First Famous Malay Hero
Datu Merpati Jepang was the son of Datu Merpati Raden Gusti and Datu Permaisuri Datu Undi. When he married Dayang Murdiah from Santubong, his father handed over the duty of headman to him.
His two sons, Pateh Mengadai and Pateh Sengkona were later appointed as Datu Patinggi and Datu Temenggong respectively, both titles that are still used in Sarawak today.
Datu Merpati Jepang and his father travelled together to various kampungs (villages) in Ulu Sarawak to collect taxes and solve villagers’ problems.
During attacks by pirates or foreigners on his kampong, Datu Merpati Jepang and his father defeated and drove their enemies away. Possessing knowledge of the supernatural arts, Datu Merpati was a strong and brave man who was always helpful in social and welfare work.
Under him, Santubong became a prosperous port city that attracted traders as far as China.
First Famous Melanau Hero
Abang Manai bin Abang Dreman, born in Mukah in 1830s, was appointed by Brunei’s Sultan Abdul Mumin as Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Rajah to look after the Melanau community in Mukah. At that time, Sarawak was still under Brunei’s rule. He assisted his people in solving various social problems when required and was well respected by the Melanau community. When Sultan of Brunei ceded his rule to the Brooke Regime, the second Rajah of Sarawak appointed Abang Manai as Ketua Orang Melanau in Mukah.
He was officially honoured by the Sarawak Government as a State Hero on 27 July 1993. The road between Jalan Song, Jalan Wan Alwi and Muara Tabuan in Kuching is named after him and along that raod, a new commercial centre is known as “Medan Setia Rajah Commercial Centre”. In Mukah, the RM7.2 million town centre boulevard and RM4 million Mukah Mosque are also named after Setia Rajah. Even one of Miri’s roads is known as Jalan Setia Rajah.
First Famous Chinese Hero
Liu Shanbang was born in the Kwang Tung province in China sometime in 1800. At the early age of 20, he left China for Sambas, Indonesia where he worked with a local goldmine for a few years. There, the Dutch authorities treated Chinese miners so badly that Liu Shanbang led them away to Bau, Upper Sarawak.
Liu Shanbang pioneered and established the Twelve Kongsi at Bau Lama in the 1830’s. Under his wise and able leadership, the Kongsi formed the basis of the miners’ political and social movement. With the plan to oust the foreign administration, about 600-armed Chinese miners attacked Kuching and occupied the Colonial buildings on 18 February 1857.
A day later, Liu Shanbang liberated Kuching, and became the “de facto” Rajah of Sarawak for five days until 23 February 1857. When Charles Brooke led his force from Simanggang (now Sri Aman) to attack the miners of Jugan, Siniawan, Liu Shanbang himself was gunned down. The hero died gloriously around 24 February 1857 at the age of 57.
On 27 July 1993, the Sarawak State Government officially declared Liu Shanbang as one of the Heroes of Sarawak.
First Famous Orang Ulu Hero
Sawing was born in Kanowit in the early 19th century, believed to be a mixed blood from the Ukit and Tanjung (Rajang) tribes.
The old folks in Kanowit described Sawing as their famous leader who had a short but strong and muscular body, with broad shoulders. He was very brave, intelligent and hated foreigners for coming to seize his land, imposing taxes and ruling over his people.
When Rajah James Brooke was trying to exercise his influence in the Batang Rejang area, Sawing defended his strong fort at Kabah, a tributary of Batang Rejang in Ulu Kanowit against the intruders. On 7 June 1859, Sawing and his followers launched an attack on Brooke’s officers at Fort Kanowit, and took off their heads.
Sawing surrendered himself voluntarily in December 1863 to avoid the bloodshed of the innocent Kayan people and the destruction of their properties by the Brooke’s force. He was executed with a kris that was thrust between his shoulders into his heart.
On 27 July 1993, the State Government officially declared Sawing as one of the Heroes of Sarawak.
Earliest Malay to Champion the People against Brunei
Datu Patinggi Ali bin Abang Mir, born at the end of the 18th century, was appointed by the Sultan of Brunei to be Datu Patinggi in Sarawak. Upon his appointment, Datu Patinggi Ali shifted the administrative headquarters from Santubong to Lidah Tanah, a strategic place at the confluence of the Sungai Sarawak Kira and Sungai Sarawak Kanan in Upper Sarawak (Bau district).
When antimony was discovered in Upper Sarawak in 1823, Pengiran Indera Mahkota who took over the authority from Datu Patinggi Ali in 1827, forced the Malay and the Land Dayak (Bidayuh) to extract antimony like slaves with long working hours and very low pay or no wages.
His harsh rule angered Datu Patinggi Ali who led an anti-Brunei force to fight in 1835. The Sultan of Brunei then sent his uncle Pengiran Muda Hashim to Sarawak in order to assist the Governor to pacify the revolt.
In 1840 upon the request from Pengiran Muda Hashim, James Brooke intervened, until a peace settlement was reached and Datu Patinggi Ali was restored to his position. When James Brooke became the first White Rajah of Sarawak on 24 September 1841, Datu Patinggi Ali became his advisor.
He died in Skrang (Sri Aman) on 19 August 1844 and was buried in the Undup areas. The State Government of Sarawak officially declared Datu Patinggi Ali as one of the Heroes of Sarawak on 27 July 1993.
(To be continued)
