Mat Salleh Rebellion
Encyclopedia
Mat Salleh Rebellion was a series of major disturbances in North Borneo
, now the Malaysian state of Sabah
, from 1894 to 1900. It was instigated by Datu Muhammad Salleh, better known as Mat Salleh.
. The Company was trying to transform North Borneo into a producer of various agricultural products, especially tobacco. As the Company introduced new cash crops, North Borneo underwent inevitable economic and social changes.
The Company tried hard to preserve local cultures, but certain local practices had to be regulated to ensure the Company's control. For instance, slavery was abolished. Other disruptive changes brought about by the Company were the introduction of taxes and the requirement for the keris (see Kris
) , an instrument used as a weapon and also for traditional purposes, and boat licences which burdened the common people. Many disagreed with the new rulings.
tribes / Sub-ethic of Bajau (Bajau Suluk), he married a Sulu princess.
In 1895, Mat Salleh entered into a long running dispute with the Company. Salleh had taken issue with the Company imposing new rules on the Sugud River region, but the Company ignored his complaints. For its part, the Company was unhappy with Mat Salleh collecting taxes from the local populace without Company approval. Soon after the dispute began, the Company burnt down Salleh's village, and in 1897 he retaliated by razing the Company's harbour at Pulau Gaya
. As the rebellion grew, Salleh ordered a fort to be constructed in Ranau
. The Company tried to capture the fort but met with heavy resistance and resorted to setting fire to it instead. After skirmishes near Pulau Gaya
, Inanam
and Menggatal
, this phase of the conflict ended with Mat Salleh's forces retreating into North Borneo hitherland.
In due course the Company offered Mat Salleh peace, which Mat Salleh agreed to. Unfortunately for him, this truce with the British so outraged his own people that he was forced to flee to Tambunan
. The British granted Mat Salleh control of Tambunan
, and he built a new fort there which still stands today. Despite the peace treaty, the Company decided to take Tambunan back from Mat Salleh in 1899 - Mat Salleh refused to co-operate and fighting recommenced. On January 31, 1900, he was shot dead in Kampung Toboh, Tambunan. His death left the rebellion movement leaderless and effectively ended it.
In most parts of Malaysia, and even now in the state of Sabah, the word "Mat salleh" is used as a slang term for "Caucasian". In this context, the word might have been derived from "mad sailor" or could also have been derived from the meaning of the word "Mat Salleh" which means preacher or one who preaches due to the fact that early colonials came with the sub‐agenda of preaching Christianity.
North Borneo
North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
, now the Malaysian state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, from 1894 to 1900. It was instigated by Datu Muhammad Salleh, better known as Mat Salleh.
Causes of the rebellion
During the late 19th century North Borneo was under the administration of the British North Borneo CompanyBritish North Borneo Company
The North Borneo Chartered Company or British North Borneo Company was a chartered company assigned to administer North Borneo in August 1881. North Borneo became a protectorate of the British Empire with internal affairs administered by the company until 1946 when it became the colony of British...
. The Company was trying to transform North Borneo into a producer of various agricultural products, especially tobacco. As the Company introduced new cash crops, North Borneo underwent inevitable economic and social changes.
The Company tried hard to preserve local cultures, but certain local practices had to be regulated to ensure the Company's control. For instance, slavery was abolished. Other disruptive changes brought about by the Company were the introduction of taxes and the requirement for the keris (see Kris
Kris
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
) , an instrument used as a weapon and also for traditional purposes, and boat licences which burdened the common people. Many disagreed with the new rulings.
Mat Salleh and the rebellion
One of the more influential dissenting local chiefs was Mat Salleh. He was born in Inanam, North Borneo, the son of the leader of the Brunei royals, and became a governor at Sugud River. A member of the Suluk and BajauBajau
The Bajau or Bajaw , also spelled Bajao, Badjau, Badjaw, or Badjao, are an indigenous ethnic group of Maritime Southeast Asia...
tribes / Sub-ethic of Bajau (Bajau Suluk), he married a Sulu princess.
In 1895, Mat Salleh entered into a long running dispute with the Company. Salleh had taken issue with the Company imposing new rules on the Sugud River region, but the Company ignored his complaints. For its part, the Company was unhappy with Mat Salleh collecting taxes from the local populace without Company approval. Soon after the dispute began, the Company burnt down Salleh's village, and in 1897 he retaliated by razing the Company's harbour at Pulau Gaya
Pulau Gaya
Pulau Gaya is a sizeable Malaysian island of 1,465 ha, just 10 minutes off Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and forms part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Pulau Gaya derived its name from the Bajau word "Gayo" which means big and occupies an area of 15 km² with an elevation of up to 300 metres...
. As the rebellion grew, Salleh ordered a fort to be constructed in Ranau
Ranau
Ranau is a district as well as a town in the East Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo and it is situated in the West Coast Division of Sabah...
. The Company tried to capture the fort but met with heavy resistance and resorted to setting fire to it instead. After skirmishes near Pulau Gaya
Pulau Gaya
Pulau Gaya is a sizeable Malaysian island of 1,465 ha, just 10 minutes off Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and forms part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Pulau Gaya derived its name from the Bajau word "Gayo" which means big and occupies an area of 15 km² with an elevation of up to 300 metres...
, Inanam
Inanam
Inanam is a town and sub-district of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. It is situated 10km from Kota Kinabalu city centre.The town population consists of mainly the Dusun, and the Chinese who operate the shops. Of late however there is a large influx of immigrants both from the southern Philippines...
and Menggatal
Menggatal
Menggatal is a Malaysian town and sub-district on the west coast of Sabah, on the outskirts of the capital, Kota Kinabalu. It is under the jurisdiction of Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu ....
, this phase of the conflict ended with Mat Salleh's forces retreating into North Borneo hitherland.
In due course the Company offered Mat Salleh peace, which Mat Salleh agreed to. Unfortunately for him, this truce with the British so outraged his own people that he was forced to flee to Tambunan
Tambunan
Tambunan is a valley district located in the Interior Division of the state of Sabah. The district covers an area of 1,347 km2.. Its population was estimated to be around 27,852 in 2000, based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia....
. The British granted Mat Salleh control of Tambunan
Tambunan
Tambunan is a valley district located in the Interior Division of the state of Sabah. The district covers an area of 1,347 km2.. Its population was estimated to be around 27,852 in 2000, based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia....
, and he built a new fort there which still stands today. Despite the peace treaty, the Company decided to take Tambunan back from Mat Salleh in 1899 - Mat Salleh refused to co-operate and fighting recommenced. On January 31, 1900, he was shot dead in Kampung Toboh, Tambunan. His death left the rebellion movement leaderless and effectively ended it.
In most parts of Malaysia, and even now in the state of Sabah, the word "Mat salleh" is used as a slang term for "Caucasian". In this context, the word might have been derived from "mad sailor" or could also have been derived from the meaning of the word "Mat Salleh" which means preacher or one who preaches due to the fact that early colonials came with the sub‐agenda of preaching Christianity.
External links
- EMas Sabah More about Mat Salleh.
- School History of Sabah