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This remarkable book brings to an English-speaking audience detailed scholarship originally conceived and written in the Malay language and with a Malay perspective. It examines the nature of monarchy in the Malay world, which includes present-day Malaysia and Indonesia, before and during the onset of Western colonialism when the Malay world was ruled by a large number of separate Muslim sultanates. It highlights that monarchs were the highest authority in the social, political, legal and economic system, rather than the government of a clearly defined territory; the notion of Dewaraja (god-king) and what a model monarch's attributes should be; and how the monarch's role related to Islamic principles, including the Islamic ideal of the Caliph of God meting out fair judgement and punishment. Two prominent and pivotal concepts of traditional Malay society, that of daulat (sovereignty) and derhaka (disloyalty) are here analysed and evaluated against the background of the period of absolute monarchy. Moreover, this volume also discusses the parts played by leading ministers and viziers, who often exercised enormous power, explores the role of monarchs in managing and regulating economic activity, and outlines differences between the different sultanates.
List of contents
Foreword
Preface
List of Figures
Introduction
1 Dewaraja (god-king), daulat (sovereignty) and derhaka (disloyalty) of the Brunei sultanate
2 The Traditional Bruneian and Acehnese Sultanates (14th - 19th Century): A Comparison of the Concept of Sovereignty and Defiance in the Period of Islamic Influence
3 The Bruneian Crown: The letter and the implied
4 Dato' Dr Siddiq Fadil's characteristics and ideas on the sovereignty of the Malay rulers
5 The Pengiran Bendahara of Brunei and the Bendahara of Malacca: A comparison of roles and issues of daulat (sovereignty) and derhaka (disloyalty)
6 The Vizier institution of the 19th century Bruneian sultanate: A trait of Malay Civilization of change and continuity
7 The traditional Malay sultanate: The sultan's economic resources and activities
8 The Bruneian Malay Muslim monarchy (MIB) heritage: Reinforcing Islam, its continuity and challenges
Index
About the author
Asbol bin Haji Mail is a Professor in the Academy of Brunei Studies and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
Summary
This remarkable book brings to an English-speaking audience detailed scholarship originally conceived and written in the Malay language and with a Malay perspective. It examines the nature of monarchy in the Malay world, which includes present-day Malaysia and Indonesia, before and during the onset of Western colonialism.
