CHAPTER 5

BRUNEI 1800 - 1852

“You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real

followers of Prophet Muhammad and his sunnah) are the best
peoples ever raised up for mankind, you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (all
that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (all that Islam
has forbidden) and you believe in Allah...”
(Al-Imran:110)
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5.1 POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE

Under Brunei’s traditional system

of government, Sultan has sole
authority over Brunei territories
and subjects.
Brunei’s Traditional
Land Rights

Kerajaan Kuripan Tulin

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The Brunei Sultanate before 1841

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5.2 SULTAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIN II
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I
(1740-95)

Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam

(1795 – 1804 & 1804 – 7) (1807 – 26)

Sultan Muhammad Jamulul Alam I Raja Isteri Nor Alam Sultan Muhammad Alam
(1804) (1826 – 28)

Pengiran Muda Hashim

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II

(1828 – 1852)
THE GENEALOGICAL LINE OF SULTAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIN II
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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

Dutch Relations with Brunei

Dutch had done trading 1840: Dutch interested

with Brunei since 1600 in deposits of coal in
Labuan and Muara

Dutch decided not to However Dutch

pursue matter in order unhappy with British
to maintain good involvement in Brunei
relations with British

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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

British Relations with Brunei

Sarawak had been province of Brunei since 14th century

1824: Pengiran Indera Mahkota was appointed Governor

in Sarawak.

1834: When Pengiran Muda Hashim arrived in Sarawak, he

was angered that Pengiran Indera Mahkota did not personally
welcome him.
This incident caused friction between the two nobles.

This gave James Brooke an opportunity to intervene in Sarawak.

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In August 1839,
James Brooke
arrived in Lidah
Tanah (present
day Kuching).

Map showing location of present-day Kuching,

where James Brooke first arrived

He was interested in Sarawak because he had heard

about its rich supplies of antimony.

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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

1839: James Brooke arrived in Kuching

Pengiran Muda Hashim promised

Brooke control of Sarawak in return for
helping to defeat the rebels.

Rebels were crushed. 1841: Brooke

replaced Pengiran Indera Mahkota as
Governor of Sarawak. James Brooke

Brooke was formally appointed by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II

as Sultan’s Representative (Governor) of Sarawak.
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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

• Due to a royal family

feud and some problems,
Pengiran Muda Hashim
was killed.
• James Brooke was
angered at this news.
• He brought warships
from Singapore.
1846 attack on Brunei Town

8 July 1846: British attacked and occupied Brunei Town.

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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

To end British occupation of Brunei Town, a treaty was signed

with Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II on 2nd August 1846.

Terms of Treaty:

• James Brooke as ‘Raja of Sarawak’ – to rule

territories from Tanjung Datu to the Samarahan
river
• Brooke to appoint his own successor
• Brooke to pay $4 000 a year to Sultan of Brunei

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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

• Shortly after signing of 1846 treaty, British pressured

Brunei to cede Labuan to British
• Brunei refused
• Britain lined up warships near Sultan’s palace
Result:
Brunei had to agree to
Treaty of Labuan.
Signed on 18th
December 1846. James
Brooke was first
Governor of Labuan.
Signing the Treaty of Labuan
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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

Anglo-Brunei Treaty of Friendship and Commerce 1847

• British worried that Sultan might seek help from other countries.
• Signed treaty of friendship

Terms of treaty:

3) British to have extraterritorial rights

4) British imports/exports to be free from taxes
5) British warships to be able to enter all Brunei ports
6) Sultan would not cede Brunei territories without British
consent

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5.3 DUTCH AND BRITISH ACTIVITIES IN BORNEO

Treaty of Friendship and

Commerce signed between
Brunei and the United States. United States of
America was only
interested in trade.

1850
United States of
America did not try to
control Brunei

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CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY

1600 – Trade with Brunei

1845 – Dutch interest in coal
deposits

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CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY

1839 – British intervention. Arrival

of James Brooke
1846 – British attack on Brunei.
Cession of Labuan
1847 – Anglo-Brunei Treaty of
Friendship and Commerce

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CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY

1850 – Treaty of Friendship and

Commerce

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 Chapter 5 – Brunei 1800-1852

1. Name one major export of Sarawak in the 19th

century.
2. Which incident caused friction between
Pengiran Indera Mahkota and Pengiran Muda
Hashim?
3. Which incident gave James Brooke the
opportunity to attack Brunei in 1846?
4. When did the British attack Brunei? Who was
the Sultan of Brunei at that time?
5. In what year was the Treaty of Labuan
signed? Who was appointed as the first
Governor of Labuan? 17