Transformasi Orang Melayu di Sarawak, 1830-an sehingga 1963: Dari Kesedaran Kebangsaan kepada Kesedaran Politik (The Transformation of the Malays in Sarawak, 1830s to 1963: From National Consciousness to Political Consciousness)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the transformation of consciousness among the Malays in Sarawak from the 1830s until 1963. The study is completed based on literature and archival methods, utilizing primary sources such as British documents, reports, government official publications and newspapers. Secondary sources including books and articles are also referenced. The emergence of national consciousness among the Malays in Sarawak can be traced back to the presence of local resistance movements against the representatives of the Brunei government in the 1830s and the Malays’ opposition to the Brooke administration’s policies since the 1850s. Their resistance was primarily aimed at defending ethnic interests for survival and preserving their rights as residents of Sarawak. Furthermore, the development of education has enhanced awareness among the Malay population through Malay schools and educational opportunities. Social activities, such as the establishment of organizations in Malaya in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, also spurred the formation of religious and literary organizations in Sarawak. National consciousness among the Malay population developed more rapidly following the publication of the Fajar Sarawak newspaper in the 1930s. This development subsequently led to the formation of Malay organizations to unite the Malays and safeguard their interests in Sarawak. After the Japanese occupation, the issue of Sarawak’s surrender to the British emerged, marking the beginning of political awareness and the struggle of the Malays to defend their state’s independence. Additionally, political developments and elections in Sarawak during the 1950s and early 1960s further highlighted the political consciousness that was later translated into political party movements and the subsequent struggle for Sarawak’s independence from colonial rule. Thus, it can be seen that there has been a transformation of consciousness among the Malays from national consciousness to political awareness. From the discussion, it is also evident that although the Malays are not the majority population, they played a significant role in the political development in Sarawak.