not yet been scientifically registered, it may be named after a certain person, the place it was discovered, or the unique morphological features of the plant,” he said
.This comes after Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal suggested that the name Rafflesia should be changed to symbolise liberation from colonial legacy in conjunction with Malaysia’s 68th National Day.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal argued that the flower’s name, which is linked to British colonial figure Stamford Raffles, is no longer suitable for use after more than six decades of independence.
He raised the point during an interjection in the Dewan Rakyat while Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Acting Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani was delivering his winding-up speech.
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