Unveiling the Brunei-Brooke Agreement Legacy

KUCHING: A public talk commemorating the 183rd anniversary of the Brunei-Brooke Agreement is scheduled for 10 am on September 24.

Hosted by the Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak in partnership with the Sarawak State Library (PUSTAKA), the event will take place at the Auditorium Pustaka under the title ‘A Fresh Perspective on the 1841 Brunei-Brooke Agreement: Revealing New Insights on Its 183rd Anniversary’.

The discussion will be facilitated by Datuk Dr. Sanib Said, a historian, author, and former director of the Sarawak Museum Department. Dr Sanib is renowned for his contributions to historical literature, including the book “Malay Politics in Sarawak, 1946-1966.”

He holds the Nusantara Chair at the Institute of Borneo Studies, UNIMAS (2024-2025), and is a member of the Sarawak Heritage Council. Notably, he was recognised as Tokoh Sejarah Malaysia in 2021 and Tokoh Muzium Malaysia in 2023.

The talk aims to provide a detailed examination and textual analysis of the agreement, enriching the audience’s comprehension of this pivotal document and shedding light on its profound implications within the historical narrative of Sarawak.

The Brunei-Brooke Agreement, signed in September 1841, symbolized a significant juncture in Sarawak’s history, signifying the wane of the once-mighty Bruneian Sultanate.

Interestingly, this era saw Sarawak ascend as a dominant force along Borneo’s northern coastline, the third largest island globally.

By 1890, the sultanate had shrunk to two minor territories bordering the newly established districts of Limbang and Lawas.

Despite extensive historical inquiry into Sarawak’s past, the agreement has not garnered sufficient academic scrutiny.

Admission to the lecture is complimentary. For further details, please visit the website at www.melayusarawak.org.my.