Nakhoda Mohamad Taib, Governance in the Dinding Territory
The name Nakhoda Mohamad Taib is inseparable from the history of the Dinding territory, as he was the individual who explored and subsequently developed the Kuala Sepit area.
In addition, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib and his followers worked tirelessly to eradicate the growing pirate activities in the surrounding area. According to the book written by Othman Mohd. Yatim titled 'Dinding Jajahan Istimewa Perak', the arrival of Nakhoda Mohamad Taib is said to have occurred several years after the arrival and failure of Raja Engku Busu in his efforts to eliminate piracy there. Referring to the letter of authority received by Nakhoda Mohamad Taib from Sultan Ja'afar Safiuddin Mu'azzam Shah (the 23rd Sultan of Perak), the year of his arrival in the area was 1857.
Before Nakhoda Mohamad Taib opened up the Kuala Sepit area, he had actually visited the state of Perak several times for business purposes. Consequently, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib became well-known among the Sultan and dignitaries in Perak through the gifts he presented. As told by local residents through generations, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib was a merchant and a highly renowned navigator from Batu Bahara, located on the East Coast of Sumatra. From Batu Bahara, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib and his followers sailed up the Perak River to Pasir Panjang Indera Mulia, where Sultan Ja'afar Safiuddin Mu'azzam Shah resided. Upon meeting Sultan Ja'afar Safiuddin Mu'azzam Shah, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib expressed his desire to open a new area on the deep-sea side of the Dinding River. The late Sultan Ja'afar Safiuddin Mu'azzam Shah approved and welcomed Nakhoda Mohamad Taib's intention with the hope that the state of Perak would become more developed and prosperous. Nakhoda Mohamad Taib was also granted a letter of authority, and a presentation ceremony was held at the Pasir Panjang Indera Mulia Palace. Afterward, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib sailed to the mouth of the Perak River to head towards the Dinding River. Nakhoda Mohamad Taib and his followers explored and opened an area named Kuala Sepit. The location of Kuala Sepit was so strategic that it became a port hub. Kuala Sepit was frequently visited by various merchant ships from all corners of the Nusantara, causing the area to become increasingly prosperous with the accumulation of various forest products such as rattan, damar, and many others. Piracy activities around the Dinding area were also successfully neutralized by Nakhoda Mohamad Taib, as he used cannons to engage the pirates.
After governing the Dinding territory for 16 years, Nakhoda Mohamad Taib passed away in 1873, and his remains were buried in Kuala Sepit.
Nakhoda Mohamad Ariff, the son of Nakhoda Mohamad Taib, replaced his father to govern the Dinding territory, but his rule was short-lived as he had to return to Batu Bahara, and subsequently, his younger brother passed away. Following that, Penghulu Besar Mohamad Nordin took over, replacing Nakhoda Mohamad Ariff to lead and administer the Dinding territory area. When the Pangkor Treaty was signed in 1874, the glory of the Kuala Sepit Malay government began to decline as the Dinding territory was later handed over to the British. As such, Penghulu Besar Mohamad Nordin could no longer renew his letter of authority from the late Sultan Ismail Mu'abidin Riayat Shah (the 25th Sultan of Perak) because, at that time, the Dinding territory was no longer under the authority of the Sultan of Perak. Although the Dinding territory was then administered by the Straits Settlements, Penghulu Besar Mohamad Nordin remained the legitimate ruler, even though he could not renew his letter of authority. The residents of Kuala Sepit were deeply disappointed with the Pangkor Treaty and refused to accept British colonization. Consequently, they moved away en masse, leaving Kuala Sepit. References:
- Dinding Jajahan Istimewa Perak, Othman Mohd. Yatim
