The First Malay Ruler Forced to Abdicate

The tragic death of the first British Resident in Perak, James Wheeler Woodford Birch, on November 2, 1875, in Pasir Salak at the hands of Malays led by Datuk Maharajalela, resulted in the arrest and sentencing of the Malay chiefs involved.

If asked about Malay warrior figures such as Datuk Maharajalela, Datuk Sagor, Pandak Endut, and Si Puntum, some of today's younger generation might shake their heads, and most sadly, label them as rebels and criminals. Although they were executed, history has established them as heroic figures who taught the colonialists a lesson about their arrogance when first setting foot in Tanah Melayu. The British began to appease the Malays following the incident.

Sultan Abdullah II (the 26th Sultan of Perak) was found guilty of conspiring to overthrow JWW Birch. The Sultan of Perak was forced to abdicate the Perak throne and was exiled to the Seychelles in 1877. The sentence imposed on Sultan Abdullah II was the first political detention involving a reigning Malay Ruler in Tanah Melayu. Although he lost his power, the British treated him well as a guest in the Seychelles. Sultan Abdullah II departed from Kuala Kangsar for Penang on July 20, 1877, before boarding a British warship named Cartherston to the Seychelles. Accompanying him were 19 people, consisting of his mother, two wives, five sons, five daughters, a sister-in-law, and five servants.

Sultan Abdullah II and his entourage were housed in a government residence provided in Unionvale, Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles. During his exile, Sultan Abdullah II was given a special allowance and treated well by the British for the 7 years he spent in the Seychelles. In 1894, Sultan Abdullah II was granted a pardon by Queen Victoria and was allowed to leave the Seychelles. However, he was still not permitted to return to Perak and was ordered to reside in Singapore. He lived in Singapore and Penang for 21 years and was only allowed to return to Kuala Kangsar in 1916. By that time, he was over 70 years old and his health had begun to decline. In 1922, Sultan Abdullah II finally passed away after being ill for several months. He was laid to rest with full Perak Malay Royal customs at the Kuala Kangsar Royal Mausoleum with the title Marhum Habibullah. References:

• Malaysia Book of Records, Special Edition, Ghulam Jie K Khan