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