Local Rule Before the Western Powers
Long before the Brooke family and the British North Borneo Company arrived, both Sarawak and Sabah were ruled by local Malay sultanates. Society was made up of many communities, each with its own leaders and customs.
Sarawak Under Brunei
Sarawak was part of the Brunei Sultanate. It was governed by Brunei nobles called Pengiran on behalf of the Sultan of Brunei. One of these governors, Pengiran Indera Mahkota, ruled the Kuching area and collected heavy taxes on antimony mining. This caused great hardship and led to a revolt by local people led by Datu Patinggi Ali.
Remember
- Sarawak was ruled by the Brunei Sultanate through nobles called Pengiran.
- The west coast of Sabah was under Brunei; the east coast was under the Sulu Sultanate.
- Heavy antimony taxes led to a revolt led by Datu Patinggi Ali.
Sabah Under Brunei and Sulu
Sabah was divided between two sultanates: the west coast came under Brunei, while the east and north-east came under the Sulu Sultanate. Local communities such as the Kadazandusun, Bajau and Murut lived under their own chiefs. In Sarawak, communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau did the same. This local system existed long before Western rule began.