I have a curious question for any Sarawakians or anybody that has knowledge about this subject in this subreddit. What are your thoughts on the Brooke Family, aka the White Rajahs? Do Sarawakians have a positive opinion on the White Rajahs or a negative one?
The Star
Jason Desmond Anthony Brooke, grandson of the last White Rajah, appointed as Penasihat Negeri of Sarawak
By AMINA BINTI HUSSEIN
NATION
Monday, 05 September 2038
11:00AM MYT
PETALING JAYA - In a ceremony in Kuching today, Jason Desmond Anthony Brooke, grandson of the last White Rajah, was appointed as Penasihat Negeri (State Counsellor) of Sarawak. Largely a ceremonial role, the Penasihat Negeri will sit within the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's office to provide advice and guidance on state affairs.
Jason Brooke is seen by many in Sarawak as a symbol of the Malaysian state's traditions and unique history, and has worked tirelessly as an advocate for the recognition and commemoration of Sarawak's heritage. Within the state, he was recognized as the Brooke Dynasty's chief representative, and has stood at the side of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri and the Chief Minister at public events across the region.
The Brooke Dynasty was founded by James Brooke, who in turn founded the Raj of Sarawak in 1841 from a land grant given by the Bruneian Empire. Sarawak continued to be ruled by Brooke's descendants until the Raj's cession to the British Empire in 1946, and then formally joined the Malaysian federation in 1963 as a semi-autonomous state.
Brooke has also been known to organize events in Dublin and London, where he maintains a residence, in cooperation with the Nusantara League's embassy to the United Kingdom of Big Ireland, serving as Sarawak's unofficial voice in NTL-UKOBI relations.
The new Penasihat Negeri has two sons named Jago Charles and Charles Argus, aged 19 and 17 respectively.
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TAGS / KEYWORDS:
Sarawak, Politics, Malaysia
EDIT : FULL DISCLOSURE, THIS IS NOT TO GLORIFY COLONIALSM OF SARAWAK OR ANY OTHER NATION OR SIMILAR NOTION. BUT MERELY A LOOK INTO A FASCINATING PART OF MALAYSIAN HISTORY. IF YOU CAN'T TAKE IT IN A MATURE WAY, THEN HONESTLY MOVE ON.
This post is regarding a history of Sarawak, which came to my mind as today is Independence day of neighboring Sabah.
In a relatively short time in history, roughly around 80 years. The area that we now know as Sarawak was ruled by a dynasty of Britons known as the Brooke dynasty.
Following the history of the dynasty's founder, James Brooke. I can't image an even more wilder life. Born in India, while he was of a family of some wealth and status, he was certainly not nearing anything remotely resembling royalty or peerage.
The fact that he came to Sarawak at the right time and the right place is going to remain one of the great what ifs of Sarawakian history.
How does one feel or respond when one is suddenly changed overnight from captain of a ship to the sovereign monarch of a state, a state whose culture and society are so different from one's own ? What is more amazing was that while James Brooke was for all practical purpose an absolute monarch, he was still a subject of England and her laws.
The Brooke dynasty history most certainly qualifies as one of the most bonkers and maddest stories in world history.
While this part of history is included in our history books, it is often glossed over or touched upon briefly and honestly I feel that it does not get the attention it deserves. The story of how one man carved out his own princedom with nothing but a single ship in the 18th century is one that does not repeat itself often in history.
I'm referring to the uprising which, due to his assistance, led to James Brooke being named Rajah of Sarawak.
