It was almost six years ago when my family and I went to the Sultan Tengah Mausoleum. The mausoleum, situated on the slope of Mount Santubong, was officially launched in 1995.
I remember thinking that the structure of the mausoleum was well maintained by the local authorities in Sarawak. However, my recent visit to the mausoleum in December 2009 showed a completely different picture. There were hornets and bees nests in plain sight in crevices as well as spiderwebs sticking to almost every vertical surface of the mausoleum’s concrete walls – increasing in size year after year. The plaster and concrete was showing signs of serious wear and tear – this was quite a disheartening sight indeed.
In regards to the history of the mausoleum – the historian, Pehin Dato Dr Haji Jamil Al-Sufri, said that in Kuching there was a 352-year-old mausoleum belonging to the first and last Sultan of Sarawak, Sultan Tengah Ibnu Sultan Muhammad Hasan, which was found at Santubong, roughly 20 kilometres from central Kuching City. The mausoleum was situated along the side of the road at a junction heading towards the Santubong and Damai beach.
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- A small hut for visitors on the mausoleum premises
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- An old grave stone marked with pieces of hard wood. Photos: Rahamt Bin Haji Abdul Rahman
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- Hornets nests can be found in abundance
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- A brief recording of the history of Sultan Tengah
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- Many parts of the mausoleum have fallen into disrepair
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- Malay traditional art in the form of engravings
The Sarawak Museum obtained information about the existing mausoleum from the Principal of the Brunei Historical Centre, Pehin Orang Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Datuk Seri Utama Dr Haji Mohd Jamil Al Sufri in 1991. This information was only disclosed to the media after the official founding of the mausoleum.
Pehin Dato Dr Haji Muhammad Jamil Al Sufri released a publication about Sultan Tengah in the form of a book entitled ‘Silsilah Sambas’. It was considered an honour that the mausoleum of Sultan Tengah was situated not far from his palace.
The government of Malaysia allocated funds worth RM45 (B$18) million for the upgrading of the Sultan Tengah coastal roads from one lane to four lanes over a distance of 3.4 kilometres. Streetlights, which are currently being erected is expecting to be completed by August 2010 in line with the 10th Malaysia National Development Plan.
This project allows for easier access to the general area which has proven to be an area of interest to Brunei tourists eager to learn more about the history of the surrounding areas.
Latest by Rahmat bin Haji Abdul Rahman:
- Bakti Dewa School holds garage sale
- NLPSS tours handicraft centre
- Nusa Laila Puteri School holds walkathon
- Learning more than just traditional curriculum
- Accident at slope of hill
