BATTLE OF LIMBANG
Limbang Rebellion It Is Not!
Mislabelled as a rebellion, this episode in Sarawak history should rightly be called an uprising as it is an independence movement by the people of Limbang against the British colonial government who at the time were trying to force us to accept the Malaysia Plan.
By 1960, in a population of 15000, it is estimated 6000 are TNKU members/supporters of which majority is Kedayan, with Malay, Murut, Bisaya, Iban and Chinese (also represented in SUPP).
How it all started: Khairel Salleh bin Kardin, Pilok bin Tahir and Gantang bin Ludin were detained at Limbang Polis Station on 2 December 1962 after their return from Lawas where they had taken down the British flag and hoisted the TNKU flag at Lawas Central Padang.
Salleh Sambas took the boat to Brunei and at 2:30pm on 7 December in Brunei, Salleh Sambas was appointed by Jassin Affandi, Sec-Gen of PRB to lead the Limbang division to rescue their members at Limbang Polis Station whom they feared were being tortured in interrogation. The attack was scheduled for 2:00am, 8 December.
(Salleh Sambas was an ex-policeman who upon receiving instructions to repress groundswell support for TNKU, resigned from the service, and chose to lead a hard life to tap rubber to support his family)
At 1:00am on 8 December, 250 members comprising three groups, Pasukan Helangdiwali, Pasukan Gagak Hitam, from walked on foot from Masjid Kampong Imok towards Limbang town.; sixty members of Pasukan Pipit Hitam led by Alim bin Tussin headed towards Limbang Police Station via Bukit Mas. Salleh Sambas on bicycle led the rear. Each group had five shotguns and several other weapons. Another group of 150 from Sungai Lubai used perahu to approach Limbang town.
At precisely 2:00am on 8 December 1962, TNKU sprang into action. Limbang Polis Station was attacked from three sides – hulu, hilir and darat. Their weapons – senapang patah, parang, lembing, pisau, badik, buluh runcing dan lastik panah.
A shoot-out ensued. The TNKU broke in through the barbed wire and rescued Khairel Salleh bin Sambas from his cell.
By 5:00am, it was reported the Police Barracks, Post & Telegraph Office, Prison and Resident had given in.
By 6:30am, Limbang Polis Station surrendered.
In the gunfire, 11 had perished – Kpl Kim Huat, PC Insoll anak Chundang, PC Wan Jamalludin bin Tuanku Alek and PC Bujang bin Mohamad from Limbang Polis and Sabtu bin Garip, Serudin bin Besar, Kamis bin Tuah, Mantal bin Tuah, Jabat bin Raya, Adi bin Sapar and Maon bin Abu from TNKU.
The TNKU lowered the Union Jack and hoisted the TNKU flag of 3 colours – white, red and green. Thus for six days TNKU held Limbang town; the town was guarded by TNKU and Salleh Sambas issued strict instructions that no civilian would come to any harm. The town was calm, there was no panic, no rioting or looting.
1:00am on 12 December 1962, Salleh Sambas received report that two British ships were sighted approaching Limbang River. TNKU proposed Petrol Teo Chiok Sia be toppled into the river and be set on fire as the British ships approach. This was objected to by Salleh Sambas as he did not want to jeopardize the safety of the kampongs by the river.
By 5:00am English L Company Royal Marines led by Captain Jeremy Moore had passed Customs Wharf and approached the Police Station. Gunfire broke out.
One boat docked at Resident’s Office and the second ship docked at Customs Wharf. There was fierce fighting at the Hospital led by Sergeant Smith and Sergeant McFarlane where the Resident and his family were.
At one of the hospital ward, before the Commandos released a bomb, Smith could hear voices singing inside, ‘They’ll be wearing dark green bonnet when they come’.
By 6:00am the TNKU could hold no longer and Salleh Sambas instructed his men to run for their lives. By noon, 42 Commandos Royal Marines had taken over Limbang.
Those who perished were: Royal Marines – WG MacFarlane, Richard Fermoy, Gerald Kierans, Richard Jennings and FS Powell; TNKU – Badas bin Safar, Papat bin Osman, Sinon bin Malik, Bakar and Lipih bin Puasa. TNKU who died in the jungle were Sabtu bin Garip, Kula bin Samad and Jalil bin Abdullah whilst unaccounted for were Jabol bin Cupak and Sulong bin Sapar.
Two civilians died, killed by the Commandos: one was a young man who had opened a shop window and was shot on sight, another was a mentally handicapped woman who had banged on her door in her attempt to get out.
Salleh Sambas was tried in Limbang court and found guilty of leading the rebellion in Sarawak against her Majesty the British Queen and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He was released from prison on 1st January 1972. Salleh’s father Sambas bin Murah was sentenced to 6 months jail. All the others involved were tried in court and given varying prison terms. The prosecutor was Yakub, later to become CM of Sarawak.
In Sarawak during the 1970’s election, Yakub renamed Kampung Batu Lapan where all the ex-TNKU were resettled as Kampung Pahlawan, acknowledging the ‘rebels’ he had prosecuted are heroes. But is it sincere, the question is asked? Where is the memorial in memory of these heroes, whereas the memorial for the policeman and the commandos stand in the centre of town?
Who are the heroes and who are the villains?
If you think our Sarawakians are the heroes, do you agree we appeal to the British Queen to build a memorial for our independence fighters like they have done for the Mau Mau freedom fighters in Kenya? And an apology ...
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Lina Soo is a candidate for State Reform Party (STAR) for P196 Stampin, Sarawak in GE-13 and the author of popular book "Sarawak the Real Deal"
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