Last Rajah Muda of Sarawak dies in NZ

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KUCHING: The last Rajah Muda of Sarawak, Anthony Walter Dayrell Brooke, passed away peacefully at his home ‘Rumah Brooke’ in Wanganui, New Zealand on Wednesday.

IN REMEMBRANCE: Anthony posing with an old Sarawak flag and (right photo) with locals involved in the anti-cession movement.

The London-based Brooke Heritage Trust said in an email yesterday that the 98-year-old is survived by his wife Gita, son James Lionel, daughter Celia as well as grandchildren Jason, Laurence and Sura.

“Born in England in 1912, Anthony received his education at Eton and Magdalene Cambridge, before pursuing studies in Malay and Mohammedan Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies, in his own words ‘to prepare him for what may lie ahead’,” said Brooke Heritage Trust trustee Matthew Edgeworth.

Anthony’s uncle Sir Charles Vyner Brooke was the third Rajah of Sarawak, a kingdom founded by Sir James Brooke in 1841 and ruled by the Brooke family until the Japanese invasion of 1941.

Since Vyner had no male heir, Anthony was duly appointed Rajah Muda and heir apparent in his place.

“(As) the last member of the Brooke family to have administered the Government of Sarawak (1939-1940), Anthony also lived to be the last Head of Government to personally declare war on Hitler’s Germany.

“This he did in 1939, though the act itself was mostly symbolic — Germany having no stated aspirations towards Sarawak. The Japanese however swept down the coast of South East Asia in 1941, with Sarawak falling on Christmas Day,” said Edgeworth.

With Vyner largely retired from public duties and based in Australia, Anthony as Rajah Muda headed the Provisional Government in Exile during the War Years. His task was to represent the state in its negotiations with foreign powers, notably Great Britain.

After WWII ended, and with Sarawak liberated from Japanese rule, Anthony strongly opposed the annexation of Sarawak as a British colony in 1946.

He responded to calls from the Malay National Union and the Sarawak Dayak Association, along with the Sarawak Youth Movement, the Sarawak Women’s Association, and other newly formed political groups in Sarawak, to lead the Independence Campaign against British Rule.

Campaigning vigorously for five years, he withdrew in 1951, when the risk of a spread in Communism seemed a greater threat to stability in Sarawak.

Anthony then embarked upon a programme of world travel, speaking with groups large and small on the rights, responsibilities and power of the individual in helping to bring about a democratic world order. Co-founding with his wife Gita a charitable trust, Peace Through Unity, Anthony embarked upon a personal crusade that would span 60 years, meeting world leaders and spiritual thinkers from Chinese Premier Chou En Lai to India’s Vinoba Bhave, who dubbed him ‘shanty doot’ (Ambassador of Peace).

“In 1963, Sarawak achieved full Independence from Great Britain and welcomed Anthony back as a guest of the state on two occasions, in 1964 and 1983, where he rekindled old friendships from the Anti-Cession days,” said Edgeworth.

Edgeworth added that Anthony was a true idealist who “believed unashamedly in the fundamental goodness of the human heart”.

“Anthony, like all of us, was imperfect at times — he was given to high ideals over pragmatism, and impe-tuosity arguably cost him the throne, but he was nonetheless an extra-ordinary man who lived through extraordinary times.

“Prince, advocate, campaigner and eternal optimist, he never failed to make an impression on those whose lives crossed his path. He will be remembered,” said Edgeworth.

Condolences may be sent to Rumah Brooke, 4 Allison Street, Wanganui 5001, New Zealand, or The Brooke Heritage Trust, 78 York Street, London, Great Britain.