Raja Putih di Serawak

Raja Putih di Serawak

In 1839 James Brooke sailed from England to the Far East in search of adventure. Three years later, by luck and guile, he became the de facto king of northern Borneo. A book about Brooke is timely. During the last few decades, the center of gravity of the world’s economic growth has shifted eastward. By vanquishing piracy along the coast of Borneo, Brooke transformed the region, reducing the danger pirates posed to critical shipping lanes and interisland traffic. His impact on modern Southeast Asian history was as profound as that of Sir Stamford Raffles, the architect of modern Singapore.

 "Please listen to my words and remember it well ... . There comes a time , when I'm not here anymore , someone else will come up constantly with a smile and gentleness , to seize what is actually your right - the land where you live , your income sources , and even the food in your mouth . You will lose your right hereditary , usurped by foreigners and speculators who in turn will become the master and owner , while you , O children of this country , will be removed and will not be anything except being the porters and the exile on the island "

 

“Kumohon dengarkanlah kata-kataku ini dan ingatlah baik-baik….

Akan tiba saatnya, ketika aku sudah tidak disini lagi, orang lain akan datang terus-menerus dengan senyum dan kelemah-lembutan, untuk merampas apa yang sesungguhnya hakmu – yakni tanah dimana kamu tinggal, sumber penghasilanmu, dan bahkan makanan yang ada di mulutmu.

Kalian akan kehilangan hak kalian yang turun-temurun, dirampas oleh orang asing dan para spekulan yang pada gilirannya akan menjadi para tuan dan pemilik, sedangkan kalian, hai anak-anak negeri ini, akan disingkirkan dan tidak akan menjadi apapun kecuali menjadi para kuli dan orang buangan di pulau ini”.

(Charles James Brooke – The White Rajah of Sarawak : 1915)

http://authorlink.com/2013/05/07/lord-jim-the-life-of-sir-james-brooke-white-rajah-of-sarawak-by-ross-slotten/