Abang Haji Abdillah facts for kids
Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah (born 13 October 1862 – died 21 November 1946) was an important leader from Sarawak, Malaysia. He is best known for leading the movement that opposed Sarawak becoming a British colony.
He was the son of Datu Bandar Abang Haji Mohammad Kassim, who served as the mayor of Kuching. His family had a long history of leadership in Sarawak. After his father passed away in 1921, he received the title Datu Muda. He later became Datu Bandar in 1924 and then Datu Patinggi in 1937. These titles showed his high rank and importance in the community.
Fighting for Sarawak's Freedom
Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah strongly believed that Sarawak should remain independent. He was a key figure in the Anti-cession movement of Sarawak, which was a group of people who did not want Sarawak to become a British colony.
He once said:
"My people and I would never agree with the cession of Sarawak to the British Crown!...We cherish the independence of this state where we were born..."
This quote shows how much he loved his home and wanted it to stay free.
He met with British officials to protest their plans. He argued that taking over Sarawak was against the law because most people in Sarawak did not agree with it. Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah also wanted Anthony Brooke to return as the leader of Sarawak.
However, the British still took control of Sarawak. Because of this, he resigned from the State Supreme Council, which was a top government group. He then started speaking out against the British government. He always believed in peaceful ways to oppose the British, without using violence.
The British government sent out a rule, called Circular no.9. It said that any government official who supported the anti-cession movement would lose their job. Many Sarawakian officials, inspired by Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah, chose to resign from their positions rather than stop their protests. He continued to fight for Sarawak's freedom until he passed away in 1946.
His Lasting Impact
As a respected community leader, Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah worked hard to create good relationships between different groups of people, like the Dayaks and Malays.
After his death, the anti-cession movement lost its main leader and became less organized. Some activists used methods that made people support the movement less. Britain continued to rule Sarawak until Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963.
To honor his memory and contributions, a school was named after him: Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah.
See also
- Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah
