Jementah Civil War
Encyclopedia
The Jementah Civil War happened in 1879 in Jementah
, Sultanate of Johor when Tengku Alam Shah, the heir of Sultan Ali
of Muar
refused to give the district of Muar to the temporary administration of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor
(then Maharaja in 1879). The final result of the civil war
became a factor of the opening of the town of Muar.
Before Sultan Abu Bakar became the ruler of Johor
, Johor was ruled by Temenggong Ibrahim who was more favored than Sultan Ali. To settle the problems of administration, Sultan Ali was given the district of Muar while Temenggong Ibrahim ruled the remaining districts in Johor.
The war was triggered on 25 October 1879 because Sultan Ali crowned his 11-year-old son named Tengku Mahmood as his successor after his death, resulting in Tengku Alam's fury and envy. He also felt unsatisfied when Colonel Archibald Anson
put the district of Muar under Maharaja Abu Bakar's temporary administration.
He began his moves by asking his cousins Tengku Nong and Tengku Mat to spread false information to the residents of Muar district to be on his side. He also gathered some powerful warriors for the battle.
Tengku Alam and his followers launched the first blow of the war by attacking Jementah on 25 October 1879 and winning the battle. As a result, the headman of Jementah sent reports to the ruler of Johor and Maharaja Abu Bakar responded by sending a powerful army of soldiers led by his cousin, Ungku Ahmad. Ungku Ahmad was a great tactician who contributed to Johor's rapid victory.
Dato' Mohammed Salleh bin Perang, also known as Dato' Bentara Luar, was sent to the battlefield by the government on 2 December 1879 to assist the government army. As a strategy, he split the Johor government army into four parts to fight enemies easier. Each component contained about 100 soldiers.
During the middle of December 1879, the government army conquered more enemy strongholds and finally gained total victory at dawn on 30 December 1879 after a surprise attack on the enemy's final redoubt. Since then, the original District of Muar
which included Segamat
was re-occupied by the government of Johor
.
by Maharaja Abu Bakar. Besides this event, the soldiers from both sides who later resided in the areas of Jementah
and Segamat
opened the residencies (mukim) of Pagoh, as well as some villages there.
Jementah
Jementah is the third largest town in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia with about 10,000 residents consisting mostly of Chinese communities. Strategically located 16 km from Segamat town center via Federal Route 23, Jementah is an important town in Segamat since it also houses the Johor...
, Sultanate of Johor when Tengku Alam Shah, the heir of Sultan Ali
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...
of Muar
Muar (district)
Muar District is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The name "Muar" is also used for the name of its district, which formerly sub-divided between the Town of Muar and the sub-district of Tangkak. Tangkak sub-district has been upgraded into a full district known as Ledang District in year...
refused to give the district of Muar to the temporary administration of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor
Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor
Sultan Sir Abu Bakar ibni Daing Ibrahim was the 21st Sultan of Johor. He was also informally known as "The Father of Modern Johor", as many historians accredited Johor's development in the 19th century to Abu Bakar's leadership...
(then Maharaja in 1879). The final result of the civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
became a factor of the opening of the town of Muar.
Before Sultan Abu Bakar became the ruler of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Johor was ruled by Temenggong Ibrahim who was more favored than Sultan Ali. To settle the problems of administration, Sultan Ali was given the district of Muar while Temenggong Ibrahim ruled the remaining districts in Johor.
The war was triggered on 25 October 1879 because Sultan Ali crowned his 11-year-old son named Tengku Mahmood as his successor after his death, resulting in Tengku Alam's fury and envy. He also felt unsatisfied when Colonel Archibald Anson
Edward Anson
Major General Archibald Edward Harbord Anson KCMG, was born on 16 April 1826 with a twin sister at 32 Devonshire Place. He was the youngest son of Major General Sir William Anson, 1st Baronet Anson K.C.B. and his mother was from the Dickenson family...
put the district of Muar under Maharaja Abu Bakar's temporary administration.
He began his moves by asking his cousins Tengku Nong and Tengku Mat to spread false information to the residents of Muar district to be on his side. He also gathered some powerful warriors for the battle.
Tengku Alam and his followers launched the first blow of the war by attacking Jementah on 25 October 1879 and winning the battle. As a result, the headman of Jementah sent reports to the ruler of Johor and Maharaja Abu Bakar responded by sending a powerful army of soldiers led by his cousin, Ungku Ahmad. Ungku Ahmad was a great tactician who contributed to Johor's rapid victory.
Dato' Mohammed Salleh bin Perang, also known as Dato' Bentara Luar, was sent to the battlefield by the government on 2 December 1879 to assist the government army. As a strategy, he split the Johor government army into four parts to fight enemies easier. Each component contained about 100 soldiers.
During the middle of December 1879, the government army conquered more enemy strongholds and finally gained total victory at dawn on 30 December 1879 after a surprise attack on the enemy's final redoubt. Since then, the original District of Muar
Muar (district)
Muar District is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The name "Muar" is also used for the name of its district, which formerly sub-divided between the Town of Muar and the sub-district of Tangkak. Tangkak sub-district has been upgraded into a full district known as Ledang District in year...
which included Segamat
Segamat
Segamat is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia . It is located roughly 172 kilometres from Johor Bahru, the capital city of Johor State. It is 95 km travel distance via North-South Expressway from Johor Bahru to...
was re-occupied by the government of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
.
The aftermath of war
The most notable event that happened as a result of the Johor government's victory in the Jementah Civil War was the opening of the town of MuarMuar (district)
Muar District is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The name "Muar" is also used for the name of its district, which formerly sub-divided between the Town of Muar and the sub-district of Tangkak. Tangkak sub-district has been upgraded into a full district known as Ledang District in year...
by Maharaja Abu Bakar. Besides this event, the soldiers from both sides who later resided in the areas of Jementah
Jementah
Jementah is the third largest town in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia with about 10,000 residents consisting mostly of Chinese communities. Strategically located 16 km from Segamat town center via Federal Route 23, Jementah is an important town in Segamat since it also houses the Johor...
and Segamat
Segamat
Segamat is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia . It is located roughly 172 kilometres from Johor Bahru, the capital city of Johor State. It is 95 km travel distance via North-South Expressway from Johor Bahru to...
opened the residencies (mukim) of Pagoh, as well as some villages there.