Pertikaian sempadan di Pantai Timur Borneo Utara pada tahun 1878 hingga 1915 : satu kajian pengurusan diplomasi antara British dan Belanda

This study discusses the history of border disputes between the British and the Dutch in the East Coast of North Borneo from 1878 until 1915. The disputes involving the Borneo territories, especially in North Borneo, began in the early 1800s. They should have been solved through a series of meetings in the Proceedings of the Joint Commission for deliberation of the Boundaries between the Netherland Indian Possessions on the Island of Borneo and the Territory belonging to the British North Borneo Company, 1889 and the 1891 Convention. Nevertheless, the problems were resolved amicably through the 1951 Agreement. The Dutch had occupied the Borneo region, especially Bulungan in the 17th century. Since then, there had been several border disputes between the Netherlands and the Sultanate of Bulungan. There was an attempt to resolve the dispute through the Contract of Vassalage of 1850 and 1878. Disputes in the Borneo territories became even more acute with the cession of territory by the Sultan of Sulu to Overbeck and Dent Association through the Grant of January the 22nd 1878. This cession led to persistent disputes between the British and Dutch in the East Coast of North Borneo. This study examines the history of management of border disputes between Britain and the Netherlands, through a series of meetings held in 1889, 1891 and 1915, using qualitative methods and historical approach. The materials for the study were obtained through library research. Most of the primary sources were official British records found in the British National Archives, Kew, London, the Malaysian National Archives and Sabah State Archives. Also included were official documents used in the International Court of Justice relating to border disputes between Malaysia and Indonesia. The secondary resources referred to include books, journals and newspapers. The finding of the study shows that the British-Dutch border disputes in the East Coast of Borneo were resolved through meetings and conventions. The study also finds that diplomacy was employed to resolve the border disputes in 1889, 1891 and 1915. The findings of this study are important because it can be used a vis a vis on managing border disputes especially from a historical perspective. The findings can also be used as reference for Malaysia in dealing with border disputes over the Layang-Layang Island, Spratly Islands, Limbang and the Philippines claim on Sabah, now and in the future. Keywords: British, Dutch, Eas

British support of the Dutch regime in West Irian at the onset of the cold war: Circumstance of 'evil necessity'

This paper deals with the British policy on West Irian during the early stage of the Cold War in Southeast Asia. It focuses on the reasons why British supported the Dutch resolution to retain its colonial power on this ‘Komodo Island’.The main references are British official records from the British National Archive, Kew, London. Though they focus on British policy, the sources throw light on some of fundamental issues in Southeast Asia in general during that period.They prevail that although Western colonialization is a ‘taboo’ phrase, in some circumstances it was an ‘evil necessity.’First, British support for Dutch colonialism in West Irian was to prevent a circumstance that could allow any external intrusion such as the communist and Russian from setting up their base on that island which could endanger this region.The need for the Dutch colonialism was crucial because the newly formed Indonesia was still inexperienced in administering and managing territories.Secondly, it was a measure to eliminate any intention of Indonesia to spread, or to conquer, its neighboring nations such as Australia New Guinea, Borneo and the Malay States.In other words, should they were to be allowed to take West Irian it would become a precedent for Indonesia to make subsequent claims on other British territories

Peranan UMNO menegakkan Islam dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan: satu kajian secara kronologikal

Makalah ini berusaha menelusuri kronologi sejarah pemaktuban Islam dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan negara Malaysia dengan menyemak pelbagai sumber primer iaitu rekod-rekod rasmi, minit-minit keputusan mesyuarat UMNO-Perikatan, laporan-laporan rasmi kerajaan, akta-akta, ordinan-ordinan, perlembagaan dan akhbar-akhbar berkait dengan Islam dalam kemerdekaan Malaysia di Arkib Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur dan National Archive, London. Bahan-bahan ini dianalisis dengan kritis dan disusun secara kronologikal. Berdasarkan hasil analisis tersebut makalah ini menemui hakikat bahawa sesungguhnya UMNO memain peranan paling utama dalam sejarah pemaktuban Perkara 3 dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang menyebut Islam merupakan agama Persekutuan. Dalilnya, UMNO merupakan satu-satunya parti politik yang mengusulkan Islam kepada Suruhanjaya Reid (pada 25 September 1956). Pada asalnya, cadangan tersebut ditolak oleh Raja-Raja Melayu dan kerajaan British. Sekiranya UMNO tidak mengusulkannya maka amatlah besar kemungkinannya tidak ada Perkara 3 dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan itu seperti adanya pada hari ini. UMNO bukan sekadar menghantar memorandum kepada Suruhanjaya Reid, sebaliknya, ia berusaha secara berterusan untuk menangani tentangan Raja-Raja Melayu dan pihak British itu sehingga akhirnya termaktub juga Islam dalam Perlembagaan. Hakikat ini tidak disedari oleh para penyelidik. Ini berlaku kerana mereka tidak menukili sejarah penggubalan Perlembagaan Persekutuan secara kronologi

Sumbangan Sabah dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12: relevansi politik pembangunan

Makalah ini meninjau bagaimana Sabah memberi sumbangan ke atas kemenangan BN (Barisan Nasional) dalam Pilihan Raya ke-12 yang sekali gus membuktikan politik pembangunan adalah fenomena yang masih relevan dalam konteks Malaysia sehingga ke hari ini. Sumber tinjauan makalah ini terdiri daripada data yang dikutip daripada observasi lapangan, laporan rasmi dan temu bual dengan pemain sebenar dalam politik Sabah. Dihujahkan bahawa kemenangan BN sebanyak 18 (72%) daripada keseluruhan 25 kawasan Parlimen di negeri berkenaan yang terletak dalam kategori kawasan Desa itu dengan sendirinya menunjukkan politik pembangunan adalah satu fenomena yang dipertahankan oleh masyarakat tempatan sendiri. Walau bagaimanapun, kefungsian politik begini tidak ketara dikawasan bandar, khususnya yang didominasi oleh penduduk Cina

Kumpulan etnik kadazan di Sabah: antara asas etnografi atau agenda politik

Masyarakat peribumi di Sabah terdiri beberapa kumpulan etnik dan subkumpulan etnik. Mengikut catatan Muzium Sabah, terdapat sebanyak 72 kumpulan etnik (termasuk subkumpulan etnik). Walau bagaimanapun, Banci Penduduk Sabah yang dibuat pada 1891 hanya mencatatkan sebanyak 15 kumpulan etnik sahaja. Kumpulan etnik ini pula terbahagi kepada dua, iaitu masyarakat peribumi Islam dan masyarakat peribumi bukan Islam. Masyarakat peribumi Islam, antaranya, terdiri daripada kumpulan etnik Bajau, Brunei, Iranun, Bisaya dan Idahan manakala masyarakat peribumi bukan Islam pula kebanyakannya didominasikan oleh suku kaum Murut, Rungus, Dusun dan lain-lain lagi. Hingga 1952, kumpulan etnik Kadazan tidak wujud dalam etnografi masyarakat peribumi Sabah. Kumpulan etnik ini hanya muncul pada 1952 dengan penubuhan Persatuan Kadazan dan terus menjadi popular apabila Donald Stephens menulis artikel yang bertajuk “Dusun or Kadazan” dalam Sabah Times bertarikh 30 Jun 1960. Sejak kumpulan etnik tercipta, kumpulan etnik di Sabah bertambah menjadi tidak menentu dan ada kalanya kumpulan etnik yang dicatatkan lebih awal, khususnya Dusun menjadi tidak menentu. Makalah ini cuba membincangkan persoalan kumpulan etnik Kadazan sama ada suku kaum ini mempunyai asas etnografi atau hanya lebih kepada agenda politik golongan tertentu