cover single page - Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Brunei: Revival of 1906
recklessly ceded Trusan and Limbang to Sarawak, but these cessions did
not have the Sultan’s approval or seal and were therefore legally invalid.
The Sultan became extremely worried that the situation had spiralled
out of hand, and it was only a matter of time before Brunei disappeared
as a State. Something needed to be done to preserve Brunei.
In order to avoid further alienation of Brunei land, the Sultan
called a meeting of his chiefs in 1885. He was already old and as ordained
by religion, he wanted to offer his last advice (nasihat) to his descendants
before the death. He made the chiefs enter into an undertaking with him
by taking an oath. All those assembled swore not to alienate anymore of
Brunei’s territories to foreigners. This oath, which came to be known as
Amanah or Umanat, did help a great deal in the preservation of Brunei
by the next Sultan. Although, as Pengiran Temenggung, Hashim Jalilul
Alam had made mistakes by agreeing to turn over valuable lands to
Sarawak, when he became Sultan in 1885, he took steps to conserve the
rest of its territory. In doing so he faced greater challenges than any other
sultan in Brunei history from internal and external enemies. But he
pursued the traditional Brunei diplomatic strategy of playing off one
enemy against another very cleverly. So how did he manage to handle the
British imperial designs
12
THE SURRENDER OF LABUAN AND
THE FIRST BRUNEI-BRITISH TREATY
The little island of Labuan in the China Sea which belonged to Brunei
took centre stage in British-Brunei relations as the tussle intensified
between the domineering White Rajah and the weakened Brunei Sultan.
There was also a perceived threat of dominance by the United States in
the region. Americans stepped up their search for useful contacts in
Borneo. As early as 1830, their envoy Edmund Robert, was ordered to
explore trading prospects in China, Siam and Borneo, but he died before
he started on his mission. Seven years later, Americans after visiting China
reached Borneo looking for pepper. In 1842 the Sultan of Sulu had signed
a Treaty of Friendship with the visiting Americans.
An American warship, the USS Constitution arrived at Brunei in
1845 seeking a commercial treaty and exclusive rights to work Brunei’s
coal deposits. This was the time when the Brunei Sultan was still unsure
of British intentions towards his kingdom. Recent visits by British naval
ships to the coasts of Brunei had overawed the Bruneians. Out of fear or
in a genuine search for protection from Britain, Brunei felt it important