Stories That Know the Sea: Cultural Memory, Maritime Knowledge and Wellbeing in Kuala Selangor Folklore

This paper examines two coastal folktales from Kuala Selangor as dynamic repositories of cultural memory, arguing that they function not merely as narrative heritage but as lived frameworks through which communities interpret risk, leadership and belonging. Drawing on cultural memory theory and Quality of Life (QoL) perspectives, the study positions these stories as narrative lieux de mémoire that anchor collective experience to specific maritime landscapes. Through close textual analysis, the paper demonstrates how sites such as bays and river settlements are imbued with layered meanings, transforming them into symbolic infrastructures that encode ecological awareness, social norms and political legitimacy. The findings show that these folktales transmit practical maritime knowledge through narrative form, shaping communal responses to danger, uncertainty and environmental change. At the same time, they construct models of leadership grounded in ethical responsibility, intercultural negotiation and relational authority rather than coercive power. The stories further contribute to place identity by attaching emotional significance to landscapes, fostering a sense of continuity, belonging and resilience among coastal communities. The paper also argues that folklore functions as a living cultural resource with contemporary relevance, particularly amid shifting environmental and social conditions. While acknowledging narrative silences and selective representations, the study highlights the role of storytelling in sustaining cultural continuity and supporting wellbeing. The study is primarily grounded in qualitative textual analysis; however, this limitation is acknowledged given the absence of ethnographic field validation with contemporary community stakeholders. In doing so, it contributes to broader discussions on intangible heritage as an active force in shaping community identity and adaptive capacity.

cultural memory; Malaysian folklore; maritime knowledge

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