CO882-(3-4) — Page 159

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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and if the evidence already given against Abdullah cannot be refute 1, it will be impos. sible to retain him in the position of Sultan.

5. The ex-Sultan Ismail is also out of the question, for there is also strong evidence that he was not only cognizant of the intention to murder Mr. Birch, but was in a greater or less degree a participator in the conspiracy.

6. I am still of opinion that it would have been impolitic to remove Abdullahı so long a military operations were going on in Perak, not only on account of the meagre and uncertain information which we then possessed respecting the complicity of the several Chiefs in the morder, but from the fact that he was giving us assistance in transport and otherwise, and that any action of ours hostile to him or his position might, at a time when the country was disturbed and the people's feelings excited, have increased our difficulties.

7 Granted the impracticability of retaining Abdullah as Sultan or substituting Ismail for him, I now turn to consider the proposal, referied to in paragraph 15 of your Lordship's Despatch, whether it would be advisable to select the Maharajah of Johore

Tunku Kudin to succeed Abdullah.

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With respect to the Mahar ah of Johore, I have the highest opinion of that Prince; a personal friend of my own; he has shown unswerving loyalty to the British Government for many years, and has rendered most valuable services to us since the beginning of the disturbances in the Malay Peninsula, especially in affording every assistance in his power in bringing in the Maharajah Lela and others, suspected of being concerned in the murder of Mr. Birch

His Highness has amply merited the honors which Her Majesty has so graciously bestowed upon him, and it would be a great satisfaction to me if I felt myself able to recommend to your Lordship that he should be still further rewarded by being placed in the highest rank of rulers in the Malay States, provided he were desirous of receiving such promotion.

H. I believe, however, that the importance which is attached by Malays to matters relating to birth and race would be an insurmountable obstacle to his acceptance by the Perak Chiefs, who regard it as essential that the area of choice for their Sultan shill be limited to the Royal Family of Perak.

9. The Maharajah of Johore, as your Lordship is no doubt aware, received his present title from Her Majesty's Government. Ilis father was the Tumonggong of the Sultan of Johore, that is a high officer of State occupying a position which is not hereditary but elective, held rarely by one of royal blood, but usually, as in the case of the Maharajah's father, by a Chief of position. The full title of the office was, Datu Tumonggong Sri Maharajah, implying a Chief of considerable influence, but not holding office by any hereditary right or claim of birth, nor giving in any way an independent governing power in a State.

The present Maharajah's father, however, acquired considerable wealth by trade, and, on condition of the payment of 85,000, and an annual pension of $6,000, obtained from his suzerain, Sultan Alli of Johore, who is still living, at the instance, and with the assistance, of the British Government, the sovereignty of the State of Johore, excepting a small portion between the Muar River and the Malacca boundary, which was reserved

to the Sultan.

This privilege he enjoyed and bequeathed to his son, who, in like manner, exercises the authority of an independent ruler of the State of Johore.

10. About the year 1866, the new Tumonggong, the present ruler of Johore, visited England, and was shortly afterwards styled Maharajab," a title common amongst the great Hindu Princes of India, but unknown in the Malay Peninsula.

When I say unknown I mean in the sense in which it is used in India, as the distinguishing title of a powerful independent Prince.

The word "Maharajah " amongst Malays is never used as a title by itself, but is an appellation forming part of a title, sometimes given to a Chief of considerable power, but not of royal blood, as in the case of the Datu Tumonggong Sri Maharajah of Johore, or the Datu Orag Kaya Maharajah Lela of Perak; sometimes to a Chief of small power, such as the Sri Maharaja Lela of Perak; and sometimes to a man of neither birth nor position, as Maharajah Serama, a follower of the Maharajah Lela of Perak.

11. Thus your Lordship will perceive that the Malays do not consider the title of Maharajah to be one of importance, nor (although they are glad to make use of his services to mediate between themselves and the British Government, believing that they will better attain their ends thereby) do they regard the position of the Maharajah of Johore as in any way equivalent to that of the Rajah-born Rulers of the other Native

States.

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This is a matter of some importance even in the State of Johore. Many still regard Sultan Alli as the lawful head of that State, and it is not altogether improbable (although he would have no chance of success) that a son of Sultan Alli bereafter advance a claim to the position surrendered by his father.

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12. In the State of Johore, moreover, the population is almost entirely Chinese, and the strength of the Maharajah's position there is no doubt greatly due to his close proximity to Singapore.

In Perak, on the other hand, there is a large Malay population, and there are several members of the Perak Royal Family, who could not be put on one side for a small money-payment, as was the case with Sultan Alli. I do not consider, therefore, that

the Maharajah of Johore would be acceptable to the people of Perak as Sultan of that State, and as your Lordship does not desire to force upon them a ruler who would not be cheerfully received, I feel that I cannot recommend that he should be placed in that position.

13. To Tunku Kudin, brother of the Rajah of Quedah, to whose excellent qualities and loyalty to this Government I must also pay tribute, there is not the same objection as to birth. His family is one of the best in the Peninsula, but he is not of

the Perak blood royal. He has no influence in Perak, nor would he be at all likely to obtain influence there.

His position as the "Viceroy "in Salangore is due to his having married the daughter of the Sultan of that State, and it is to be remarked that even there he met with much opposition on his assumption of office, owing to his not being a native of Salangore.

Your Lordship will thus perceive that Tunku Kudin could not with any chance of success be nominated as chief ruler of Perak.

14. Accepting the conclusion that it will be necessary to remove Abdullah, and that it would be impracticable to reinstate Ismail, I submit that in selecting a successor it is not desirable to depart from the rule which in Perak restricts the choice to members of the blood royal of that State.

The next in succession are Rajah Muda Yusuf, Rajah Bandahara Oosman, and Rajah Dris, after whom come Abdullah's sons.

15. Deferring for a moment any observations relating to Yusuf, I pass on to consider the qualifications of the Bandahara and Rajab Dris.

Rajah Bandahara Oosman possesses none of the qualities required for a ruler. He is

an inveterate opium smoker and cock fighter, and is, moreover, occasionally for a month

or more together quite deranged and incapable of managing his own affairs.

He possesses little or no influence in Perak, and is always led by some one or other of the Chiefs in his neighbourhood.

16. As regards Raja Dris, who is the first cousin to Abdullab, until lately I have always believed him to have been loyal to the British Government. Recent evidence has, however, shown that he has been more or less implicated in the plots for the murder of Mr. Birch. He does not appear to have taken any active part in those proceedings. but it is stated that he was present on several occasions when the question was discussed, and thus apparently gave his approval.

17. In any case however, his claims cannot compete with those of his father-in-law, Rajah Muda Yusuf, who by birth, age, and position, holds undoubtedly the strongest claims to the Sultanship.

As your Lordship is aware, and indeed reminds me, Rajah Yusuf is, however, unpopular with the Perak Chiefs, and he has been twice passed over by them in the nomination to the Sultanship. This unpopularity appears, no doubt, to be a reason against his being now made Sultan; at the same time it cannot be disguised that if he be altogether set aside at the present time considerable difficulties may arise.

There does not attach to him the least suspicion of complicity in the murder of Mr. Birch. He has, since the day when I first saw him in September 1875, avowed his trust and friendship for the British Government, has been loyal to us ever since, and has assisted us to the utmost of his power.

He is the eldest male representative of the Royal Family of Perak, a man of good presence and considerable force of character, determined, and energetic. On the other hand, he is stated to be obstinate, tyrannical, and vindictive, and it is not improbable that these qualities may have weighed with the Perak Chiefs when they rejected his claim to power. I think, however, that it is quite as likely that their real objection to him was that if they gave him power he would have had the will to wield it, and that they, therefore, preferred a weaker man who would leave the governing authority and power of "squeezing" mainly in their hands.

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