KUCHING – Academics from the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) met the Governor of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar, and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Fauziah binti Mohd Sanusi on 28 September to discuss research into the history of the Banting Kingdom.
The meeting focused on a book project titled “The Hidden Jewel of the Interior: A Story of Kerajaan Banting”, which seeks to document the history of the Banting Kingdom in a structured and scholarly publication.
The UTS delegation was led by Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Firdaus Abong Abdullah, who is the project leader and author. Researchers Nabella Holling and Esther Rachel Beruin also took part in the discussions.
The three-hour session included a review of the book’s contents, exchanges of information and discussion of historical material relating to the Banting Kingdom. The meeting also provided an opportunity to consider information that could contribute to the wider documentation of the kingdom’s history and associated lineage.
Among the historical subjects discussed were the Banting Kingdom and several figures associated with its history, including Pahlawan Khamis, Pahlawan Janting and Pahlawan Ijau. The discussions also covered the period of Rajah James Brooke, Sultan Tengah and aspects of Brunei’s history.
The academics and the Governor also discussed historical links involving the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires. Another subject raised was Tengku Sayyid Akil Al Ben Yahya, who is also recorded as Sayyid Agil in charts from the Brunei History Centre.
The meeting further touched on the maternal lineage of Tun Wan Junaidi, including its connection to the Al-Eydrus family. Possible historical sources, family records and oral traditions that may not yet have been formally documented were also discussed as potential areas for further research.
The research project forms part of efforts to record historical accounts connected with the Banting Kingdom and its community. Such documentation can provide material for researchers and future readers seeking to understand the development of local communities and the wider historical context of Sarawak.
During the session, Tun Wan Junaidi highlighted the importance of researching and documenting the kingdom’s history. He said such work was not limited to recording past events, but could also help present and future generations develop a broader understanding of Sarawak’s origins, social development and historical heritage.
Tun Wan Junaidi and Toh Puan Fauziah welcomed the UTS initiative and expressed hope that the project would result in a high-quality and authoritative publication. They said the work could contribute to the community by adding to the documentation of Sarawak’s historical and intellectual heritage.
The meeting also highlighted the role of historical research in bringing together written records, family documents and oral accounts that may help researchers examine aspects of the past that have yet to be formally recorded.
Tun Wan Junaidi and Toh Puan Fauziah expressed their appreciation to Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Firdaus Abong Abdullah, Nabella Holling and Esther Rachel Beruin for their work and commitment to researching the history of the Banting Kingdom and its associated lineage.
The project is intended to preserve historical information in a form that can serve as a reference for future generations while contributing to the broader study of Sarawak’s history and communities.
