BORNEO HISTORY

On 21 January 1944, just 3 days before the Chinese New
Year Eve, villagers of Petagas were awakened by the
distant firing of the machine gun in a silent morning. In
the next 3 days, they still heard cries and groans. They
knew something went very wrong but nobody dared to
check it out. 176 members of the Kinabalu Guerrillas
members were massacred by the Japanese army there
that day.

In the early morning on that day, Albert Kwok and his 175
men were transported by six covered goods-vans of a
train from Batu Tiga prison to Petagas. Two large holes
are dug in the ground for their execution. Albert Kwok
was beheaded by a katana (Japanese sword) with four
other leaders of the Kinabalu Guerrillas (namely, Charles
Peter, Chan Chau Kong, Kong Tze Phui, Lee Tek Phui).
The rest was shot by a machine gun or bayoneted. Their
bodies were dragged, pushed or kicked into the trenches.

Another 131 were sent to Labuan for long term
imprisonment. They were tortured and humiliated in front
of people. Finally, only nine of them survived. The
remains of the men who died in Labuan were reburied at
Petagas after the war.

The Japanese Occupation continued in Jesselton until it
lasted and the 2/32nd Battalion, Australian 9th Division
liberated the town on 28 September 1945. In the process
of liberation, the United States Air Force (leading Allied
Forces) bombed and destroyed Jesselton. After the war
ended, a source quoted that out of the 2,400 involved in
the revolt, 1,300 died, with the Japanese death toll
numbering 1,900. People realized there was a need to
care for the war dead and their families then, so the
Chinese community in Jesselton got together and
established the War Victims Caring Committee. This
committee was responsible for the first ever memorial
service for the victims of the Jesselton massacre in
Petagas on 21 January 1946.

References/ Sources:

1. The Kinabalu Guerrillas – By Maxwell Hall
2. Historical Sabah: The Chinese in Sabah by Danny
   Wong Tze Ken
3. Historical Sabah – The War by Danny Wong Tze Ken
4. The Tragedy of the Japanese Occupation of North
   Borneo (Chinese Edition) by Daniel Chin
5. Sabah (North Borneo) under the Rising Sun
   Government – By Stephen R. Evans
6. One Crowded Moment Of Glory The Kinabalu Guerillas
   And The 1943 Jesselton Uprising

Suku Tombonuo jika dikategorikan dari sudut kelompok bahasa dan percakapan adalah tergolong dalam kumpulan Suku Paitanik seperti Suku Lobu, Lingkabau, Sugpan dan Suku Kinabatangan (Atas) berdasarkan catatan Miller (1982).

Selepas Perang dunia kedua, timbul kesedaran baru di Sabah untuk mengkaji dan menulis semula Sejarah pelbagai Suku Kaum terutamanya suku kaum asal dan peribumi Sabah.

Kajian dan penulisan Sejarah yang khusus mengenai asal usul semua masyarakat peribumi dan suku kaum asal yang tinggal di kawasan pedalaman adalah amat kurang dan tidak mencukupi.

Suku ertinya menurut Elkin (1974) adalah sekumpulan manusia yang ada kaitan persaudaraan secara langsung atau tidak dengan cara kehidupan tinggal berkolompok di sesuatu kawasan, mencari makanan dari tumbuhan tumbuhan, bercucuk tanam dan memburu haiwan bersama sama serta mengikut sikap budaya dan peraturan keluarga atau kumpulan kecil itu sendiri.

Suku juga bererti sekumpulan penduduk peribumi yang menduduki dan memiliki sesuatu kawasan tertentu di dalam sesuatu Wilayah yang besar, bercakap dengan bahasa atau dialek yang secara khusus mereka fahami, mempunyai adat dan peraturan berbeza dari kumpulan lain serta mempunyai budaya dan upacara kepercayaan yang tidak sama dengan orang lain di sekeliling mereka.

Suku Tombonuo merupakan salah satu suku kaum dari 40 suku kaum peribumi Dusunik, Paitanik dan lain lain yang tersenarai di dalam Persatuan Kebudayaan Kadazandusun.

Kajian dan penulisan Sejarah Suku Tombonuo yang agak kurang menyebabkan kita banyak bergantung dengan cerita sejarah, lagenda dan mitos dari orang tua tua yang berunsur tradisi lisan.

Walau bagaimanapun setiap kajian suku kaum yang mempunyai unsur cerita rakyat sebenarnya boleh memberi gambaran suasana dan budaya masa silam (Sonza 1979).

Menurut kajian (PS Shim 2007) perkataan atau ayat bagaimana setiap suku kaum peribumi Sabah menyebut perkataan lalang (sejenis rumput Imperata cylindrica) dalam bahasa mereka boleh mengambarkan kelompok suku kaum tersebut contohnya Suku Kadazan, Bisaya dan Tatana menyebut lalang sebagai “pimpin”. Suku Lotud pula menyebut lalang sebagai “Kapayan” . Suku Momogun, Sukang dan Tombonuo menyebut lalang sebagai “Kutad”. Suku Tobilung dan Kimaragang menyebut lalang sebagai “paka”. Suku Murut menyebut lalang sebagai “alab” dan Suku Lundayeh menyebut lalang sebagai “so’bot”.

Menurut catatan terawal (Drymple 1762) beliau mendapati ada Suku Tombonuo yang tinggal di Kampung Kanibongan.

Menurut (Pryer 1881) sebelum adanya perubatan moden dari Negara Barat, jumlah penduduk tempatan yang mendiami kawasan persisiran pantai seperti Kadazan, Tangaa, Lotud, Rungus, Tobilung, Tindal, Kimaragang, Tombonuo, Idaan, Bajau dan Iranun adalah amat kurang disebabkan penyakit berjangkit demam cacar yang serius serta amalan budaya mengayau atau memotong kepala yang banyak mengorbankan nyawa.

Pryer mengatakan bahawa Suku Tombonuo mengamalkan hukuman “Sermungup” di rumah bicara dengan menikam pesalah dengan mata tombak sedalam satu inci setiap kali sambil menari dikeliling pesalah yang tangannya diikat di atas kayu dengan kaki bergayut.

Pesalah tersebut merupakan seorang peniaga yang cuba mengelak dari membayar cukai. Apabila upacara ini tamat pesalah tersebut didapati meninggal dunia dari luka luka tikaman tadi. Upacara ini tidak disukai oleh orang barat dan mereka di minta memberhentikan hukuman seumpama ini di masa akan datang atau mengganti korban tersebut itu dari manusia ke haiwan.

Suku Tombonuo, Momogun, Sukang dan Makiang berpindah dari tinggal di persisiran pantai kerana mereka memilih jalan untuk berhenti berperang atau mengayau sesama sendiri dan mencari kehidupan yang lebih aman jauh dari musuh musuh tradisi mereka.

Suku Tombonuo mempercayai bahawa Aki Silam, Aki Sumbol, Aki Toworo, Aki Alon, Adu Ruvoi adalah nenek moyang mereka.

Suku Tombonuo sehingga hari ini adalah antara Suku yang kurang di kaji tetapi boleh di jejak mendiami kawasan Paitan dan Sugut. Ramai antara mereka telah memeluk agama Islam dan lebih dikenali sebagai Suku Sungai tetapi bahasa Suku Tombonuo dan Suku orang Sungai adalah sama.

Suku Tagbanua (Orang Banua) yang boleh ditemui di Pulau Palawan di Selatan Filipina besar kemungkinan adalah suku yang ada sedikit persamaan dengan suku Tombonuo di Sabah yang merupakan salah satu suku peribumi kuno zaman silam. Pawang atau ketua agama pagan bagi orang Tagbanua dikenali sebagai bobolizan dan perkara yang sama bagi Suku Tombonuo pula dikenali sebagai Bobohizon.

D Daly ada menyebut berjumpa dengan Suku Tombonuo pada 22.9.1884 semasa dalam perjalanan ke Sungai Penungah, Melikop dan Melian.

D Daly adalah pegawai koloni yang pertama yang merekodkan kewujudan suku Tombonuo dan mengelar mereka suku orang Sungai (BNBH 1.10.1886).

D Daly mencatatkan keterangan Pangeran Assim pada tahun 1884 bahawa perkuburan pembesar Suku Tambuono berada di kawasan Imbok dan sekurang kurangnya ada 20 hingga 30 Keranda kayu belian.

Suku Tombonuo berada dalam satu kelompok suku yang mengunakan bahasa Paitanik seperti Suku Kolobuan, Kuamut, Milian, Lingkabau, Lobu, Makiang, Rumanau, Sabangan, Sinorupu, Sinobu dan Sugpan.

Pihak Syarikat Berpiagam Borneo Utara memperkenalkan beberapa pembesar Suku Tambuono pada 27.5.1889 antaranya Panglima Dermatuan, Majistret Domingol, Panglima Temmenggung Karamuak, Bapa Raja Tuah Darkos Kuamut, Laksamana Sanoal dari Tamoy, Panglima Addong dari Lamug dan Panglima Banjer Sandakan.

Gambar hiasan :

1. The Illustrated London News 1852

Sumber :

1. PS Shim 2007. Inland people of Sabah.

2. Miller, CP 1982. A Brief look at the languages and dialects of Sabah. Sabah Society Jurnal, Vol. VII No. 1 : 53-64

3. Elkin, AP 1974. The Australian Aborigines. (5th Edition) Angus & Robertson (Publisher) Pty Ltd Sydney

4. Sonza, DP 1979. The Bisaya of Borneo and the Philippines : A new look at the Maragtas.

5. Dalrymple, A 1767. A plan for extending the commerce of this Kingdom and of the East India Company.

6. BNBH 1.10.1886

7. Daly, DD 1884. Diary of Mr D D Daly’s Trip up the Kinabatangan River

8. Pryer, WB 1881. Diary of a trip to Kinabatangan River

Sejarah Sabah Yang Hilang

Menjejak Pahlawan Sabah Yang Tidak Di Dendang

Siapakah Datoh Majapar, “Government Chief, Inanam” 1897

Salam hormat dan salam sejahtera kepada semua peminat Sejarah Borneo Utara Sabah.

Generasi sekarang tidak terdedah dan mengetahui tentang kekayaan ilmu masyarakat Nusantara dahulu kala yang terakam dalam puluhan ribu manuskrip bertulis jawi yang di simpan di dalam dan di luar negara.

Bukan sahaja ilmu mengenai hikayat serta cerita penglipur lara, undang-undang dan agama tetapi manuskrip yang terakam menyentuh bab susurgalur kerajaan feudal lama, kisah peperangan, pemindahan dan penempatan semula masyarakat maritim dahulu kala di merata tempat dan kepulauan di Nusantara dan pelbagai kisah lain lagi.

Malah unsur mistik juga turut dimasukkan ke dalam manuskrip bertulis jawi seperti cara membuat sihir, jampi dan serapah, gambaran wajah dan bentuk mahkluk halus seperti jin dan orang bunian.

Sepanjang perjalanan sejarah manusia, peradaban besar telah dibangunkan dan berkembang. Namun ada beberapa peradaban yang awalnya berjaya yang kemudian jatuh dan beberapa diantaranya menghilang contohnya kisah waris turun Raja Kecil dan hubungannya dengan Kesultanan Brunei dan Kesultanan Siak. Bak kata pujangga “Untuk Sabut Timbul, Untung Batu Tenggelam”.

Kali ini penulis mohon izin cuba berkongsi sebuah kisah silam hubung kait peristiwa sejarah turun temurun sebuah keluarga persisiran pantai barat Sabah yang unik dan sungguh kompleks mengambil masa kajian lebih 20 tahun melibatkan hubungan empat (4) buah Negara seperti Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapura dan Brunei yang berlaku ratusan tahun lalu yang sebelum ini tidak pernah diceritakan atau ditulis di dalam mana mana buku sejarah Sabah..

Datoh Majapar Bin Datoh Hitam @ Raja Hitam mempunyai ramai isteri dan anak anak di Inanam, Likas, Sembulan, Tanjung Aru, Putatan sehingga Kuala Penyu antara anaknya bernama Datoh Busu Bin Datoh Majapar dan Dang Tijah Binti Datoh Majapar yang pernah tinggal di Kampung Sungai Kadayan, Brunei.

Mereka dikatakan waris Kesultanan Melaka, Johor, Riau, Siak yang tidak didendang dan adalah salah seorang keturunan Raja Kecil Johor yang mengabdikan diri beliau berkhidmat dengan Kesultanan Brunei bersama ramai lagi susurgalur Kesultanan Siak lain seperti Tengku Muhamad Ali yang berhijrah Ke Brunei menyamar sebagai Nahkoda Khamis dan Raja Ismail @ Raja Laut (1745-1781) berhijrah menjadi pembesar dan penguasa di Tempasuk Kota Belud di zaman pentadbiran Kesultanan Brunei, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien 1 (1740-1795).

Raja Ismail merupakan pesaing takhta Siak yang melarikan diri dari campur tangan kuasa barat Belanda dalam pelantikan Sultan Siak yang baru dan tidak mahu nyawa rakyat yang tidak berdosa hilang begitu sahaja akibat peperangan.

Dalam Syair Perang Siak, Raja Kecil didaulat menjadi penguasa Siak atas muafakat masyarakat di Bengkalis. Ia bertujuan untuk melepaskan Siak dari pengaruh Kesultanan Johor. Sementara dalam Hikayat Siak, Raja Kecil disebut juga dengan sang pengelana waris Sultan Johor yang kalah dalam perebutan kuasa.

Berdasarkan surat-menyurat Sultan Indermasyah Yang Dipertuan Pagar Ruyung dengan Gabenor Jeneral Belanda di Melaka masa itu, menyebutkan bahawa Sultan Abdul Jalil Rahmat Shah merupakan saudaranya dihantar untuk berdagang dengan Syarikat Hindia Timur Belanda (VOC).

Kemudian Sultan Abdul Jalil dalam suratnya tersendiri yang ditujukan kepada pihak Belanda, menyebut dirinya sebagai Raja Kecil dari Pagaruyung, akan menuntut balas atas kematian Sultan Johor.

Pada tahun 1718, Sultan Abdul Jalil berhasil menguasai Kesultanan Johor sekaligus mengukuhkan dirinya sebagai Sultan Johor dengan gelaran Yang Dipertuan Besar Johor. Tetapi pada tahun 1722, terdapat pemberontakan yang diketuai oleh Raja Sulaiman anak Bendahara Johor, yang juga menuntut hak ke takhta Johor.

Dengan bantuan tentera upahan dari Bugis, Raja Sulaiman kemudiannya berjaya dalam kudeta takhta Johor, dan mengisytiharkan dirinya sebagai penguasa Johor di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Sementara Sultan Abdul Jalil, berpindah ke Bintan dan pada tahun 1723 membina pusat kerajaan baru di sehiliran Sungai Siak dengan nama Siak Sri Inderapura. Sementara pusat kerajaan Johor yang sebelum ini berada sekitar muara Sungai Johor ditinggalkan begitu saja, dan menjadi status quo dari masing-masing penguasa yang bertikai tersebut. Sedangkan tuntutan Raja Kecil sebagai pewaris yang sah kepada takhta Johor, diiktiraf oleh masyarakat Orang Laut atau Bajau Samah.

Orang Laut Bajau Samah adalah sekumpulan orang yang tinggal di wilayah Kepulauan Riau yang terbentang dari timur Sumatra hingga ke Laut China Selatan, dan kesetiaan ini terus berlaku hingga runtuhnya Kesultanan Siak.

Raja Kecil terpaksa melepas hegemoninya di Kepulauan Riau dan mula membina kekuatan baru di kawasan sepanjang pantai timur Sumatra. Antara tahun 1740-1745, Raja Kecil kembali bangkit dan menakluki beberapa kawasan di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kerana mendapat ancaman dari Siak, dan di saat yang bersamaan orang-orang Bugis juga meminta balas atas jasa mereka, maka Raja Sulaiman meminta bantuan kepada Belanda di Melaka.

Dalam perjanjian yang ditandatangani pada tahun 1746, Johor berjanji untuk memberikan Bengkalis kepada Belanda. Perjanjian itu kemudiannya ditanggapi oleh VOC dengan membina gudang di kawasan tersebut.

Sepeninggal Raja Kecil pada tahun 1746, tuntutan atas Johor pudar. Penerusnya Sultan Mahmud/ Muhammad memberi tumpuan kepada pengukuhan kedudukannya di pesisir timur Sumatera dan daerah vassal di Kedah dan kawasan pantai timur Semenanjung Malaya.

Pada tahun 1761, Sultan Siak membuat persetujuan eksklusif dengan Belanda, dalam ehwal perdagangan dan hak kedaulatan wilayah, serta bantuan dalam bidang senjata.

Setelah beliau meninggal dunia, muncul dualisme kepemimpinan di kerajaan ini. Raja Muhammad Ali yang lebih disukai Belanda kemudian menjadi Sultan Siak. Sementara sepupunya Raja Ismail yang tidak disukai Belanda, muncul sebagai Raja Laut, menguasai perairan timur Sumatra sampai ke Laut China Selatan, termasuk kepulauan Borneo berpengkalan di Tempasuk dan Mengkabong dan membina kekuatan di gugusan Pulau Tujuh.

Sekitar 1767, Raja Ismail telah menjadi penduaan Raja Kecil. Disokong oleh Orang Laut Bajau Samah, beliau terus menunjukkan dominasinya di perairan wilayah timur Sumatra, dengan memulakan pengendalian ke atas perdagangan timah di Pulau Bangka, kemudian menakluki Mempawah di Kalimantan Barat.

Sebelum itu Raja Ismail juga membantu Terengganu menakluki Kelantan, hubungan ini kemudian diperkuat oleh hubungan perkahwinan antara Raja Ismail dengan saudara perempuan Sultan Terengganu.

Pengaruh Raja Ismail di kawasan Nusantara sangat penting, bermula dari Terengganu, Jambi dan Palembang. Laporan Belanda menyebutkan, Palembang telah membayar 3,000-ringgit kepada Raja Ismail agar jalur pelayarannya selamat dari gangguan. Sedangkan Hikayat Siak menceritakan sambutan perayaan yang diterima oleh Raja Ismail ketika ia tiba di Palembang.

Menjelang abad ke 18, Kesultanan Siak telah menjadi kekuatan dominan di pantai timur Sumatera. Pada tahun 1780, Kesultanan Siak menakluki kawasan Langkat, dan menjadikan kawasan itu di bawah pengawasannya,termasuk wilayah Deli dan Serdang.

Di bawah ikatan perjanjian kerja sama dengan VOC, pada tahun 1784 Kesultanan Siak membantu VOC menyerang dan menundukkan Selangor. Sebelumnya mereka telah bekerja sama memadamkan pemberontakan Raja Haji Fisabilillah di Pulau Penyengat.

Pengembangan penjajahan Belanda ke kawasan timur Pulau Sumatera tidak dapat dipintas oleh Kesultanan Siak, bermula dengan pembebasan Kesultanan Deli, Kesultanan Asahan, Kesultanan Langkat, dan kemudian muncul Indragiri sebagai kawasan bebas. Begitu juga di Johor, di mana seorang sultan dari keturunan Tumenggung Johor kembali didudukkan, dan berada dalam perlindungan Inggris di Singapura.

Sementara Belanda memulihkan kedudukan Yang Dipertuan Muda di Pulau Penyengat, dan kemudian mendirikan Kesultanan Lingga di Pulau Lingga. Selain itu Belanda juga menyempitkan wilayah kedaulatan Siak, dengan mendirikan Residentie Riouw yang merupakan sebahagian daripada pemerintahan Hindia Belanda yang berkedudukan di Kota Tanjung Pinang.

Raja Ismail membantu Sultan Mahmud Shah menyerang Belanda di Riau Johor. Peristiwa ini berlaku pada tahun 1781, di mana Sultan Mahmud Shah yang memerintah Riau Johor pada ketika itu telah menghantar utusan yang bernama Encik Talib ke Tempasuk untuk menyampaikan permintaan baginda kepada Raja Ismail, agar Tempasuk menghantar bantuan ketenteraan untuk menyerang Belanda di Tanjung Pinang. Baginda Sultan Mahmud Shah juga menyatakan bahawa Raja Tempasuk tersebut ada kaitan kekeluargaan dengan beliau.

Maka itu, baginda Sultan Mahmud Shah tidak segan-silu untuk memohon bantuan ketenteraan daripada orang Iranun di Tempasuk untuk mengusir Belanda di Tanjung Pinang. Oleh kerana permintaan ini datang daripada Sultan Mahmud, maka Raja Ismail sendiri telah mengetuai angkatan tentera Tempasuk yang berjumlah sekitar lebih tiga puluh buah kapal dan perahu.

Menurut sumber tempatan ukuran kapal mereka ini lebih kurang sembilan puluh kaki panjang yang boleh membawa enam puluh tan muatan dan boleh memuatkan seramai lebih satu ratus lima puluh orang.Perjalanan mereka ke Riau Johor tidaklah memakan masa yang lama kemahiran di laut membantu angkatan itu sampai dengan segera. Kapal dan perahu ini dilengkapi dengan peralatan senjata seperti meriam atau lebih dikenali sebagai ‘laila’, bersandarkan kekuatan dan kecekapan, maka tentera Raja Ismail pun belayar di Laut China Selatan.

Perjalanan mereka ini tidak menghadapi masalah dan mereka sampai ke Riau Johor dengan selamat. Apabila Raja Ismail dan tenteranya sampai di Riau Johor, maka mereka diberi taklimat berkaitan kedudukan pihak Belanda di Tanjung Pinang.

Setelah itu Raja Ismail bersama tentera Iranun pun bersiap sedia menyerang kedudukan Belanda di Tanjung Pinang, dan dalam serangan ini tentera orang Iranun telah berjaya mengalahkan Belanda dan ramai tentera Belanda yang terkorban dan dalam serangan tersebut difahamkan Raja Ismail cedera parah terputus tangannya serta turut terkorban pada tahun 1781.

Penguasaan Inggeris atas Selat Melaka, mendorong Sultan Siak pada tahun 1840 untuk menerima tawaran perjanjian baru menggantikan perjanjian yang telah mereka buat sebelum ini pada tahun 1819.

Perjanjian ini menjadikan wilayah Kesultanan Siak semakin kecil dan tersepit antara wilayah kerajaan kecil lainnya yang mendapat perlindungan dari Inggeris.Demikian juga pihak Belanda menjadikan kawasan Siak sebagai sebahagian dari pemerintahan Hindia Belanda,setelah memaksa Sultan Siak menandatangani perjanjian pada 1 Februari 1858.

Dari perjanjian ini, Siak Sri Inderapura kehilangan kedaulatannya. Maka dalam setiap pelantikan raja, Siak harus mendapat persetujuan dari Belanda. Selanjutnya dalam pengawasan wilayah, Belanda mendirikan pos tentera di Bengkalis serta melarang Sultan Siak membuat perjanjian dengan pihak asing tanpa persetujuan pemerintahan Hindia Belanda.

Kemudian berdasarkan perjanjian pada 26 Julai 1873, pemerintah Hindia Belanda memaksa Sultan Siak, menyerahkan wilayah Bengkalis kepada Residen Riau. Namun di tengah tekanan tersebut, Kesultanan Siak masih tetap bertahan sampai kemerdekaan Indonesia, walaupun semasa pendudukan tentera Jepun, kebanyakan kuasa tentera Kesultanan Siak tidak bererti lagi.

Kepulauan Natuna, Anambas, Riau dan Bangka dengan dokongan Raja Negara dari Pulau Tujuh (Pulau Tambelan, Pulau Serasan, Pulau Subi, Pulau Bunguran, Pulau Laut, Pulau Siantan dan Pulau Jemaja) serta orang laut bajau samah memainkan peranan penting dalam penguasan perairan Laut China Selatan dan juga negara negara sekelilingnya.

Berbalik kepada kisah Datoh Majapar, beliau dituduh membantu pemberontakan Paduka Mat Salleh dan digugurkan Jawatan sebagai Ketua Pembesar Kerajaan di Inanam atau “Government Chief of Inanam” oleh pihak kompeni. dan digantikan dengan Datu Mohammad Israel sebagai “Government Chief Inanam” yang baru.

Susulan dari itu beratus buah rumah di Likas, Inanam, Mengkabong sehingga Kampung Labuan Kota Belud di bakar dengan kejam oleh pihak kompeni demi membalas dendam atas sokongan Orang Laut Bajau Samah terhadap Mat Salleh.

Mengenang jasa dan perjuangan Datoh Majapar, cucu beliau bernama Orang Tua Bakar Bin Datu Busu Bin Datoh Majapar di angkat menjadi Ketua Kampung Likas, Jesselton sekitar tahun 1960 an dan susurgalur keluarganya masih boleh di jejak sehingga hari ini.

Begitulah berakhir salah satu lagi kisah silam Sabah mengenai sejarah golongan pembesar zaman dulu dulu yang telah hilang ditelan zaman. Semoga terbuka minda dan dapat menerima sebuah keindahan sejarah migrasi penduduk maritim di zaman silam.

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5. ‘Pita rakaman mengenai Raja Kechil Siak keterangan Professor Dr. Abdullah Zakeria bin Ghazali’, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia [UKM, 5 Oktober 2003];

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7. As, M. S., (1996), Ulama pembawa Islam di Indonesia dan sekitarnya, Lentera Basritama, ISBN 979-8880-16-1

8. Jasmi, K., (2005), Surau: kumpulan cerpen, Penerbit Republika, ISBN 979-3210-49-4.

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22. Cribb, R. B., Kahin, A., (2004), Historical dictionary of Indonesia, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0-8108-4935-6.

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THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF SABAH 1963

On the morning of 16th September 1963 at a ceremony in the Town Padang, Jesselton, the Proclamation of Malaysia was read, and the new head of state and the new chief minister took their oaths of office.

On that day Sabah merged with the Federation of Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia, the structure of its government was laid out in the Constitution of the State of Sabah 1963, which was the Third Schedule to the Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (State Constitutions) Order in Council 1963.

The terms of Sabah’s entry were spelt out in the Malaysia Agreement signed in London on the 9th of July 1963 between Great Britain, the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF SABAH 1963

The cabinet replaced the executive council made up of a Chief Minister and not more than eight or fewer than four other members of the legislative assembly and three ex-officio members – the state secretary, the state attorney general, and the state financial secretary. The duty of the cabinet was to advise the Yang di Pertua Negara on policy.

In the structure of the State Governments of Sabah, the Head of State or YDPN is the Governor whose title is Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT). The TYT is appointed by the Yang di–Pertuan Agong. The TYT appoints the Chief Minister as head of the State’s executive branch.

The post of the Chief Minister is normally filled by the leader of the party that has the most representatives in the State Legislative Assembly or Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) who, in the opinion of the head of state, had the greatest following in the assembly.

The DUN passes all State laws that do not come under the jurisdiction of Parliament and oversees the policies and spending of the State Government. The elected representatives in the DUN are called State Assemblymen.

It was laid down, however, that until June 1964 the Legislative Council should remain in office unless it was dissolved earlier by the Yang Di Pertua Negara. As it came about the council did remain until June 1964 with the same members as Malaysia Day, with one exception: a speaker was appointed to replace the former president, who had been the colonial governor.

Legislative Council become Legislative Assembly in June 1964. Changes were made in Sabah’s constitution in July 1964.

Sabah Cabinet consisted of the Chief Minister, the deputy chief minister, the minister of communications and works, the minister of finance, the minister of local government, the minister of agriculture and fisheries, the minister of social welfare, the minister of health and the minister of natural resources. The ex- officio members were dropped from the cabinet.

The legislative assembly, the law-making body, would consist of a speaker, who would preside over its business, and thirty-two elected members and not more than 6 nominated members. The assembly would decide on the state laws which would be passed when agreed upon by the head of state.

The State Government or ‘Executive’ is made up of the Chief Minister and his Cabinet of Ministers who are appointed by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister may also appoint Assistant Ministers. Each Minister and his or her Assistant are responsible for their own Ministry.

THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN OVER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The responsibilities of the new government for ruling Sabah in all matters except those which it had given over to the Federal Government.

The subject of government, and which government would have control of them, were laid down in three (3) lists: –

LIST I – FEDERAL LIST

The first was the federal list, which included such matters as external affairs, defence, internal security, civil and criminal law, trade and industry, shipping and navigation, posts and telecommunications, broadcasting, education (with certain powers given to the state), labour and co-operative etc.

1. External affairs, including –

(a) Treaties, agreements and conventions with other countries and all matters which bring the Federation into relations with any other country;

(b) Implementation of treaties, agreements and conventions with other countries;

(c) Diplomatic, consular and trade representation;

(d) International organizations; participation in international bodies and implementation of decisions taken thereat;

(e) Extradition, fugitive offenders, admission into, and emigration and expulsion from, the Federation;

(f) Passports, visas, permits of entry or other certificates; quarantine;

(g) Foreign and extra-territorial jurisdiction; and

(h) Pilgrimages to places outside Malaysia.

2. Defense of the Federation or any part thereof, including –

(a) Naval, military and air forces and other armed forces;

(b) Any armed forces attached to or operating with any of the armed forces of the Federation; visiting forces;

(c) Defense works; military and protected areas; naval, military and air force bases; barracks, aerodromes and other works;

(d) Manoeuvres;

(e) War and peace; alien enemies and enemy aliens; enemy property; trading with an enemy; war damage; war risk insurance;

(f) Arms, fire-arms, ammunition and explosives;

(g) National service; and

(h) Civil defence.

3. Internal security, including –

(a) Police; criminal investigation; registration of criminals; public order;

(b) Prisons, reformatories; remand homes; place of detention; probation of offenders; juvenile offenders;

(c) Preventive detention; restriction of residence;

(d) Intelligence services; and

(e) National registration.

4. Civil and criminal law and procedure and the administration of justice, including –

(a) Constitution and organization of all courts other than Syariah Courts;

(b) Jurisdiction and powers of all such courts.

(c) Remuneration and other privileges of the judges and officers presiding over such courts;

(d) Persons entitled to practice before such courts;

(e) Subject to paragraph (ii), the following –

(i) Contract, partnership, agency and other special contracts; master and servant; inns and inn-keepers; actionable wrongs, property and its transfer and hypothecation, except land, bona bacantia; equity and trusts, marriage, divorce and legitimacy; married women’s property and status; interpretation of federal law; negotiable instruments; statutory declarations; arbitration; mercantile law; registration of businesses and business names; the age of majority; infants and minors; adoption; succession, testate and intestate; probate and letters of administration; bankruptcy and insolvency; oaths and affirmations; limitation; reciprocal enforcement of judgments and orders; the law of evidence; (ii) the matters mentioned in paragraph (i) do not include Islamic personal law relating to marriage, divorce, guardianship, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy, family law, gifts or succession, testate and intestate;

(f) Official secrets, corrupt practices;

(g) Use of exhibition of coats of arms, armorial bearing, flags, emblems, uniforms, orders and decorations other than those of a State;

(h) Creation of offences in respect of any of the matters included in the Federal List or dealt with by federal law;

(i) Indemnity in respect of any of the matters in the Federal List or dealt with by federal law;

(j) Admiralty Jurisdiction;

(k) Ascertainment of Islamic law and other personal laws for purposes of federal law; and

(l) Betting and lotteries.

5. Federal citizenship and naturalization; aliens.

6. The machinery of government, subject to the State List, but including –

(a) Elections to both Houses of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies of the States and all matters connected therewith;

(b) The Armed Forces Council and the Commissions to which Part I applies;

(c) Federal services including the establishment of services common to the Federation and the States; services common to two or more States;

(d) Pensions and compensation for loss of office; gratuities and conditions of service;

(e) Government and administration of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan including Islamic law therein to the same extent as provided in item I in the State List and respect of the Federal Territory of Labuan, native law and custom to the same extent as provided in item 13 of the Supplement to State List for States of Sabah and Sarawak;

(f) Federal Government contracts;

(g) Federal public authorities; and

(h) Purchase, acquisition and holding of, and dealing with, property for federal purposes.

7. Finance, including –

(a) Currency, legal tender and coinage;

(b) National savings and savings banks;

(c) Borrowing on the security by the States, public authorities and private enterprise;

(d) Loans to or borrowing by the States, public authorities and private enterprise;

(e) Public debt of the Federation;

(f) Financial and accounting procedure, including the procedure for the collection, custody and payment of the public money of the Federation and the States, and the purchase, custody and disposal of public property other than the land of the Federation and the States;

(g) Audit and account of the Federation and the States and other public authorities;

(h) Taxes, rates in the federal capital;

(i) Fees in respect of any of the matters in the Federal List or dealt with by federal law;

(j) Banking, money-lending; pawnbrokers; control of credit;

(k) Bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes and other similar instruments;

(l) Foreign exchange; and

(m) Capital issues, stock and commodity exchanges.

8. Trade, commerce and industry, including –

(a) Production, supply and distribution of goods, price control and food control, adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods;

(b) Imports into, and exports from, the Federation;

(c) Incorporation, regulation and winding up of corporations other than municipal corporations (but including the municipal corporation of the federal capital); regulation of foreign corporations; bounties on production in or export from the Federation;

(d) Insurance, including compulsory insurance;

(e) Patents, designs; inventions; trademarks and mercantile marks; copyrights;

(f) Establishments of standards of weights and measures;

(g) Establishments of standards of quality of goods manufactured in or exported from the Federation;

(h) Auctions and auctioneers;

(i) Industries, regulation of industrial undertakings;

(j) Subject to item 2 (c) in the State List; Development of mineral resources, mines, mining, minerals and mineral ores, oils and oilfields; purchase, sale, import and export of minerals and mineral ores; petroleum products; regulation of labour and safety in mines and oilfields;

(k) Factories, boilers and machinery, dangerous trades; and

(l) Dangerous and inflammable substances.

9. Shipping, navigation and fisheries, including –

(a) Shipping and navigation on the high seas and in tidal and inland waters;

(b) Ports and harbours; foreshores;

(c) Lighthouses and other provisions for the safety of navigation;

(d) Maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries, excluding turtles;

(e) Light dues; and

(f) Wrecks and salvage.

10. Communications and transport, including –

(a) Roads, bridges, ferries and other means of communication if declared to be federal by or under federal law;

(b) Railways, excluding Penang Hill Railway;

(c) Airways, aircraft and air navigation; civil aerodromes; provisions for the safety of aircraft;

(d) Regulation of traffic by land, water and air other than on rivers outside harbour areas wholly within one State;

(e) Carriage of passengers and goods by land, water and air;

(f) Mechanically propelled vehicles;

(g) Posts and telecommunications; and

(h) Wireless, broadcasting and television.

11. Federal works and power, including –

(a) Public works for federal purposes;

(b) Water supplies, rivers and canals, except those wholly within one State or regulated by an agreement between all the States concerned; production, distributions by the supply of water power; and

(c) Electricity, gas and gas works; and other works for the production and distribution of power and energy.

12. Surveys, inquiries and research, including –

(a) Census; registration of births and deaths; registration of marriages; registration of adoptions other than adoptions under Islamic law or Malay custom;

(b) Survey of the Federation; social, economic and scientific surveys; meteorological organizations;

(c) Scientific and technical research; and

(d) Commissions of inquiry.

13. Education, including –

(a) Elementary, secondary, and university education; vocational and technical education, training of teachers; registration and control of teachers; managers and schools; promotion of special studies and research; scientific and literary societies;

(b) Libraries; museums; ancient and historical monuments and records; archaeological sites and remains.

14. Medicine and health including sanitation in the federal capital, and including –

(a) Hospitals, clinic and dispensaries, medical profession; maternity and child welfare; lepers and leper institutions;

(b) Lunacy and mental deficiency, including places for reception and treatment;

(c) Poisons and dangerous drugs; and

(d) Intoxicating drugs and liquors, manufacture and sale of drugs.

15. Labour and social security, including –

(a) Trade unions; industrial and labour disputes, the welfare of labour including the housing of labourers by employers; employers’ liability and workmen compensation;

(b) Unemployment insurance; health insurance; widows, orphans and old-age pensions; maternity benefits; provident and benevolent funds; superannuation; and

(c) Charities and charitable institutions; charitable trusts and trustees excluding Wakafs; Hindu endowments.

16. Welfare of the aborigines.

17. Professional occupations other than those specifically enumerated.

18. Holidays other than State holidays; standard of time.

19. Unincorporated societies.

20. Control of agricultural pests protection against such pests; prevention of plant diseases.

21. Newspaper, publications, publishers, printing and printing presses.

22. Censorship.

23. Subject to item 5(f) of the State List, theatres; cinemas; cinematograph films; places of public amusement.

24. Federal housing and improvement trusts.

25. Co-operative societies.

26. Subject to item 9A of the Concurrent List, prevention and extinguishment of fire, including fire services and fire brigades.

27. All matters relating to the Federal Territory, including the matters enumerated in items 2,3,4 and 5 of the State List and the Cast of the Federal Territory of Labuan, the matter enumerated in items 15,16 and 17 of the Supplement to State List for the States of Sabah and Sarawak.

LIST II – STATE LIST

The second was the state list, including Islamic law, forests and agriculture, local government, waterworks, land and traditional law and customs.

1. Except concerning the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, Islamic law and personal and family law of persons professing the religion of Islam, including the Islamic law relating to succession, testate and intestate, betrothal, marriage, divorce, dower, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy guardianship, gifts, partitions and non-charitable trusts; Wakafs and the definition and regulation of charitable and religious endowments, institutions, trusts, charities and charitable institutions operating wholly within the State; Malay customs. Zakat, Fitrah and Baitulmal or similar Islamic religious revenue, mosques or any Islamic public places of worship, creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion, except regarding matters included in the Federal List; the constitution, organisation and procedure of Syariah courts, which shall have jurisdiction only over person professing the religion of Islam and in respect only of any of the matters included in this paragraph, but shall not have jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far as conferred by federal law*, the control of propagating doctrines and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam; the determination of matters of Islamic law and doctrine Malay custom.

2. Except concerning the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, land including

(a) Land tenure, the relation of landlord and tenant; registration of titles and deeds relating to land; colonization, land improvement and soil conservation; rent restriction;

(b) Malay reservations or, in the States of Sabah and Sarawak, native reservations;

(c) Permits and licences for prospecting for mines; mining leases and certificates;

(d) Compulsory acquisition of land;

(e) Transfer of land, mortgages, leases and charges in respect of the land; easements; and

(f) Escheat; treasure trove excluding antiquities.

3. Except concerning the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, agriculture and forestry, including –

(a) Agriculture and agricultural loans, and

(b) Forests.

4. Local government outside the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, including

(a) Local administration; municipal corporation; local town and rural board and other local authorities; local government services, local rates, local government elections;

(b) Obnoxious trades and public nuisances in local authority areas;

(c) Housing and provision for housing accommodation, improvement trusts.

5. Except concerning the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, other services of a local character, that is to say –

(a) (Repealed).

(b) Boarding houses and lodging houses;

(c) Burial and cremation grounds;

(d) Pounds and cattle trespass;

(e) Markets and fairs; and

(f) Licensing of theatres, cinemas and places of public amusement.

6. State works and water, that is to say –

(a) Public work for State purposes;

(b) Roads, bridges and ferries other than those in the Federal List, regulation of weight and speed of vehicles on such roads; and

(c) Subject to the Federal List, water (including water supplies, rivers and canals); control of silt; riparian rights.

7. Machinery of the State Government, subject to the Federal List, but including –

(a) Civil List and State pensions;

(b) Exclusive State services;

(c) Borrowing on the security of the State Consolidated Fund;

(d) Loans for State purposes;

(e) Public debt of the State; and

(f) Fees in respect of any of the matters included in the State List or dealt with by State law.

8. State holidays.

9. Creation of offences in respect of any of the matters included in the State List or dealt with by State law, proof of State law and thing done thereunder, and proof of any matter for purposes of State law.

10. Inquiries for State purposes, including commissions of inquiry and collection of statistics concerning any of the matters included in the State List of dealt with by State law.

11. Indemnity in respect of any of the matters in the State List or dealt with by State law.

12. Turtles and riverine fishing.

LIST II A – SUPPLEMENT TO STATE LIST FOR STATES OF SABAH AND SARAWAK

13. Native law and custom, including the personal law relating to marriage, divorce, guardianship, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy, family law, gifts or succession testate or intestate; registration of adoptions under native law or custom; the determination of matters of native law or custom; the constitution, organization and procedure of native courts (including the right of audience in such courts), and the jurisdiction and powers of such courts, which shall extend only to the matters included in this paragraph and shall not include jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far as conferred by federal law.

14. Incorporation of authorities and other bodies set up by State law, if incorporated directly by State law, and regulation and winding up of corporations so created.

15. Ports and harbours, other than those declared to be federal by or under federal law; regulation of traffic by water in ports and harbours or on rivers wholly within the State, except traffic in federal ports or harbours; foreshores.

16. Cadastral land surveys.

17. Libraries, museums, ancient and historical monuments and records and archaeological sites and remains, other than those declared to be federal by or under federal law.

18. In Sabah, the Sabah Railway

LIST III – CONCURRENT LIST

The third list was one where State and Federal Governments were to share the powers.

This was the concurrent list including social welfare, scholarship, national parks, animal husbandry and drainage and irrigation.

1. Social welfare; social services subject to Lists I and II; protection of women, children and your persons.

2. Scholarships.

3. Protection of wild animals and wild birds; National Parks.

4. Animal husbandry, prevention of cruelty to animals; veterinary services; animal quarantine.

5. Town and country planning, except in the federal capital.

6. Vagrancy and itinerant hawkers.

7. Public health, sanitation (excluding sanitation in the federal capital) and the prevention of diseases.

8. Drainage and irrigation.

9. Rehabilitation of mining land and land which has suffered soil erosion.

9A. Fire safety measures and fire precautions in the construction and maintenance of the buildings.

LIST III A – SUPPLEMENT TO CONCURRENT LIST FOR THE STATE OF SABAH AND SARAWAK

10. Personal law relating to marriage, divorce, guardianship, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy, family law, gifts or succession testate and intestate.

11. Adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods.

12. Shipping under fifteen registered tons, including the carriage of passengers and goods by such shipping, maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries.

13. The production, distribution and supply of water power and electricity generated by water power.

14. Agricultural and forestry research, control of agricultural pests, protection against such pests, and prevention of plant diseases.

15. Charities and charitable trusts and institutions in the State (that is to say, operating wholly within, or created and operating in the State) and their trustees, including the incorporation thereof and the regulation and winding-up of incorporated charities and charitable institutions in the State.

16. Theatres; cinemas; cinematograph films; places of public amusements.

17. Elections to the State Assembly were held during the period of indirect elections.

18. In Sabah until the end of the year 1970 (but not in Sarawak), medicine and health, including the matters specified in items 14 (a) to (d) of the Federal List.

TO BE CONTINUE….

(Disclaimer: This article is designed to improve our North Borneo History’s knowledge and is strictly for educational purposes. We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this article. The information in this article is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Further reading materials on the topic may be required.)

References: –

1. Constitution of the State of Sabah

2. Malaysianbar.org.my

3. F.G. Whelan-A History of Sabah

4. KG Tregonning – Under the Charted Company Rule

5. KG Tregonning – A History of Modern Sabah 1881-1963

6. MH Baker – Sabah the First Ten Years as a Colony

7. IDS-Sabah 25 Years Later

8. A Collection of Treaties and Other Documents affecting the states of Malaysia 1761-1963

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH

SPECIAL EDITION

INTRODUCTION

The term CONSTITUTION comes from the Latin word “constitutio”, used for orders and regulations, such as imperial enactments.

Later, the term was widely used in canon law for an important determination, especially a decree issued by the Pope, now referred to as an apostolic constitution.

According to Emeritus Professor Datuk Shad Saleem Faruqi, “Constitutions are born to mark stages in the progression towards self-government, to establish the foundations of a newly independent state or to start afresh after a revolutionary or ideological upheaval”.

A Constitution is a body of fundamental laws that describes how the state is organized, the government carried on and justice administered, like a political architect’s master plan for the nation.

It provides the legal foundation on which the structure of the state rests and the highest law of the land. It is the apex of the legal pyramid. It is of superior legal validity to all other laws of the land whether passed by the Federal Parliament, State Assemblies or local authorities.

At the philosophical level, a constitution supplies the fundamental or core values on which society is founded. These values are political, religious, moral, cultural and economic. They may be contained in a stirring preamble to the Constitution or maybe implicit in the glittering generalities of the Constitution’s Articles.

THE BRITISH NORTH BORNEO COMPANY AND CROWN COLONY’S CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

In 1945 the constitutional and administrative structure of North Borneo lay in ruins and was unable to exercise its powers; government offices were disorganized, their records lost, their building destroyed, and their staff dead or dispersed.

The organization of central and local administration and the new constitutional arrangements were modelled on the constitutional framework of the Chartered Company and such changes as were made in the ensuing years were, for the most part, natural development rather than radical alterations.

The Colony of North Borneo was constituted by the North Borneo Cession Order in Council on the 10th of July 1946 and the first post-war constitution was the Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the Realm constituting the office of Governor and Commander in Chief of the colony of North Borneo and providing for the government thereof.

He was to be assisted by an Advisory Council to consist of the Chief Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Financial Secretary, as ex officio members, and such other persons, to be styled appointed members, as the Governor might appoint. The Crown reserved full powers of legislation.

The North Borneo Order in Council also stated that whereas an agreement had been made between the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on behalf of His Majesty, and the British North Borneo Company, whereby the company had transferred and ceded all its rights, powers and interest in the territory with effect from 15th July 1946, it was, therefore, ordered that the State of North Borneo be annexed to and form part of His Majesty’s Dominions, and should be called, together with the Settlement of Labuan, the colony of North Borneo.

All persons who on July 15 were citizens of the State of North Borneo by the North Borneo Naturalization Ordinance of 1931 should, on that day, become British subjects.

The first meeting of the Advisory Council was held on the 15th of July 1946, in the upper room of the old district office in Jesselton.

At the end of 1947, there were, in addition to the three ex-officio members, nineteen who had been appointed by the Governor. The officials were the three Residents, the Commissioner of Immigration and Labor, and the Conservator of Forests. The unofficial were six natives, four European and four Chinese.

In 1947, the first Governor, Mr Edward Francis Twining appointed a committee of Mr T.D. Wallace, as chairman, of the three Residents, and all the native and unofficial members of the Advisory Council, prepared detailed proposals for the constitution of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

In June 1947, the Advisory Council passed a resolution on the future constitutional development of the Colony, and the proposals were approved in principle by the secretary of state.

In March 1948, at the meeting of the Advisory Council, the committee produced a unanimous report which was provided to the Secretary of State. A long correspondence ensued with the Colonial Office about the various clauses, mainly on the question of drafting and law.

On the 12th of June 1950, the Governor explained that the pressure of work in the Colonial Office had prevented more expeditious handling of the matter, and only recently had a revised draft, which would take some time to consider, been sent to London.

The new constitution eventually appeared in The North Borneo (Amendment) Letters Patent dated 9th August 1950. There should be established Executive and Legislative Councils in place of the Advisory Council.

Executive Council consists of the same three ex-officio members, two official members and four nominated members. The official and nominated members are appointed by the Governor, in pursuance of instructions from the Secretary of State, for a three-year term.

The North Borneo (Legislative Council) Order in Council was made on the 9th of October 1950. Under its terms, the Legislative Council consists of the Governor as president, the usual three ex-officio members, nine official members, and ten nominated members.

The official members must be British subjects or British-protected persons holding office in the public office. By the proclamation on the 16th of October 1950, the Governor declared that the North Borneo (Legislative Council) Order in Council, 1950 and the North Borneo (Amendment) Letters Patent, 1950 should come into effect.

Since 1950 there has been no formal change in the law of the constitution.

In 1956, the principal government department was Agriculture, Civil Aviation, Customs, Education, Forests, Geological Survey, Judicial, Lands and Survey, marine, Medical, Police, Posts and Telegraph, Printing, Prisons, Public Works and the Railway.

Of the above departments, Civil Aviation, Geological Survey, and the Judiciary serve all the British Borneo.

The slow constitutional development of North Borneo is not due to any reluctance on the part of the British Government to permit further advance but to the lack of any public demand for it.

The primary objective of the Chartered Company Administration was not to govern but to trade and make profits for its shareholders.

The policies were to expand operations, increase cultivation, and maximized profits. Therefore, it had little interest in the political and social development of the country.

The British Colonial administration was more concerned with governing than its predecessor and the objectives were to provide a government to rule, to protect the British and European interests and investment in the region, to service the home markets, to provide some public and social services such as health and education and to make Great Britain greater.

The policies were the establishment of a State of Bureaucracy, the formulation of a land policy which sought to place all land under crown land, a financial policy that sought to collect taxes from the citizen, land, and other sources of revenues, a defence policy which sought to defend the state from external aggression, the establishment of law courts to administer justice and a divide and rule approach to social administration through segregation of different communities.

The British colonial administration can be credited for the initial development of Sabah and for preparing its citizen for a peaceful transition to independence.

Substantial progress had been made in the areas of education with the building of primary schools, health development with the building of basic hospitals, political, strong civilian government, effective system of administration, creation of various laws and regulations, and effective system of land administration.

This lack of constitutional development may also be due in part to the level of education, particularly the absence of any politically-conscious, university-trained elite, confident of its ability to run a country.

It partly arises because of the different races with the British holding the ring and seeing fair play between them.

Politically, therefore, it is one of the least advanced of all of Great Britain’s dependent territories.

TO BE CONTINUED

(Disclaimer: This article is designed to improve our North Borneo History’s knowledge and is strictly for educational purposes. We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this article. The information in this article is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Further reading materials on the topic may be required.)

References: –

1. Constitution of the State of Sabah

2. Malaysianbar.org.my

3. F.G. Whelan-A History of Sabah

4. KG Tregonning – Under the Charted Company Rule

5. KG Tregonning – A History of Modern Sabah 1881-1963

6. MH Baker – Sabah the First Ten Years as a Colony

7. IDS-Sabah 25 Years Later

8. A Collection of Treaties and Other Documents affecting the states of Malaysia 1761-1963

THE MALAYSIA 1963 CONSTITUTION – SPECIAL PROTECTION FOR SABAH AND SARAWAK

The 1963 constitution was unique in the sense that the Malayan Parliament then made changes to the 1957 Constitution to make it a Federal Constitution for Malaysia, and the” special interests and safeguards” for Sabah and Sarawak were included in the Constitution as reported by the Cobbold Commission and which were recommended by the Inter-Governmental Committee.

The Constitution says that before any changes can be made to any of these special interests and safeguards, at least two–thirds of the members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in Parliament must agree and the Yang Di Pertua Negara (YDPNs) of both Sabah and Sarawak (who must follow the advice of the States’ Cabinet) must consent to it.

The culture and religious faiths of Sabah and Sarawak are different from West Malaysia. The States of Sabah and Sarawak combined area bigger than West Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak are rich in natural resources like forests, rivers and petroleum.

Sabah and Sarawak wanted to maintain greater independence and control over the matters and resources in their States and their way of life when they joined Malaysia.

This is why they have “special protections” in the Constitution and greater powers than the States in West Malaysia.

Dewan Rakyat was supposed to comprise 159 elected members, 104 of which were to be from the states of Malaya (West Malaysia) and the remaining 55 were to be from Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore.

This would ensure that no one territory would have a two-thirds (2/3) majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Currently, out of 222 elected members, Sabah and Sarawak have only 56 seats in the Dewan Rakyat combined, or 25.23%. This leaves West Malaysia with a total of 166 seats or 74.77%, which is well over a two-thirds (2/3) majority (or 66.67%).

The current Article 46(1) of the Federal Constitution be amended to reflect this and ensure that neither West nor East Malaysia would be able to have a two-thirds majority of Dewan Rakyat.

At least two–thirds of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in Parliament must also agree and the YDPNs of Sabah and Sarawak must also consent before changes can be made to any of these matters:

● the right of Sarawakians or Sabahans to equal treatment with other Malaysian citizens born or resident in any of the States of Malaysia;

● the jurisdiction of the Court; the appointment, suspension and removal of judges of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak. The Heads of State (TYT) of Sabah and Sarawak may appoint Judicial Commissioners, but this power was removed by a 1994 constitutional amendment.

The Federal Government may look into whether the 1994 constitutional amendment was done with the full consent of the Sabahan and Sarawakian state legislatures, and should also look into amending Article 122AB on the appointment of Judicial Commissioners for the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak by the Heads of State of Sabah and Sarawak to better reflect Section 16(3) of the MA63.

● the Sabah and Sarawak State Legislative Assemblies’ powers to make laws and their state Governments’ powers to govern according to those laws, as well as the financial arrangements between the two States and the Federal Government;

● religion, the use of any particular language whether in the State Legislative Assemblies of Sabah or Sarawak or Parliament and the special treatment for natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

In Sabah, Islam is amended as the official religion through the controversial 1973 State Constitution.

● Immigration powers were given to Sabah and Sarawak to control the right of entry and residence in the States and matters connected to it.

Part VII of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 says that anyone who does not belong to Sabah and Sarawak must have a valid Permit or Pass to enter Sabah or Sarawak except for members of the Federal Government, judges, public servants or a person entering for the sole purpose of engaging in legitimate political activity.

In Sabah, Southern Filipino refugees fleeing the civil war were issued IMM13 documents by the Federal government, instead of the Sabah State Government, leading to a situation whereby the refugees, and their families who had settled in Sabah, could not be stripped of their IMM13 without rendering them stateless as the Philippine government did not recognize them as citizens.

● By the North Borneo (Alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council 1954, the boundaries of the Colony of North Borneo were extended to include the area of the continental shelf – the seabed and its subsoil which lies beneath the high seas contiguous to the territorial waters of North Borneo.

After the formation of Malaysia in 1963, laws such as the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750) were enacted, which effectively reduced the territorial waters of Sabah and Sarawak. The Federal Government should look into all Acts of Parliament that has an impact on the boundaries of Sabah and Sarawak, and whether these Acts of Parliament were in contravention with Article 2(b) of the Federal Constitution, whereby Parliament cannot pass laws altering the boundaries of a state in the federation without the express consent of the state itself, such consent being in the form of a law made by the legislature of that state.

In 1966, the Continental Shelf Act was enforced by the federal government on the two despite both having already extended their jurisdiction over the continental shelf adjacent to their territory.

Further, in 1974, the Petroleum Development Act was enforced on the two, giving them only 5% of an oil royalty from the revenue. Such acts may include the Continental Shelf Act 1966, the Petroleum Development Act 1974, and the Territorial Sea Act 2012, among others.

THE MALAYSIA 1963 CONSTITUTION – THE SPECIAL INTEREST FOR SABAH AND SARAWAK

The special interests and safeguards for Sabah and Sarawak are as follows:

● Sabah and Sarawak can control the entry and residence of non–Sabahans and non–Sarawakians into the two States.

● Only lawyers who are residents of Sabah or Sarawak or have satisfied the residential requirements of Sabah and Sarawak can practice law in Sabah and Sarawak.

● Sabah and Sarawak have a separate High Court called the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak which has jurisdiction over Sabah and Sarawak. High Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and no less than four other judges, which shall not exceed twelve in the High Courts of Malaya, eight in the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak (before 1994, the High Court in Borneo), and eight in the High Court in Singapore. The current proportion of judges in Malaysia does not reflect the proportion of judges as stated in the MA63.

The Federal Government should look into amending Article 122AA (1) of the Federal Constitution on the number of judges allocated for the High Court in Malaya and High Court in Sabah & Sarawak to reflect the proportion originally set out in the MA63.

The composition of the Federal Court and the Court of Appeal should also reflect a greater percentage of judges from Sabah and Sarawak.

● The Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak must be consulted on who to appoint as Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak.

● Besides Syariah Courts, there is a system of Native Courts in Sabah and Sarawak.

● Sabah and Sarawak have sources of revenue and special grants of money from the Federal government that other States in Malaysia do not have, and they can also charge their state sales tax.

The Constitution also provides special grants and additional sources of revenue for Sabah and Sarawak that the other States in Malaysia do not have.

For example, the Federal Government issues yearly special grants to Sabah and Sarawak for the costs of the States’ services and administration.

These special grants are to be reviewed every five years or longer (if the Federal Government and the State agree). Sabah and Sarawak also receive revenue from lands, mines and forests, entertainment duty, fees for specific services provided by the state departments, revenue from local authorities and the water supply.

In addition, Sabah and Sarawak are also allowed to charge import and excise duties on petroleum products, export duty on timber and forest produce, and sales tax and fees from ports and harbours.

● Sabah and Sarawak are entitled to impose import excise duties on petroleum products under Item 1, Part V of the 10th Schedule in the Malaysian Federal Constitution as an additional source of revenue assigned.

However, since 1999, due to Malaysia’s participation in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the Federal Sales Tax Act of 1972 was amended to abolish import duty and excise duty on all products throughout Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak had been prohibited from imposing import duty and excise duties on petroleum products. The federal government has to compensate Sabah and Sarawak every year for the loss of this source of revenue.

● This amount has been fixed at RM240 million in 1999 and is divided equally (RM120M) between the two states as compensation for the abolition of these two duties. The relevant constitutional provisions have not been revised, and this means that Sabah and Sarawak retains its constitutional rights to this additional source of revenue. Moreover, since 1999 for the past 20 years, this amount of compensation of RM240 million has never been reviewed nor increased.

The finance minister said that the amount will be discussed and reviewed together with the proposal to return 40 per cent of Sabah’s net income under Article 112D of the Malaysian Federal Constitution to the Sabah government.

● The Legislative Assemblies of Sabah and Sarawak have the power to make laws on additional matters which the Legislative Assemblies of the other States do not have the power to do, and these matters include native law and custom; water supplies and services; personal laws relating to marriage, divorce, guardianship and adoption; distribution and supply of water power and electricity generated by water power and some shipping matters.

●The State Legislative Assemblies of Sabah and Sarawak can make laws on matters set out in the ‘State List’ and the ‘Concurrent List’ of the Constitution.

●The State Legislative Assemblies of Sabah and Sarawak can make laws on more matters than the State Legislative Assemblies of the other States in Malaysia. Apart from this, certain federal laws are not followed in Sabah and Sarawak, like the Local Government Act 1976, the National Land Code and the Employment Act 1955. Sabah and Sarawak have made their laws on these matters.

● Parliament has the power to pass laws on some matters in the State List to make sure that laws on that matter are the same in all the States in West Malaysia. However, Parliament’s power to do this does not extend to Sabah and Sarawak.

● Parliament also has the power to pass laws on matters in the State List to give effect to a National Development Plan, but if it involves the States of Sabah or Sarawak, the consent of the Yang di–Pertua Negeri (YDPN) of that State must be obtained.

● Sabah and Sarawak can also raise loans for their purposes with the consent of Bank Negara Malaysia.

● The natives of Sabah and Sarawak enjoy special interests such as quotas nor employment in the public service, scholarships, places in public educational institutions and business permits or licenses.

● Sabah and Sarawak can use the English language as their official language, and the native languages of the natives of Sabah and Sarawak in the Native Courts or for any native law and custom. English has been the official language of the State Legislative Assemblies and Courts in Sabah and Sarawak.

Any change of the official language to Bahasa Melayu can only become effective when the State Legislative Assembly of Sabah or Sarawak agrees to adopt federal laws that make Bahasa Melayu the official language.

In Sabah, Malay is amended as an official language through the controversial 1973 State Constitution and in Sarawak, Both Malay and English are official languages as of 2015. (Malay is also used in all courts except High Court and Native Court).

For as long as the people of Sabah and Sarawak feel these special interests are still needed by them.

These special interests are protection that the people of Sabah and Sarawak requested as a condition for joining Malaysia in 1963. The consent of the Yang di–Pertua Negeri (YDPN) must be obtained before any of these special interests can be removed, and the YDPNs must follow the advice of the States’ Cabinet.

The Ministers in the States’ Cabinets are appointed from members of the State Legislative Assemblies of Sabah and Sarawak, who are elected by the people of Sabah and Sarawak. This means that it is for the people of Sabah and Sarawak to decide through their elected representatives in the State Legislative Assemblies whether any of their special interests should be removed.

The constitution should be designed like Singapore to prevent any drop in standards of economic prosperity, public services, social amenities, educational facilities and public housing, whatever happens in the rest of Malaysia.

(Disclaimer: This article is designed to improve our North Borneo History’s knowledge and is strictly for educational purposes. We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this article. The information in this article is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Further reading materials on the topic may be required.)

References: –

1. Constitution of the State of Sabah

2. Malaysianbar.org.my

3. F.G. Whelan-A History of Sabah

4. KG Tregonning – Under the Charted Company Rule

5. KG Tregonning – A History of Modern Sabah 1881-1963

6. MH Baker – Sabah the First Ten Years as a Colony

7. IDS-Sabah 25 Years Later

8. A Collection of Treaties and Other Documents affecting the states of Malaysia 1761-1963

HISTORY OF NORTH BORNEO CURRENCY AND NOTES SERIES

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF MR ALEXANDER COOK THE TREASURER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE BRITISH NORTH BORNEO COMPANY 1880-1908

Edited by Kumis Kumis

ALEXANDER COOK was born on the 8th of September 1854 and was a British Colonial Administrator as Treasurer General in North Borneo (now Sabah) at the end of the ninetieth century.

He married the eldest daughter of Captain Robert Dudely Beeston (Commandant of the Constabulary and later the editor of British North Borneo Herald), Alice Louisa Adeline, on 4 May 1889 at St Peter Church, Sandakan.

He lived in Sandakan in a House, known as “Singaleila” where his son was born on the 26th of March 1890. His first daughter was born in Sandakan on August 18, 1891. His second daughter Kathleen Muriel Jane was born in Sandakan on March 3, 1903. She died on Jan 31, 1931, in England, aged 27.

Alexander Cook was an older institution in Sandakan than the Chartered Company itself for he joined the “Provisional Association” as Auditor’s Assistant Officer on the 15th of October 1880, and was one of the early Company Officers.

There was no “Resident, Sandakan” in those days, and the District Officer would correspond directly with the Secretariat.

With the exception of a short period as Acting Private Secretary to Governor William Treacher (first Governor of North Borneo) in December 1881- December 1882, he retained substantive appointments in the Treasury Department as a Financial Officer up to the end of his service.

Cooks, Von Donop and Treacher were named as an investor in William Clark Cowie’s coal mining at his Muara coalfield 10 years concession that he obtained on the 13th of March 1882.

On 1st January 1883, he was appointed as Treasurer General and on the 22nd of June 1883, he was appointed a member of the Council. This position accorded him the status of a senior member of the administration. He sat on the council of state.

On the 13th of February 1886, he was appointed Acting British Consular agent. Held this post up to the end of May 1886 and drew half of the Residents’ Entertaining allowance at $25 per month.

From the 1st of August 1887 to the 25th of November 1887, he Drew Extra pay as an Acting Harbour master at $17.50 per month.

On the 6th December 1883, he was promoted to a Magistrate of the 2nd Class, besides his additional duties, already mentioned, as District Officer, he was given some Magisterial duties, and was in charge of the Sandakan Customs and Farms.

On the 13th of September 1888, Alexander Cook witnessed a contract between The British North Borneo Company and Messrs W Mansfield and company Singapore on behalf of The Ocean Steamship Company to provide regular ship transport services to the North Borneo territory.

On the 1st December 1888, he was promoted to Magistrate of the 1st Class and also a Justice of Peace.

He was Chief of the Triumvirate which administered the Government in the years 1889-1890.

On the 23rd of April 1891 to the 11th of August 1892, he was the Acting Government Secretary. Draw ½ Gov’s Sec’s pay $212.50 and ½ his own $182.50 – $395 per month. On several occasions, he was Acting or Deputy Governor.

On the 24th of February 1893, he was appointed District officer, Sandakan, officer-in-charge of Native Affairs and for his main official Treasury duties.

In this capacity, Cook had to face Mat Salleh the chieftain from Sugut who arrived in Sandakan in 1895 in full force demanding to see the Governor or William Pryer, the former Resident.

Cook refused to meet Mat Salleh and thus missed the chance to talk and listen to the chieftain’s grievances against the government. His cowardly behaviour was criticised by many and his reputation suffered as a result.

On the 1st June 1896 to 31st August.1897, he was granted furlough, Extended for 3 months to 30.11.1897 and 1 month on ½ pay and 2 months on full pay. He resumed duty On the 1st of December 1897.

On the 31st of March 1901, he was appointed to West Clifford to act as governor and appointed to the post of Treasurer General on the 10th of June 1901.

On the 11th of November 1901, he was appointed as Finance Commissioner.

Mr Cook’s signature, original or lithographed, is still to be seen on some of our old currency notes of the larger denominations.

British North Borneo Company. Dollar System. 1886-1926 Issues. Paper (hand cut). No security threads. Printer: Blades, East & Blades, London. Texts in English, Chinese and Jawi. Signatures of printed Treasurer Alexander Cook at right and black handwritten Accountant at left. Description of the back: No back (uni-face note). Very rare.

The Europeans and Chinese still in Borneo who can remember him personally may now perhaps be numbered on the fingers of one hand many however of his friends and acquaintances amongst the Natives of Sandakan and the East Coast must still survive, for he was well known to great numbers of them, and a visitor to his Office would often find it crowded with parties of gaily dressed Sulus and Bajaus.

Mr Cook was a typical “Sandakanite”, as most of his time was spent there — in latter days at all events, he seldom went on a tour around the country — and his interests were mainly centered there. Officers in those days were allowed to hold private investments in the country, and Mr Cook proved his faith in its future by his ownership of some town property and the planting of a small coconut estate at Bokara, a few miles from Sandakan, a favourite destination for the afternoon riding parties of those days.

His great height and big build gave him an imposing appearance, and a cadet on his first arrival in his Office would feel rather like a pygmy before Gulliver, but the kindly manner of the giant soon dispelled this feeling, helped by the generous hospitality for which he was so well known.

Readers of a later time may feel but scant interest in such ancient recollections, such raking over of the dim embers of the past, but in those few who do still remain in England or in Borneo, who were his contemporaries even if not for a year or two, memories may still be fanned once more into a glowing flame and even the modern generation may hope that should occasion arise, they too would be capable of showing the enterprise, the ready decision and the patience of an early pioneer.

At the time of Wooley’s arrival, Cook was Financial Commissioner and Acting Governor since the departure of the former Governor Hugh Clifford (BNBH 16 April 1901). Wooley and Cook did not get well together.

On the 28th of May 1903, he was granted 2 months leave on full pay and 12 months on ½ pay and on the 22nd of September 1903 he was granted a gratuity of £ 100.

On the 29th of July 1904, reported his return from furlough and resumed his duties.

On the 23rd of February, 1906 – Granted 2 months’ vacation leave and on the 22nd of April Granted 25 days extension.

On 12th February 1907 appointed Acting Governor during Mr Gueritz’s absence and He was again Acting Governor in March – Oct 1907 while Gueritz was on leave.

Alexander Cook never made Governorship, unlike his rival Gueritz. Cook was known to be pompous and petty, he whined to Governor Treacher in 1886 after being roughed up by de Lissa, a logging pioneer of North Borneo.

He was the founding member and director of the North Borneo State Rubber Company Limited in November 1908 and on the 1st of January 1909 managed to secure a concession of 5,000 acres of land for 999 years for the cultivation of Para Rubber.

Based on local accounts by the name of Hajjah Saadiah @ Suki Weedon, her mother Fatimah of Suluk’s descent married Alexander Cook in 1907. They have 3 children from the marriage, 2 daughters TERESA COOK, MOIRA COOK and a son LEWIS COOK.

The Herald of the 16th November 1908 announced the approaching retirement of Messrs. Cook and Walker, both of whom were then on furlough, in Mr Cook’s case this was to take effect on the 7th December 1908, after some 28 years’ service. The Herald wished both of them “a long enjoyment of their pension” and though Mr Henry Walker died some years ago, it will be agreed that for Mr Cook the wish has been fulfilled, in spite of the fact that when he actually left Borneo he was in very bad health, so much so that many doubted whether he would even live to reach England.

When they divorced, Fatimah married William Charles Moores Weedon who was an English Resident of Tawau in 1917. William adopted the children from Fatimah’s first marriage. Fatimah had 3 more children with William namely Suki Weedon @ Hajah Saadiah, her siblings Didie Weedon @ Hajah Sarbanum and John Weedon @ Hj. Baharum. Photos of Moira Cook and Louis Cook were not available as they might have been destroyed during the Japanese occupation in WW2.

TERESA COOK the first born married a man from Sandakan named Larkins @ Amir Basha. They have a daughter named Freda Larkins @ Amir Basha (deceased). Freda Larkins married a Bruneian Almarhum Pengiran Hj. Radin Hanafi Pengiran Hj. Muhammad.

They have 3 children, 2 daughters and a son. When Teresa Cook divorced with her first husband, she married again with a Brunei man Allahyarham Hj Ahmad Sagap. They have a daughter named Hajah Sarah Hj. Ahmad. Hajah Sarah Hj. Ahmad married a Bruneian Hj. Majid Hj. Abdulrahman. They have 9 children, 4 daughters and 5 sons. The children and grandchildren of Teresa Cook all lived in Brunei.

MOIRA COOK married a man named Raden from Sumatra, Indonesia. They have 2 children, a daughter Arpiah Raden and a son Muhammad Raden. The son passed away when still in his infancy. The husband went back to Sumatra and for unknown reasons failed to return back to Tawau.

When Moira Cook passed away, her daughter Arpiah Raden was adopted by my family. Arpiah Raden married a local Tawau man Allahyarham Mohd. Noor Baki. They have 13 children, 5 daughters and 8 sons. The daughter and grandchildren of Moira Cook mostly lived in Tawau.

LEWIS COOK the youngest of the siblings married a Suluk girl. They have 2 sons Alexander Douglas Cook (deceased) and George Cook who used to work with Sabah Port Authority. (deceased). During the war, Lewis Cook was captured by the Japanese after being betrayed, then executed and buried somewhere in Bombalai, Table, Tawau.

The wife known as Makcik Mina passed away in Kota Kinabalu with my late mother and myself in attendance. The eldest son Alexander Douglas Cook married a Filipino girl. They have 4 children, 3 sons and a daughter. The other son George Cook first married a Filipino girl and they have 2 daughters. George Cook married a second time with a Chinese girl, they have 2 sons. The children and grandchildren of Lewis Cook all lived in Kota Kinabalu. They used the surname Cook.

It is with great regret that we record the death of Mr Alexander Cook, which took place at his home in Bedford on the 16th of June 1938. He leaves a widow to whom we offer our respectful condolences.

Source and Credit to:

1. British North Borneo Herald (1883-1938)

2. Prof Danny Wong and Stella Moo, The Diaries of George C Wooley, Sabah State Museum

3. Ross Ibbotson, The Building of North Borneo Railway and The Founding of Jesselton

4. Uwe Aranas, The North Borneo Archives

5. Dayang Naimah Maidin, The Generations of Alexander Cook in North Borneo (SNBS)

6. Daily Express, 3.4.2021

7. J Nimmo Wardrop

8. Sabah State Archives

9. Numizon.com

Disclaimer: This article is designed to improve our North Borneo History’s knowledge and is strictly for educational purposes. We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this article. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. Members are encouraged to share any information that we can use to correct and improve the content of this article.