cover single page - Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Brunei: Revival of 1906
outstanding.” But certainly, he achieved what he wanted as far as Brunei
was concerned, by convincing his Government to find an honourable
solution for the ancient kingdom.
McArthur’s expertise on the country became valuable to the British
administration for years to come. His successors reached out to him for
his views on knotty problems in handling Brunei affairs. In 1918, he
was invited to Brunei to witness the coronation of the young Sultan
Muhammad Jamalul Alam. There, the welcome overwhelmed him.
Grateful Bruneians did not forget his lasting service to their country.
When D. E. Brown visited Kampung Ayer in 1970 as part of his field
research for a Cornell University Ph.D., he came across some informants
who remembered McArthur very warmly. McArthur’s death occurred
on 20 February 1934.
The news of McArthur’s first visit to the Bruneian Sultanate in
May 1904 sent shock waves in Sarawak circles. Brunei had been deemed
an easy picking for the Sarawak Rajah, which now turned out to be a
mirage. His lifetime ambition to own the last remnants of the kingdom
was thwarted. He had dreams of becoming the real “white” Sultan of a
nation of such antiquity, and to be crowned by equally old monarchic
Britain.
Even before McArthur’s Report was released, Brooke had
anticipated the outcome. Embittered, he warned London that the new
Consul would not be able to prepare a reliable report in less than one or
two years whereas in fact, McArthur was expected to finish the task in
just three months. Brooke’s message read as follows:
“I don’t wish to imply that Mr McArthur is inexperienced, nor to call into
question his abilities, but the Brunei natives and the surrounding of the
Sultan are such flatterers and liars that it is as well be guarded when framing
a report… Only a knowledge of their character over some years’ experience
can enable anyone to know how to deal with them.”
A pretentious Charles Brooke, as always, claimed that he alone
knew the character of the Borneans – that included Brunei – and it was
he who should be allowed to deal with them. However, McArthur would
prove him wrong on most counts. Within the short space of time he
spent in the sultanate, the visiting Consul could present an authoritative
report that sealed any and all ambitions Charles had towards Brunei. As
a matter of fact, McArthur was quite aware of the stereotyped impressions
of Brunei among his superiors. More importantly, the British Foreign
26