The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXII, Part 1-2, 1984 - Khamkoo

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his Council. Once encountering opposition from the local Ruler, Phraya Sakdiseni
acted with support from Bangkok. Phraya Rangeh was suspended, and another Malay,
more acceptable, appointed acting Governor of Rangeh; at Sai, he appointed new
officers without securing the consent of Phraya Sai. At the same time, Phraya Sri
Sahadheb was sent to Patani in February 1902; he swiftly arrested Phraya Patani and
serit him back to Songkhla for detention. Another member of the ruling family of
Patani was appointed Acting Governor.
The strong and swift measures employed by the Siamese were much resented
by the Straits Settlements Government because it not only showed to the local Malay
leaders that the British had no say in matters concerning the conflict between the local
Chiefs and the Bangkok Government, but also demonstrated Siam's ability to deal with
local disobedience as she saw fit, while these local leaders had no alternative but to
comply or face heavy punishment. The case of the Ruler of Patani w-as a living lesson
to other Malay Rulers under the Siamese influence. Anyone who dared solicit British
assistance against Siam would have to pay for his crime. 3 9 Swettenham realised the
implication of the event, the more so since the arrest was believed to have been executed
at the time King Chulalongkorn was visiting Singapore and conducting an unofficial
discussion on the Malay problem with the Governor-General. He thus pressed the
British Government to demand an immediate release of the Ruler of Patani. 4° However,
the Foreign Office accepted the Siamese explanation that the Ruler of Patani was but
an officer of the Crown who had disobeyed the royal command and therefore had to
suffer the consequence. 4 1 In the Governnknt Gazette, March 1902, the Siamese
Government announced the deposition of the Ruler of Patani, Abdul Kadir, and the
appointment of Phraya Pitak Thammasunthorn "Kooday" as the new Governor of
Patani. Officially the Patani affairs were brought to an end.
The success of Siam . in the Seven Malay Muang in 1902, which officially
prevented it from being used by the Singapore Government as another reason for the
need to re-adjust Siamese relations with her local Malay Chiefs, in fact convinced the
Governor-General even more of the belief that Siamese power in the Peninsula had to
be effectively curbed and, if possible, eliminated. It was clear that Sir Frank
Swettenham became increasingly harsh, ·exacting and frantic in his opinion of Siam and
her leaders, as he realised that his proposals concerning Patani, Kelantan and Trengganu
39. Sultan of Kelantan was nervously frightened that he might suffer the similar fate of Abdul
Kadir, and pressed Swettenham to sign a treaty withKelantan. FO 422 /56, Swcttenham to
Chamberlain, May 16, 1902.
40. FQ 422/56 Lansdowne to Tower, March 5, ·1902 (telegraphic).
4 1. PO 422/56, Tower to Lansdowne, March 7, 1902 (telegraphic) .