Rosli Dhoby

Background

Rosli Dhoby was born on March 18, 1932 at Kampung Pulo, Sibu. His parents are Dhoby Buang and Habibah Haji Lamit. This couple has three children, Fatimah (1928), Rosli (1932) and Ainnie (1933). Rosli grew up in a Malay village atmosphere. He is described as an intelligent young man and a thirst for knowledge. His creativity and friendly attitude with friends very pleasant. He is easily evoked a natural identity brave and respected by colleagues. Polite, considerate and knowledgeable language indirectly accentuate himself to serve as a teacher at the Elementary School Sibu. His sharp knowledge provides himself as a great teacher and a respected leader. His real artistic soul stands out in a number of poems that appear in Utusan Sarawak. Rosli usually used a pseudonym, Lidros.

Pergerakan Pemuda Melayu Sibu (PPMS) & Rukun 13

Rosli also joined the Pergerakan Pemuda Melayu Sibu (PPMS) set up against the British colonists, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke family who lost to the Japanese in World War II but want to cede Sarawak to the Colonial Office in London after the war in 1945. Rosli was a member of the group of Rukun 13. PPMS which combines Malay leaders of Brunei and Sarawak Melanau led by Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdillah the Prime Minister at the time of Sir Charles Vyner.

Opposition Reason

Sarawak is dominated by the private British colonial Sir James Brooke in 1842. Brooke family, namely Sir James, his nephew Sir Charles, and son of Sir Charles, Sir Charles Vyner, ruled the state from 1842 until the defeat in the war with Japan in 1941.

Rukun 13 established in Queensway Road, Sibu, on 21 February 1949. The aim is to stab Sir Duncan was deeply unpopular among the indigenous peoples of Sarawak as being arrogant towards them. Rukun 13 has chosen Rosli to stab Sir Duncan when he visited Sibu colonial agents on 3 December 1949.

Rosli was arrested 

Rosli Dhoby arrested by security guards immediately after stabbing Sir Duncan Stewart in Sibu on December 3, 1949. At 9.30 am on that day, Rosli was attacked Sir Duncan with a knife called Badik. Rosli and his friend Morsidi Sidik, both arrested by British police.

Sir Duncan was sent to Sibu Hospital and then to Singapore to receive intensive care. The British officer had died seven days after the incident.

Action Consequences

During the struggle for independence, he was then 17 years old. Rosli Dhoby fight for Sarawak's independence from British martyr in a noose. On March 2, 1950, he was sentenced to death for attempted assassination of the Governor of Sarawak, Sir Duncan Stewart in Sibu on December 3, 1949.

On December 15, 1949, Rosli and Morsidi Sidek and two of their comrades, Awang Rambli Awang Matsaruddin and Bujang Suntong been sentenced to death in Kuching prison, Jalan Tabuan, Kuching.

They are all buried without headstones. The four activists of the nationalist reburied in Sibu on March 2, 1996, in Sibu, after an official ceremony attended by the Speaker of the State's fifth Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohamad Noor (their friends who also Melanau).

This is the last letter to his family Rosli Dhoby day before suspension:

kepada ibu bapaku yang dimuliai dan ditaati serta dicintai siang dan malam,
1. Selamat berpisah anakanda ucapkan di atas kematian anakanda yang dahsyat, Janganlah diingat-ingat dan dirayukan kerana itu memang sudah nasib dan takdir anakanda yang tak dapat dielakkan dan dimungkirkan lagi.
2. Peliharakanlah adik dan kakak sera semua ahli kita- Berikan segala pelajaran sama ada 'Sunat' atau "Fardu' kepada mereka.
3. Ampunilah dosa dan kesalahan anakanda dari merah tapak kaki dipelihara ayahanda dan bonda sehingga hari perpisahan anakanda, Dan halalkanlah makan minum anakanda
4. Selimutilah jenazah anakanda dengan Panji Kebangsaan Sarawak.
5. Segala perkakas tulis menulis , buku dan pakaian anakanda intu, berikanlah semuanya kepada adik Aini.
6. Sampaikan salam hormat dan maaf serta selamat dari anakanda kepada ibu tua dan bapa saudara anakanda.
Rosli Dhoby
1 mac 1950

Appreciation

Warkah Terakhir drama

A drama, Warkah Terakhir (Surat Terakhir) aired on Channel 131 Astro, Astro Citra. The play is directed by Wan Hasliza, a film about the life Rosli Dhoby as a student, a member of the PPM, a volunteer at the Elementary School and killer Sir Duncan George Stewart. In this drama, Rosli Dhoby’ role is played by Malaysian actor, Beto Khusairy.

SMK Rosli Dhoby’ logo

A school in Sibu, SMK Rosli Dhoby (SMKRD) named after him.

Rosli Dhoby Merdeka Dengan Darah’s book

Rosli’s story of the struggle with his friends before planning assassination Sir Duncan Stewart has been featured in newspapers and magazines. Most recently disclosed in a book titled “Rosli Dhoby Merdeka Dengan Darah” written by a senior lecturer at University Malaysia Sarawak, Dr. Jeniri Amir.