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| Image of coat of arms of Sarawak |
The history of modern Sarawak is closely related to the adventures
of an Englishman, James Brooke after his advent to Sarawak in 1839. With a
boundary extending from Tanjung Datu to Batang Samarahan, Sarawak then was one
of Brunei’s territories and was ruled by its Governor, Pengiran Mahkota.
Politically, the country was in a state of turmoil with the natives constantly
in rebellion against Brunie’s authority. To restore order, the Raja Muda of
Brunei was sent but failed in his mission until Brooke returned the following
year and offered his assistance. As a reward for his success in pacifying the
revolts, Brooke was installed as first Rajah if Sarawak in 1841. Thus began the
reign of the White Rajahs under the the Brooke family which was to last more
than a century.
During the first few decades of his first rule, Brooke’s hold over
the century was greatly challenged not only by problems like piracy, but also
by the armed resistance by his subjects, particularly the natives. Some measure
of law and order was achieved and administrative changes were introduced. By
1861, Sarawak has been further enlarged with the Sultan’s cession of all the
rivers and lands from Sadong River to Kidurong Point. By 1864, it has been
recognized as an independent State by both the United States and Britain.
Further cession of territory occurred in 1868 with the reign of the second
Rajah, Charles Brooke, so that by 1885 Sarawak’s frontier extended to the
valley of the Trusan River. In 1890, the Limbang region was added and in 1905,
the Lawas River area was purchased from the British North Borneo Company.
Foreign protection was sought as early as the reign if the first
Rajah to ensure Sarawak’s political and economic survival and independence but
it was only in 1880 that Sarawak was accorded British protection. With the
decline in piracy and in a situation of relative political stability economic
development gained momentum, This continued during the reign of the third Rajah,
Charles Vyner Brooke, who succeeded Charles Brooke in 1917.
In 1941, a new constitution was granted by the Rajah which paved the
way for self-governance by the people. Among others, the constitution specified
the composition of the Supreme Council and Council Negeri. Before the enactment
could be effected, however, the Japanese invaded and occupied Borneo. When
Sarawak was liberated in 1946, the third Rajah declared his intention to cede
Sarawak to Great Britain, a decision which was opposed by many especially the
natives who formed what was known as the Anti-Cession Movement. However, the
Council Negeri voted 19 to 16 in favour of cession and Sarawak became a British
Crown Colony on July the 1st, 1946. Dissatisfaction mounted, resulting in mass
resignation of the of 388 Malay civil servants and the assassination of the
Second British Governor of the colony of Sarawak in 1949. The British reaction
to this attack was swift and the protest movement virtually died by 1950. A
number of the anti-cessionists continued their involvement in politics and won
for the State its "second independence" by supporting the formation
of Malaysia mooted by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the then Chief Minister of
Independent Malaya. In 1963, Sarawak achieved its independence within Malaysia.
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