Mat Kilau's Re-emerge & Legacy

Since years before Mat Kilau re-emerges to the world, Mat Kilau had been regarded as traitor and had been dead long time ago that no one would have thought and believed the old man that claimed himself as Mat Kilau is actually the real Mat Kilau.

There had been news about him being dead such as from the English newspaper that published in Singapore. The Free Press had told about how Mat Kilau was defeated in Kota Bharu that he was injured on his face and head that the wound was so severe and bleed a lot which led him to death.

After Mat Kilau had seen the country and motherland that he loved had been independence, on December 26, 1969 Mat Kilau’s real identity had come out into the open when he himself made a declaration after the Friday prayers at the Pulau Tawar mosque in Jerantut, his birthplace.

Afterwards, the Pahang state government had built a group of high authority on investigating the declaration made by Mat Kilau which had shocked many people. The authority was built on January 8, 1970. There had been lots of people interviewed Mat Kilau to prove that Mat Siam, the name he used that time, is the real Mat Kilau.

Next, after months of investigations, on 10.30 am, August 6, 1970, Mat Siam was finally been confirmed as Mat Kilau by Menteri Besar Pahang, Raja Tan Sri Yahya Mohd She.

Unfortunately, 10 days after the confirmation, Mat Kilau died on August 16, 1970 at his home in Kampung Batu 5. He is said to have died at the age of 122 based on his estimated birth year 1847.

He was buried with full honours befitting a national hero at his birthplace, Kampung Masjid Pulau Tawar, Jerantut.

“His adopted son who later became his son-in-law as well, Abu Bakar Awang said that before he revealed his real identity, he was very evasive each time when asked about his background. Mat Kilau probably feared that he was yet to be pardoned for the allegations that he had betrayed the Sultan.”

“During the uprising, Pahang was under the reign of Sultan Ahmad Al-Muadzam Shah. He waited almost 12 years after independence to reveal that he was Mat Kilau as he feared the Sultan hadn’t forgiven him,” from the Star newspaper.

Mat Kilau’s grandson, Alhamdi Abu Bakar, said though his grandfather did not leave any wealth, he left a legacy and unparalled gallantry to be inherited by the coming generations in defending the nation from various forms of colonisation.

Abu Bakar, his son-in-law is the lead instructor of Seni Silat Tapak Setia Suci, the art of self-defence he inherited from his warrior father-in-law.

Sources:

1. Kumai (June 20, 2011) Pahlawan Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: mrkumai.blogspot.com
2. Sangtawal Sangkrata (December 15, 2009) Siri Pendekar Sufi: Muhammad Bin Imam Rasu @ Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: Sangtawal Sangkrata
3. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal Al-Aziz (January 11, 2009) My Real Hero!!! Pahlawan Mat Kilau. Retrieved on 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: Nota Global: My Real Hero!!! Pahlawan Mat Kilau

Feelings on Independence Day

Well, right now everyone knows that Mat Kilau had been alive during the Independence Day. All citizen of Malaya were really happy and joyful for finally Malaya had become an independent country but does anyone know about our Malay warrior’s feeling during that day? Surely, he was also excited and grateful of his fights during his young days had finally paid off.

According to his son-in-law, Abu Bakar whose is husband of Zaleha, Mat Kilau’s eldest child, “On that day (Aug 31, 1957), he woke up early and after subuh prayer, he got ready to leave for Kuantan as he was aware that the proclamation was also being held in the states, other than at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.”

He also said, “I was wondering why he was so eager to go to the state mosque field. Even though he was more than 100 years old then, I noticed he was so excited to celebrate the historic occasion.”

Abu Bakar stated that he remembered clearly how Mat Kilau had put on a white ronund-necked T-shirt with a grey overcoat and a kain sampan wrapped over the top part of his dark long pants. He wore shoes and his head was wrapped with a piece of cloth known as kain cindai (a piece of silk cloth used by Malay warriors to wrap around their head before getting into the ring to confront their foes).

That morning, Abu Bakar and Mat Kilau’s wife had wondered why Mat Kilau had worn those clothing which triggered question from Ajrah Bakar, Mat Kilau’s wife asking, “what’s wrong with you?”

After that, Abu Bakar and Mat Kilau left the house together and waited for the free bus ride made available by the authorities in conjunction with the celebration. While on the bus, Mat Kilau was obviously impatient to get to the field even though the bus was packed with people.

When Mat Kilau was at the field, he had joined the shouts of Merdeka and he also said to Abu Bakar, “see, who would have thought I too will live to see this country’s independence” which had made Abu Bakar to wonder what this man was actually trying to say.

Abu Bakar also said that the declaration of Merdeka was probably the most defining moment for the warrior who tried to defend his race, religion and the authority of his nation from occupation by foreign powers.

So, that’s it about the feelings of our most invisible Malay warrior during Malaya Independence Day. In the next post, it will be about Mat Kilau’s re-emerge to the world after Independence Day.

Sources:

1. Tuan Sharipah Shahani, Mohd Shukri Ishak (January 29, 2007), Mat Kilau the Malay Warrior. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from theStar online website: Mat Kilau, the Malay Warrior

Mat Kilau's Asylum - Part 2

As from the previous post, we know that Mat Kilau had moved to Kampung Pasir Nering as to avoid conflict happened in Kelantan which can disturb the peace there. When Mat Kilau was in refuge at Terengganu, he was under protection from Tok Ku Puloh who is also known as Qutubul Zaman and the one that change Mat Kilau’s name into Muhammad and his father from Tok Gajah to Tok Fakir Lebai Salam.

Next, when Mat Kilau was in asylum in Terengganu, once again Mat Kilau faked his death in 1895 for concealment of his presence from Siam and British that he got help from Sultan Kelantan. This time, his ‘body’ was buried at Kampung Dalam Limau, Bunut Payung, Kelantan which later switch by banana’s stalk and Mat Kilau had been asked to run away.

This second fake death had leaded Mat Kilau to a permanent asylum where his ‘death’ was published by a newspaper which called ‘The Free Press’ on 22 October 1895. From this news, most people had known that Mat Kilau was no longer in this world except for his few friends such as Mustafa bin Awang Mat (Jusoh Rimau), Pendekar Tok Demali, Raja Ibrahim (Pak Him), and Mat Kelantan.

Old House of Pahlawan Mat Kilau

As Mat Kilau had been labelled as traitor by British, he had to bring himself to abyss that he had moved from one place to another which lastly he stayed at Batu 5, Jalan Kuantan – Gambang. Since 1930, Mat Kilau also had to change his name into several names that lastly he stayed with Mat Siam.

Finally, he resurfaced from his asylum several years from Independence Day which will be tell more in the next post.

Sources:

1. Kumai (June 20, 2011) Pahlawan Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: mrkumai.blogspot.com
2. Sangtawal Sangkrata (December 15, 2009) Siri Pendekar Sufi: Muhammad Bin Imam Rasu @ Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: Sangtawal Sangkrata
3. Elmi Rizal Elias (May 23, 2007) Mat Kilau Attempted to Establish Formidable Resistance. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from Bernama website: Mat Kilau Attempted to Establish Formidable Resistance

Mat Kilau's Asylum, Part 1

After being labelled as a rebel and traitor, most of us didn’t know what had happened to Mat Kilau and how he can escape all the chases of British that tried to catch and kill him. All we know is just that he had taken refuge in Kelantan and Terengganu and resurface years later after independence had been achieved by Malaysia.

To escape from being able to be detected by British, Mat Kilau had used several names like Mat Siam, Mat Dahan and Mat Dadu. He also only stay put in one place for just three months as he feared that his presence will be detected by British said Che Wan Nawang or Che Wan Pahlawan, one of Mat Kilau’s silat student that accompanied him to Hulu Tembeling,  Pahang during his refuges.

There are lots of stories and facts on what had happened to Mat Kilau when he was hiding from British. One of it was when he was stay at Kampung Penar, Patani while using the name of Mat Siam. When British found out about Mat Kilau in Patani, Hugh Clifford had demanded Raja Siam to command Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Mansur to give up Mat Kilau to British whether alive or dead.

However, Mat Kilau had a trick about giving himself up to Sultan Mansur as he will pretended that he was dead and gave his ‘body’ to Sultan Mansur which later, Sultan Mansur can inform Raja Siam that he was dead during the fight on capturing him.

Firstly, he drank a potion that made him fainted for 2 days as it made him look like he was dead. Then, his body was covered with a yellow cloth and other people can only watched his body from far. The only people that can be closed to his body are his father, Tok Gajah, Datuk Bahaman, and his silat students which to make sure that he won’t be harmed by others.

 Later, his ‘body’ was carried to anjung istana Kelantan for the public to witness the ‘death’ of Mat Kilau which had convinced Sultan Mansur to send a messenger to Raja Siam informing that Mat Kilau was dead and convey the message to British.

After that, when Mat Kilau's 'body' was getting buried, his 'body' was taken away by his silat students which they had changed it to banana tree. However, the words about the fake body was reached to Raja Siam that resulting him to be furious and had intention to attack Kelantan. Fortunately, Raja Siam cancelled the attacks as he found out that Mat Kilau and his students are willing to defend Kelantan.

As to maintain the peace in Kelantan, Mat Kilau had moved away to Kampung Pasir Nering. This was where Mat Kilau was attacked by British and got his in the shoulder by a gold bullet as one of his students had became a traitor by telling British about Mat Kilau's secret. Later, he had escaped to Terengganu which will be tell next time.

Sources:

1. Kumai (June 20, 2011) Pahlawan Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: mrkumai.blogspot.com
2. Sangtawal Sangkrata (December 15, 2009) Siri Pendekar Sufi: Muhammad Bin Imam Rasu @ Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: Sangtawal Sangkrata
3. Elmi Rizal Elias (May 23, 2007) Mat Kilau Attempted to Establish Formidable Resistance. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from Bernama website: Mat Kilau Attempted to Establish Formidable Resistance

Mat Kilau's Uprising

Definitely most who had heard about the name of Mat Kilau knows about his rebellion against British that happen in Pahang, in year between 1880s and 1890s. However, in general, we just know a little about Mat Kilau’s involvement in the rebellion as he was labelled as traitor that need to be executed by British in one of the way to stop Mat Kilau’s rebellion.

Even though Mat Kilau had been branded as a traitor in the past, right now we looked at Mat Kilau as one of the Malay warrior that triumphed against British. Let me tell a little about Mat Kilau’s revolution against British.

After Mat Kilau’s marriage with Yang Chik, daughter of Imam Daud, only then his father allowed him to learn about the arts of silat which lead him to join the battle against British. His first fight was in year 1868 where he had joined the ‘Perang Saga’ which fight against the army of Tun Mutahir that was getting help from Temenggung Johor. Mat Kilau and his father, Tok Gajah won the battle excellently which result Mat Kilau being promoted to ‘Orang Kaya Budu’ by Sultan Ahmad.

The next battle that Mat Kilau had joined was the fight when Wan Da and Wan Aman, the sons of Tun Mahathir which had helped Raja Mahadi defeated Tengku Kudin in Selangor, asked Raja Mahadi to help them back in takeover the power in Pahang. However, the second attack from Wan Da and Wan Aman with the help from Raja Mahadi was successfully defeated by warriors of Pahang which included Mat Kilau, Imam Rasu aka Tok Gajah and Datuk Bahaman.

Hence, because of the defeat occurred to Raja Mahadi, later he decided to no longer siding with Wan Da and Wan Aman which results Wan Da and Wan Aman to change side to Tengku Kudin fought against Raja Mahadi. After that, Wan Da was sent to Pahang as ambassador and requested helps from Bendahara Ahmad to help them fought Raja Mahadi in Klang. Bendahara Ahmad agreed and sent his armies which included Pahang warriors like Mat Kilau, Tok Gajah and Datuk Bahaman to fight Raja Mahadi as the reason was Raja Mahadi once attacked Pahang. The battle happened again between Tengku Kudin and Raja Mahadi which Tengku Kudin had won and the friendship between Tengku Kudin and Bendahara Ahmad became closer.

This friendship between Tengku Kudin and Bendahara Ahmad bring concern to British which lead them to force Bendahara Ahmad to accept the visit of British representative as to be friends with Pahang. However, the Pahang warriors such as Mat Kilau and Datuk Bahaman were suspected of British’s tactics.

The British representative was Sir Andrew Clarke whom had come to Pahang with 4 battle ships that filled with cannons and weapons which had made Mat Kilau became mad as they were tried to show off their power to Pahang. This is why Mat Kilau had voice out his thoughts about British in sarcastic way to Bendahara Ahmad. The Governor was shocked and felt threatened which was lead to changing of the representative to Sir William Jervois.

After the arrival of Sir William Jervois to Pahang, things had gone bad as he had investigated about Pahang and found out that Pahang had lots of minerals and gold. These had led to British trying to take over Pahang through Bendahara Ahmad as he had become British’s puppet and British had interrupted the authorities to collect taxes from state ministers where the rebellion of ministers had begun which included Mat Kilau.

The rebellion started right in his father’s home where the family strongly opposed the invaders from the very beginning. In 1881, after his father was forced to submit to the British resident, Mat Kilau was driven with anger had ambushed and killed five English soldiers at Lubuk Terua security post in Lanchang, Pahang. Besides that, a few more hired soldiers who came looking for him also received the same fate which resulting more clashes between both sides.

Therefore, the British Resident during that time, Sir Hugh Clifford had labelled him as traitor and ordered his capture which was provided with rewards. Mat Kilau had taken refuge in Kelantan and Terengganu which he got supports from Terengganu famous warriors, Tokku Paloh and Abdul Rahman Limbong and Tok Janggut in Kelantan. Thus, the refugee life for Mat Kilau had begun.

Sources:

1. Kumai (June 20, 2011) Pahlawan Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: mrkumai.blogspot.com
2. Sangtawal Sangkrata (December 15, 2009) Siri Pendekar Sufi: Muhammad Bin Imam Rasu @ Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from blogspot.com website: Sangtawal Sangkrata
3. Elmi Rizal Elias (May 23, 2007) Mat Kilau Attempted to Establish Formidable Resistance. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from Bernama website: Mat Kilau Attempted to Establish Formidable Resistance
4. Arkib Negara Malaysia. Patriotism as Catalyst for Nation Building: Emulate the Fighting Spirit of Mat Kilau. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from Arkib Negara Malaysia website: Patriotism as Catalyst for Nation Building: Emulate the Fighting Spirit of Mat Kilau

Malaysian Warrior; MAT KILAU

Anyone who heard the name of Mat Kilau would have knew about his resistance against British in Pahang. He was one of the many Malay warriors that fight for the love of their motherland between the 1880s and 1890s when the colonial masters extended their rule in Pahang.

Besides that, he was also the only one of Malay warriors that lived to witness with his very own eyes the nation’s independence on 31^st August 1957. On that day, he even had the opportunity to shout the word ‘Merdeka” with others Malaysia citizen something that his comradeship did not live to do which were Datuk Bahaman, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, Tok Janggut, Datuk Maharaja Lela and Dol Said.

Mat Kilau bin Imam Rasu (Tok Gajah) was a famous Malay warrior in Pahang, Malaysia during the period of British protectorate which was before the Japanese protectorate. His father was Imam Perang Rasu or most famous known as Tok Gajah whose was a local chieftain. This brave warrior was believed to be born in 1847 in Kampung Masjid Pulau Tawar, near Jerantut, Pahang.

He married to Yang Chik binti Imam Daud when he was 20 years old, had three children which one of them was Omar, the one that help him to re-emerged from silence in 1969 to reveal his true identity. According to Pahang Delight.com, only after his marriage, Mat Kilau had learnt the finer art of silat and spiritual knowledge and one of his masters was his father, Tok Gajah.

During his resistance against British, Mat Kilau had form a formidable resistance group that scared the British. The group had attacked a police post which was set up by British and conquered Temerloh. The name of Mat Kilau and Datuk Bahaman are recorded in the national annals as those are responsible for the attack.

However, their resistances are not for long as their strengths had decreased when a clever ply had been executed by British as the group had been accused for betraying the Sultan. Therefore, Mat Kilau had taken refuges under lots of different names like Mat Dahan, Mat Dadu and Mat Siam.

On December 16, 1969, Mat Kilau had decided to re-emerge from his sanctuary and come out into the open where he himself made a declaration of his real identity at Pulau Tawar mosque in Jerantut. After months of research and investigations, the Pahang state government finally confirmed that he was indeed Mat Kilau.

Regrettably, Mat Kilau had died after 10 days of the approval of his identity which on August 16, 1970 at his home, Kampung Batu 5 that it was believed he had died at the age of 122 based on his estimated birth year of 1847. 







Sources:

1. Tuan Sharipah Shahani, Mohd Shukri Ishak (January 29, 2007), Mat Kilau the Malay Warrior. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from theStar online website: Mat Kilau, the Malay Warrior
2. Pahang Delights.com. Pahang Warrior and Patriot. Retrieved on September 23, 2013 from Pahang Delights.com website: Mat Kilau