Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin vs Sultan Muhyiddin - Civil war wrecks chaos in the country

By ROZAN YUNOS, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

ONE of the interesting islands in Brunei Bay is a small island called Pulau Cermin (cermin means mirror in Malay). Pulau Cermin as many Brunei historians know, is the site of the temporary palace of Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin, the 13th Sultan of Brunei and is the site of the only civil war in Brunei History.

Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin stayed there for a while, retreating from Brunei's capital in Kampong Ayer. Another Sultan, Sultan Muhyiddin, took up the throne in Brunei's capital while Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mumin stayed at Pulau Cermin. It was the only time that Brunei had two Sultans.

How did the civil war come about? The civil war between the two Sultans was described vividly in a Brunei Malay novel entitled Mahkota Berdarah (The Bloodied Crown). It was in fact quite a bloody time in Brunei history.

Yura Halim wrote the book in the mid-1960s and the book was quite popular during its hey days and is considered a classic today.

The bloody episode was sparked off by a cock fight between the son of the Sultan, Pengiran Muda Alam, and the son of the Bendahara. The Bendahara was Abdul Hakkul Mubin.

The Bendahara, in the old days, is always the Sultan's right hand man. He can be considered as the Deputy Sultan or in these days, the equivalent of the Prime Minister.

For Brunei, the Bendahara was the most senior of all the viziers (wazir) until the appointment of the Perdana Wazir in 1970.

During the cockfight, the cock belonging to the son of the Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin won. It defeated the cock belonging to the son of the Sultan, Pengiran Muda Alam. Pengiran Muda Alam was so enraged by the loss that he took out his keris and plunged it into the chest of the son of the Bendahara. The son of the Bendahara died from the fatal stabbing.

Bendahara Abdul Hakkul Mubin was said to have loved that son so much that he too was enraged when he was informed of his son's death. He marched to the palace to confront the Sultan. The Sultan at that time was Sultan Muhammad Ali. The Bendahara asked for his son's death to be avenged.

According to some, he was denied by Sultan Muhammad Ali. Though in the book, Mahkota Berdarah, the Sultan allowed him to enter into the palace to search for Pengiran Muda Alam. By the time he went in, Pengiran Muda Alam had escaped from the palace.

The Bendahara was so enraged when he could not find Pengiran Muda Alam. He lost his temper and went amok and started killing people inside the palace including the Sultan's family. The Sultan who waited in the hall was shocked to see the Bendahara on a killing spree. He tried to stop the Bendahara but the Bendahara will no longer listen to reason.

The Bendahara and his men took the Sultan and killed him by garroting him to death. His body was left lying on the grass lawn and up to now he is known as 'Marhum Tumbang Dirumput'. This death was to have taken place in November 1661. The Bendahara took the throne for himself. He crowned himself the Sultan of Brunei as Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin, Brunei's 13th Sultan.

As Sultan, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin tried to foster peace between him and the followers of Sultan Muhammad Ali by installing the latter's grandson, Pengiran Muhyiddin, as the new Bendahara.

At first there was peace in the country. But underneath the peace, there was still simmering hatred for Sultan Hakul Abdul Mubin. Many of Sultan Muhammad Ali's followers implored to Bendahara Muhyidin to rebel against Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin.

At first Bendahara Muhyiddin felt that it was not the right thing to do. But over time, he agreed and plan for the removal of Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin.

The first thing he and his men did was to create a disturbance at the palace as well as the houses in the area. They did the disturbances by poking their spears into the palace and houses. This was called 'mengarok'.

Since many of these rebels were also working at the palace, it was not difficult for them to carry out the attacks.

When Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin asked for Bendahara Muhyidin's advice, he was duly advised that it would be better if he went off to Pulau Cermin while waiting for the attacks to dissipate. The Sultan immediately ordered for a new palace to be built there and move as soon as it was ready.

Bendahara Muhyiddin in the meantime was installed as the new Sultan in the capital. When Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin's men came ashore to seek out why the Bendahara has not taken up his residence at the island, they were shocked to see that the Bendahara had raised the Sultan's yellow flag for himself.

There was no way that Brunei can have two Sultans. A battle ensued between the two Sultans and at first Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin retreated to Kinarut in Sabah.

While in Kinarut, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin built a fort about 10 miles away from Kota Kinabalu. From here with the assistance of the local Bajaus and Dusuns he managed to repel attacks from Sultan Muhiyiddin even killing a few of Sultan Muhiyiddin's Cheterias.

The fort was strategically placed on top of a hill with two rivers flowing beside it and a view that can oversee a few small island in the South China Sea. The fort was so good that according to legend, Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin stayed for about 10 years becoming the Sultan in Kinarut where he among others also managed to curtail piracy activities in that area.

There were several attacks carried out by Sultan Muhyddin. In a final attack at Kinarut, Sultan Muhyddin's forces failed to defeat Sultan Hakkul Abdul Mubin. The two went back to Brunei with Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin going back to Pulau Cermin.

Pulau Cermin itself is fairly unremarkable but what makes it a very strong fortress is that it is in the middle of the entry into the Brunei river. Control the island means you control access to the food supply coming in from the sea. In those days, Bruneians were also fishermen and they could not go out to fish during the civil war.

Sultan Muhyiddin worried that the war was going to drag on and created more difficulties for the citizens of Brunei, called for the assistance of Sultan Suluk to help defeat Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin promising them independence as well as the territory of Sabah to be given to Sultan Suluk.

The Suluks came and took up places at Pulau Keingaran to help bombard the island but according to legends did not do much fighting and only took up the fight towards the very end. While Sultan Muhyiddin's men bombarded Pulau Cermin from Tanjung Kindana before launching a final assault on the island.

During the battle, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin knew that he was going to be defeated and be killed. Rather than surrender the crown and the throne, Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin shot the crown and other royal regalias from Pulau Chermin across the sea. Though some say that these were all still buried somewhere on the island.

Pulau Cermin is now protected by the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act and is now inaccessible to visitors unless they have permission to visit the island.

Source : The writer runs a website on Brunei at bruneiresources.co

The Lost History of Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin the Raja of Saba' Kinarut

Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin ibni Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Muhammad

Also Known As: "Al-Marhum di Pulau"

Death:  Died 1673 in Brunei

Immediate Family : 

      

Son of : Sri Maharaja Pangiran Muhammad Panjang and Y.A.M. Pangiran Anak Tuah / Raja Dungu Sultan Saiful Rijal

Husband of : Bu Angsa wife of brunai sultan 13th and Raja Isteri Pg Anak Puteri Noralam

Father of : Pangiran di-Gadong Omar; Pangiran Temenggung Dakula Pangiran Abdul Rauf; Pg Bendahara Pg Muda Amir and Pg Anak Puteri Besar

Brother of : Pangiran Bendahara Sri Maharaja Raja Kahar and Pangiran Bendahara Sri Maharaja Raja Hamid

Half brother of :  Abang Lemanak and I-Kenaway

When i read an article about the history of Brunei Darussalam, I wondered....if there was something wrong with it.

They do not list a proper and true story what happened in Brunei about 500 years ago.

Why I said so..? Let me show some of the evidence and truthful story that I found in several books and old folks story that their inherit from their ancestors.

Theory  1 (based on Brunei History, that was written by the Sultan writer)

It began from the assassination of Sultan Muhammad Ali's son. It happened because of cock fight. Rooster belonging to the Sultan Muhammad Ali's son was lost and that makes him angry then killed the Bendahara son which is Pangeran Bendahara Abdul Mubin's eldest son.

The Bendahara so angry with that incident and marching to the palace to seek the revenged. But the Sultan denied it and asked him to checked the palace if his son was available. When his men never saw the Sultan's son, he started to killing everybody in the palace including the Sultan.

Brunei had no Sultan after Sultan Muhammad Ali was killed by the Bendahara.

To governed the country, Bendahara was appointed to be the next Sultan because he had the close blood relationship to the previous sultan (Sultan Muhammad Ali was his uncle).

Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin appointed Pangeran Muhyiddin as known as Pangeran Bongsu to be his Bendahara to make foster peace between his followers and previous sultan's followers.

But Pangeran Bongsu betrayed him. He makes chaos in the country and it pushed the sultan to move at Pulau Chermin. When the sultan stayed there, Pangeran Bongsu took the throne and it was makes the sultan felt betrayed.

Then the civil war happened.

Pangeran Muda Bongsu called his name as Sultan Muhyiddin and he striked at Sultan Abdul Mubin fort at Pulau Chermin but he failed.

He asked help from Betara Sulu to attacked Sultan Abdul Mubin and as a reward, he will give certain land  of North Borneo which is the land called Saba' to the Betara.

After several years of war, the Betara defeated Sultan Abdul Mubin who was retreated to Kinarut, Saba'. That is why the Sultanate of Sulu always claiming Sabah as their belonging until nowadays.

They claimed that Sultan Abdul Mubin  died in Pulau Chermin but there are no grave in the island that found until today.

Theory 1 conclusions:

1. Sultan Abdul Mubin was known as a 'throne prowler' in old Brunei history. But his intention just to seek the revenged after his son was killed by Pangeran Muda Alam. Not more than that. He was appointed as a Sultan by the peoples who want him to be the sultan replacing Sultan Muhammad Ali.

2. He was insulted by the historian of Brunei. What is the reason why he was insulted by the historian? Is it because he killed the previous sultan? How about his son who was stabbed by Pangeran Muda Alam? Anyone can feel his sadness? Think about it.

3. His right was denied as a Sultan by his own Bendahara who was betrayed him. The Bendahara should not offering any gifts or royal colony to the peoples because he does not have any rights to do it except the sultan give the order or permission. In this context, Muhyiddin was not the Sultan.

He is the one should be insulted by the historian because he took the throne from the Sultan and that time Sultan Abdul Mubin was still the legal sultan.

4. Muhyiddin gave the land called Saba' to Betara Sulu as a reward to help him against Sultan Abdul Mubin. But it was no legal because there was no any black and white letter or agreement on it. He just gave it by his words not his letter and royal seal. The royal seal was in hand of Sultan Abdul Mubin.

5. Due to that, Muhyiddin asked the palace writer to remove Sultan Abdul Mubin history from Brunei Sultanate history. 

Sultan Abdul Mubin history was lost almost 500 years!

Can u imagine that?

            Pulau Chermin near Muara Brunei, the palace of Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin

Theory 2 (based on several books -actually it was bought and hidden by the current government of Brunei) and old folks story that their inherit by their ancestors in Sabah.

It  began by the non satisfaction of Pangeran Bendahara Abdul Mubin to the sultan because of his majesty bad treatment to the peoples of Saba'. Generally, the sultan already gave and divided the 'kawasan pegangan' or area of administration (Sungai Tulin) to his wazirs and as Bendahara, he was appointed to keep the land of Saba'.

The peoples in Saba' was very poor and always facing the natural disasters. So he always advice the sultan to help them if he want the support of the peoples from Saba'. But the sultan refused and this makes him disappointed. According the books written by Mr. Yusin Hj. Boaklan, Sultan Muhammad Ali was a weak ruler. He always wasting his time at the palace with the maids and concubines.

He never take care of his kingdom and this make Pangeran Bendahara was angry and disappointed with him.

Sultan Abdul Mubin fort in Kinarut. 

His Majesty stayed there almost 10 years.

When the Bendahara always pushed the sultan and keep asked him to help the peoples, he felt uneasy and try to against the Bendahara. Actually the Bendahara was afraid if the peoples of Saba' will rebel to the kingdom but the sultan misunderstand it.

At the climax of this relationship between Sultan and Bendahara, Pangeran Bendahara Abdul Mubin went to Saba' because of the natives invitation. They discussed with him and asked if possible if they want to withdraw from the kingdom of Brunei because they was too suffered.

Lately, the peoples of Saba'  rebelled and wanted the Bendahara and his family to be the sultan in Saba'. The Bendahara men killed the sultan and appointed Pangeran Bendahara as a new sultan of Brunei. But he was opposed by previous sultan's son in law.

Then Sultan Abdul Mubin retreated to Kinarut and built a palace there. The peoples of Bajau and Dusun was the loyal followers to him.

Theory 2 conclusions :

1. Why Pangeran Bendahara Abdul Mubin was accepted by the peoples of Saba'? It was because he was well known since his father became previous Bendahara the one who kept Saba' as Sultan's representor.

2. His relationship with the peoples much better than the sultan. Because he always went to Saba' to heard the peoples problem. Why he did not went to Sarawak even its also in area of Brunei Kingdom?

It was because, Sarawak is under Pangeran Digadong power, so Bendahara should not interfere on that area.

3. Pangeran Bendahara Abdul Mubin decendants was from Saba'. That was why he accepted by the peoples of Saba'. His ethnic is Samah Bajau from the noble clan and supreme Datu of Saba'. Why he is related with Brunei? It was because he also has a bloodline with the Sultan Hassan from his mother side.

4. The native accepted him as a Sultan of Saba'. This is stated in old Brunei manuscript and this was certified by Muhyiddin when he asked help from Betara Sulu.

This research is ongoing. 

What makes me disappointed is the Brunei History Centre does not want to give full cooperation in this research. 

Seems they hide something when we asked about Abdul Mubin history.   

         

It was a big research because the history must be reveal and peoples has to know. 

We just afraid our children lost their identities and they would not knows the real story of their ancestors.

I hope my fellows and I could discover it sooner. God's will.

Source : The Prince

Sejarah kampung Mengkabong : Asal-usul Nama Kampung Mengkabong, Tuaran

Mengkabong

Kata pepatah,"langkah pertama lebih penting daripada kata pertama". 

Manusia kecil hanya mampu melangkah dengan langkah kecil, berbanding dengan manusia besar, jiwanya besar maka tindakannya perlu besar. 

Tapi dalam erti kejiwaan manusia kecil perlu mempunyai jiwa yang besar.

Mengkabong terletak kira-kira 7 km daripada bandar Tuaran, Sabah. Anggaran penduduk melebihi angka 1000 orang. Kampung Mengkabong merupakan perkampungan air yang suatu ketika dahulu menjadi tarikan pelancong. Pembinaan rumah di atas air yang beratapkan nipah dan bertiangkan kayu nibong menjadi salah-satu keunikan pemandangan yang menarik.

Melalui cerita orang-orang tua di Kampung Mengkabong, perkataan "Mengkabong" berasal daripada sebuah pokok yang mempunyai buah yang dipanggil buah kabung. 

Kononnya dijaga oleh seekor makhluk yang dipanggil "Tembuakar".

Cerita kedua "Mengkabong" berasal daripada perkataan pokok nibong yang tumbuh banyak berdekatan dengan persisiran Teluk Mengkabong, Tuaran. Pokok nibong menjadi berbagai guna di kampung Mengkabong, Tuaran ketika itu terutamanya untuk membuat rumah dan pucuk boleh dimakan sebagai ulam atau sayuran.

Cerita ketiga "Mengkabong" berasal daripada gabungan beberapa buah kampung seperti Kampung Pensurun, Ensoang, Gerinsing, Belud Empalam, Torong Tembiluk (Buansa), dan beberapa kampung lain yang berdekatan.

Menurut cerita yang keempat yang tidak dapat dipastikan iaitu mengisahkan seorang pahlawan orang darat yang berbangsa dusun yang bernama "si Kabong" bersama orang-orangnya telah bergabung tenaga untuk membuka kawasan kampung Mengkabong, Tuaran. Sempena memperingati jasa beliau nama Kampung Mengkabong, Tuaran dikaitan dengan nama pahlawan tersebut iaitu "Mengka" (bermaksud pengkaan / membuat pengkaan) dan "Kabong" (nama pahlawan darat), maka digabungkan "Mengkabong". Dikatakan selepas daripada peristiwa tersebut permusuhan antara orang-orang Dusun dan orang-orang Bajau dapat diselesai dan suasana harmoni masih terasa dan patut dikekalkan hingga ke hari ini.

Selain itu, terdapat juga cerita-cerita yang mengatakan bahawa pembukaan Kampung Mengkabong ini dilakukan oleh golongan yang berketurunan "Sharif" dan "Pangeran", tetapi nama beliau tidak dapat dipastikan dengan tepat dan jelas. bermula dengan situasi ini golong "Sharif" dan "Pangeran" dikatakan pihak yang bertanggungjawab mentadbir Kampung Mengkabong, Tuaran ketika itu. ini terbukti dengan pusara lama yang terdapat di Tanah Perkuburan Kampung Pensurun, Tuaran dan yang berdekatan.

Cerita Asal: Nurul Farihah.W Bt.Z

Rujukan & Disunting Dari :Sinar Saman Baru - http://norinahmazlan.blogspot.com/