The Life And Legacy Of Am Azahari In Brunei

A. M. Azahari, born Sheikh Ahmad M. Azahari bin Sheikh Mahmud, was a Bruneian politician, businessman and nationalist of Arab descent. He was the chairman of the Parti Rakyat Brunei (Brunei People's Party) from 1947 to 1962 and the Prime Minister of the North Borneo Federation in 1962. Azahari was a prominent figure in the anti-colonial movement in Brunei and played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from British rule. He advocated for a fully democratic government in Brunei while preserving the country's monarchy and worked towards uniting Brunei, North Borneo, and Sarawak under a single nation-state known as the Unitary State of North Kalimantan or Negara Kesatuan Kalimantan Utara (NKKU). Azahari's political career was marked by his strong opposition to the Federation of Malaysia and his exile in Indonesia following the failed Brunei revolt in 1962.

A.M. Azahari's role in the Brunei Revolt of 1962

A.M. Azahari was a central figure in the Brunei Revolt of 1962. He was the leader of the North Kalimantan National Army (TNKU), a militia group supplied by Indonesia that aimed to overthrow the Sultan of Brunei and unite the whole of Borneo under Indonesian rule.

Azahari was a Bruneian politician, businessman, and nationalist of Arab descent. He had trained under the Japanese and served as an anti-colonialist soldier in Java, fighting against Dutch colonialism in the Dutch East Indies. He returned to Brunei in 1952 and became the catalyst for the revolt against British colonial interests. He was the chairman of the Parti Rakyat Brunei (Brunei People's Party) from 1947 to 1962 and served as the Prime Minister of the North Borneo Federation in 1962.

In the lead-up to the revolt, Azahari played a crucial role in organising and arming the TNKU. By late 1962, they had an estimated 4,000 men, a few modern weapons, and about 1,000 shotguns. On 8 December 1962, the TNKU launched coordinated attacks on the oil town of Seria, targeting the Royal Dutch Shell oil installations, as well as police stations and government facilities across the protectorate. The revolt, however, began to break down within hours, failing to capture key targets such as Brunei Town and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

Azahari himself was not in Brunei during the revolt. He had travelled to Manila, where he declared the formation of a war cabinet for Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan). The Philippine government did not offer official support, but Azahari received unofficial financial backing and sympathetic hearings from high-ranking officials. The revolt ultimately failed, and Azahari fled to Jakarta, where he was granted asylum by President Sukarno in 1963. He lived in exile in Bogor, West Java, until his death in 2002.

Azahari's exile and death

A.M. Azahari, the Bruneian politician, businessman, and nationalist, went into exile in Jakarta, Indonesia, after the failed 1962 Brunei Revolt. President Sukarno granted him asylum in 1963, and he lived in Bogor, West Java. With assistance from Malaysia and Indonesia, Azahari and his allies established an exile government following the failed revolt. Malaysia supported his cause in the United Nations until around 1975, which strained relations with Brunei. However, with the conclusion of Konfrontasi and the formation of ASEAN, regional diplomatic ties improved, and his goals diminished.

In November 1999, while Azahari was ill in Bogor, Indonesia, he asked Mahmud Morshidi Othman, who was visiting him at the time, to convey his wish to return to Brunei to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. In December 1999, Othman sent a letter to the Sultan, conveying Azahari's request to return to his homeland as a citizen of Brunei. However, in March 2000, Othman received a response from the Sultan's office, stating that Azahari's request could not be considered as he was not a citizen of Brunei.

Azahari passed away in exile in Bogor, Indonesia, on May 30, 2002, at the age of 75. His wish to be buried in his homeland was not granted, and his body was not allowed to be returned to Brunei.

Azahari's political career

A. M. Azahari, born Sheikh Ahmad M. Azahari bin Sheikh Mahmud, was a Bruneian politician, businessman, and nationalist of Arab descent. He is known for his anti-colonialist stance and his role in the Brunei revolt against British colonial interests. Here is an overview of his political career:

Early Political Activities

Azahari received military training under the Japanese and fought against Dutch colonialism in the Dutch East Indies. He returned to Brunei in 1952 and became a prominent figure in the country's nationalist movement. He advocated for Brunei's independence and opposed its admission into the Federation of Malaysia.

Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB)

On 21 or 22 January 1956, Azahari, along with Salleh Masri, established the Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB), inspired by the Indonesian National Revolution. The PRB aimed to bring about Brunei's independence while preserving the country's monarchy. The party called for a constitution that would unite Brunei, North Borneo, and Sarawak under a fully democratic government, known as the Unitary State of North Kalimantan or Negara Kesatuan Kalimantan Utara (NKKU).

Azahari suggested that 75% of the Legislative Council of Brunei (LegCo) members should be independently elected rather than chosen by the Sultan, to ensure complete democracy in the country's governance. The PRB gained widespread support, with 16,000 members in 1957, representing various races in Brunei, North Borneo, and Sarawak.

Opposition to Federation of Malaysia

In 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, which would include Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. Azahari and the PRB strongly opposed this plan, campaigning for Brunei's independence and a federation of the three northern Borneo states instead.

1962 District Council Elections

In August 1962, the PRB won 54 out of 55 seats in the first district council elections, demonstrating strong public support for their anti-Malaysia platform. This electoral success further solidified Azahari's position as a prominent political leader in Brunei.

Brunei Revolt

However, when their demands for independence were not met, the PRB took a more radical approach. On December 8, 1962, the North Kalimantan National Army (NKNA), an armed wing of the PRB, launched an armed uprising in Brunei. Azahari, who was in Manila at the time, declared himself prime minister of a unitary state of North Kalimantan. The revolt was quickly suppressed by British troops, and Azahari went into exile in Indonesia.

Exile and Later Years

After the failed uprising, Azahari fled to Jakarta, where he was granted asylum by President Sukarno in 1963. He continued his political activities in exile, forming an exile government with support from Malaysia and Indonesia. He maintained his opposition to the Federation of Malaysia and worked to pressure Brunei to implement political changes toward a representative government.

Azahari spent the rest of his life in exile, passing away in Bogor, Indonesia, on May 30, 2002, at the age of 75.

Azahari's opposition to British colonialism

A. M. Azahari was a Bruneian politician, businessman, and nationalist of Arab descent who fought against Dutch and British colonialism. He was the chairman of the Parti Rakyat Brunei (Brunei People's Party) from 1947 to 1962 and the Prime Minister of the North Borneo Federation in 1962.

Early Life and Education

Azahari was born in 1928 in the Crown Colony of Labuan, which is now part of Malaysia. Despite his family's ties to the Bruneian sultan, Azahari received an education in veterinary medicine in Java under the Japanese during their occupation of Brunei. This experience shaped his anti-colonial ideology, and he later joined the Indonesian independence movement against the Dutch.

Return to Brunei and Growing Influence

In 1952, Azahari returned to Brunei, where he quickly became a prominent figure in the nationalist movement. He attempted to form the Brunei Film Production Company (BRUFICO) in 1952 to draw attention to the injustices committed by the British. However, his application was denied due to restrictive business laws imposed by the colonial authorities. This incident sparked protests and further galvanised the nationalist sentiment in Brunei.

Formation of the Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB)

In 1956, Azahari established the Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB), inspired by the Indonesian National Revolution. The PRB aimed to bring about Brunei's independence from British rule while preserving the country's monarchy. The party attracted a diverse membership, including non-aristocratic Malay people who opposed both monarchy and colonial authority. Azahari's charismatic leadership and convincing speeches played a crucial role in gaining public support for the PRB.

Disagreements with the Government

The PRB frequently clashed with the Bruneian government, particularly over the creation of a new constitution. Azahari proposed that 75% of the Legislative Council of Brunei's members should be independently elected rather than chosen by the Sultan to ensure complete democracy in the country's governance. This proposal was rejected by the British, who sought a gradual democratic transformation.

Electoral Success and Growing Tensions

In August 1962, the PRB won 54 out of 55 seats in the first district council election, demonstrating strong public support for their anti-Malaysia platform. However, the Sultan and senior British civil administrators objected to these results and refused to allow the formation of the Legislative Council. This denial of electoral success further fuelled tensions between the PRB and the government.

Formation of the Anti-Malaysia Alliance

Following the disputed election, Azahari fled Brunei and formed an Anti-Malaysia Alliance with left-wing politicians in Sarawak and North Borneo. He rallied supporters in the Philippines and received encouragement from both Indonesia and the Philippines. Indonesia supplied Azahari with arms and provided military training to approximately 400 of his followers.

The Brunei Revolt of 1962

On December 8, 1962, Azahari's supporters in Brunei resorted to armed force, marking the beginning of the Brunei Revolt. The primary military force behind the revolt was the North Kalimantan National Army (NKNA), which was trained and equipped by Indonesia. The revolt aimed to establish a unitary state of North Kalimantan, with Azahari declaring himself as the prime minister. However, the rebellion was quickly suppressed by British troops, and Azahari fled into exile in Indonesia.

Life in Exile and Death

After the failed revolt, Azahari lived in Bogor, Indonesia, until his death in 2002. He continued to advocate for Brunei's independence and even established an exile government with the help of Malaysia and Indonesia. Despite his efforts, Brunei abandoned its pursuit of democracy and returned to a traditional Malay monarchy.

Azahari's relationship with the Sultan of Brunei

A.M. Azahari was born in 1928 and grew up in a family with ties to the Bruneian sultan, Omar Ali Saifuddin, whose ancestry predates the initial waves of European colonisation. Azahari attended the same school as Omar Ali Saifuddin, the younger brother of the 27th Sultan of Brunei, Ahmad Tajuddin.

In 1952, Azahari returned to Brunei and obtained Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III's approval. However, Azahari's involvement in the independence struggle and his exploits during the Indonesian revolution won him great admiration from the younger generation, which threatened British oil interests.

In 1953, Azahari attempted to form the Brunei Film Production Company (BRUFICO) to draw attention to Brunei's injustices committed by the British. However, his application was denied because Bruneians were not permitted to independently create these kinds of businesses under the rules in effect at the time. Azahari and his brothers were arrested and accused of being participants in an unlawful assembly and breach of the peace. Despite being in jail, his popularity grew, and an underground movement began forming, with plans to organise a revolt, take over police stations, release Azahari, and establish a provisional government under his leadership.

In 1956, Azahari founded the Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB), which became the first political party in Brunei and Northern Borneo. The party called for Brunei's independence through constitutional routes and condemned all kinds of colonialism in the political, economic, and social sectors. It promised to uphold the Sultan's constitutional monarchy and attempted to bring together all the states inside the Malay Archipelago into a single Malay country.

In 1962, Azahari became the Prime Minister of the North Borneo Federation. That same year, an armed uprising led by the TNKU (an anti-monarchy militia supplied by Indonesia) broke out in Brunei. Azahari, who was in Manila at the time, declared the formation of his government's war cabinet for Kalimantan Utara, or North Kalimantan. The uprising was against British colonialism and the Malaysia plan, with the goal of creating a Unitary State of North Borneo led by the Sultan.

The failed rebellion destroyed any goals for democratic progress and blocked Azahari's plan to establish a Northern Kalimantan State ruled by the Sultan as a constitutional monarchy. Instead, Brunei gave up on democracy and returned to a traditional Malay monarchy. Azahari fled to Jakarta, where he was granted asylum by President Sukarno in 1963 and lived there until his death in 2002.

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