By Rozan Yunos.
WHEN Sultan Tengah, the first Sultan of Sarawak and
the younger brother of Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar of Brunei Darussalam, the
10th Sultan of Brunei, was in Sukadana, he married one of the Sukadana
princesses, Puteri Surya Kesuma. Puteri Surya Kesuma's brother was Sultan
Muhammad Safiuddin, the Sultan of Sukadana.
After the marriage, Sultan Tengah requested from his father-in-law that he be allowed to leave for the Sambas River so that he can continue his mission to spread Islam in the area. Sultan Tengah arrived in Kota Lama and met Ratu Sepudak. Ratu Sepudak was from the line of the Majapahit Governors of Sambas.
In Sambas, Puteri Surya Kesuma gave birth to several sons; the first was Radin Sulaiman, the second Pengiran Badaruddin and the third Pengiran Abdul Wahab, and daughters Radin Rasmi Puteri and Radin Ratnawati.
After the marriage, Sultan Tengah requested from his father-in-law that he be allowed to leave for the Sambas River so that he can continue his mission to spread Islam in the area. Sultan Tengah arrived in Kota Lama and met Ratu Sepudak. Ratu Sepudak was from the line of the Majapahit Governors of Sambas.
In Sambas, Puteri Surya Kesuma gave birth to several sons; the first was Radin Sulaiman, the second Pengiran Badaruddin and the third Pengiran Abdul Wahab, and daughters Radin Rasmi Puteri and Radin Ratnawati.
Sultan Muhammad
Safiuddin II (1866- 1922)
Sultan Tengah was allowed to carry out his
propagation work without any resistance from Ratu Sepudak. He stayed there for
a while and married his eldest son Radin Sulaiman to Ratu Sepudak's princess
Puteri Mas Ayu Bongsu. Sultan Tengah left later on for Matan and eventually
died in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, his son, Radin Sulaiman carried out his father's work and converted many of Kota Lama's residents to Islam. However there were a number of people who were against Radin Sulaiman's mission including the successor to Ratu Sepudak, Ratu Anum Mangkurat.
Radin Sulaiman decided to leave Kota Lama for Sambas and when he left, almost the entire Kota Lama left with him leaving Ratu Anum Mangkurat to reign over an empty kingdom. Ratu Anum Mangkurat later asked for forgiveness from Radin Sulaiman and left for Kota Balai Pinang to stay with his brother Radin Anum Kesmayuda.
In Sambas, Radin Sulaiman was crowned as the first Sultan of Sambas, Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin I in 1584. Before he was coronated, he sent a message to his uncle, Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar in Brunei that he wanted to use the title "Sultan". His uncle granted him to use the title on the condition that every time before the coronation of his descendants, they must come to Brunei. Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin I started the Sambas Sultanate lineage.
When he died in 1669, his son, Radin Bima, became Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin. Like his father, he also went to Brunei to receive his blessings from the Sultan. The Sultan reigning in Brunei was Sultan Muhyiddin. Sultan Muhammd Tajuddin died in 1708.
His son, Radin Maliau, became the third Sultan and took the name Sultan Omar Aqamaddin I. He too continued with his predecessors' work to spread Islam. He was known as "Sultan Adil" (the Just Sultan). He died in 1732.
One of his sons, Radin Bongsu, became the next Sultan, Sultan Abu Bakar Kamaluddin. He died in 1762. He was then succeeded by his son, Radin Jama, who became Sultan Omar Aqamaddin II.
It was during the reign of Sultan Omar Aqamaddin that Sambas prospered. A goldmine was opened and brought a lot of revenues to the government. Sultan Omar Aqamaddin II stepped down from the throne voluntarily in 1786 and his eldest son, Radin Gayong, became Sultan taking the name Sultan Muda Ahmad Tajuddin. He died in 1793 without an heir.
His brother, Radin Janggut, became the next Sultan with the name of Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I. Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I named his son as the Crown Prince but he died before ascending the throne and so his brother, Radin Pasu or also known as Pengiran Anum, was made Crown Prince.
Pengiran Anum under the orders of his brother, Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I, attacked Banjarmasin to avenge the death of an Islamic scholar. On his return, he also met a British warship entering Sambas and he battled that ship too. In 1799, Siak-Inderapura came to attack Sambas because their application to open a gold mine was refused by Sultan Sambas. Pengiran Anum led the Sambas Army to defeat the Siak-Inderapura army.
While visiting Brunei around 1812, a British warship attacked Sambas. He returned back but the British negotiated for a truce. Until then, Sambas remained independent.
With the coming of the East India Company, the capital went through that bombardment in 1812. The Dutch remained interested in the state and often interfered with succession and was implicated in the deposition and exiling to Java of Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin II.
Pengiran Anum became Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin I when his brother Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I died in 1814. He made peace with the Dutch in 1819.
The next in line was his brother, Radin Osman, who became Sultan Osman Kamaludin in 1828 but he too did not rule for long. He was succeeded by his brother when he died in 1832. His brother, Radin Samar, was known as Sultan Omar Aqamaddin III.
When Sultan Omar Aqamaddin III died in 1846, Radin Ishak, the son of Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin I ascended the throne and became known as Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin II. In 1853, he voluntarily stepped down from the throne and his replacement was Radin Toko, the son of Sultan Omar Aqamaddin II. He became Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin II in 1866.
In Sambas History, Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin II was the longest reigning Sultan. During his reign, he improved the infrastructure of the state while at the same time carrying out his mission to continue to spread Islam. He stepped down from the throne in 1922 and he was succeeded by his prince, Radin Muhammad Aria Diningrat, who became known as Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin II. He died in 1924 and two years later his father also died.
There was no immediate successor to the throne because Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin II's princes and other descendants were still considered minor, the country was governed by a Regent Council headed by Pengiran Radin Muhammad Busu Mohammed Taib. It was in 1931 when Radin Muhammad Ibrahim became Sultan Muhammad Ibrahim Safiuddin and he ruled until 1944.
During his rule, the Japanese invaded West Kalimantan. Sultan Muhammad Ibrahim Safiuddin was executed at Mandor in 1944. The Sultanate was thereafter suspended and replaced by a Japanese ruling council, only being restored with the return of the Dutch after the War.
After the end of World War II, Sultan Tuanku Muhammad Taufik ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Ibrahim Safiuddin became the Sultan until 1984.
In 1984, the head of the royal house was Pangeran Ratu Winata Kusuma of Sambas. He died in 2008 and currently Pangeran Ratu Muhammad Tarhan Winata Kusuma, is installed as chief of the royal family since 2008.
Today, Sambas is a regency in the Province of West Kalimantan, Republic of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, his son, Radin Sulaiman carried out his father's work and converted many of Kota Lama's residents to Islam. However there were a number of people who were against Radin Sulaiman's mission including the successor to Ratu Sepudak, Ratu Anum Mangkurat.
Radin Sulaiman decided to leave Kota Lama for Sambas and when he left, almost the entire Kota Lama left with him leaving Ratu Anum Mangkurat to reign over an empty kingdom. Ratu Anum Mangkurat later asked for forgiveness from Radin Sulaiman and left for Kota Balai Pinang to stay with his brother Radin Anum Kesmayuda.
In Sambas, Radin Sulaiman was crowned as the first Sultan of Sambas, Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin I in 1584. Before he was coronated, he sent a message to his uncle, Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar in Brunei that he wanted to use the title "Sultan". His uncle granted him to use the title on the condition that every time before the coronation of his descendants, they must come to Brunei. Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin I started the Sambas Sultanate lineage.
When he died in 1669, his son, Radin Bima, became Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin. Like his father, he also went to Brunei to receive his blessings from the Sultan. The Sultan reigning in Brunei was Sultan Muhyiddin. Sultan Muhammd Tajuddin died in 1708.
His son, Radin Maliau, became the third Sultan and took the name Sultan Omar Aqamaddin I. He too continued with his predecessors' work to spread Islam. He was known as "Sultan Adil" (the Just Sultan). He died in 1732.
One of his sons, Radin Bongsu, became the next Sultan, Sultan Abu Bakar Kamaluddin. He died in 1762. He was then succeeded by his son, Radin Jama, who became Sultan Omar Aqamaddin II.
It was during the reign of Sultan Omar Aqamaddin that Sambas prospered. A goldmine was opened and brought a lot of revenues to the government. Sultan Omar Aqamaddin II stepped down from the throne voluntarily in 1786 and his eldest son, Radin Gayong, became Sultan taking the name Sultan Muda Ahmad Tajuddin. He died in 1793 without an heir.
His brother, Radin Janggut, became the next Sultan with the name of Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I. Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I named his son as the Crown Prince but he died before ascending the throne and so his brother, Radin Pasu or also known as Pengiran Anum, was made Crown Prince.
Pengiran Anum under the orders of his brother, Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I, attacked Banjarmasin to avenge the death of an Islamic scholar. On his return, he also met a British warship entering Sambas and he battled that ship too. In 1799, Siak-Inderapura came to attack Sambas because their application to open a gold mine was refused by Sultan Sambas. Pengiran Anum led the Sambas Army to defeat the Siak-Inderapura army.
While visiting Brunei around 1812, a British warship attacked Sambas. He returned back but the British negotiated for a truce. Until then, Sambas remained independent.
With the coming of the East India Company, the capital went through that bombardment in 1812. The Dutch remained interested in the state and often interfered with succession and was implicated in the deposition and exiling to Java of Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin II.
Pengiran Anum became Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin I when his brother Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin I died in 1814. He made peace with the Dutch in 1819.
The next in line was his brother, Radin Osman, who became Sultan Osman Kamaludin in 1828 but he too did not rule for long. He was succeeded by his brother when he died in 1832. His brother, Radin Samar, was known as Sultan Omar Aqamaddin III.
When Sultan Omar Aqamaddin III died in 1846, Radin Ishak, the son of Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin I ascended the throne and became known as Sultan Abu Bakar Tajuddin II. In 1853, he voluntarily stepped down from the throne and his replacement was Radin Toko, the son of Sultan Omar Aqamaddin II. He became Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin II in 1866.
In Sambas History, Sultan Muhammad Safiuddin II was the longest reigning Sultan. During his reign, he improved the infrastructure of the state while at the same time carrying out his mission to continue to spread Islam. He stepped down from the throne in 1922 and he was succeeded by his prince, Radin Muhammad Aria Diningrat, who became known as Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin II. He died in 1924 and two years later his father also died.
There was no immediate successor to the throne because Sultan Muhammad Ali Safiuddin II's princes and other descendants were still considered minor, the country was governed by a Regent Council headed by Pengiran Radin Muhammad Busu Mohammed Taib. It was in 1931 when Radin Muhammad Ibrahim became Sultan Muhammad Ibrahim Safiuddin and he ruled until 1944.
During his rule, the Japanese invaded West Kalimantan. Sultan Muhammad Ibrahim Safiuddin was executed at Mandor in 1944. The Sultanate was thereafter suspended and replaced by a Japanese ruling council, only being restored with the return of the Dutch after the War.
After the end of World War II, Sultan Tuanku Muhammad Taufik ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Ibrahim Safiuddin became the Sultan until 1984.
In 1984, the head of the royal house was Pangeran Ratu Winata Kusuma of Sambas. He died in 2008 and currently Pangeran Ratu Muhammad Tarhan Winata Kusuma, is installed as chief of the royal family since 2008.
Today, Sambas is a regency in the Province of West Kalimantan, Republic of Indonesia.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
ABOUT 200 years before the Brookes became the White
Rajah of Sarawak, Sarawak was under the control of the Brunei Sultanate. Not
much has been known how Sarawak was governed by the Brunei Sultanate but presumably
there was an equivalent of a governor then.
Not many know that around 1598, Sarawak had its first and only Sultan. How did this come about?
When Sultan Muhammad Hassan, Brunei's ninth Sultan who reigned from 1582 to 1598 died, the throne was ascended by his eldest son, Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar.
Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar had a younger sibling named Pengiran Muda Tengah Ibrahim Ali Omar Shah or was better known as Raja Tengah.
According to oral tradition, Pengiran Muda Tengah wanted to become the Sultan of Brunei as well. He argued that his elder brother was born when his father was not yet the Crown Prince whereas he was born when Sultan Muhammad Hassan was anointed as the Crown Prince. This, argued Pengiran Muda Tengah, made him more suited to be the Sultan than his elder brother.
Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar was a wise man. He understood his younger sibling's intention and he tried to accommodate his brother's wishes. One way out for Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar was to appoint Pengiran Muda Tengah as a Sultan somewhere else. And so Pengiran Muda Tengah was appointed as the Sultan of Sarawak, since Sarawak was then owned and governed by Brunei.
According to the Salsilah Raja-Raja Brunei, Pengiran Muda Tengah accepted the appointment and he made preparation to go to Sarawak. When he went to Sarawak, more than 1,000 warriors of Sakai, Kedayan and Pulau Bunut origins accompanied him. A few nobilities went along with him to help him administer the new country. Many of these are the forefathers of some of today's Malay community in Sarawak.
In Sarawak, the new Sultan and his men built a palace and a fort to surround the palace. Sultan Tengah began to appoint his senior officials. Among them was Datu Petinggi Seri Setia, Datu Shahbandar Indera Wangsa, Datu Amar Setia Diraja and Datu Temenggong Laila Wangsa. After everything was done, Sultan Tengah coronated himself as Sultan Ibrahim Ali Omar Shah, the first Sultan of Sarawak. According to Sambas History, Sultan Tengah was also known as Sultan Abdul Jalil.
Around 1599, Sultan Tengah visited Pahang which was then part of the Johor Empire to visit Raja Bonda who was Sultan Tengah's aunty who had married Sultan Abdul Ghafur Muhyiddin Shah ibnu Sultan Abdul Kadir Alauddin Shah.
During his stay, Sultan Tengah was asked to a dance but during that dance, the handkerchief of his dance partner nearly hit Sultan Tengah's face. He became so angry that he slapped his partner. That caused Sultan Johor to be so upset that Sultan Tengah was advised to leave Johor as soon as possible.
According to the Sambas History version, Sultan Tengah was forced to leave Johor because he refused Raja Bonda's offer for him to marry Sultan Johor's princess known as Encik Zohra.
On his return to Sarawak, Sultan Tengah's ship ran into a hurricane which caused the ship to lose its main sail. The ship ran aground in Sukadana in today's Kalimantan, Indonesia. Then Sukadana was governed by Penambahan Giri Mustika, Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin who had just converted to Islam helped by Sheikh Shamsuddin from Makkah. Sultan Tengah also studied under Sheikh Shamsuddin during his stay there.
In Sukadana, Sultan Tengah married one of the princesses, Puteri Surya Kesuma, the younger sister to Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin. Sultan Tengah stayed on in Sukadana and asked to be allowed to help spread Islam around the area. It was decided that he should do it around the Sambas River. And so around 1600, Sultan Tengah left Sukadana via the Sambas River with about 40 boats all equipped with weapons.
At the Sambas River, they landed at Kuala Bangun and by then Puteri Surya Kesuma gave birth to a prince named Radin Sulaiman. Two other princes were also born later. The second prince was known as Pengiran Badaruddin who later became Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja and a third prince, Pengiran Abdul Wahab who later became Pengiran Temenggong Jaya Kesuma.
Sultan Tengah eventually arrived at Kota Lama. There, he was welcomed by Ratu Kota Lama, Ratu Sepudak who greeted him with all the royal protocol. Sultan Tengah found that Ratu Sepudak allowed him to spread Islam around the area even though he was not a Muslim. Later on during his stay, Sultan Tengah's eldest son, Radin Sulaiman was married to the daughter of Ratu Sepudak, Puteri Mas Ayu Bongsu. The couple had a son named Radin Bima who later became Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin.
When Ratu Sepudak died, he was replaced by Pengiran Prabu Kenchana who appointed Radin Sulaiman as one of his viziers. It was also said that Ratu Sepudak wanted the throne to be given to Sultan Tengah as he had the experience of running a country but that was opposed by the royal family.
Around 1630, Sultan Tengah went to Matan. In Matan, he married one of the Matan Princesses who later gave birth to Pengiran Mangku Negara. Pengiran Mangku Negara eventually became the Sultan of Matan.
After a few years' stay in Matan, Sultan Tengah went back to Sarawak. On his return to Sarawak, he stopped at a place called Batu Buaya in Santubong. It was there he was killed by one of his followers.
When news of his death reached Sarawak, Datu Petinggi, Datu Shahbandar, Datu Amar and Datu Temenggong came to Santubong to complete the funeral rites according to royal Brunei tradition. It was said that he died in 1641 around 10 years after Radin Sulaiman became Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin I in Sambas. Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin I was replaced by Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin I, then followed by a long lineage of the Sambas Sultanate until the modern times.
Meanwhile, Sultan Tengah was buried in Santubong in today's Kampong Batu Buaya. The grave stone marking the grave was fit for a Sultan. With Sultan Tengah's death, came the end of the Sarawak Sultanate made up of the one and only Sultan. But the titles given to the nobilities of Sarawak carried on until today.
During his visit to Sarawak, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam visited the mausoleum of Sultan Tengah in Santubong in August earlier this year.
Not many know that around 1598, Sarawak had its first and only Sultan. How did this come about?
When Sultan Muhammad Hassan, Brunei's ninth Sultan who reigned from 1582 to 1598 died, the throne was ascended by his eldest son, Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar.
Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar had a younger sibling named Pengiran Muda Tengah Ibrahim Ali Omar Shah or was better known as Raja Tengah.
According to oral tradition, Pengiran Muda Tengah wanted to become the Sultan of Brunei as well. He argued that his elder brother was born when his father was not yet the Crown Prince whereas he was born when Sultan Muhammad Hassan was anointed as the Crown Prince. This, argued Pengiran Muda Tengah, made him more suited to be the Sultan than his elder brother.
Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar was a wise man. He understood his younger sibling's intention and he tried to accommodate his brother's wishes. One way out for Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar was to appoint Pengiran Muda Tengah as a Sultan somewhere else. And so Pengiran Muda Tengah was appointed as the Sultan of Sarawak, since Sarawak was then owned and governed by Brunei.
According to the Salsilah Raja-Raja Brunei, Pengiran Muda Tengah accepted the appointment and he made preparation to go to Sarawak. When he went to Sarawak, more than 1,000 warriors of Sakai, Kedayan and Pulau Bunut origins accompanied him. A few nobilities went along with him to help him administer the new country. Many of these are the forefathers of some of today's Malay community in Sarawak.
In Sarawak, the new Sultan and his men built a palace and a fort to surround the palace. Sultan Tengah began to appoint his senior officials. Among them was Datu Petinggi Seri Setia, Datu Shahbandar Indera Wangsa, Datu Amar Setia Diraja and Datu Temenggong Laila Wangsa. After everything was done, Sultan Tengah coronated himself as Sultan Ibrahim Ali Omar Shah, the first Sultan of Sarawak. According to Sambas History, Sultan Tengah was also known as Sultan Abdul Jalil.
Around 1599, Sultan Tengah visited Pahang which was then part of the Johor Empire to visit Raja Bonda who was Sultan Tengah's aunty who had married Sultan Abdul Ghafur Muhyiddin Shah ibnu Sultan Abdul Kadir Alauddin Shah.
During his stay, Sultan Tengah was asked to a dance but during that dance, the handkerchief of his dance partner nearly hit Sultan Tengah's face. He became so angry that he slapped his partner. That caused Sultan Johor to be so upset that Sultan Tengah was advised to leave Johor as soon as possible.
According to the Sambas History version, Sultan Tengah was forced to leave Johor because he refused Raja Bonda's offer for him to marry Sultan Johor's princess known as Encik Zohra.
On his return to Sarawak, Sultan Tengah's ship ran into a hurricane which caused the ship to lose its main sail. The ship ran aground in Sukadana in today's Kalimantan, Indonesia. Then Sukadana was governed by Penambahan Giri Mustika, Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin who had just converted to Islam helped by Sheikh Shamsuddin from Makkah. Sultan Tengah also studied under Sheikh Shamsuddin during his stay there.
In Sukadana, Sultan Tengah married one of the princesses, Puteri Surya Kesuma, the younger sister to Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin. Sultan Tengah stayed on in Sukadana and asked to be allowed to help spread Islam around the area. It was decided that he should do it around the Sambas River. And so around 1600, Sultan Tengah left Sukadana via the Sambas River with about 40 boats all equipped with weapons.
At the Sambas River, they landed at Kuala Bangun and by then Puteri Surya Kesuma gave birth to a prince named Radin Sulaiman. Two other princes were also born later. The second prince was known as Pengiran Badaruddin who later became Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja and a third prince, Pengiran Abdul Wahab who later became Pengiran Temenggong Jaya Kesuma.
Sultan Tengah eventually arrived at Kota Lama. There, he was welcomed by Ratu Kota Lama, Ratu Sepudak who greeted him with all the royal protocol. Sultan Tengah found that Ratu Sepudak allowed him to spread Islam around the area even though he was not a Muslim. Later on during his stay, Sultan Tengah's eldest son, Radin Sulaiman was married to the daughter of Ratu Sepudak, Puteri Mas Ayu Bongsu. The couple had a son named Radin Bima who later became Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin.
When Ratu Sepudak died, he was replaced by Pengiran Prabu Kenchana who appointed Radin Sulaiman as one of his viziers. It was also said that Ratu Sepudak wanted the throne to be given to Sultan Tengah as he had the experience of running a country but that was opposed by the royal family.
Around 1630, Sultan Tengah went to Matan. In Matan, he married one of the Matan Princesses who later gave birth to Pengiran Mangku Negara. Pengiran Mangku Negara eventually became the Sultan of Matan.
After a few years' stay in Matan, Sultan Tengah went back to Sarawak. On his return to Sarawak, he stopped at a place called Batu Buaya in Santubong. It was there he was killed by one of his followers.
When news of his death reached Sarawak, Datu Petinggi, Datu Shahbandar, Datu Amar and Datu Temenggong came to Santubong to complete the funeral rites according to royal Brunei tradition. It was said that he died in 1641 around 10 years after Radin Sulaiman became Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin I in Sambas. Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin I was replaced by Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin I, then followed by a long lineage of the Sambas Sultanate until the modern times.
Meanwhile, Sultan Tengah was buried in Santubong in today's Kampong Batu Buaya. The grave stone marking the grave was fit for a Sultan. With Sultan Tengah's death, came the end of the Sarawak Sultanate made up of the one and only Sultan. But the titles given to the nobilities of Sarawak carried on until today.
During his visit to Sarawak, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam visited the mausoleum of Sultan Tengah in Santubong in August earlier this year.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
IN THE history of modern Brunei,
no one should forget what Sultan Hashim did for us. He signed the historic
agreement between Brunei Darussalam and United Kingdom in 1888 which made us a
British Protectorate. He also signed the other historic agreement between the
two countries in 1906 which created the post of British Resident to advise
Brunei.
Despite signing these important agreements, not much is known about Sultan Hashim. What we do know about Sultan Hashim is always garnered from British writings especially from British officers who served under the Brooke Administration in Sarawak. Many of those people disliked him as he thwarted Rajah Brooke's efforts to control Brunei entirely but some admired him being able to steer and save the remnants of Brunei Darussalam. What do we really know about Sultan Hashim?
Despite signing these important agreements, not much is known about Sultan Hashim. What we do know about Sultan Hashim is always garnered from British writings especially from British officers who served under the Brooke Administration in Sarawak. Many of those people disliked him as he thwarted Rajah Brooke's efforts to control Brunei entirely but some admired him being able to steer and save the remnants of Brunei Darussalam. What do we really know about Sultan Hashim?
Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam
Aqamaddin comes from a long line of Brunei Sultanate. His father and his
genealogical lineage were as follows: Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin ibni
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II ibni Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I ibni Sultan
Muhammad Tajuddin ibni Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I ibni Sultan Muhammad
Alauddin ibni Pengiran Di-Gadong Shah Mubin ibni Sultan Muhyiddin ibni Sultan
Abdul Jalilul Akbar ibni Sultan Muhammad Hassan ibni Sultan Saiful Rijal ibni
Sultan Abdul Kahar ibni Sultan Bolkiah ibni Sultan Sulaiman ibni Sultan Sharif
Ali.
He was born in 1825. He ascended the throne as the 25th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam in 1885 when he was 60 years old. He died shortly after signing the 1906 Treaty with United Kingdom which allowed for a British Resident to be here in Brunei. Before he became the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Hashim was titled Pengiran Temenggong, one of the four chief wazirs in the Brunei Royal Court. Sultan Hashim married the daughter of Pengiran Yusof. Pengiran Yusof did not agree with the policy to surrender Sarawak to James Brooke and openly disagreed with James Brooke's efforts to meddle in Brunei's internal affairs. Sultan Hashim also held the same position with his father-in-law. The three Rajah Brookes continued their efforts to capture and conquer more and more Brunei territories beginning with Kuching and its immediate surroundings in 1841.
By 1853, areas as far as Sibu were under Rajah Brooke's control. By 1861, Rajah Brooke controlled as far as Bintulu when Sultan Abdul Momin was forced to surrender that area as far as Tanjong Kidurong. By 1882 Baram. By 1884, Trusan and 1905 Lawas. In 1885 when Sultan Hashim ascended the throne, he was supported by many of Brunei's dignitaries. In fact the British agreed that he was the best choice to become Sultan. But that period which he ascended the throne is among the darkest in Brunei history.
He was one of the strong supporters of the 1885 Oath of Amanat. Sultan Abdul Momin and his supporters realised that the expansionist activities of Rajah Brooke and also that of North Borneo Company continued much further, there will no longer exist a country called Brunei. The Oath of Amanat 1885 was called by Sultan Abdul Momin whereby every chief in Brunei agreed that there should not be any more ceding or leasing of any of the remaining territories of Brunei to foreign power.
When Sultan Hashim took the throne, he took steps to preserve the rest of Brunei's territory. He tried to recover Limbang when Charles Brooke occupied it. Nevertheless, he was not able to do so and he did not manage to prevent further loss of Brunei's territories. Sultan Hashim did not have the military power to enforce the amanat. During those early years of his reign, Sultan Hashim faced the greatest difficulties. He faced pressure from Rajah Brooke and North Borneo Company.
In 1887, Sultan Hashim wrote to seek help from Queen Victoria imploring the British Government not to carry out the British plan's to subdivide Brunei further until the Sultan only govern the area of what is currently Brunei District.
When Sir Frederic Weld visited Brunei in 1887, Sultan Hashim called upon him to help protect Brunei. Sir Frederic Weld, the Governor of Straits Settlement, pointed out the best way the British can help was to have a British Resident advising Brunei. This led to the Protectorate Agreement between Brunei and United Kingdom in 1888.
Sultan Hashim agreed to sign the Agreement because he wanted to prevent further erosion of Brunei's territory. However, despite this historic agreement, the British Government failed to take any action against Charles Brooke for seizing Limbang in 1890. It was in 1889 when Charles Brooke insisted that Limbang be annexed to Sarawak. However, Sultan Hashim strongly opposed his demand.
The British Government also refused to approve the ceding of Limbang. But Charles Brooke seized Limbang by force on 17th March 1890. The British Government did send Noel Trevenan to lead a mission to investigate the actual situation. Trevenan accompanied by Brooke's officials met with 15 local chiefs and reported that 12 of them were in favour. But later it was realised that another 18 chiefs were not present at the meeting and those that were present were Brooke's supporters and they therefore did not represent all the people of Limbang. Sultan Hashim rejected their findings. Sultan Hashim was greatly disappointed and he continued his protests. He even wrote to the Sultan of Turkey imploring for help but the letter was seized by the British. Sultan Hashim tried to do many things when he was the Sultan. Peter Blundell in his book The City of Many Waters wrote about the Sultan. He described the Sultan as someone who was "heavily in debt and almost certainly without means of support. If he had been given a fair chance, he certainly would have been a great King".
Sultan Hashim was concerned about Brunei's economy. At that time, Brunei was heavily dependent on cutch for its foreign income. He even visited the cutch factory where he expressed hopes that the factory will continue to be successful and to continue providing employment to locals. Sultan Hashim tried to issue the first modern coinage for Brunei in 1886.
Sultan Hashim also tried to introduce a postal service in 1895. Unfortunately the man he gave the concessions to produce the stamps and run the postal services had other ideas and did not fulfil his contract fully. Sultan Hashim's efforts to get the private sector to run the postal services would be recognisable now as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.
Poultney Bigelow writing for Harper Magazine in the early 1900s entitled his article The Last of a Great Sultan when he wrote about Sultan Hashim then. The Sultan's face was described as very kindly and his manner dignified. Peter Blundell wrote of Sultan Hashim as having "a first-class brain, albeit illiterate, might have proved an outstanding ruler." Sultan Hashim died on 10th May 1906. He did enough to save Brunei from extinction.
He was born in 1825. He ascended the throne as the 25th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam in 1885 when he was 60 years old. He died shortly after signing the 1906 Treaty with United Kingdom which allowed for a British Resident to be here in Brunei. Before he became the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Hashim was titled Pengiran Temenggong, one of the four chief wazirs in the Brunei Royal Court. Sultan Hashim married the daughter of Pengiran Yusof. Pengiran Yusof did not agree with the policy to surrender Sarawak to James Brooke and openly disagreed with James Brooke's efforts to meddle in Brunei's internal affairs. Sultan Hashim also held the same position with his father-in-law. The three Rajah Brookes continued their efforts to capture and conquer more and more Brunei territories beginning with Kuching and its immediate surroundings in 1841.
By 1853, areas as far as Sibu were under Rajah Brooke's control. By 1861, Rajah Brooke controlled as far as Bintulu when Sultan Abdul Momin was forced to surrender that area as far as Tanjong Kidurong. By 1882 Baram. By 1884, Trusan and 1905 Lawas. In 1885 when Sultan Hashim ascended the throne, he was supported by many of Brunei's dignitaries. In fact the British agreed that he was the best choice to become Sultan. But that period which he ascended the throne is among the darkest in Brunei history.
He was one of the strong supporters of the 1885 Oath of Amanat. Sultan Abdul Momin and his supporters realised that the expansionist activities of Rajah Brooke and also that of North Borneo Company continued much further, there will no longer exist a country called Brunei. The Oath of Amanat 1885 was called by Sultan Abdul Momin whereby every chief in Brunei agreed that there should not be any more ceding or leasing of any of the remaining territories of Brunei to foreign power.
When Sultan Hashim took the throne, he took steps to preserve the rest of Brunei's territory. He tried to recover Limbang when Charles Brooke occupied it. Nevertheless, he was not able to do so and he did not manage to prevent further loss of Brunei's territories. Sultan Hashim did not have the military power to enforce the amanat. During those early years of his reign, Sultan Hashim faced the greatest difficulties. He faced pressure from Rajah Brooke and North Borneo Company.
In 1887, Sultan Hashim wrote to seek help from Queen Victoria imploring the British Government not to carry out the British plan's to subdivide Brunei further until the Sultan only govern the area of what is currently Brunei District.
When Sir Frederic Weld visited Brunei in 1887, Sultan Hashim called upon him to help protect Brunei. Sir Frederic Weld, the Governor of Straits Settlement, pointed out the best way the British can help was to have a British Resident advising Brunei. This led to the Protectorate Agreement between Brunei and United Kingdom in 1888.
Sultan Hashim agreed to sign the Agreement because he wanted to prevent further erosion of Brunei's territory. However, despite this historic agreement, the British Government failed to take any action against Charles Brooke for seizing Limbang in 1890. It was in 1889 when Charles Brooke insisted that Limbang be annexed to Sarawak. However, Sultan Hashim strongly opposed his demand.
The British Government also refused to approve the ceding of Limbang. But Charles Brooke seized Limbang by force on 17th March 1890. The British Government did send Noel Trevenan to lead a mission to investigate the actual situation. Trevenan accompanied by Brooke's officials met with 15 local chiefs and reported that 12 of them were in favour. But later it was realised that another 18 chiefs were not present at the meeting and those that were present were Brooke's supporters and they therefore did not represent all the people of Limbang. Sultan Hashim rejected their findings. Sultan Hashim was greatly disappointed and he continued his protests. He even wrote to the Sultan of Turkey imploring for help but the letter was seized by the British. Sultan Hashim tried to do many things when he was the Sultan. Peter Blundell in his book The City of Many Waters wrote about the Sultan. He described the Sultan as someone who was "heavily in debt and almost certainly without means of support. If he had been given a fair chance, he certainly would have been a great King".
Sultan Hashim was concerned about Brunei's economy. At that time, Brunei was heavily dependent on cutch for its foreign income. He even visited the cutch factory where he expressed hopes that the factory will continue to be successful and to continue providing employment to locals. Sultan Hashim tried to issue the first modern coinage for Brunei in 1886.
Sultan Hashim also tried to introduce a postal service in 1895. Unfortunately the man he gave the concessions to produce the stamps and run the postal services had other ideas and did not fulfil his contract fully. Sultan Hashim's efforts to get the private sector to run the postal services would be recognisable now as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.
Poultney Bigelow writing for Harper Magazine in the early 1900s entitled his article The Last of a Great Sultan when he wrote about Sultan Hashim then. The Sultan's face was described as very kindly and his manner dignified. Peter Blundell wrote of Sultan Hashim as having "a first-class brain, albeit illiterate, might have proved an outstanding ruler." Sultan Hashim died on 10th May 1906. He did enough to save Brunei from extinction.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
IF ONE were to mention the name Awang Semaun to any
Bruneian, he or she would conjure up a description of a strong brave warrior
who has contributed to the existence of Brunei.
According to legend, Awang Semaun is said to be the younger brother of Awang Alak Betatar (who eventually became the first Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad Shah). Awang Semaun was made a Damong by his brother and he also later became the Pengiran Temenggong (one of the four wazir or viziers) who assisted the Sultan in governing the country.
According to legend, Awang Semaun is said to be the younger brother of Awang Alak Betatar (who eventually became the first Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad Shah). Awang Semaun was made a Damong by his brother and he also later became the Pengiran Temenggong (one of the four wazir or viziers) who assisted the Sultan in governing the country.
Who was Awang Semaun? According to Brunei legends
and one of the most famous epic poems which bore his name, Syair Awang Semaun,
he was one of 14 brothers which included Awang Alak Betatar, Pateh Berbai,
Pateh Mambang, Pateh Tuba, Pateh Sangkuna, Pateh Manggurun, Pateh Malakai,
Pateh Pahit, Damang Sari, Pateh Sindayong, Damang Lebar Daun, Hapu Awang and
Pateh Laila Langgong. The brothers all lived in different places with Awang
Semaun and his brother Damang Sari living in Garang, near Kuala Labu in
Temburong.
It was said that the father fathered the 14 children in his journeys . His grandfather was known as Sang Aji Brunei. His name is mentioned in another epic poem, Syair Negara Kartagama, written in 1365 where he was known as Sang Aji Baruwing (a variant of the name "Brunei").
According to oral legends, despite being married for quite some time, he was childless. One day while walking outside his palace, he found a giant egg and brought it back to the palace. That night a young boy by the name of I-Pai Samaring was hatched. He later married the daughter of Sang Aji and gave birth to Alak Betatar.
While the princess was pregnant, she was craving for a tembadau (wild cow). I-Pai Samaring went hunting and managed to hit a tembadau with a spear but it got away. I-Pai Samaring followed the bloody trail through several villages. At each village, he married the daughter of the chieftain as it was considered a great honour. He married 13 times before he eventually found the tembadau.
Each of those wives later gave birth to the brothers of Awang Alak Betatar. When Awang Alak Betatar grew up, he went in search of his brothers and brought them together. They later went in search of a new place to build a country and when they found the location at the present Kampong Ayer, their cries of baru nah — "now we found it" — gave Brunei its name.
Awang Semaun is mentioned in a number of local folklores and legends. Whether he is the same Awang Semaun in all the other legends, one will never know.
According to Iban folklore, Awang Semaun or Sumaun is the son of Derom anak Sabatin. Derom, together with his father, alighted in Tanjong Batu (bordering Sarawak and Indonesia). Sumaun and his brother Serabungkok moved to Naga Rajang when they were grown up. Serabungkok married Lemina and gave birth to Dayang Ilam who later married Raja Semalanjat. The Ibans are said to be descendants of Serabungkok.
On the other hand, Semaun had a son name Tugau and the Melanaus are said to be the descendant of Tugau. According to Iban legend, Sumaun went to Brunei in search of his fortune.
According to the Muruts in Ulu Lawas, Semaun was said to be a seer and a very strong man. One rainy day when he was taking shelter under an overhang by a hill in Long Bawan, he stood up forgetting that he was under an overhang. An existing hole where he stood up — complete with the shape of his ears — can still be seen today. In another place his footprint can be seen when he jumped from one hill to another.
It was said that he went away to Padian (Brunei) and was never heard of again.
However, the Brunei legends stated that Awang Semaun was the brother of Pateh Berbai and is of Brunei origin.
According to local Temburong folklore, Awang Semaun left behind a giant vase used for keeping water. The local people said that the giant vase can sometimes appear and a number of locals have claimed to have seen that magic vase.
One local head village who worked in the area in the 1920s said that he saw the vase at least 10 times. He described the vase as having an opening of about two feet in diameter, its length up to 30 feet and a broad middle of about 20 feet in diametre. The vase will be found half submerged in the river. The British Resident who heard the stories tried to search for the vase in vain. The elderly folks said that a magic vase like that will not be found by those who went searching for it.
It was said that Awang Semaun converted to Islam in Johor. During the reign of Awang Alak Betatar, he instructed Awang Semaun to go to Johor in search of a Johor Princess who became Awang Alak Betatar's consort. The Johor Princess had a bird named pinggai (burong pinggai). When the Princess was taken to Brunei, the bird came to Brunei to search for her. It came together with a ship which sank when it arrived in Brunei. The sailors were said to be assisted by the Kedayans who lived in Berakas. From the Kedayans, the sailors heard that the bird had flown to a place which eventually became Kampong Burong Pinggai.
From that village, the emissary from Johor discovered that the Princess had married the Brunei Sultan. However, the Princess, together with her searchers from Johor, managed to persuade Awang Alak Betatar to return back to Johor for the Johor marriage ceremony there.
In Johor, Awang Alak Betatar converted to Islam and took the name Sultan Muhammad, Pateh Berbai became Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara and Awang Semaun became Pengiran Temenggong.
On their return back to Brunei, the Johor Princess' followers stayed in Kampong Burong Pingai.
Some also said that the Johor Sultan "persuaded by her happiness and the fame and glory of Brunei" — as described by Saunders in his History of Brunei — journeyed to Brunei and formally installed Alak Betatar as Sultan and his brothers, including Awang Semaun in the offices of state which became traditional to Brunei and presented the new Sultan with the royal regalia.
We only know Awang Semaun through legends. We do not even know of his descendants. We will never know the truth about him.
But the name Awang Semaun lives on as one of Brunei's great warriors.
It was said that the father fathered the 14 children in his journeys . His grandfather was known as Sang Aji Brunei. His name is mentioned in another epic poem, Syair Negara Kartagama, written in 1365 where he was known as Sang Aji Baruwing (a variant of the name "Brunei").
According to oral legends, despite being married for quite some time, he was childless. One day while walking outside his palace, he found a giant egg and brought it back to the palace. That night a young boy by the name of I-Pai Samaring was hatched. He later married the daughter of Sang Aji and gave birth to Alak Betatar.
While the princess was pregnant, she was craving for a tembadau (wild cow). I-Pai Samaring went hunting and managed to hit a tembadau with a spear but it got away. I-Pai Samaring followed the bloody trail through several villages. At each village, he married the daughter of the chieftain as it was considered a great honour. He married 13 times before he eventually found the tembadau.
Each of those wives later gave birth to the brothers of Awang Alak Betatar. When Awang Alak Betatar grew up, he went in search of his brothers and brought them together. They later went in search of a new place to build a country and when they found the location at the present Kampong Ayer, their cries of baru nah — "now we found it" — gave Brunei its name.
Awang Semaun is mentioned in a number of local folklores and legends. Whether he is the same Awang Semaun in all the other legends, one will never know.
According to Iban folklore, Awang Semaun or Sumaun is the son of Derom anak Sabatin. Derom, together with his father, alighted in Tanjong Batu (bordering Sarawak and Indonesia). Sumaun and his brother Serabungkok moved to Naga Rajang when they were grown up. Serabungkok married Lemina and gave birth to Dayang Ilam who later married Raja Semalanjat. The Ibans are said to be descendants of Serabungkok.
On the other hand, Semaun had a son name Tugau and the Melanaus are said to be the descendant of Tugau. According to Iban legend, Sumaun went to Brunei in search of his fortune.
According to the Muruts in Ulu Lawas, Semaun was said to be a seer and a very strong man. One rainy day when he was taking shelter under an overhang by a hill in Long Bawan, he stood up forgetting that he was under an overhang. An existing hole where he stood up — complete with the shape of his ears — can still be seen today. In another place his footprint can be seen when he jumped from one hill to another.
It was said that he went away to Padian (Brunei) and was never heard of again.
However, the Brunei legends stated that Awang Semaun was the brother of Pateh Berbai and is of Brunei origin.
According to local Temburong folklore, Awang Semaun left behind a giant vase used for keeping water. The local people said that the giant vase can sometimes appear and a number of locals have claimed to have seen that magic vase.
One local head village who worked in the area in the 1920s said that he saw the vase at least 10 times. He described the vase as having an opening of about two feet in diameter, its length up to 30 feet and a broad middle of about 20 feet in diametre. The vase will be found half submerged in the river. The British Resident who heard the stories tried to search for the vase in vain. The elderly folks said that a magic vase like that will not be found by those who went searching for it.
It was said that Awang Semaun converted to Islam in Johor. During the reign of Awang Alak Betatar, he instructed Awang Semaun to go to Johor in search of a Johor Princess who became Awang Alak Betatar's consort. The Johor Princess had a bird named pinggai (burong pinggai). When the Princess was taken to Brunei, the bird came to Brunei to search for her. It came together with a ship which sank when it arrived in Brunei. The sailors were said to be assisted by the Kedayans who lived in Berakas. From the Kedayans, the sailors heard that the bird had flown to a place which eventually became Kampong Burong Pinggai.
From that village, the emissary from Johor discovered that the Princess had married the Brunei Sultan. However, the Princess, together with her searchers from Johor, managed to persuade Awang Alak Betatar to return back to Johor for the Johor marriage ceremony there.
In Johor, Awang Alak Betatar converted to Islam and took the name Sultan Muhammad, Pateh Berbai became Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara and Awang Semaun became Pengiran Temenggong.
On their return back to Brunei, the Johor Princess' followers stayed in Kampong Burong Pingai.
Some also said that the Johor Sultan "persuaded by her happiness and the fame and glory of Brunei" — as described by Saunders in his History of Brunei — journeyed to Brunei and formally installed Alak Betatar as Sultan and his brothers, including Awang Semaun in the offices of state which became traditional to Brunei and presented the new Sultan with the royal regalia.
We only know Awang Semaun through legends. We do not even know of his descendants. We will never know the truth about him.
But the name Awang Semaun lives on as one of Brunei's great warriors.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
ONE of the interesting islands in Brunei Bay is a
small island called Pulau Cermin (cermin means mirror in Malay). Pulau Cermin
as many Brunei historians know, is the site of the temporary palace of Sultan
Abdul Hakkul Mubin, the 13th Sultan of Brunei and is the site of the only civil
war in Brunei History.
Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin stayed there for a while, retreating from Brunei's capital in Kampong Ayer. Another Sultan, Sultan Muhyiddin, took up the throne in Brunei's capital while Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mumin stayed at Pulau Cermin. It was the only time that Brunei had two Sultans.
How did the civil war come about? The civil war between the two Sultans was described vividly in a Brunei Malay novel entitled Mahkota Berdarah (The Bloodied Crown). It was in fact quite a bloody time in Brunei history.
Yura Halim wrote the book in the mid-1960s and the book was quite popular during its hey days and is considered a classic today.
The bloody episode was sparked off by a cock fight between the son of the Sultan, Pengiran Muda Alam, and the son of the Bendahara. The Bendahara was Abdul Hakkul Mubin.
The Bendahara, in the old days, is always the Sultan's right hand man. He can be considered as the Deputy Sultan or in these days, the equivalent of the Prime Minister.
For Brunei, the Bendahara was the most senior of all the viziers (wazir) until the appointment of the Perdana Wazir in 1970.
During the cockfight, the cock belonging to the son of the Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin won. It defeated the cock belonging to the son of the Sultan, Pengiran Muda Alam. Pengiran Muda Alam was so enraged by the loss that he took out his keris and plunged it into the chest of the son of the Bendahara. The son of the Bendahara died from the fatal stabbing.
Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin was said to have loved that son so much that he too was enraged when he was informed of his son's death. He marched to the palace to confront the Sultan. The Sultan at that time was Sultan Muhammad Ali. The Bendahara asked for his son's death to be avenged.
According to some, he was denied by Sultan Muhammad Ali. Though in the book, Mahkota Berdarah, the Sultan allowed him to enter into the palace to search for Pengiran Muda Alam. By the time he went in, Pengiran Muda Alam had escaped from the palace.
The Bendahara was so enraged when he could not find Pengiran Muda Alam. He lost his temper and went amok and started killing people inside the palace including the Sultan's family. The Sultan who waited in the hall was shocked to see the Bendahara on a killing spree. He tried to stop the Bendahara but the Bendahara will no longer listen to reason.
The Bendahara and his men took the Sultan and killed him by garroting him to death. His body was left lying on the grass lawn and up to now he is known as 'Marhum Tumbang Dirumput'. This death was to have taken place in November 1661. The Bendahara took the throne for himself. He crowned himself the Sultan of Brunei as Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin, Brunei's 13th Sultan.
As Sultan, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin tried to foster peace between him and the followers of Sultan Muhammad Ali by installing the latter's grandson, Pengiran Muhyiddin, as the new Bendahara.
At first there was peace in the country. But underneath the peace, there was still simmering hatred for Sultan Hakul Abdul Mubin. Many of Sultan Muhammad Ali's followers implored to Bendahara Muhyidin to rebel against Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin.
At first Bendahara Muhyiddin felt that it was not the right thing to do. But over time, he agreed and plan for the removal of Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin.
The first thing he and his men did was to create a disturbance at the palace as well as the houses in the area. They did the disturbances by poking their spears into the palace and houses. This was called 'mengarok'.
Since many of these rebels were also working at the palace, it was not difficult for them to carry out the attacks.
When Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin asked for Bendahara Muhyidin's advice, he was duly advised that it would be better if he went off to Pulau Cermin while waiting for the attacks to dissipate. The Sultan immediately ordered for a new palace to be built there and move as soon as it was ready.
Bendahara Muhyiddin in the meantime was installed as the new Sultan in the capital. When Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin's men came ashore to seek out why the Bendahara has not taken up his residence at the island, they were shocked to see that the Bendahara had raised the Sultan's yellow flag for himself.
There was no way that Brunei can have two Sultans. A battle ensued between the two Sultans and at first Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin retreated to Kinarut in Sabah.
While in Kinarut, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin built a fort about 10 miles away from Kota Kinabalu. From here with the assistance of the local Bajaus and Dusuns he managed to repel attacks from Sultan Muhiyiddin even killing a few of Sultan Muhiyiddin's Cheterias.
The fort was strategically placed on top of a hill with two rivers flowing beside it and a view that can oversee a few small island in the South China Sea. The fort was so good that according to legend, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin stayed for about 10 years becoming the Sultan in Kinarut where he among others also managed to curtail piracy activities in that area.
There were several attacks carried out by Sultan Muhyddin. In a final attack at Kinarut, Sultan Muhyddin's forces failed to defeat Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin. The two went back to Brunei with Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin going back to Pulau Cermin.
Pulau Cermin itself is fairly unremarkable but what makes it a very strong fortress is that it is in the middle of the entry into the Brunei river. Control the island means you control access to the food supply coming in from the sea. In those days, Bruneians were also fishermen and they could not go out to fish during the civil war.
Sultan Muhyiddin worried that the war was going to drag on and created more difficulties for the citizens of Brunei, called for the assistance of Sultan Suluk to help defeat Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin promising them independence as well as the territory of Sabah to be given to Sultan Suluk.
The Suluks came and took up places at Pulau Keingaran to help bombard the island but according to legends did not do much fighting and only took up the fight towards the very end. While Sultan Muhyiddin's men bombarded Pulau Cermin from Tanjung Kindana before launching a final assault on the island.
During the battle, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin knew that he was going to be defeated and be killed. Rather than surrender the crown and the throne, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin shot the crown and other royal regalias from Pulau Chermin across the sea. Though some say that these were all still buried somewhere on the island.
Pulau Cermin is now protected by the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act and is now inaccessible to visitors unless they have permission to visit the island.
Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin stayed there for a while, retreating from Brunei's capital in Kampong Ayer. Another Sultan, Sultan Muhyiddin, took up the throne in Brunei's capital while Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mumin stayed at Pulau Cermin. It was the only time that Brunei had two Sultans.
How did the civil war come about? The civil war between the two Sultans was described vividly in a Brunei Malay novel entitled Mahkota Berdarah (The Bloodied Crown). It was in fact quite a bloody time in Brunei history.
Yura Halim wrote the book in the mid-1960s and the book was quite popular during its hey days and is considered a classic today.
The bloody episode was sparked off by a cock fight between the son of the Sultan, Pengiran Muda Alam, and the son of the Bendahara. The Bendahara was Abdul Hakkul Mubin.
The Bendahara, in the old days, is always the Sultan's right hand man. He can be considered as the Deputy Sultan or in these days, the equivalent of the Prime Minister.
For Brunei, the Bendahara was the most senior of all the viziers (wazir) until the appointment of the Perdana Wazir in 1970.
During the cockfight, the cock belonging to the son of the Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin won. It defeated the cock belonging to the son of the Sultan, Pengiran Muda Alam. Pengiran Muda Alam was so enraged by the loss that he took out his keris and plunged it into the chest of the son of the Bendahara. The son of the Bendahara died from the fatal stabbing.
Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin was said to have loved that son so much that he too was enraged when he was informed of his son's death. He marched to the palace to confront the Sultan. The Sultan at that time was Sultan Muhammad Ali. The Bendahara asked for his son's death to be avenged.
According to some, he was denied by Sultan Muhammad Ali. Though in the book, Mahkota Berdarah, the Sultan allowed him to enter into the palace to search for Pengiran Muda Alam. By the time he went in, Pengiran Muda Alam had escaped from the palace.
The Bendahara was so enraged when he could not find Pengiran Muda Alam. He lost his temper and went amok and started killing people inside the palace including the Sultan's family. The Sultan who waited in the hall was shocked to see the Bendahara on a killing spree. He tried to stop the Bendahara but the Bendahara will no longer listen to reason.
The Bendahara and his men took the Sultan and killed him by garroting him to death. His body was left lying on the grass lawn and up to now he is known as 'Marhum Tumbang Dirumput'. This death was to have taken place in November 1661. The Bendahara took the throne for himself. He crowned himself the Sultan of Brunei as Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin, Brunei's 13th Sultan.
As Sultan, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin tried to foster peace between him and the followers of Sultan Muhammad Ali by installing the latter's grandson, Pengiran Muhyiddin, as the new Bendahara.
At first there was peace in the country. But underneath the peace, there was still simmering hatred for Sultan Hakul Abdul Mubin. Many of Sultan Muhammad Ali's followers implored to Bendahara Muhyidin to rebel against Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin.
At first Bendahara Muhyiddin felt that it was not the right thing to do. But over time, he agreed and plan for the removal of Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin.
The first thing he and his men did was to create a disturbance at the palace as well as the houses in the area. They did the disturbances by poking their spears into the palace and houses. This was called 'mengarok'.
Since many of these rebels were also working at the palace, it was not difficult for them to carry out the attacks.
When Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin asked for Bendahara Muhyidin's advice, he was duly advised that it would be better if he went off to Pulau Cermin while waiting for the attacks to dissipate. The Sultan immediately ordered for a new palace to be built there and move as soon as it was ready.
Bendahara Muhyiddin in the meantime was installed as the new Sultan in the capital. When Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin's men came ashore to seek out why the Bendahara has not taken up his residence at the island, they were shocked to see that the Bendahara had raised the Sultan's yellow flag for himself.
There was no way that Brunei can have two Sultans. A battle ensued between the two Sultans and at first Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin retreated to Kinarut in Sabah.
While in Kinarut, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin built a fort about 10 miles away from Kota Kinabalu. From here with the assistance of the local Bajaus and Dusuns he managed to repel attacks from Sultan Muhiyiddin even killing a few of Sultan Muhiyiddin's Cheterias.
The fort was strategically placed on top of a hill with two rivers flowing beside it and a view that can oversee a few small island in the South China Sea. The fort was so good that according to legend, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin stayed for about 10 years becoming the Sultan in Kinarut where he among others also managed to curtail piracy activities in that area.
There were several attacks carried out by Sultan Muhyddin. In a final attack at Kinarut, Sultan Muhyddin's forces failed to defeat Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin. The two went back to Brunei with Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin going back to Pulau Cermin.
Pulau Cermin itself is fairly unremarkable but what makes it a very strong fortress is that it is in the middle of the entry into the Brunei river. Control the island means you control access to the food supply coming in from the sea. In those days, Bruneians were also fishermen and they could not go out to fish during the civil war.
Sultan Muhyiddin worried that the war was going to drag on and created more difficulties for the citizens of Brunei, called for the assistance of Sultan Suluk to help defeat Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin promising them independence as well as the territory of Sabah to be given to Sultan Suluk.
The Suluks came and took up places at Pulau Keingaran to help bombard the island but according to legends did not do much fighting and only took up the fight towards the very end. While Sultan Muhyiddin's men bombarded Pulau Cermin from Tanjung Kindana before launching a final assault on the island.
During the battle, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin knew that he was going to be defeated and be killed. Rather than surrender the crown and the throne, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin shot the crown and other royal regalias from Pulau Chermin across the sea. Though some say that these were all still buried somewhere on the island.
Pulau Cermin is now protected by the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act and is now inaccessible to visitors unless they have permission to visit the island.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
NOT much is known historically about our
neighbouring state, Sabah. Not much is also known on how its name was derived.
Some say Sabah obtained its name from "Pisang Saba," the banana tree
that grew predominantly along Borneo's coastal areas.
Some suggested that Sabah was derived from the Malay word "sabak" which is the place for or act of boiling to extract palm sugar. In Brunei Malay, "saba" means upstream (like Kampong Saba). Sabah is located to the northwest, or upstream of Brunei. Sabah has been a part of Brunei since the 15th century.
In the mid-19th century, Sarawak was being governed by the Brookes. Brunei's remaining province of Sabah was to remain untouched but not for long. By the years of 1865 and 1878, no less than three groups from three different countries attempted to control the northern part of Brunei's remaining territory.
The very first group was from United States of America. Brunei's relationship with the Americans started much earlier. An American warship, the USS Constitution, arrived in Brunei in 1845, seeking a commercial treaty and exclusive rights to the coal deposits in Brunei.
However at the time, Brunei was still seeking British protection and was unwilling to seek American support. But after the British naval attacks in 1846 and the loss of Labuan, Brunei decided that it needed to seek other powers to counter the British.
In 1850, Brunei agreed to sign a US-Brunei Treaty of Friendship and Commerce when Joseph Balestier, an American proposed the treaty. He became the first American Consul-General in Brunei. However despite the treaty no American commercial activity took place until 1864.
In 1864, CL Moses was appointed as the American Consul General in Brunei Darussalam. He signed another treaty with Sultan Abdul Momin and obtained territories from Sulaman River to Paitan River. This area consisted of twenty one districts. The lease was to last for a period of ten years, which consisted almost the entire North Borneo. He paid $4,500 annually.
Moses also paid an additional $4,000 annually and managed to lease additional areas from Pengiran Temenggong Pengiran Anak Hashim. The districts included those from Paitan to Kimanas including two islands, Balabak and Pahlawan.
Moses promised that he would bring economic benefits as well as help recover debts by China Steamship and Labuan Company which were then leasing coal mines in Muara.
The Sultan even provided Moses with a consulate building. However Moses failed to deliver his promises. He became unpopular with the Sultan and frictions between the two developed. In the end Moses set fire to the consulate and blamed the Sultan to get compensation. But a US government inquiry cleared the Sultan and Moses soon lost his job.
Soon after that Moses left for Hong Kong where he met WJ Torrey. Torrey was an American businessman. Both Moses and Torrey set up a new company called the American Trading Company.
Torrey went to Brunei to renegotiate with the Sultan. He was appointed as the Supreme Ruler and Governor of Sabah with the title of Raja of Ambong and Marudu. However in developing Kimanis, Torrey lost a great deal of his money. He could not pay the Sultan the amount agreed for the lease.
With Moses transferring his rights to Torrey, it enabled Torrey to sell all the rights to Baron Gustav von Overbeck.
Baron von Overbeck was the consul of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Hong Kong. He bought the concession rights in Sabah from Torrey. Later Baron von Overbeck together with Alfred Dent of Hong Kong formed a partnership and formed the Dent Company. In 1877, Baron von Overbeck visited Brunei to negotiate a new lease with Sultan Abdul Momin. The latter agreed and a treaty was signed that same year. Sultan Abdul Momin appointed Baron von Overbeck as the Maharaja of Sabah and Raja of Gaya and Sandakan and in return, the Baron shall pay $12,000 per year and additional $3,000 to the Temenggong.
To be on the safe side, since Sabah was also claimed by the Sultan of Sulu, Baron Overbeck negotiated a treaty with the Sultan of Sulu. He signed an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu and agreed to pay him $5,000 annually. The Sultan appointed him as Dato Bendahara and Raja of Sandakan in 1878.
Baron von Overbeck however faced financial problem. He could not get any support from the Austro-Hungarian government. So he decided to sell his share to Alfred Dent.
In 1881 Alfred Dent later managed to get a royal charter to set up another company called the British North Borneo Company in London. William Hood Treacher was appointed the first governor of North Borneo.
The British North Borneo Company gradually established its rule over the territories it had leases. They even bought over other territorial rights which were not included in the original lease from other Brunei Pengirans and nobles.
At the same time, in awarding the Royal Charter, the British government assumed a form of sovereignty over the state especially its foreign relations.
Because of this, the other western powers in the area immediately took renewed interest in Borneo and Malaya. However the Spanish agreed to British control over northern Borneo because the British accepted Spanish control over the Sulu Archipelago. The Germans also accepted British control over Sabah because the British agreed to accept German control over New Guinea.
It was the Dutch that tried to claim some land near Sandakan in 1879 but the British North Borneo Company objected to it. To solve the problems, both the Dutch and the British agreed to divide Borneo into a British area in the north and a Dutch area in the south.
With Rajah Brooke in Sarawak pursuing its expansionist policy, the British could not have two separate policies of restraining one while allowing the other.
These two were allowed to begin a "contest" to gain more and more of Brunei's remaining territories. Sarawak managed to get Baram and later Trusan and Limbang while Sabah managed to get Padas. In 1888, North Borneo similarly to Brunei became a British protectorate. The Company's rule in North Borneo had the greatest impact on the development of the region. A system of indirect rule was established in the administration of North Borneo.
The British North Borneo Company effectively ruled up to 1942, after more than 60 years in Sabah, when the World War Two erupted. Japanese forces occupied Sabah until she was liberated by the Allied Forces in 1945. After the war, North Borneo was administered by the British Military Administration until civil government was restored on July 15, 1946.
In 1946, Sabah was placed under the British Crown as the British North Borneo Company could not afford to rebuild Sabah after the devastation of the War. The destruction of the capital Sandakan by allied bombing was so complete that Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) was chosen as the alternative post-war capital and it has remained since then.
Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963 when Malaysia was formally established, on 16 September 1963 and North Borneo's name was changed to Sabah. Preceding this, North Borneo obtained self-government from the British on 31 August 1963. Sabah entered a new era when she became part of Malaysia.
Some suggested that Sabah was derived from the Malay word "sabak" which is the place for or act of boiling to extract palm sugar. In Brunei Malay, "saba" means upstream (like Kampong Saba). Sabah is located to the northwest, or upstream of Brunei. Sabah has been a part of Brunei since the 15th century.
In the mid-19th century, Sarawak was being governed by the Brookes. Brunei's remaining province of Sabah was to remain untouched but not for long. By the years of 1865 and 1878, no less than three groups from three different countries attempted to control the northern part of Brunei's remaining territory.
The very first group was from United States of America. Brunei's relationship with the Americans started much earlier. An American warship, the USS Constitution, arrived in Brunei in 1845, seeking a commercial treaty and exclusive rights to the coal deposits in Brunei.
However at the time, Brunei was still seeking British protection and was unwilling to seek American support. But after the British naval attacks in 1846 and the loss of Labuan, Brunei decided that it needed to seek other powers to counter the British.
In 1850, Brunei agreed to sign a US-Brunei Treaty of Friendship and Commerce when Joseph Balestier, an American proposed the treaty. He became the first American Consul-General in Brunei. However despite the treaty no American commercial activity took place until 1864.
In 1864, CL Moses was appointed as the American Consul General in Brunei Darussalam. He signed another treaty with Sultan Abdul Momin and obtained territories from Sulaman River to Paitan River. This area consisted of twenty one districts. The lease was to last for a period of ten years, which consisted almost the entire North Borneo. He paid $4,500 annually.
Moses also paid an additional $4,000 annually and managed to lease additional areas from Pengiran Temenggong Pengiran Anak Hashim. The districts included those from Paitan to Kimanas including two islands, Balabak and Pahlawan.
Moses promised that he would bring economic benefits as well as help recover debts by China Steamship and Labuan Company which were then leasing coal mines in Muara.
The Sultan even provided Moses with a consulate building. However Moses failed to deliver his promises. He became unpopular with the Sultan and frictions between the two developed. In the end Moses set fire to the consulate and blamed the Sultan to get compensation. But a US government inquiry cleared the Sultan and Moses soon lost his job.
Soon after that Moses left for Hong Kong where he met WJ Torrey. Torrey was an American businessman. Both Moses and Torrey set up a new company called the American Trading Company.
Torrey went to Brunei to renegotiate with the Sultan. He was appointed as the Supreme Ruler and Governor of Sabah with the title of Raja of Ambong and Marudu. However in developing Kimanis, Torrey lost a great deal of his money. He could not pay the Sultan the amount agreed for the lease.
With Moses transferring his rights to Torrey, it enabled Torrey to sell all the rights to Baron Gustav von Overbeck.
Baron von Overbeck was the consul of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Hong Kong. He bought the concession rights in Sabah from Torrey. Later Baron von Overbeck together with Alfred Dent of Hong Kong formed a partnership and formed the Dent Company. In 1877, Baron von Overbeck visited Brunei to negotiate a new lease with Sultan Abdul Momin. The latter agreed and a treaty was signed that same year. Sultan Abdul Momin appointed Baron von Overbeck as the Maharaja of Sabah and Raja of Gaya and Sandakan and in return, the Baron shall pay $12,000 per year and additional $3,000 to the Temenggong.
To be on the safe side, since Sabah was also claimed by the Sultan of Sulu, Baron Overbeck negotiated a treaty with the Sultan of Sulu. He signed an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu and agreed to pay him $5,000 annually. The Sultan appointed him as Dato Bendahara and Raja of Sandakan in 1878.
Baron von Overbeck however faced financial problem. He could not get any support from the Austro-Hungarian government. So he decided to sell his share to Alfred Dent.
In 1881 Alfred Dent later managed to get a royal charter to set up another company called the British North Borneo Company in London. William Hood Treacher was appointed the first governor of North Borneo.
The British North Borneo Company gradually established its rule over the territories it had leases. They even bought over other territorial rights which were not included in the original lease from other Brunei Pengirans and nobles.
At the same time, in awarding the Royal Charter, the British government assumed a form of sovereignty over the state especially its foreign relations.
Because of this, the other western powers in the area immediately took renewed interest in Borneo and Malaya. However the Spanish agreed to British control over northern Borneo because the British accepted Spanish control over the Sulu Archipelago. The Germans also accepted British control over Sabah because the British agreed to accept German control over New Guinea.
It was the Dutch that tried to claim some land near Sandakan in 1879 but the British North Borneo Company objected to it. To solve the problems, both the Dutch and the British agreed to divide Borneo into a British area in the north and a Dutch area in the south.
With Rajah Brooke in Sarawak pursuing its expansionist policy, the British could not have two separate policies of restraining one while allowing the other.
These two were allowed to begin a "contest" to gain more and more of Brunei's remaining territories. Sarawak managed to get Baram and later Trusan and Limbang while Sabah managed to get Padas. In 1888, North Borneo similarly to Brunei became a British protectorate. The Company's rule in North Borneo had the greatest impact on the development of the region. A system of indirect rule was established in the administration of North Borneo.
The British North Borneo Company effectively ruled up to 1942, after more than 60 years in Sabah, when the World War Two erupted. Japanese forces occupied Sabah until she was liberated by the Allied Forces in 1945. After the war, North Borneo was administered by the British Military Administration until civil government was restored on July 15, 1946.
In 1946, Sabah was placed under the British Crown as the British North Borneo Company could not afford to rebuild Sabah after the devastation of the War. The destruction of the capital Sandakan by allied bombing was so complete that Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) was chosen as the alternative post-war capital and it has remained since then.
Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963 when Malaysia was formally established, on 16 September 1963 and North Borneo's name was changed to Sabah. Preceding this, North Borneo obtained self-government from the British on 31 August 1963. Sabah entered a new era when she became part of Malaysia.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
THE history of Brunei's nearest island, Labuan,
just off Brunei Bay had its start in the early days of the Brooke interference
in Brunei's affairs. Labuan, until its forcible take over by the British in
1846 had been under the rule of the Sultan of Brunei ever since the Sultanate
began.
Similarly, from the 14th century, the territory around Sarawak River (today's Kuching) was a province of Brunei. Its administration was headed by Datu Pattingi Sarawak who reported to a Cheteria, both appointed by the Sultan of Brunei. In 1824, the Cheteria was Pengiran Indera Mahkota Pengiran Mohamed Salleh.
Pengiran Indera Mahkota was educated in Batavia (Jakarta) and furthered his studies in Netherlands. In 1827, he was appointed as Governor of Sarawak. Sarawak flourished under him. He also developed its trade and increased its revenue by exporting antimony.
Antimony was used in the making of alloys. To get the antimony, local residents were forced to work in his mines.
In 1839, the residents there rebelled against him because of his oppressive rule. Brunei sent Pengiran Muda Hashim, the son of Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to deal with the rebellion.
James Brooke attracted by the richness of the area also came there. Pengiran Muda Hashim asked for Brooke's assistance because Pengiran Muda Hashim had a long standing resentment against Pengiran Indera Mahkota. Five years earlier, Pengiran Muda Hashim visited Kuching but when he arrived, he was not personally welcomed by Pengiran Indera Mahkota.
Pengiran Indera Mahkota as the Governor of Sarawak opted to wait at the Hall of Audience instead.
At first James Brooke refused to help Pengiran Muda Hashim, but Brooke came back the next year and helped Pengiran Muda Hashim because he was offered the governorship of Sarawak in replacement of Pengiran Indera Mahkota if he could end the rebellion. Brooke managed to end the rebellion but he was not offered the governorship until he forced the issue in 1841. In 1842, Brooke sailed to Brunei to be confirmed Governor in exchange for paying an annual tribute.
In 1845 Pengiran Muda Hashim returned from Sarawak to Brunei, accompanied by a British naval captain, Sir Edward Blecher.
While in Sarawak, Pengiran Muda Hashim had lost his high status at home due to a palace coup in Brunei. His opponent Pengiran Usop has become Bendahara in his absence.
Brooke and the British Naval Forces forcibly re-installed Pengiran Muda Hashim as the Bendahara. Pengiran Muda Hashim also secured official recognition to become the next Sultan of Brunei.
This upset the chances of Pengiran Temenggong Pengiran Anak Hashim, the son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifudin II, who plotted to kill Pengiran Muda Hashim.
As might be expected, the foreign intervention in Brunei caused a great deal of unhappiness in the Brunei Court, Pengiran Muda Hashim was hated as he was regarded to be Brooke's protégé and his family's arrogant manner alienated the other Brunei nobles. In 1846, Pengiran Muda Hashim was murdered. Ranjit Singh in his book, Brunei 1839-1983 argued that the murder was not necessarily because it was an anti-British movement. Another view was that this was the culmination of a long drawn out feud between two branches of the royal family.
However Brooke considered the murder to be an insult to Britain. He asked Rear Admiral Thomas Cochrane that Brunei be punished.
The British hearing of these events, and pressured by British commercial interests, decided that this is a good opportunity for them to occupy Labuan. The other western powers had expanded in the region that Britain too realised the need to have a permanent harbour in northwestern Borneo.
Labuan was considered as a safe shelter and strategically sited to protect British interest in the region especially the China trade route. With the assistance of Brooke, Britain now sought to take over Labuan.
The Rear Admiral sent British warships from Singapore. In Brunei, there were minor exchanges of fire but the British gunships were able to destroy much of Brunei's defences.
The Sultan had to flee to Damuan. But Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II was eventually persuaded to return to accept the terms imposed by Brooke. The Sultan was also forced to sign a treaty on 2nd August 1846 allowing Brooke to become Sarawak's independent ruler and given territories from Tanjung Datu to Samarahan River. James Brooke now became the Rajah of Sarawak.
In a book written by Frank Maryatt, Borneo and the Indian Archipelago published in 1848, the description of the pressure that faced the Sultan was very intense. He, a midshipman with HMS Samarang was part of the party that came to seek an audience with the Sultan.
He was "ordered to lie on her oars abreast of the audience chamber, and to keep her 6-pounder, in where there was a fearful dose of grape and canister, pointed at the Sultan himself during the whole of the interview".
At the same time, in the main street (of the river), "lay the steamer, with a spring on her cable, her half ports up, and guns loaded to the muzzle, awaiting, as by instruction, for the discharge of the gun from the barge, to follow up the work of death. The platform admitted one of the steamer's guns to look into the audience chamber, the muzzle was pointed direct at the sultan, a man held the lighted tow in his hand. Every European on board had his musket ready loaded".
The British was surprised that despite such intense pressure, the Bruneians did not show any sign of fear. Frank Maryatt described the atmosphere "considering the natives were well aware that our guns were directed against them, the self-possession and coolness shared by every one of them were worthy of admiration. They never showed the slightest emotion, their speeches were free from gesticulation, and even their threats were conveyed in a quiet subdued tone; and every thing was carried on with all the calmness and deliberations that might be expected at a cabinet council at St James".
Soon after the signing of the 1846 treaty, the British put pressure on Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II to cede Labuan to the British. The Sultan refused and employed delaying tactics.
However the British navy lined up British warships near the Sultan's palace with cannons ready to fire if the Sultan refused to sign the treaty. The Sultan had no choice.
He signed the Treaty of Labuan on 18th December 1846. Six days later, the British occupied the island. It was on 24 December 1846 when Captain Mundy, commanding HMS Iris, took possession of Labuan, "in the Name of Her Majesty Victoria Queen of Great Britain and Ireland under the Direction of His Excellency Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, C.B., Commander-in-Chief".
The loss of Labuan was a big blog blow to Brunei. Labuan was considered as its only gateway in the sea to the outside world.
Subsequently Labuan became a Crown Colony in 1848 and part of North Borneo in 1890. It joined the Straits Settlements in 1906. During World War II, Labuan was occupied by the Japanese and renamed as Maida Island. Labuan joined British North Borneo in July 1946 and became part of Malaysia as the state of Sabah in 1963. In 1984 Labuan was ceded by Sabah to the federal government and made a federal territory.
Similarly, from the 14th century, the territory around Sarawak River (today's Kuching) was a province of Brunei. Its administration was headed by Datu Pattingi Sarawak who reported to a Cheteria, both appointed by the Sultan of Brunei. In 1824, the Cheteria was Pengiran Indera Mahkota Pengiran Mohamed Salleh.
Pengiran Indera Mahkota was educated in Batavia (Jakarta) and furthered his studies in Netherlands. In 1827, he was appointed as Governor of Sarawak. Sarawak flourished under him. He also developed its trade and increased its revenue by exporting antimony.
Antimony was used in the making of alloys. To get the antimony, local residents were forced to work in his mines.
In 1839, the residents there rebelled against him because of his oppressive rule. Brunei sent Pengiran Muda Hashim, the son of Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to deal with the rebellion.
James Brooke attracted by the richness of the area also came there. Pengiran Muda Hashim asked for Brooke's assistance because Pengiran Muda Hashim had a long standing resentment against Pengiran Indera Mahkota. Five years earlier, Pengiran Muda Hashim visited Kuching but when he arrived, he was not personally welcomed by Pengiran Indera Mahkota.
Pengiran Indera Mahkota as the Governor of Sarawak opted to wait at the Hall of Audience instead.
At first James Brooke refused to help Pengiran Muda Hashim, but Brooke came back the next year and helped Pengiran Muda Hashim because he was offered the governorship of Sarawak in replacement of Pengiran Indera Mahkota if he could end the rebellion. Brooke managed to end the rebellion but he was not offered the governorship until he forced the issue in 1841. In 1842, Brooke sailed to Brunei to be confirmed Governor in exchange for paying an annual tribute.
In 1845 Pengiran Muda Hashim returned from Sarawak to Brunei, accompanied by a British naval captain, Sir Edward Blecher.
While in Sarawak, Pengiran Muda Hashim had lost his high status at home due to a palace coup in Brunei. His opponent Pengiran Usop has become Bendahara in his absence.
Brooke and the British Naval Forces forcibly re-installed Pengiran Muda Hashim as the Bendahara. Pengiran Muda Hashim also secured official recognition to become the next Sultan of Brunei.
This upset the chances of Pengiran Temenggong Pengiran Anak Hashim, the son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifudin II, who plotted to kill Pengiran Muda Hashim.
As might be expected, the foreign intervention in Brunei caused a great deal of unhappiness in the Brunei Court, Pengiran Muda Hashim was hated as he was regarded to be Brooke's protégé and his family's arrogant manner alienated the other Brunei nobles. In 1846, Pengiran Muda Hashim was murdered. Ranjit Singh in his book, Brunei 1839-1983 argued that the murder was not necessarily because it was an anti-British movement. Another view was that this was the culmination of a long drawn out feud between two branches of the royal family.
However Brooke considered the murder to be an insult to Britain. He asked Rear Admiral Thomas Cochrane that Brunei be punished.
The British hearing of these events, and pressured by British commercial interests, decided that this is a good opportunity for them to occupy Labuan. The other western powers had expanded in the region that Britain too realised the need to have a permanent harbour in northwestern Borneo.
Labuan was considered as a safe shelter and strategically sited to protect British interest in the region especially the China trade route. With the assistance of Brooke, Britain now sought to take over Labuan.
The Rear Admiral sent British warships from Singapore. In Brunei, there were minor exchanges of fire but the British gunships were able to destroy much of Brunei's defences.
The Sultan had to flee to Damuan. But Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II was eventually persuaded to return to accept the terms imposed by Brooke. The Sultan was also forced to sign a treaty on 2nd August 1846 allowing Brooke to become Sarawak's independent ruler and given territories from Tanjung Datu to Samarahan River. James Brooke now became the Rajah of Sarawak.
In a book written by Frank Maryatt, Borneo and the Indian Archipelago published in 1848, the description of the pressure that faced the Sultan was very intense. He, a midshipman with HMS Samarang was part of the party that came to seek an audience with the Sultan.
He was "ordered to lie on her oars abreast of the audience chamber, and to keep her 6-pounder, in where there was a fearful dose of grape and canister, pointed at the Sultan himself during the whole of the interview".
At the same time, in the main street (of the river), "lay the steamer, with a spring on her cable, her half ports up, and guns loaded to the muzzle, awaiting, as by instruction, for the discharge of the gun from the barge, to follow up the work of death. The platform admitted one of the steamer's guns to look into the audience chamber, the muzzle was pointed direct at the sultan, a man held the lighted tow in his hand. Every European on board had his musket ready loaded".
The British was surprised that despite such intense pressure, the Bruneians did not show any sign of fear. Frank Maryatt described the atmosphere "considering the natives were well aware that our guns were directed against them, the self-possession and coolness shared by every one of them were worthy of admiration. They never showed the slightest emotion, their speeches were free from gesticulation, and even their threats were conveyed in a quiet subdued tone; and every thing was carried on with all the calmness and deliberations that might be expected at a cabinet council at St James".
Soon after the signing of the 1846 treaty, the British put pressure on Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II to cede Labuan to the British. The Sultan refused and employed delaying tactics.
However the British navy lined up British warships near the Sultan's palace with cannons ready to fire if the Sultan refused to sign the treaty. The Sultan had no choice.
He signed the Treaty of Labuan on 18th December 1846. Six days later, the British occupied the island. It was on 24 December 1846 when Captain Mundy, commanding HMS Iris, took possession of Labuan, "in the Name of Her Majesty Victoria Queen of Great Britain and Ireland under the Direction of His Excellency Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, C.B., Commander-in-Chief".
The loss of Labuan was a big blog blow to Brunei. Labuan was considered as its only gateway in the sea to the outside world.
Subsequently Labuan became a Crown Colony in 1848 and part of North Borneo in 1890. It joined the Straits Settlements in 1906. During World War II, Labuan was occupied by the Japanese and renamed as Maida Island. Labuan joined British North Borneo in July 1946 and became part of Malaysia as the state of Sabah in 1963. In 1984 Labuan was ceded by Sabah to the federal government and made a federal territory.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
ON THE 26 of April 1804, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin
abdicated from the throne to his second son, Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad
Jamalul Alam who became the first Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam. His eldest son,
Pengiran Muda Besar Saiful Rijal had passed away much earlier.
However Sultan Muhammd Jamalul Alam I died just seven months after he ascended the throne, on 10 November 1804. Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddin was the son of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam. When his father died in 1804, he was still a minor when he became Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II.
However Sultan Muhammd Jamalul Alam I died just seven months after he ascended the throne, on 10 November 1804. Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddin was the son of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam. When his father died in 1804, he was still a minor when he became Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II.
Therefore his grandfather Paduka Seri Begawan
Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin ascended the throne for the second time. Due to his
advanced age, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin wanted his son Pengiran Anak Muhammad
Yusof to be the Acting Sultan but his son refused stating that the throne was
rightfully owned by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II even though he was not yet
coronated.
Sultan Muhammd Tajudin then offered it to his own younger brother, Pengiran Di-Gadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Kanzul Alam ibnu Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I who acted as regent. Meanwhile, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam and Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Awang Munap were appointed as Advisors to Sultan Omar Ali Saifudddin II.
Therefore his grandfather Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin ascended the throne for the second time. Due to his advanced age, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin wanted his son Pengiran Anak Muhammad Yusof to be the Acting Sultan but his son refused stating that the throne was rightfully owned by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II even though he was not yet coronated.
Sultan Muhammd Tajudin then offered it to his own younger brother, Pengiran Di-Gadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Kanzul Alam ibnu Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I who acted as regent. Meanwhile, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam and Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Awang Munap were appointed as Advisors to Sultan Omar Ali Saifudddin II.
When Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin died in 1807, the regent Pengiran Di-Gadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Kanzul Alam appointed himself as the Sultan and became the twenty first Sultan of Brunei. He was known as Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam. During his reign, it was noted in the "Salsilah Raja-Raja Berunai" that no music (naubat) was heard. In 1826, Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam also appointed his own son, Pengiran Anak Muhammad Alam as heir to the throne of Brunei. However both the symbols of a Sultan, the Keris Si Naga and the Crown were still held by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II.
Sultan Muhammad Alam I became Brunei's twenty second Sultan. During his reign, Brunei suffered very badly. Long periods of drought made food unavailable in Brunei. The country and the people suffered. His rule was so harsh that many citizens ran away following Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II to Pulau Keingaran. In 1828, Raja Isteri Nur Alam as the advisor to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II sentenced the Sultan to death.
When Sultan Muhammad Alam heard that he had been sentenced to death by the Raja Isteri, he voluntarily put the rope around his neck as he was garrotted to death. He died in 1828. In the "Salsilah Raja-Raja Berunai", Sultan Muhammad Alam I was known by the title of Raja Api (King of Fire).
It was in 1828 that Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II returned from Pulau Keingaran to take over the throne from Sultan Muhammad Alam I. He was supported by most nobles as he was the rightful heir according to Brunei's royal traditions. The Kris Si Naga in the possession of his mother strengthened his claim. In 1828, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II finally became the twenty third Sultan of Brunei.
During the reign of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II, the British and the Dutch were very active in Southeast Asia. The two signed the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824 dividing their respective areas of influence in the Malay archipelago with Britain possessing territories lying north of Straits of Malacca and the Dutch to the south including southern Borneo even though that was not explicitly stated in the Treaty.
In 1842, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II appointed James Brooke who succeeded in crushing the disturbances as the Sultan Representative (Governor) in Sarawak. In return Brooke promised to pay the Sultan an annual tribute of $2,500, to preserve the customs and religion of the people in Sarawak and not to separate Sarawak from Brunei without the Sultan's consent. It was a big political mistake to appoint Brooke but he had the backing of the British Navy.
In 1845, Pengiran Muda Hashim returned to Brunei and had lost his high status in Brunei due to a palace coup. But Brooke and the British Navy forcibly reinstalled Pengiran Muda Hashim as the Bendahara. The foreign intervention caused a great deal of unhappiness and Pengiran Muda Hashim and his family were murdered in 1846.
Brooke viewed the massacre as a personal insult and challenge to the prestige of Britain. He asked Rear Admiral Thomas Cochrane to punish Brunei. In 1846, Brunei Town was attacked and captured by the British and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II had to flee to Damuan. Subsequently he was forced to sign a treaty to end the British occupation of Brunei Town. In that treaty, James Brooke was recognised as the Rajah of Sarawak and given the right to rule Sarawak without interference including naming his own successor.
Hearing of the events in Brunei and under pressure by commercial groups, the British government decided to occupy Labuan in order to have a permanent harbour and safe shelter for British vessels. Due to British pressure, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II ceded Labuan to the British under the Treaty of Labuan signed on 18 December 1846. James Brooke was subsequently knighted and appointed as the first British Governor of Labuan in 1847. The loss of Labuan was a big blow to Brunei as it was its gateway to the outside world.
On 27 May 1847, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II signed a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with Britain. Its purpose was to ensure that Brunei was under British control and influence in order to benefit British trade, commerce and territorial expansion.
After the British attack on Brunei and the loss of Labuan, Brunei began to seek friendship with another western power to counter the British influence. Thus when Joseph Balestier proposed a US-Brunei Treaty of Friendship and Commerce in 1850, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II accepted.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II died in 1852. He was succeeded by Sultan Abdul Momin as the twenty fourth Sultan of Brunei.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
Sultan Muhammd Tajudin then offered it to his own younger brother, Pengiran Di-Gadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Kanzul Alam ibnu Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I who acted as regent. Meanwhile, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam and Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Awang Munap were appointed as Advisors to Sultan Omar Ali Saifudddin II.
Therefore his grandfather Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin ascended the throne for the second time. Due to his advanced age, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin wanted his son Pengiran Anak Muhammad Yusof to be the Acting Sultan but his son refused stating that the throne was rightfully owned by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II even though he was not yet coronated.
Sultan Muhammd Tajudin then offered it to his own younger brother, Pengiran Di-Gadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Kanzul Alam ibnu Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I who acted as regent. Meanwhile, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam and Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Awang Munap were appointed as Advisors to Sultan Omar Ali Saifudddin II.
When Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin died in 1807, the regent Pengiran Di-Gadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Kanzul Alam appointed himself as the Sultan and became the twenty first Sultan of Brunei. He was known as Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam. During his reign, it was noted in the "Salsilah Raja-Raja Berunai" that no music (naubat) was heard. In 1826, Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam also appointed his own son, Pengiran Anak Muhammad Alam as heir to the throne of Brunei. However both the symbols of a Sultan, the Keris Si Naga and the Crown were still held by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II.
Sultan Muhammad Alam I became Brunei's twenty second Sultan. During his reign, Brunei suffered very badly. Long periods of drought made food unavailable in Brunei. The country and the people suffered. His rule was so harsh that many citizens ran away following Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II to Pulau Keingaran. In 1828, Raja Isteri Nur Alam as the advisor to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II sentenced the Sultan to death.
When Sultan Muhammad Alam heard that he had been sentenced to death by the Raja Isteri, he voluntarily put the rope around his neck as he was garrotted to death. He died in 1828. In the "Salsilah Raja-Raja Berunai", Sultan Muhammad Alam I was known by the title of Raja Api (King of Fire).
It was in 1828 that Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II returned from Pulau Keingaran to take over the throne from Sultan Muhammad Alam I. He was supported by most nobles as he was the rightful heir according to Brunei's royal traditions. The Kris Si Naga in the possession of his mother strengthened his claim. In 1828, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II finally became the twenty third Sultan of Brunei.
During the reign of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II, the British and the Dutch were very active in Southeast Asia. The two signed the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824 dividing their respective areas of influence in the Malay archipelago with Britain possessing territories lying north of Straits of Malacca and the Dutch to the south including southern Borneo even though that was not explicitly stated in the Treaty.
In 1842, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II appointed James Brooke who succeeded in crushing the disturbances as the Sultan Representative (Governor) in Sarawak. In return Brooke promised to pay the Sultan an annual tribute of $2,500, to preserve the customs and religion of the people in Sarawak and not to separate Sarawak from Brunei without the Sultan's consent. It was a big political mistake to appoint Brooke but he had the backing of the British Navy.
In 1845, Pengiran Muda Hashim returned to Brunei and had lost his high status in Brunei due to a palace coup. But Brooke and the British Navy forcibly reinstalled Pengiran Muda Hashim as the Bendahara. The foreign intervention caused a great deal of unhappiness and Pengiran Muda Hashim and his family were murdered in 1846.
Brooke viewed the massacre as a personal insult and challenge to the prestige of Britain. He asked Rear Admiral Thomas Cochrane to punish Brunei. In 1846, Brunei Town was attacked and captured by the British and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II had to flee to Damuan. Subsequently he was forced to sign a treaty to end the British occupation of Brunei Town. In that treaty, James Brooke was recognised as the Rajah of Sarawak and given the right to rule Sarawak without interference including naming his own successor.
Hearing of the events in Brunei and under pressure by commercial groups, the British government decided to occupy Labuan in order to have a permanent harbour and safe shelter for British vessels. Due to British pressure, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II ceded Labuan to the British under the Treaty of Labuan signed on 18 December 1846. James Brooke was subsequently knighted and appointed as the first British Governor of Labuan in 1847. The loss of Labuan was a big blow to Brunei as it was its gateway to the outside world.
On 27 May 1847, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II signed a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with Britain. Its purpose was to ensure that Brunei was under British control and influence in order to benefit British trade, commerce and territorial expansion.
After the British attack on Brunei and the loss of Labuan, Brunei began to seek friendship with another western power to counter the British influence. Thus when Joseph Balestier proposed a US-Brunei Treaty of Friendship and Commerce in 1850, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II accepted.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II died in 1852. He was succeeded by Sultan Abdul Momin as the twenty fourth Sultan of Brunei.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
IF ONE were to drive along Jalan
Tutong, immediately past the Shell Filling Station at Kampung Bunut, one will
see a simpang entering into Kampung Bunut with a sign that reads "Makam di
Luba".
For the non-Malays, "Makam" means a grave or mausoleum normally associated with royalty or great men and women. In the busy Jalan Tutong, many countless motorists have passed by that road sign so many times, only a few have been tempted to turn and go in but a great many remained who have never gone in to see what is "Makam di Luba".
The drive to the Makam from Jalan Tutong takes less than five minutes. Once one enters the simpang from Jalan Tutong, one can drive straight all the way to the end of the road.
Along the way one will be passing by the Bunut Post Office, a Nasi Kandar restaurant, past a ready mixed cement company and at the end the road will do a 90-degree turning to the right before coming across two abandoned police trucks.
For the non-Malays, "Makam" means a grave or mausoleum normally associated with royalty or great men and women. In the busy Jalan Tutong, many countless motorists have passed by that road sign so many times, only a few have been tempted to turn and go in but a great many remained who have never gone in to see what is "Makam di Luba".
The drive to the Makam from Jalan Tutong takes less than five minutes. Once one enters the simpang from Jalan Tutong, one can drive straight all the way to the end of the road.
Along the way one will be passing by the Bunut Post Office, a Nasi Kandar restaurant, past a ready mixed cement company and at the end the road will do a 90-degree turning to the right before coming across two abandoned police trucks.
Then another "Makam di
Luba" sign will be sighted. One must turn off that road to find oneself in
a small car park right by a river and a small pedestrian bridge connecting the
car park to an island across the river.
The Makam is actually on an island in the middle of the river called "Pulau Luba" or Luba Island. The island separated the two rivers, the Damuan River and much larger Brunei River on the other side. The pedestrian bridge allows one to cross the Damuan River.
Across the river, one will see that the domed mausoleum is halfway up a hill. At the foot of the hill next to the river, a small boat landing has been built with a dome of the same style as the mausoleum. The bridge is a popular place for fishing.
The Makam is the grave of Sultan Husin Kamaluddin, Brunei's 16th Sultan. He was the second son of Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali, the 12th Sultan. In those times, it was a fairly tumultuous time in Brunei's history.
The civil war occurred then and it was during those times that Brunei probably lost control over the south eastern and north of Borneo allowing Sambas and Sulu to become independent and setting up the loss of Sabah at the same time. Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali was known as Al-Marhum Tumbang Dirumput because he died garroted to death on the lawn of the palace. His throne was seized by Pengiran Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin because his son was stabbed by Pengiran Muda Bungsu who lost in a rooster fight. Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali died in November 1661 and his death sparked off the civil war between the 13th and the 14th Sultans of Brunei, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin and Sultan Muhyiddin.
Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was probably quite young when he took over the throne from his cousin, Sultan Nasruddin, in 1710. Sultan Nasruddin did not leave a male gahara heir. Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was the younger of two infant sons of Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali who had been spared from the massacre of his father and brothers which sparked off the Brunei Civil War. Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was said to be a very pious man. He studied hard and was responsible for spreading the Islamic aqidah or creed. He much preferred the hereafter and concentrated all his efforts into it. He was supposed to possess supernatural powers. He was said to be able to transform "buah ngirih", an inedible fruit, to "pitabu", an edible fruit. He was also said to be able to transform seawater kept in a loop of rattan into drinkable fresh water.
Surprisingly for such a period in Brunei's history, it was during his and his son-in-law's reigns, the Salasilah — the Brunei's Royal Genealogical Tablet — was done. One can argue that both were aware of what was happening to the Sultanate — the beginning of the loss of the coastal regions of Borneo.
In the economic field, there are also sources crediting both him and the son-in-law for creating Brunei's first currency known as the Brunei "Pitis". Though technically they were not the first Sultans to issue currencies.
But both Sultan Naseruddin and Sultan Husin Kamaluddin are remembered by history for issuing coins which have their names on it compared to many other unidentified coins used in Brunei Darusslam.
This set of coins widely used in Brunei was the soft tin lead alloy issued by the various Brunei Sultans. These are further subdivided into about three sets — the first having names of known Sultans, the second of unknown sultans and the third with an anonymous flowery design that nobody knows who issued them. These coins were issued from about the 16th century to about the 19th century.
What was unusual about Sultan Husin Kamaluddin's rule was that he was the only Sultan to have ruled twice and abdicated twice. He ruled from 1710 to 1730 before abdicating in favour of his son-in-law, Sultan Muhammad Alauddin, who became the 17th Sultan of Brunei. Sultan Muhammad Alauddin was the son of Sultan Muhyiddin but Sultan Muhammad Alauddin only ruled for seven years before he died in 1737.
Sultan Husin Kamaluddin himself did not have any prince but a number of princesses. So his immediate heirs were not able to ascend the throne.
Sultan Alauddin's heir was still an infant when he died after reigning for seven years. As a result Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was asked to be the caretaker for the throne. He took over the throne again 1737 to 1740. But in 1740 he abdicated for the second time in favour of his son-in-law's infant son. His grandson is known as Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien I who ruled Brunei from 1740 to 1795.
Begawan Sultan Husin Kamaluddin died in 1770 at the age of 86 at Kampung Luba and was henceforth known as Marhum di Luba. During his reign he has shown that life in the hereafter is much more important than the worldly belonging. That was also why he was able to abdicate twice in favour of his son-in-law and his grandson.
This Makam like Sultan Bolkiah's Makam in Kota Batu is probably one of the easiest royal graves to visit. There are a number of other royal mausoleums but not as easily accessible or signposted as this one.
It's a good half day visit and with this one you can even see the relative quiet life of the Brunei River as an added bonus.
You might even glimpse a Proboscis monkey in the forest or a crocodile in the river.
The Makam is actually on an island in the middle of the river called "Pulau Luba" or Luba Island. The island separated the two rivers, the Damuan River and much larger Brunei River on the other side. The pedestrian bridge allows one to cross the Damuan River.
Across the river, one will see that the domed mausoleum is halfway up a hill. At the foot of the hill next to the river, a small boat landing has been built with a dome of the same style as the mausoleum. The bridge is a popular place for fishing.
The Makam is the grave of Sultan Husin Kamaluddin, Brunei's 16th Sultan. He was the second son of Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali, the 12th Sultan. In those times, it was a fairly tumultuous time in Brunei's history.
The civil war occurred then and it was during those times that Brunei probably lost control over the south eastern and north of Borneo allowing Sambas and Sulu to become independent and setting up the loss of Sabah at the same time. Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali was known as Al-Marhum Tumbang Dirumput because he died garroted to death on the lawn of the palace. His throne was seized by Pengiran Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin because his son was stabbed by Pengiran Muda Bungsu who lost in a rooster fight. Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali died in November 1661 and his death sparked off the civil war between the 13th and the 14th Sultans of Brunei, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin and Sultan Muhyiddin.
Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was probably quite young when he took over the throne from his cousin, Sultan Nasruddin, in 1710. Sultan Nasruddin did not leave a male gahara heir. Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was the younger of two infant sons of Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali who had been spared from the massacre of his father and brothers which sparked off the Brunei Civil War. Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was said to be a very pious man. He studied hard and was responsible for spreading the Islamic aqidah or creed. He much preferred the hereafter and concentrated all his efforts into it. He was supposed to possess supernatural powers. He was said to be able to transform "buah ngirih", an inedible fruit, to "pitabu", an edible fruit. He was also said to be able to transform seawater kept in a loop of rattan into drinkable fresh water.
Surprisingly for such a period in Brunei's history, it was during his and his son-in-law's reigns, the Salasilah — the Brunei's Royal Genealogical Tablet — was done. One can argue that both were aware of what was happening to the Sultanate — the beginning of the loss of the coastal regions of Borneo.
In the economic field, there are also sources crediting both him and the son-in-law for creating Brunei's first currency known as the Brunei "Pitis". Though technically they were not the first Sultans to issue currencies.
But both Sultan Naseruddin and Sultan Husin Kamaluddin are remembered by history for issuing coins which have their names on it compared to many other unidentified coins used in Brunei Darusslam.
This set of coins widely used in Brunei was the soft tin lead alloy issued by the various Brunei Sultans. These are further subdivided into about three sets — the first having names of known Sultans, the second of unknown sultans and the third with an anonymous flowery design that nobody knows who issued them. These coins were issued from about the 16th century to about the 19th century.
What was unusual about Sultan Husin Kamaluddin's rule was that he was the only Sultan to have ruled twice and abdicated twice. He ruled from 1710 to 1730 before abdicating in favour of his son-in-law, Sultan Muhammad Alauddin, who became the 17th Sultan of Brunei. Sultan Muhammad Alauddin was the son of Sultan Muhyiddin but Sultan Muhammad Alauddin only ruled for seven years before he died in 1737.
Sultan Husin Kamaluddin himself did not have any prince but a number of princesses. So his immediate heirs were not able to ascend the throne.
Sultan Alauddin's heir was still an infant when he died after reigning for seven years. As a result Sultan Husin Kamaluddin was asked to be the caretaker for the throne. He took over the throne again 1737 to 1740. But in 1740 he abdicated for the second time in favour of his son-in-law's infant son. His grandson is known as Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien I who ruled Brunei from 1740 to 1795.
Begawan Sultan Husin Kamaluddin died in 1770 at the age of 86 at Kampung Luba and was henceforth known as Marhum di Luba. During his reign he has shown that life in the hereafter is much more important than the worldly belonging. That was also why he was able to abdicate twice in favour of his son-in-law and his grandson.
This Makam like Sultan Bolkiah's Makam in Kota Batu is probably one of the easiest royal graves to visit. There are a number of other royal mausoleums but not as easily accessible or signposted as this one.
It's a good half day visit and with this one you can even see the relative quiet life of the Brunei River as an added bonus.
You might even glimpse a Proboscis monkey in the forest or a crocodile in the river.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
HIS Royal Highness Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
was the third son of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam. When his father Sultan Hashim
Jalilul Alam died in 1906, he became the Sultan as his two elder brothers had
passed away a few years earlier.
In 1889, Sultan Hashim first appointed his eldest son Pengiran Muda Besar Omar Ali Saifuddin as the Acting Sultan. This was to give him the experience needed when he took over the throne.
In 1889, Sultan Hashim first appointed his eldest son Pengiran Muda Besar Omar Ali Saifuddin as the Acting Sultan. This was to give him the experience needed when he took over the throne.
Sultan Hashim's second son, Pengiran Muda Tengah,
decided to leave Brunei and stayed at first in Sabah and later at Tawi-Tawi in
the Philippines.
In 1903, there was a smallpox outbreak in Brunei. At that time, Brunei did not have any modern medical facility and any medical requirements had to be brought in from Labuan. Unfortunately during that smallpox outbreak, Pengiran Muda Besar Omar Ali Saifuddin died together with a number of other Bruneians.
Sultan Hashim commanded for Pengiran Muda Tengah to return to Brunei. But in 1905, there was another outbreak, this time, an outbreak of cholera and Pengiran Muda Tengah also died during that outbreak.
So, when Sultan Hashim died in 1906, it was Pengiran Muda Bongsu Jamalul Alam, the third surviving heir that was appointed as the Sultan.
However, Pengiran Muda Bongsu Jamalul Alam was only 17 years old at the time, so the responsibility of the Sultan was in the hands of the "Majlis Pemangku Raja", that was the Council of the Regency.
It was not until 1918 that His Royal Highness Sultan Jamalul Alam was coronated as the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam's reign coincided with the beginning of the Residential System. The Residential System was introduced in Brunei as result of a Supplementary Protectorate Agreement signed on 31 December 1905 and January 3rd, 1906, between Sultan Hashim and the British, represented by John Anderson.
Under the system, a British Resident was appointed to advise the Sultan on all matters regarding the administration of the country except those touching on Islam. The first Resident Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur took office in May 1906.
In the beginning, Brunei was administratively linked to Labuan and also had strong administrative links to the Straits Settlement Government and Federated Malay States. Many of the state's affairs were linked such as the use of a common currency between the various states. It was not until 1967 that Brunei had its own currency.
Throughout his reign, the Sultan did not have much say in the government as the British Resident took all the executive decisions. The Sultan however kept his position on the State Council which met to approve and amend laws and policies.
With the introduction of the Residential System in Brunei in 1906, all the executive power, except in the matters of religion was transferred completely from the Sultan to the Resident. In the face of a totally modern and western form of government, the State Council could not do much. The Resident removed all the executive decisions from the Council by establishing new offices such as the Land and Custom Offices run very differently from the traditional "kuripan" and "tulin" systems.
The Resident brought in new civil servants from outside Brunei thus ignoring local objections. As the Residential System progressed, the Resident assumed more executive power, making important decisions.
The System also disrupted the traditional responsibilities and rights of Wazirs and forced them to give up their land rights and privileges. The System also did not help to work for Brunei's interests as stated in the Protectorate Agreement such as to help Brunei in recovering Limbang from the Brookes regime.
Despite the setbacks, there were also a number of positive advantages which the Residential System brought about. One of them was in the area of administration where among others taxation and revenue collection were centralised. The new government established modern important departments such as the Customs and Excise, Postal Services, Agriculture, Public Work, Medical and Education.
In the area of social welfare, the sanitary board was set up responsible for the cleanliness of the towns and streets as well as the improving of communications and transportation such as the building of roads.
In Economics, the British Resident encouraged rubber and fruit plantations. A land policy was also introduced whereby land was properly transferred with the issuing of land grand titles and title. Politically too, the dynastic line of Sultan Hashim was guaranteed and the line of succession survived until today.
The Residential System also prevented the Brookes or the Dutch from gaining territorial control over Brunei and it also made the Resident responsible for Brunei's foreign affairs.
During his reign, His Royal Highness Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II took a great deal of interest in the progress of the country, encouraging advances in agriculture, medicine and education.
His Royal Highness also encouraged the teaching and learning of Islam which was often carried out in the surau or small mosque. As a sign of his commitment to Islam, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II built a mosque despite the country's lack of revenue.
The mosque was built on a piece of land near the present Kampung Sultan Lama. The local community used the mosque until it was destroyed in wartime bombing during the reign of his son, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin.
It was also during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II that Islamic Law was officially introduced. This was known as Muhammadan Law. It was introduced in 1912, replacing the Brunei Canons. Then in 1913, the Marriage and Divorce Act was introduced.
Friendship and cooperation with the British Government earned His Royal Highness recognition. In 1914, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II was honoured with the award of Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) and in 1920, he received a higher distinction Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG).
Unfortunately, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II's reign was a short one. An outbreak of malaria claimed his life as well as three members of his family. His Royal Highness died in September 1924, at the age of 35. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Pengiran Muda Ahmad Tajuddin.
EF Pretty, the British Resident announced with the most profound regret in the Brunei Annual Report of 1924, the death of His Royal Highness the Sultan.
The report also indicated that the cause of death was Malaria as certified by Dr Cleverton aggravated by grief at the death of his wife and two children. Pretty also noted that Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II was "a most loyal friend of the British Empire" and by his premature demise, Brunei has lost a dignified and enlightened Ruler.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
In 1903, there was a smallpox outbreak in Brunei. At that time, Brunei did not have any modern medical facility and any medical requirements had to be brought in from Labuan. Unfortunately during that smallpox outbreak, Pengiran Muda Besar Omar Ali Saifuddin died together with a number of other Bruneians.
Sultan Hashim commanded for Pengiran Muda Tengah to return to Brunei. But in 1905, there was another outbreak, this time, an outbreak of cholera and Pengiran Muda Tengah also died during that outbreak.
So, when Sultan Hashim died in 1906, it was Pengiran Muda Bongsu Jamalul Alam, the third surviving heir that was appointed as the Sultan.
However, Pengiran Muda Bongsu Jamalul Alam was only 17 years old at the time, so the responsibility of the Sultan was in the hands of the "Majlis Pemangku Raja", that was the Council of the Regency.
It was not until 1918 that His Royal Highness Sultan Jamalul Alam was coronated as the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam's reign coincided with the beginning of the Residential System. The Residential System was introduced in Brunei as result of a Supplementary Protectorate Agreement signed on 31 December 1905 and January 3rd, 1906, between Sultan Hashim and the British, represented by John Anderson.
Under the system, a British Resident was appointed to advise the Sultan on all matters regarding the administration of the country except those touching on Islam. The first Resident Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur took office in May 1906.
In the beginning, Brunei was administratively linked to Labuan and also had strong administrative links to the Straits Settlement Government and Federated Malay States. Many of the state's affairs were linked such as the use of a common currency between the various states. It was not until 1967 that Brunei had its own currency.
Throughout his reign, the Sultan did not have much say in the government as the British Resident took all the executive decisions. The Sultan however kept his position on the State Council which met to approve and amend laws and policies.
With the introduction of the Residential System in Brunei in 1906, all the executive power, except in the matters of religion was transferred completely from the Sultan to the Resident. In the face of a totally modern and western form of government, the State Council could not do much. The Resident removed all the executive decisions from the Council by establishing new offices such as the Land and Custom Offices run very differently from the traditional "kuripan" and "tulin" systems.
The Resident brought in new civil servants from outside Brunei thus ignoring local objections. As the Residential System progressed, the Resident assumed more executive power, making important decisions.
The System also disrupted the traditional responsibilities and rights of Wazirs and forced them to give up their land rights and privileges. The System also did not help to work for Brunei's interests as stated in the Protectorate Agreement such as to help Brunei in recovering Limbang from the Brookes regime.
Despite the setbacks, there were also a number of positive advantages which the Residential System brought about. One of them was in the area of administration where among others taxation and revenue collection were centralised. The new government established modern important departments such as the Customs and Excise, Postal Services, Agriculture, Public Work, Medical and Education.
In the area of social welfare, the sanitary board was set up responsible for the cleanliness of the towns and streets as well as the improving of communications and transportation such as the building of roads.
In Economics, the British Resident encouraged rubber and fruit plantations. A land policy was also introduced whereby land was properly transferred with the issuing of land grand titles and title. Politically too, the dynastic line of Sultan Hashim was guaranteed and the line of succession survived until today.
The Residential System also prevented the Brookes or the Dutch from gaining territorial control over Brunei and it also made the Resident responsible for Brunei's foreign affairs.
During his reign, His Royal Highness Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II took a great deal of interest in the progress of the country, encouraging advances in agriculture, medicine and education.
His Royal Highness also encouraged the teaching and learning of Islam which was often carried out in the surau or small mosque. As a sign of his commitment to Islam, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II built a mosque despite the country's lack of revenue.
The mosque was built on a piece of land near the present Kampung Sultan Lama. The local community used the mosque until it was destroyed in wartime bombing during the reign of his son, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin.
It was also during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II that Islamic Law was officially introduced. This was known as Muhammadan Law. It was introduced in 1912, replacing the Brunei Canons. Then in 1913, the Marriage and Divorce Act was introduced.
Friendship and cooperation with the British Government earned His Royal Highness recognition. In 1914, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II was honoured with the award of Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) and in 1920, he received a higher distinction Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG).
Unfortunately, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II's reign was a short one. An outbreak of malaria claimed his life as well as three members of his family. His Royal Highness died in September 1924, at the age of 35. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Pengiran Muda Ahmad Tajuddin.
EF Pretty, the British Resident announced with the most profound regret in the Brunei Annual Report of 1924, the death of His Royal Highness the Sultan.
The report also indicated that the cause of death was Malaria as certified by Dr Cleverton aggravated by grief at the death of his wife and two children. Pretty also noted that Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II was "a most loyal friend of the British Empire" and by his premature demise, Brunei has lost a dignified and enlightened Ruler.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
ON THE 5th Safar 1269 (November 18, 1852), Sultan
Omar Ali Saifuddin II passed away. On his death, to decide who the heir to the
throne shall be, the Keris Si Naga (Dragon Dagger) was first passed to Pengiran
Anak Muhammad Tajuddin ibnu Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I because it was felt
generally that he was the best qualified to be the next Sultan. However he
turned it down.
The next to be offered the Dragon Dagger was Pengiran Anak Abdul Momin ibnu Pengiran Shabandar Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Wahab ibnu Sultan Omar Saifuddin I. He was also the son-in-law of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II.
The next to be offered the Dragon Dagger was Pengiran Anak Abdul Momin ibnu Pengiran Shabandar Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Wahab ibnu Sultan Omar Saifuddin I. He was also the son-in-law of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II.
Pengiran Anak Muhammad Tajuddin thought that by rejecting
the dagger, it might be offered to his son, Pengiran Muda Mohamad Jamalul Alam
who was the son-in-law of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuiddin II and is more senior as
his son was a "Pengiran Muda" as compared to "Pengiran
Anak" Abdul Momin.The rejection embarrassed Pengiran Anak Muhammad Tajuddin that he took the decision to "melabur" which was to burn himself with gun powder.
However when Sultan Abdul Momin took the throne, he astutely took a decision that the heirs to the throne will not be his own children but that of the sons of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II (then it was Pengiran Anak Muhammad Salleh and Pengiran Anak Hashim) and prayed that his wishes will be fulfilled.
His wishes were fulfilled. It was Pengiran Anak Hashim who became Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqmadin when he died. Sultan Abdul Momin also adopted the sons of Pengiran Anak Muhammad Tajuddin.
As the 24th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Abdul Momin's reign was during the tumultuous period of Brunei's history. Sultan Abdul Momin was well respected and was able to restore peace and order in Brunei.
He succeeded in setting longstanding enmities within the Royal Family by bringing together the descendants of Sultan Omar Ali Safiduddin II and the late Pengiran Muda Hashim through marriage.
He also encouraged the detailed study of teachings of Islam, in which he personally participated. He also sent some Ulama to the Holy City of Mekah.
It was also during his reign that the Brookes in Sarawak obtained more land and concessions from Brunei as well as the loss of North Borneo.
When Sultan Abdul Momin took the throne, Brooke made an agreement with him that not only he confirmed James Brooke as an independent Raja, but also gave up the Batang Lupar area.
In 1853, another treaty was concluded between the two of them. The 1855 treaty extended Sarawak's territories to the Rajang River which included all the seven districts of Rajang, Kalakah, Saribas, Sekrang, Lingga, Sadong and Samarahan. In exchange for the sizeable loss of territory, Sultan Abdul Momin received $1,500 annually.
James Brooke also agreed to share any extra revenue from these districts with the Sultan.
Although James Brooke failed in his quest to make Sarawak, a British protectorate in 1857, he was able to gain more land from Brunei.
In Mukah, a profitable sago trading area, the Brunei government's representative was hunted by the British navy assisted by Charles Johnson (who later became known as Charles Brooke, the nephew of James Brooke) who was then the Tuan Muda of Sarawak.
In 1861, James Brooke returned to Brunei to persuade Sultan Abdul Momin to cede the third division of Sarawak.
Britain also helped to pressure Brunei and as a result, Sultan Abdul Momin ceded territories from Rajang to the Bintulu River including Mukah and Oya.
He was paid $4,500 annually for this concession but Brunei had lost a valuable territory that produced sago.
Sultan Abdul Momin could do little to discourage James Brooke's plans to acquire more land for Sarawak from Brunei. James Brooke had the British government behind him and the British Royal Navy which backed him up.
Even the British Governor of Labuan, GW Edwardes was instructed by the British Government not to interfere in Brunei's affairs. Sultan Abdul Momin had no choice and he agreed to the demand for more territories.
Charles Brooke, becoming the new Rajah in 1868 on the death of James Brooke, wanted to get more territory including that of Baram River.
Sultan Abdul Momin refused to do so and implored the British to assist Brunei. Charles Brooke put pressure by withholding parts of the annual payments that the British Government placed a ban on Sarawak from acquiring any territory for the next 10 years.
However in 1874, the Kayans of Baram rebelled against Brunei's rule and Charles Brooke used that as an excuse to seize Baram. In 1884, the people of Limbang also rebelled for the same reasons — they believed that they would be better off under the western administration led by the Brookes.
At the same time, in North Borneo (Sabah), Sultan Abdul Momin very impressed made by an American, Charles Lee Moses of the economic benefits, that he leased out North Borneo to Moses in 1865. Moses however sold his rights to Torrey, an American businessman who formed the American Trading Company of Borneo.
Torrey himself went back to Brunei to renegotiate the lease. However his venture failed. In 1875, the Austrian Consul General in Hong Kong, Baron Overbeck bought over Torrey's rights and renegotiated the lease. He later sold the lease to a British businessman, Alfred Dent.
It was Dent and his associates who formed a company in 1881 to develop North Borneo. The British North Borneo Chartered Company obtained a Royal Charter from the Queen and gradually established its rule there. In providing that charter, the British has assumed a responsibility in North Borneo.
The British Government could not adopt different policies — stopping Rajah Brooke from expansion but supporting the Company. The company and Rajah Brooke began a contest to gain more of Brunei's remaining territories. By 1884, the company was seeking to gain further Brunei territories not included in the original lease.
Sultan Abdul Momin realised that with the expansionist policies of both Rajah Brooke and the North Borneo Company, it was only a matter of time before Brunei was wiped out from existence. He called for a meeting of his chiefs whereby he made them take an oath.
This oath became known as the "Amanat" and it was declared on 20th February 1885. It was an agreement between the Sultan, Wazirs, Manteris and the holders of Tulin rights not to cede or lease any of the remaining territories of Brunei to foreign powers. Sultan Abdul Momin died later that year.
Even though the "Amanat" was in place, Brunei was unable to reclaim Limbang nor to prevent further loss of Brunei's territory. Brunei did not have the ability to enforce the "Amanat" while Brooke and the Company could use steam warships and more powerful guns. As a result, Brunei was divided into two groups of small territories with no land link with each other. Sultan Abdul Momin tried to the very end to stop Brunei from being wiped out from existence. At least he succeeded in doing that.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
By Rozan Yunos.
HIS Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II was born at the palace in Pekan Brunei on 4th June 1913. His father His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II was coronated the Sultan of Brunei in 1918 even though his father Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam died in 1906. During that time, Brunei was ruled by a Council of Regency until Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam was coronated as the Sultan of Brunei in 1918.
HIS Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II was born at the palace in Pekan Brunei on 4th June 1913. His father His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II was coronated the Sultan of Brunei in 1918 even though his father Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam died in 1906. During that time, Brunei was ruled by a Council of Regency until Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam was coronated as the Sultan of Brunei in 1918.
His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II
had encouraged the teaching and learning of Islam in Brunei. He also built a
mosque in the capital even though during his reign, Brunei's revenue from oil
had not yet materialised.The mosque was popularly known as Masjid Marbut Pak Tunggal
but it was officially known as Masjid Pekan Brunei — the Brunei Town Mosque.
The mosque was used by Bruneians staying in the capital before it was destroyed
by Allied bombings during the Second World War.
His Royal Highness Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam
died young. He died in 1924 at the age of thirty five and his son, Pengiran
Muda Ahmad Tajuddin, ascended the throne.His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad
Tajuddin was only eleven years old when he ascended the throne and became the
27th Sultan of Brunei. Similarly like his father when he ascended the throne,
being a minor, the reign was again temporarily held by a Council of Regency on
his behalf until he came of age. The Council then consisted of Pengiran
Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak
Mohammad Yassin. The Council reigned Brunei from 11th September, 1924, to 19th
September, 1931.
His Royal Highness was the first Sultan to receive
formal education at the palace. From a very young age, His Royal Highness
studied Islamic Knowledge under a specially appointed religious official. He
was also taught English by a European teacher from the age of fourteen.His
Royal Highness was very active. In 1927, he officially opened the Brunei-Tutong
Highway. It was during his rule that the conglomerate of British Malayan
Petroleum Company and Shell struck oil in Padang Berawa, now known as Seria.In
1929, he opened the first modern hospital in Brunei Darussalam. It was a
thirty-bed hospital. Before that hospital was opened, there was no government
doctor or hospital in Brunei. In 1932, he also managed to visit England.The
year before that His Royal Highness had assumed the throne.
On 19th September 1931, he was only eighteen years
old. The official coronation however took place almost nine years later on 17th
March 1940. Even though it would take almost nine years when he was officially
coronated, he was still the Sultan of Brunei.As Sultan he had married Tengku
Ampuan Raihani binti Sultan Alaudin Sulaiman Shah, the daughter of Sultan Alaudin
Sulaiman Shah, the Sultan of Selangor. The nikah ceremony was held at the Jame
Rahmah Mosque in Klang, Selangor. The wedding took place on 6th May 1934.
Slightly more than a year later in October 1935, Her Royal Highness gave birth
to a princess named Pengiran Anak Puteri Noorehsani.During the World War II, in
1941, the Japanese landed in Brunei.
His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin retained
his throne during the war and was bestowed with a pension and Japanese honours.
However he had very little to do with the Japanese during the occupation and he
together with the royal family left Brunei to stay at a temporary palace at
Tantuya in Limbang towards the end of the Second World War. In 1945, the allied
army landed and liberated Brunei from the Japanese. The British Military
Administration (BMA) took over the running of the government. It was in 1946,
before the government took over from British Military Administration.
Like his father before him, His Royal Highness too
was concerned with the expansion and improvement of formal education as well as
that of religious education.His Royal Highness was also a keen writer. Among
others he wrote a book called the "Panduan Keselamatan" which
contained useful advice. These were some of His Majesty's contribution during
his reign.It was also during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin that saw Brunei
Darussalam having her own national anthem "Allah Peliharakan Sultan"
or "God save the Sultan". In 1947, the national anthem was composed
by Awang Besar Sagap and lyrics written by Pengiran Mohammad Yussof Bin
Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim.That same year, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin bestowed the
title "wazir" to his brother, Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien.
On 20th September 1949, His Royal Highness Sultan
Ahmad Tajuddin celebrated his Silver Jubilee or the 25th anniversary of
ascending the throne. At the ceremony His Royal Highness was knighted and
bestowed with the KBE by the British High Commissioner to Brunei on behalf of
King George VI.The ceremony was attended by the Commissioner General of
Southeast Asia and representatives from neighbouring countries.A few months
after the celebration, His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin was on his way
to Britain for an official visit. Unfortunately he was taken ill and later died
in Singapore of a haemorrhage. It was 4th June 1950 and His Royal Highness died
at the young age of thirty six.
After his untimely death from natural causes, he
was succeeded by his brother who became His Royal Highness Sultan 'Omar Ali
Saifuddin III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei. His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad
Tajuddin did not have a male heir.His Royal Highness reign represented the
start of a new era in Brunei. The discovery of oil changed the whole course of
Brunei's history and enabled faster development in all sectors of the country.
The expansion and improvement of formal education and his encouragement of
religious education were some of his additional contributions to Brunei
Darussalam.
Courtesy - The Brunei Times.
Salam bro..nk tau serba sedikit keturunan Sultan Jamalul Alam ll
ReplyDeleteBukan gambar lukisan pg samsudin raja di gayoh tu...atu ggambar lukisan pg bendahara pg muda Hashim
ReplyDeleteSultan Husin Kamaluddin in fact had many princes
ReplyDelete