Rosli Dhobi

Infobox Person
name = Rosli Dhobi


caption =
birth_date = 1932
birth_place = Kampung Pulo, Sibu, Kingdom of Sarawak
death_date = March 2, 1950
death_place = Kuching, Sarawak

Rosli Dhobi (1932-March 2, 1950) was a famous Melanau Sarawakian nationalist from Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia during the British crown colony era in that state.

He was a member leader of the Rukun 13 organization along with Awang Ramli Mohd Deli and Bujang Suntong. It was a secret cell organization which carried out assassinations of British colonial officers in Sarawak. He was well-known for his assassination of Sir Duncan George Stewart, the second governor of colonial Sarawak in 1948.

Early life

Rosli Dhobi was born in 1932 in Kampung Pulo, Sibu, Kingdom of Sarawak. Little is known about his earlier life although friends regard Rosli as an approachable person despite his quietness.

Rosli started his career as a teacher and quit his job in 1947 in order to teach in Sibu People's School. Rosli was known to be a nationalist and a poet. Using the nickname Lidros, Rosli penned down a nationalistic poem titled 'Panggilan Mu yang Suchi' which was published in Utusan Sarawak on February 28, 1948. The usage of nickname was prevalent at the time since the British Colonial Authority vigorously monitored any attempts to spread words against them.

Rosli joined Rukun 13 in August, 1948. He was introduced to the organization by an old friend, Bujong Suntong.

Assassination of Sir Duncan George Stewart

Background

The end of the Second World War had brought an end to the Brooke Dynasty rule in Sarawak. Instead of giving independence to Sarawak, the Brookes transferred authority of Sarawak to be a Crown Colony ruled from the Colonial Office in London, which in turn dispatched a Governor for Sarawak. This lead some Sarawakians to become anti-secessionist.

Events

On December 3, 1948, Sir Duncan Stewart, the second governor of Sarawak, was murdered by the Rukun 13 members, Roslie Dhobie, Awang Ramli Mohd Deli, Morshidi Sidek and Bujang Suntong in Sibu.

Rosli Dhobi and Morshidi Sidek were among the crowd that welcomed the governor on his arrival to Sibu. While the governor was meeting the local subjects and in near proximity with Rosli, Morshidi began to pretend to take pictures of the governor with a broken camera. The governor stopped to allow Morshidi to photograph him. At that moment, Rosli stabbed the governor.

Rosli was arrested on the spot and sent to Kuching for imprisonment. The governor bled so badly that he had to be flown back to Kuching for treatment and later to Singapore, where he died a week after the incident.

Death

After a few months languishing in prison, Rosli Dhobie, Awang Ramli Mohd Deli, and Bujang Suntong were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death on December 4, 1948. This move was criticized by many, as Rosli Dhobi was a juvenile at the time of assassination. The death sentence was nonetheless a political statement.

Rosli Dhobi was sent to the gallows on the morning of March 2, 1950. Fearing the resentment of the local population, the British government did not allow Rosli Dhobi's body to leave the Kuching Central Prison. Instead, his body was interred in an unmarked tomb within the prison compound.

Aftermath

Sarawak was sent into tumultuous years, and the anti-Cessionists rebellion were crushed as the support by the locals dwindled due to the "aggressive" tactic used by Rosli Dhobi.

Reburial

After 46 years resting in an unmarked tomb, the remains of Rosli Dhobi were moved out of the Kuching Central Prison to be buried in his home town of Sibu on March 2, 1996.

See also

* Rentap, an Iban warrior frowned by Brooke
* James W.W. Birch, first Perak Resident who was killed by Datu Maharajalela

References

*Adopted from "Sabah dan Sarawak Menjadi Tanah Jajahan British, Sejarah Tingkatan 3" text book.

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