Who Was the Panglima Hitam in Perak's History?

Have you heard of the Panglima Hitam? Most people are unaware of the existence of the Panglima Hitam because, in this day and age, their stories are not as widely shared as the legends of the five warrior brothers in Melaka from long ago. Perhaps in 50 years, if anyone hears the name Panglima Hitam, it will be considered a myth, much like the legend of the warrior Hang Tuah today.

Thus, the story regarding the identity of the Panglima Hitam is included in the records of orangperak.com to inform or remind everyone about the Panglima Hitam before they are completely forgotten and their history is lost to the currents of the modern era. For your information, Panglima Hitam is not an individual's name, but a title for the position held by the person appointed to it. In our Malay legends, those chosen to hold the title of Panglima Hitam were said to be truly formidable in martial arts and highly skilled in battle. The Panglima Hitam was specially tasked as a personal bodyguard to the Sultan.

Every Sultan has had their own Panglima Hitam since the 18th century. Among the most famous ones still in the records are as follows.

• Panglima Hitam (Taiping, Perak)
• Panglima Hitam (Kuala Selangor, Selangor)
• Panglima Hitam (Jugra, Selangor)
• Panglima Hitam (Muar, Johor)
• Panglima Hitam (Segamat, Johor)

The most famous one is the Panglima Hitam in the state of Perak, named Tengku Daeng Kuning. Tengku Daeng Kuning was the son of a Bugis King from Makassar, Sulawesi. The title of Panglima Hitam was very fitting for him, as he was highly skilled in martial arts and always wore black clothing. Tengku Daeng Kuning, or Panglima Hitam, arrived in the Malay Archipelago in 1813.

Tengku Daeng Kuning, along with six other brothers, came to the Malay Archipelago. Upon arrival, they each went their separate ways, following their own intuition and knowledge to seek new territories. The seven of them parted ways; Tengku Daeng Kuning chose to go to Taiping in Perak, while the others went to Pahang, Kedah, Terengganu, Johor, Selangor, and Melaka.

Hopefully, you now have a brief understanding of the Panglima Hitam. It is a symbol of someone highly skilled in martial arts, possessing great courage and unwavering loyalty to the King and country. The Panglima Hitam in Perak, named Tengku Daeng Kuning, is the most famous of them all. The title Panglima Hitam is now used by the Naval Special Warfare Forces (PASKAL), Royal Malaysian Navy, as the Kapal DiRaja (KD) Panglima Hitam.

Do you know

Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman

? He was the great-grandson of Daeng Kuning. For the information of all orangperak.com readers, the government, together with the Department of Museums, has rebuilt the tomb of Panglima Hitam in Taiping, which had previously become dilapidated over time, and it has been gazetted under the heritage act as a symbol of national history. This is a commendable effort that should be appreciated by everyone, as it will serve as the only evidence and reference for our descendants in the future.