Brunei and Sarawak
This essay was very convoluted and confusing. I have taken out the facts, numbered them and arranged them so they flow in chronological order.
The story begins in the 1790s.
1. Sultan Mohammed Tajuddin abdicates the Brunei throne.
2. His son, Jemal ul Alam, takes the throne.
3. Jemul un Alam dies shortly after assuming the throne.
4. His son Omar Ali succeeds the throne
5. Sultan Mohammed Tajuddin retakes the throne because of Omar Ali’s young age.
6. Sultan Mohammed Tajuddin died in 1806
7. Kahn Zur Alam, Tajuddins brother, is promoted to the throne.
8. Kahn Zur Alam dies.
9. Rajah Api seizes power.
10 The sister of Rajah Api, Nur Alam, has Rajah Api executed in a coup in 1828.
11. Omar Ali, son of Nur Alam, becomes Sultan.
12. Omar Ali’s brother, Hassim, becomes Bendahara. Rules affairs of Brunei.
12a Governor Makota tries to press Sarawak Malays into the antimony mines. Rebellion ensues.
13. Hassim leaves for Sarawak to quell the rebellion.
14. Meanwhile, Pengirians lose power. Surplus produce is sold to Singapore at a higher price. The British Navy quelled pirates.
15. Hassim tries to reassert power over the antimony trade in Sarawak to give to Pengirians.
16. Hassim loses influence over the Sultan to Pengirin Yusof, son of a concubine.
17. Hassim thinks of himself as the next Sultan because both sides of his family are Royal.
18. Hassim offers Brooke Sarawak and returns to Brunei to consolidate power.
19. Brooke tries to increase power over North Borneo. It supports Hassim, who is pro-British.
20. Sultan agrees to a treaty between Brooke and Hassim.
21. Brooke begins a campaign to quell piracy.
22. Hassim offers British Labuan in exchange to help Hassim gain Brunei throne.
23. Pengirians dislike the British. A conflict begins between Hassim and Pengiriamn Yousof and Pengirians.
24. Pengirin Yusof wants his son, anti-British Anak Hashim, to become Sultan.
25. In 1844, Hassim returned on the British ship HMS Samarang
26. Hassim was installed as Sultan.
27. Hassim cedes Labuan to England
28. British Naval Squadron bombards Yusof’s house and fort of his main supporter Sharif Usman.
29. Yusof flees to Kiminas river, where he is seized and executed.
30. Hassim and brother Bedruddin were killed together with other family members.
31. Pengirian Mumin was installed as head of the Brunei government.
32. Sultan Omar Ali dies. Mumin becomes Sultan.
33. Wazir Makhoda dominates Brunei politics
34. Brooke becomes involved in Brunei politics
35. Despite Hashim’s involvement with the murder of Hassim, Brooke elevates Hashim to temenggong to counter Makhoda.
36. Makhoda resents Brooke. Makhoda is killed while raiding Limbang for Bisaya girls.
37. Sultan allows Brooke to try and quell a rebellion on the sago rivers.
38. Brookes nephew tries but fails in quelling rebellions.
39. In 1860, Sarawak traders were refused entry to the Mukah river, and the Sarawak flag was fired upon.
40. Governor of Labuan, an anti-Sarawak person, arrives in Brunei.
41. Orders Brooke and his nephews to withdraw from Brunei.
42. Foreign Office in London supports Brooke. Sultan agreed to cede the coast of Sarawak to Kidurong Point in 1861.
43. Anak Hashim tries to play off one tribe of Pengirians against the other.
44. Northern coast between Kimanis and Sandakan leased to the American C.L. Moses in an effort to secure funds by Anak Hashim.
45.Sultan receives $4200 per anum while temenggong receives $4000 per anum from the Americans
46. Sultan builds a large consulate for the Americans but not for the British. Moses sublets to two other Americans.
47. The two new Americans, Terry and Overton, visit Brunei and secure an additional ten-year lease. Hashim receives payment.
48. Intrigue to the successor of the Sultan follows. Muda Hashim’s brother, Tajuddin, with his nephews, Anak Besar and Anak Tengah, want to be considered as successors. Most of the Sultans property would go to them. The brothers receive concessions.
49. Rajah Brooke and the British Foreign Office agree Hashim is the best choice for Sultan.
50. Rajah Brooke, blocked by the Foreign Office, wants Baram. At first, Hashim disagrees. However, needing money, he cedes Baram to Sarawak. Foreign Office changes its mind and agrees.$3000 goes to Hashim while $2000 to the Temenggong
51. After more intrigue, Hashim agrees to cede Trusan to Sarawak for $4500.
52. Sultan died in 1885. Hashim succeeds him. Hashim refuses to cede Limbang to the Rajah Brooke. Rajah Brooke takes Limbang in 1890. Sultan refuses to surrender the rest of Brunei to Sarawak. In 1905, the British authorities agreed that no more territory should be taken away from Brunei. Installs a Resident and supports Brunei’s continual existence.
Fr: Dr Colin Crisswell: Pengirin Anak Hashim’s Role in Brunei Affairs prior to his Accession to the throne in 1885 Sarawak Museum Journal December 1977
Sarawak River Valley Early Days to 1840 by Suriani Sahari and Tom McLaughlin is available on Amazon.com.
Borneohistory.net