The Kingdom of Sarawak on Borneo – A Short History

James Brooke became the very first White Rajah, the ruler of the Kingdom of Sarawak. A beloved leader or a British colonizer? Find out in this video about the history of Sarawak.

Recorded on the 12th of July 2016 in Kuching, Malaysia.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

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Kingdom of Sarawak:

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[DanielTompkinsGuitar]

Charles Brooke was my great-grandfather. It feels strange to have that history in my family. I hope to visit Sarawak some day. It looks so beautiful.

[aneeshabejau]

Very informative! Been researching the history of the white rajah since three years and this somehow helps a lot ! thank you so much!

[elizabethchin]

Recently I went back kuching and I check on my nephew school history textbook, mostly west Malaysia history, how do they expect young generation of sarawakian to know about sarawak history, sarawak ministry of education should take notes.

[neilhenderson]

I'm British, I grew up in Borneo and I'd consider it my home, for what it's worth. Sarawak is still the place I most feel at home...

[muellerfm]

It takes a white man to explain the partial history of my own country for an upcoming university assignment because I really have no idea. Much thanks for the very digestible bite-sized information and love love love.

[lenglingang]

I am Sarawakian and I am proud of it...I hope Sarawak can get its prosperity back like the moment kingdom of Sarawak.

[ivanmcanderson]

I hope suport that sarawak becomes an independent country.
#sabahsarawakmerdeka

[dapdap]

y all this history legend tale been hide out from sarawakian for so long

[stanjohnsuab]

British fooled us to form the federation of Malaysia together with North Borneo (Sabah), Malaya and Singpore but Brunei insist to be alone. Singapore left then Sabah and Sarawak was downgraded from a country (equal partner) to 12th and 13th states same with other state in Malaya.

[wankyler]

Although James Brooke handled Sarawak better than the much hated Vyner Brooke, our grandfather's generation who lived during WW2 mostly held a common opinion, that the locals used to call James Brooke 'Raja Beruk' (Meaning 'Monkey King' in the local tongue). Unlike what history books say, the elders during their time don't regard James as hero at all. Knowing how winners always write the history, I was not surprised.

[chrono-glitchwaterlily]

I'm from 🇵🇭 and if Sabahans and Sarawakans wanna be a country, I say let them. ❤️❤️

[DamienJ_]

i love it bro, i hope youll continue you search, i want more.

[unnamedindividual]

Nice short video. I have been binge-watching your videos, especially the Indonesians and Dutch videos. Good channel overall.

>James Brooke became the 1st White Rajah in History
I put in quotation mark because he was not a good person.

You brought up the differences between Sarawak and Dutch Borneo. The inhabitants also reacted differently to their respective colonial masters after WW2 ended.
In Sarawak, things generally went back to normal. The White Rajah birthday was celebrated. British officers returned back to their posts with ease.
In Dutch Borneo... bamboo spears were sharpened, non-cooperation were everywhere, and the Dutch had a big old mess.

Do I want a return to the rule of the White Rajah? No, of course not. But I am grateful for them. I am grateful it were the British that came, and not the Dutch.

Side comment: I also watched your Sabah video too. In the early 20th century, some blokes in the North Borneo Company wanted to implement the cultuurstelsel like in the Dutch colonies to raise more money. That idea was quickly shot down by the shareholders.

[anthonymanderson]

Handling Sarawak to the United kingdom was a violation of the atlantic charter. Hope sawarak would be independent and have a new rajah.

[OldFArt-gxfh]

I just returned from Sarawak and can honestly say that Sarawak is ready to be an independent nation.

[Ma-fmcm]

Here's the difference


Serawakians:love James Brooke












Bruneians: Hate him with a strong and fiery passion

[John-ecu]

As a Sarawakian and Dayak, I think Sarawak would be more developed and prosperous if it continued to be ruled by the Brooke family compared to the current situation under the rule of Malay Islamic government from the peninsula.

[letskillbunny]

I wonder what what the people of Sarawak thought about their new 'white raja'. Also, you say that Brooke didn't really exploit the local population in the way that the Dutch did, but I'm curious about what this exploitation looked like (what they did), and how Brooke was any different. Do you have any books to recommend about the region at that time, or anywhere I can find out more about the attitudes of the locals? Thank you!

[mythical_slayer_]

James Brooke is the only explorer to turned into a king after solving a conflict