This is part one of the final assault and the defeat of the people of Santubong by the forces of Brunei as told to us by the Dukun.
Tuanku Ibrahim
After the death of Sultan Abdullah Muhammad, his son Tuanku Ibrahim became the acting Sultan of Indera Punik(Santubong). He was to be inaugurated as Sultan 15 days after the burial of Sultan Abdullah Muhammad.
After the burial of the Sultan, the attackers were brought to Tuanku Ibrahim. The leader of the Awang group from Hulu Sungai Salak (the Awang under the control of the Tuanku) was also called to help with the case. They were two Brunei Awang who survived the melee of the crowd.
Tuanku Ibrahim interrogated both. Both were asked their name. One was named Awang Imba and the other Awang Kadar. Both of them were Panglima of the Barunah (Brunei) kingdom who were assistants to Awang Balitar. The Awang identified them from Salak as those who had been working with Balitar and with Sultan Bolkiah. They were also described as traitors who worked with the Barunah(Brunei) government. He asked them several questions, however they refused to answer. Tuanku Ibrahim ordered them to be tortured. After the torture, they then replied to the questions. Both of the attackers were promised freedom if they answered. They explained the answers to each of the
Tuanku’s twelve questions:
1. Why did they come to Santubong?
The Raja of Barunah ordered their leader to spy on the Kingdom of Indera Samudera Punik, especially in the area of Santubong. They checked on the strength of the army and were ordered to kill Sultan Abdullah Muhammad if they had the chance.
2. Why was the Sultan killed?
They were ordered to kill the Sultan because the Raja of Barunah(Brunei) was angry because of the incident that involved the killing of the two religious teachers of Indera Samudera Punik(Santubong) in Barunah(Brunei). The deal they had made with Sultan Abdullah cost them economically. The Sultan also gave shelter to the revolutionaries, the Awang group. The Sultan also interfered with the Barunah Kingdom (Brunei) because the traders did not have to pay taxes. Sultan Bolkiah didn’t like the Sultan because he liked to show off power. It was felt that Sultan Abdullah Muhammad was a threat to the Sultan of Barunah. Sultan Bolkiah wanted to destroy Indera Samudera Punik. (Santubong)
3. Why did the Barunah (Brunei) want to destroy Indera Punik?
Indera Punik(Santubong) had to be destroyed so the trading activity would be focused on Barunah(Brunei) instead of Indera Punik. (Santubong)
4. Does the Sultan of Barunah (Brunei) want to conquer Indera Punik(Santubong)?
Sultan Bolkiah did not want to conquer or colonize Indera Punik(Santubong) but wanted to destroy Indera Punik (Santubong).
5. What information did they get after spying on Indera Punik(Santubong)?
They found out that the strength of the Punik army was weak. The control of the central government of Santubong was also weak. Many armies were sent to Malacca and they also found out there was a civil war between Urang Iban and Urang Darat(Bidayuh).
6. How long have they been spying?
They had been spying for eight months. The last place they observed was Santubong. However, they learned that the areas of Kalaka, Seri Abas and Nyadong (Sadong) have many more people living there than other places.
7. Did the information about the spying get back to Sultan Bolkiah?
Yes, the Sultan had known about it.
8. What is the next step to be taken?
The Sultan ordered the army to attack Indera Punik soon.
9. Was the army of Barunah(Brunei) close or on the way?
The army was now at sea and headed for Santubong. Within 14 days, the army will arrive and attack Santubong.
10. Which direction?
The army of Barunah is split in two. One group came from Riau Island and the other from the Kalaka area. However, parts of the army were placed in the river around Kalaka.
11. Is The Army of Barunah (Brunei) already in Sungey Santubong, Sungey Mora Tebas or other rivers?
The Army of Barunah(Brunei) was at Mungguk Angus at the Hilir of Telok Pasey Kunin at Sungey Serak. They have been there for a month. They entered the Sungey(river)through Mora Tebas. (This was the Sarawak River just below Kuching)
12. Was the army Barunah going to attack all of Indera Punik?
The army was instructed to attack Santubong and destroy all areas of Santubong.
The two attackers were released, however, the leader of the Awang group from Salak requested that Tuanku Ibrahim surrender them. Tuanku Ibrahim kept his word and released the captives. The Awang group then captured them and put them to death.
Tuanku Ibrahim ordered the Menteris to hold a meeting to find ways to settle the problems. A meeting was held and Tuanku Ibrahim together with the Menteris tried to find ways to deal with the attack from the army of Barunah. They agreed to six suggestions:
1. The family of Tuanku Ibrahim be sent to a safe place.
2. Old folks, women and children were ordered to move out of the kampongs at Santubong.
3. The assets and property of the Kingdom of Indera Samudera Punik that they couldn’t carry with them be hidden by burying them in several places on Santubong Mountain.
4. The remaining army must be ready to defend Santubong.
5. Messengers were sent to the nearby areas like Semat Rotan and Tanjong Kembang and told to send part of the remaining army to Santubong to help defend the kampong.
6. They needed a place for Tuanku Ibrahim to hide.
The people of Kampong Mungguk Maras, Kampung Pasey Puteh, Kampong Sungey Tekoyong, Kampong Pasey Pandak, Kampong Pasey Panging and Kampong Sungey Buntak had moved to the interior in the upriver area of Hulu Sungey Salak to Kampong Sungey Bakok and the interior of Sungey Tebas at Mora Tebas. Some of them took refuge in Tanjong Kembang.
The family of Tuanku Ibrahim were collected together along with the servants of the Astana and the royal ministers and were sent to Hulu Sungey Santubong called Mungguk Dang Timah. Menteri Sri Darma Wangsa, Menteri Sri Amar Diraja and Menteri Sri Indera Setia Raja were ordered to move with the entourage.
The transfer was accomplished three days after the meeting between Tuanku Ibrahim and his ministers. A large amount of the assets of the kingdom, like the decorations for the Astana, gold and silver jewellery, precious stones and other valuables, were hidden in nine places by the family of Tuanku Ibrahim after the transfer of his people. The places where they hid the treasures were only known to Tuanku Ibrahim and Menteri Indera Paduka Bentara di Raja Mangkuk Bumi.
They felt they could hide their several perahu tamuey (big boats) at Sungey Santubong which is not far from the Astana Mungguk Maras, in the area of Sungey Jaong. The perahu tamuey was to provide a means to escape in case Santubong was defeated.
They also selected a location where they were to assemble if they had to run in different directions. Pulo Lintang, a junction where four rivers meet, Sungai Santubong, Sungey Serak, Sungey Sabuan (Sungey Tabuan, now) and Sungey Tebas, were selected. From there they planned to sail from Pulo Lintang through Mora Tebas and paddle along the seaside to Seri Abas.
The Battle for Santubong
The army of Santubong was waiting for the attack from the army of Barunah (Brunei). However, the army from Semat Rotan did not arrive as had been expected. The attack was supposed to happen in 14 days but occurred on the 11th day during dawn on the 2 of Jamadil Akhair 918 hj (15 August 1512.) The attack on Santubong was massive. The surprise battle dragged on from dawn til dusk.
About 400 men worked hard to defend Santubong. Tuanku Ibrahim ordered defences to be tightened around the Astana at Mungguk Maras. Battles occurred in the area of Kampong Pasey Putih, Kampong Sungey Tekoyong and Kampong Bukit Maras. The army of Barunah managed to conquer Kampong Pasey Puteh. The army of Santubong retaliated and defended Kampong Sungey Tekoyong and Kampong Bukit Maras. Many men of the Santubong army fell back and they built a fort at the foot of Mungguk Maras.
The army of Barunah(Brunei) stopped fighting at Maghrib (around seven p.m.). The wounded soldiers of Santubong were brought to the yard of the Astana at Mungguk Maras. Tuanku Ibrahim ordered the army to be ready in case there was a night attack.
He ordered fences made of sharp bamboo to be erected surrounding the foot of Bukit Maras. Bamboo was chopped down at Sungai Tekoyong and Kampong Bukit Maras. This was the last resort for defence. The army stayed up all night til dawn preparing the sharp bamboo. That morning, the army of Barunah (Brunei) did not launch an attack, but they surrounded Bukit Maras and Kampong Sungey Tekoyong. At noon on the second day, the army of Barunah(Brunei) seized Kampong Sungey Tekoyong.
Due lack of rest from building the bamboo defences, the Santubong army retreated to the foot of Bukit Maras. The attack stopped at Asar (four p.m.). The army of Barunah (Brunei) tore down the houses and burned them. Kampong Sungey Tekoyong was very bright because of the fires. That night the army of Barunah did not launch an attack.
The army of Santubong had lost many men and large numbers were wounded. Tuanku Ibrahim ordered those who were injured to be brought to Sungai Jaong. However, several wanted to fight til their last breath. The Menteris suggested that Tuanku Ibrahim save himself and retreat to Sungey Jaong and then proceed to Mungguk Dang Timah upriver of Sungey Santubong. He, however, did not agree with the suggestion. During the attack on Kampong Sungey Tekoyong, Menteri Sri Darmawangsa Indra Setia Raja a.k.a Pengiran Sri Tuan Abdul Karim was wounded by an arrow shot by someone with the Army of Barunah. (Brunei)
On the morning of the third day, an entourage of Awang from Salak came offering help to defend Mungguk Maras. They numbered about a hundred. Their wish was granted by the Tuanku. He then ordered the women (Dayang) to be sent to Mungguk Dang Timah /Dimah. The lack of a large army for the defence of Mungguk Maras was a critical factor in their defeat.
Also on the third day, a ship of Barunah (Brunei) had docked at Santubong and more troops alighted on boats which transferred them from the larger ship to shore. During Zohor (around noon) messengers, led by Pangeran Badat, arrived at Santubong and said they wanted to meet with Tuanku Ibrahim. The leader of the force, Pangeran Kuasa, requested that the army of Santubong surrender to Barunah (Brunei). Lack of surrender meant the army of Barunah (Brunei) would attack with full force.
The leader of the Awang group advised the Tuanku not to surrender because he and his troops would be massacred. This was their experience during the Barunah (Brunei) rebellion. The Menteri also agreed and advised the Tuanku not to surrender. Tuanku Ibrahim took their counsel. The messengers returned to the ship bringing the news back from Tuanku Ibrahim. The Tuanku ordered his army to prepare for another attack from Barunah(Brunei).
On the fourth day, the Barunah(Brunei) army attacked en masse. Their advance came from both Sungai Tekoyong and Mungguk Maras. The barrage was catastrophic, no mercy was shown. The offence did not use bows and arrows because the army did not want the army of Santubong to reuse the arrows to return fire. The onslaught lasted until late at night. Many in the army of Santubong died. Kampong Bukit Maras was captured by the army of Barunah (Brunei). What was left of the Santubong army fled to the top of Bukit Maras.
Tuanku Ibrahim ordered the army to escape to Mungguk Dang Timah. In the middle of the night, he and the Menteris escaped to Sungey Jaong and then used the perahu temuey at Sungey Jaong and paddled to Mungguk Dang Timah/Dimah. Tuanku Ibrahim had to walk, instead of being carried, on a small path through the jungle with his forty men on the way to Sungey Jaong.
The army of Barunah (Brunei) tried to seize Mugguk Maras by climbing up the hill. However, they were slowed by the sharp bamboo. In the darkness, many of the army of Barunah (Brunei) were injured. The army had to stop their approach to Mungguk Maras. This allowed the fifty remaining members of the Santubong army to escape. Before they left, they lighted fires so that the army of Barunah (Brunei) would think they were still there.
Part Two Next Time
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