The history of Bendahara Abd. Majid Tun Habab’s (Habib) Cemetery and the history and development of Malay Teachers College

The History of Bendahara Abd. Majid Tun Habab’s (Habib) Cemetery and the History and Development of Malay Teachers College

A Brief History of Bendahara Abd. Majid Tun Habab’s (Habib) Cemetery, Padang Saujana Hohor, in Kota Tinggi, Johor (By Shaharom Husain)

Bendaharas of Singapore Hindu Malay Empire and Malacca and Johor Muslim Malay Empires are of the same origin. Singapore's first Bendahara is Raja Kecil Muda named Tun Perpateh Permula Berjajar 1. Raja Kecil Muda’s descesdent became Bendaharas until the period of empires Malacca and Johor Muslim Malay Empires.

Only after the death of Tun Jenal (the 4th Bendahara Paduka Raja) which is the 16th Bendahara of Johor Empire, there was no information as to whether the son or descendant of Bendahara Jenal replace him to become Bendahara. The "Malay Annals" do not mentioned explicitly Bendahara names after him. It only mentioned three Bendaharas, one of them is Bendahara Sekudai.

According to the "Malay Annals", one of Bendahara Tun Anum’s (the 15th Bendahara of Johor) daughter named Tun Putih is married to Tun Ahmad, son of Bendahara Sekudai. This marriage brought the relationship between Bendahara Seri Maharaja Tun Anum, Bendahara Tun Jenal and Bendahara Sekudai. Later, Bendahara Sekudai replaced Bendahara Tun Jenal (the 16th Bendahara of Johor) as the 17th Bendahara of Johor.

One of Tun Hassan Temenggong’s (son to Seri Maharaja I that have been murdered by Sultan Mahmud from Malacca) descendent, has hold Bendahara post with the title of Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Mamat. It is possible that he managed to replace Bendahara Sekudai and later became the 18th Bendahara of Johor during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Shah I and Sultan Mahmud Shah II. After the death of Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Mamat, Bendahara Abdul Majid Tun Habab (Habib), Seri Maharaja Padang Saujana the 19th Bendahara of Johor. Bendahara Abdul Majid was then succeeded by his son, Tun Abdul Jalil who became the 20th Bendahara of Johor with the same rank of Bendahara Seri Maharaja. He became Bendahara during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah II, the 10th Sultan of Johor. When Sultan Mahmud Shah II was killed by Megat Seri Rama (according to Tuhfat al-Nafis) in 1699, Bendahara Abdul Jalil took over the Johor empire throne because the Sultan of Johor has no heir in his stead. That Bendahara was given the title of the 4th Sultan Abdul Jalil and became the 11th Sultan of Johor. The descendent of Sultan Abdul Jalil became the Sultan of Johor until the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah in Singapore and Sultan Ali in Johor and Kesang.

The 4th Sultan Abdul Jalil (the 11th Sultan of Johor) had a daughter named Tengku Tengah who later married Daeng Perani, one of the five Bugis princes. Their descendants became the Sultan of Johor to this day. The other Bendahara Abdul Majid Tun Habab’s (Habib) son, namely Tun Zainal Abidin became the first Sultan of Terengganu. Tun Zainal’s descendents became the Sultan of Terengganu to this day. The 4th Sultan Abdul Jalil (the 11th Sultan of Johor) has another son named Tun Abas that became Bendahara Seri Maharaja Pahang. Tun Abas’s descendants later became the Sultan of Pahang until today. In conclusion, the Sultans of Johor, Pahang and Terengganu are the descendants of Bendahara Abdul Majid Tun Habab (Habib), Seri Maharaja Padang Saujana Johor. Bendahara Abdul Majid grave still lies in the cemetery of the Bendahara royal family in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Research Materials

1. Tuhfat al-Nafis – Raja Haji Ali bin Ahmad Riau 2. Salasilah Melayu dan Bugis – Raja Haji Ali bin Ahmad Riau 3. Hikayat Johor 1 – Dato’ Hj. Md. Said bin Hj. Sulaiman 4. Sejarah Melayu – Tun Seri Lanang 5. History of Johore – R.O. Winstedt

A Brief History and Development of Malay Teachers College (By Shaharom Husain)

Johor government exists in Teluk Belanga, Singapore in 1825 under the rule of Temenggung Daing Ibrahim ibni Temenggung Daing Abdul Rahman. During His Majesty era in 1846, a Malay school was established in Teluk Belanga to give lessons to the children of the people. In 1878 during the reign of Temenggung Abu Bakar (Sultan Abu Bakar ibni Temenggung Daing Ibrahim), a Teacher Training College was established in Teluk Belanga to train teachers and government officials. The college is located in the old castle of Temenggung Daing Ibrahim and existed until 1895.

Sultan Abu Bakar is a royal figure who was concerned about education. In addition to teachers from Singapore, the college also provides training to teachers from Penang and Malacca. This college can be considered as a secondary school. Many ex students from this college later became ministers and high officials of the government of Johor. Among them are children of Munshi Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir namely Munsyi Md. Khalid, Munsyi Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim and Munsyi Husain. Munsyi Husain became a teacher in Teluk Belanga, Munsyi Md. Khalid became a visitor teacher in 1885, the Education Secretary of Johor in 1887 and Education Superintendent of Johor Schools from 1895 to 1904. Munsyi Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim was between 1883 to 1885 worked as a guard at the Johor Education Department. Between 1885 and 1887, as Chairman of the Johor Education Department. Between 1887 to 1895, as President of the Johor Education Department. Between 1895 to 1901, as Deputy President of the Ecclesiastical Education Department. Finally, he held the position of State Secretary of Johor and hold title Datuk Bentara Dalam. In June 1898, a Teachers Training College was established in Taiping, Perak at a cost of $2,500. Half expenditure financed by the Perak state government and half by the Selangor state government. Its leader is Sheikh Nasir (Perak Schools Visitor Teacher). Its trainee teachers are 10 persons. Because the college is closed at the end of 1898, its trainee teachers has been appointed to instructor teachers in schools.