By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 29: The origins of Malay settlements bearing Javanese names such as Kampung Surabaya, Kampung Gersik, Kampung Semarang and Kampung Boyan, as well as evidence of an ancient Hindu civilisation at Santubong, should be studied more extensively to uncover and better understand Sarawak’s rich history before the arrival of the Brooke administration.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said many aspects of Sarawak’s early history remain largely unexplored despite indications that organised settlements, trade links and civilisations existed centuries before James Brooke arrived in the region.
“I have yet to come across comprehensive published research explaining how many of Sarawak’s historic settlements were established and how they acquired their names.
“From the perspective of an ordinary person, I believe every village name has a story behind it. What is interesting is that many villages along the Sarawak River have names that are identical to places in Java, such as Surabaya, Gersik, Semarang and Boyan,” he told reporters after officiating the International Conference on Sarawak History 2026 at Wisma Melayu Sarawak today.
He noted that these settlements were already in existence when Brooke arrived in Sarawak in the 19th century, suggesting that their origins could date back much further.
“It cannot be that these names simply appeared. We know from historical records that Brooke often walked through these villages in the evenings. That means the villages already existed, and by coincidence or otherwise, they shared the same names as places in Java,” he said.
Abdul Karim said the similarities may point to historical migration patterns or long-standing cultural and trading links between Sarawak and the Indonesian archipelago.
“It is possible that the original inhabitants came from Java. We are geographically close to Indonesia, so these are possibilities that deserve deeper research,” he added.
The minister also highlighted the archaeological remains of the Santubong candi, which he said could provide valuable insights into an earlier period of Sarawak’s history.
“If we go to Santubong, there is a candi there. It may be smaller than Borobudur, but it suggests that there may once have been a Hindu community or civilisation in the area,” he said.
Santubong candi is an ancient Hindu-Buddhist stone temple and ritual site located at Bongkissam in Santubong.
According to Abdul Karim, the temple complex points to the existence of religious and cultural influences in Sarawak long before the arrival of Islam and the Brooke administration.
“When Islam arrived and people gradually embraced the religion, the candi may have ceased to be used. These are historical questions that require proper research and documentation,” he said.
Abdul Karim said the tendency to focus heavily on the Brooke era has left many earlier chapters of Sarawak’s history relatively unknown to the public.
“A lot of our history books tell the story of how James Brooke came to Sarawak and eventually became Rajah. But there was already a system of government and civilisation here before that. We need to know more about what existed earlier,” he said.
He called on universities, historians and researchers to undertake more in-depth studies into Sarawak’s pre-colonial history, including the development of settlements, trade networks, cultural exchanges and ancient civilisations.
Abdul Karim pointed to discoveries at Niah Cave as evidence that Sarawak’s historical timeline stretches far beyond the last few centuries.
“Research has shown that humans lived in Niah Cave some 55,000 years ago. That is an extraordinarily long history. If we only focus on the Brooke era, we are overlooking thousands of years of human civilisation and development that came before it,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that understanding Sarawak’s early history would not only enrich historical knowledge but also help present and future generations better appreciate the diverse communities, cultures and influences that helped shape the region.
National Archives of Malaysia deputy director-general Ahmad Sukri Abdul Kadir, University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) vice chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak chief executive officer Japri Bujang Masli, and Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak general manage Datu Dr Sanid Said were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
