An excellent discovery though the emphasis on the date is misguided:
SUNGAI PETANI (March 4, 2009): Malaysian archaeologists have discovered at least 30 ancient mounds, comprising structures like houses, clay brick walls and a metal workshop dating back some 1,700 years, within a 3 sq km area in Merbok, Kedah.
The discoveries, made within the last year, point to new evidence that the Bujang Valley civilisation in peninsular Malaysia existed long before neighbouring empires such as Majapahit (1200 AD) and Sri Vijaya (700 AD).
[…]
Remnants of the ancient society, including temples, tablets and drainage channels, have been found across more than 300 sq km around Gunung Jerai mountain – the highest peak in north Malaysia – since the British colonial period.
However, the latest discoveries shed greater light by scientifically confirming the date of the civilisation, CGAR director Assoc Prof Dr Mokhtar Saidin said today. [Civilisation dating back 300 A.D. found. Himanshu Bhatt. The Sun. March 4 2009]
I am not sure how significant this discovery is, I thought we already knew that the civilization in Kedah was older than Srivijaya. More than anything else, this discovery, while great, only reconfirms, what I think, we already knew.
p/s — I have solicited opinion from a couple of individuals and Noel of SEAArch is the first to reply. He suggests that the more important discovery is the metal workshop rather than the date.