Tok Janggut
Encyclopedia
Tok Janggut or Haji Mohd Hassan bin Munas (1853 - June 25, 1915) was a famous Malay warrior in Kelantan
, Malaysia during British
protectorate. He was named Tok Janggut because of his long beard, almost reaching his chest ('janggut' being the Malay word for beard
).
, a Malaysian martial art. After the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
, Britain took over the administration of Kelantan
from Siam
, and immediately made significant changes in the administration system. This served as the trigger for rebellion for Tok Janggut.
, Pasir Puteh
, Kelantan subsequently fall to Britain's hands. One of the British officers, Encik Latiff took over the administration of Kelantan from the local leader, Engku Jeram. Things seem to go out of control as Encik Latiff, an out-sider and whose native state is not Kelantan, was very stern and firm about collecting tax in Kelantan.
Engku Besar Jeram, called upon Tok Janggut, Haji Said, Che Sahak Merbol and Penghulu Adam, to discuss social issues of Kelantan. They also signed a pact which prohibits any one of them to co-operate with the Britain
. Not surprisingly, their independence fight gained support from most Kelantan residents, which worried Encik Latiff. He decided to end the situation before any possible revolt occurs.
On 29 April 1915, Encik Latiff sent Sergeant
Sulaiman, better known as Sergeant
Che Wan, to arrest Tok Janggut for failing to pay the government tax. Tok Janggut agreed but refused to walk in front of them and a fight occurred, in which Tok Janggut manages to stab the sergeant
.
Following the event, Tok Janggut assembled all his men and marched towards to Pasir Puteh
. Encik Latiff, out of fear, quickly fled Pasir Puteh
before the invasion. Here, Tok Janggut fought a battle against the British
forces in which ultimately, they are successful. They remained in Pasir Puteh
for three days and declared the independence of Pasir Puteh
from British rule. Engku Besar Jeram was selected King of Pasir Puteh and Tok Janggut as Prime Minister. Britain immediately decreed Tok Janggut and his fellow comrades as 'traitors.' Britain also promised a reward of $500 for the person who caught Tok Janggut or his comrades, dead or alive.
As a result of Tok Janggut's refusal to surrender, British officers in Kelantan took immediate action by burning down Tok Janggut's house, as well as his followers' houses, too. Tok Janggut immediately replied by laying a siege
on Pasir Puteh. This time, luck was on Britains' side, Tok Janggut was killed in the gruesome battle near Kampung Pupuh. His dead body was exhibited throughout Kota Bharu
and Pasir Puteh
and was hung for several days in front of the Kelantan Royal Palace. Tok Janggut's body was buried in Pasir Pekan afterwards, ending the rebellion
against British rule in Kelantan.
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
, Malaysia during British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
protectorate. He was named Tok Janggut because of his long beard, almost reaching his chest ('janggut' being the Malay word for beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
).
Brief Biography
Tok Janggut received his early education in Mecca and was a master of silatSilat
Silat Melayu is a blanket term for the types of silat created in peninsular Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore. The silat tradition has deep roots in Malay culture and can trace its origin to the dawn of Malay civilization, 2000 years ago...
, a Malaysian martial art. After the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 or Bangkok Treaty of 1909 was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam signed on March 10, 1909, in Bangkok. Ratifications were exchanged in London on July 9, 1909....
, Britain took over the administration of Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
from Siam
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and immediately made significant changes in the administration system. This served as the trigger for rebellion for Tok Janggut.
Factors of the rebellion
There were several causes:- Engku Besar lost of power - Engku Besar Tuan Ahmad Ibni Al-Marhum Tengku Chik Pendek was a grandson of Tengku Sri Maharaja Long Seri Ibni Perdana Mentri Long Gafar of Limbat, a hereditary chieftain and lord of east KelantanKelantanKelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
. Long Gafar was a Reman prince, colleague of Long Yunus and co-founder of unified KelantanKelantanKelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
. Engku Besar Tuan Ahmad was the ruler of Jeram who had for long enjoyed the respect and loyalty of the local people but who hate lately felt that their feelings for him had declined because the new district officer had undermined his status. - JihadismJihadismJihadism is a term to describe the renewed focus on armed jihad in radical Islamic fundamentalism....
- Tok Janggut was influenced by the message of Jihadism promulgated during the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the early 20th century, which advocated the fight against Western imperialismImperialismImperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,... - New tax system - The BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
adviser, W. Langham-Carter, even denied that the new tax-system was the major cause of the trouble. He attributed the whole plot efforts originiting in Kota BharuKota BharuKota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
to oust the British the new land tax that involved both aristocrats there, whom he labelled "Tengkus" and the Sultan. According to Langham-Carter, however, the aristocrats' ultimate aim was to overthrow the sultan. Britain was making it harder for everyone to pay the tax by either putting them in prison or fining them. Besides, the behaviour of the British tax officers there seemed unpleasant for the Kelantan civilians who came there to pay the tax. - Resentment against non-Kelantanese in general such as Sikhs and SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
-born Malay D.O. of Pasir Puteh, Abdul Latif and anti-British sentiment - Sultan's ambivalent attitube towards the rising, the folk legend of Tok Janggut's disguised pursuit of revenge against the Sultan, and alleged conspiracy among the Kelantanese aristocrats to oust the Sultan
Rebellion
On 29 April 1915, the administration of JeramJeram
Jeram is a main town in the state of Selangor, Malaysia....
, Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
, Kelantan subsequently fall to Britain's hands. One of the British officers, Encik Latiff took over the administration of Kelantan from the local leader, Engku Jeram. Things seem to go out of control as Encik Latiff, an out-sider and whose native state is not Kelantan, was very stern and firm about collecting tax in Kelantan.
Engku Besar Jeram, called upon Tok Janggut, Haji Said, Che Sahak Merbol and Penghulu Adam, to discuss social issues of Kelantan. They also signed a pact which prohibits any one of them to co-operate with the Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Not surprisingly, their independence fight gained support from most Kelantan residents, which worried Encik Latiff. He decided to end the situation before any possible revolt occurs.
On 29 April 1915, Encik Latiff sent Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Sulaiman, better known as Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Che Wan, to arrest Tok Janggut for failing to pay the government tax. Tok Janggut agreed but refused to walk in front of them and a fight occurred, in which Tok Janggut manages to stab the sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
.
Following the event, Tok Janggut assembled all his men and marched towards to Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
. Encik Latiff, out of fear, quickly fled Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
before the invasion. Here, Tok Janggut fought a battle against the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces in which ultimately, they are successful. They remained in Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
for three days and declared the independence of Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
from British rule. Engku Besar Jeram was selected King of Pasir Puteh and Tok Janggut as Prime Minister. Britain immediately decreed Tok Janggut and his fellow comrades as 'traitors.' Britain also promised a reward of $500 for the person who caught Tok Janggut or his comrades, dead or alive.
As a result of Tok Janggut's refusal to surrender, British officers in Kelantan took immediate action by burning down Tok Janggut's house, as well as his followers' houses, too. Tok Janggut immediately replied by laying a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
on Pasir Puteh. This time, luck was on Britains' side, Tok Janggut was killed in the gruesome battle near Kampung Pupuh. His dead body was exhibited throughout Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
and Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh
Pasir Puteh is a territory and town in Kelantan, Malaysia. The town of Pasir Putih is situated on the bank of Semerak River, about 30 kilometers to the south of Kota Bharu.-History:...
and was hung for several days in front of the Kelantan Royal Palace. Tok Janggut's body was buried in Pasir Pekan afterwards, ending the rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
against British rule in Kelantan.