KUALA LUMPUR: Academic publisher Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia (Penerbit USM) has apologised for an erroneous social media post about Kunlun, a legendary hero.
In its apology, Penerbit USM referred to a Jan 12 post promoting a book titled The Legend of Kunlun Who Flew: A Malay Hero in the Tang Dynasty of China.
Kunlun is introduced in Chapter 8 of the book, alongside Hang Tuah and Sandokan from Sabah, as one of the three legendary heroes representing the Malay Archipelago.
In classical Chinese texts, Kunlun is also used to describe dark-skinned people from southern China, blending elements of geography, myth, and ethnography into a symbol of cultural imagination.
Penerbit USM's earlier post about Kunlun, accompanied by the phrase, "This is not a fairy tale, this is a historical record," touched on Kunlun's ability to fly.
The post also shared how Kunlun, from the Malay Archipelago, arrived in China and performed heroic feats, including saving a noblewoman from a burning house. It added that Kunlun's bravery symbolises Malay courage and wisdom, even in a foreign land.
The post drew criticism from social media users.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Penerbit USM stated that the earlier post was inconsistent with the author's sources.
It explained that the author had noted in the book's introduction that the work draws upon various sources, including 9th-century CE Chinese classical literature, 16th-century CE Chinese theatrical works, and a 21st-century CE Chinese film.
"We take full responsibility for this error and will exercise greater caution in posts that could cause confusion," Penerbit USM said.