Abang Openg

Summary

Tun Dato’ Abang Haji Openg bin Abang Sapiee (Jawi: ابڠ حاج اوڤيڠ بن ابڠ شافعي; 7 October 1905 – 28 March 1969)[1] was a Malaysian politician who served as the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from September 1963 to his death in March 1969. He assumed the newly established post following Sarawak's independence from Great Britain and the formation of Malaysia in 1963. He is the father to Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg, the current Premier of Sarawak.

Abang Haji Openg Abang Sapiee
ابڠ حاج اوڤيڠ ابڠ شافعي
1st Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak
In office
16 September 1963 – 28 March 1969
Chief MinisterStephen Kalong Ningkan
Tawi Sli
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman
Personal details
Born(1905-10-07)7 October 1905
Kuching, Raj of Sarawak
Died28 March 1969(1969-03-28) (aged 63)
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
NationalityMalaysian
SpouseDayang Masniah Abdul Rahman
Children10 (including Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari)
RelativesDatu Patinggi Ali (great-grandson)

Early life and career edit

Abang Openg was born on 7 October 1905 during the White Rajahs of Brooke dynasty's rule.[2] Abang Openg's first great-grandfather was Datu Patinggi Haji Abdul Gapor, the former governor of Sarawak preceding James Brooke's era. Through Datu Patinggi Haji Abdul Gapor, Abang Openg was connected to Menteri Hussin, the grandson of Raja Minangkabau, and thereby linked to several notable Sultans of Brunei: Muhammad Tajuddin, Hashim, Mohamad Jumalul Alam and Omar Ali Saifuddien III. Moreover, Abang Openg was the third-generation descendant of Datu Patinggi Ali and a direct descendant of Raja Jarum.[3]

Abang Openg had his early education in Kuching before moving to Sarikei with his father.[4] He attended St. Anthony School in Sarikei before returning to Kuching to continue his education at St. Thomas School.[4]

As a 19-year-old man of the descendants of the elite with title Abang, Abang Openg chose to enter the Brooke administration as a clerk in 1924.[4] He was elevated to senior officer of native affairs in Sarikei after serving for eight years.[4] He was appointed third-class magistrate in 1937.[4]

White Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke gave Abang Openg a special appointment, and he was afterwards appointed to a member of the state council.[4] He was elevated to second-class magistrate and Kuching Division native affairs first officer in early 1941, just before World War II.[4]

Abang Openg held the principle of choosing to be loyal to the Brooke rule until the Japanese surrender in September 1945.[4] When Vyner decided to cede Sarawak to Britain,[5] Abang Openg and several other Brooke officials opposed the decision.[4]

Honours edit

Honours of Malaysia edit

Foreign honour edit

Namesakes edit

Several places were named after Abang Openg, including:

  • Tun Abang Haji Openg Digital Centre (TAHODC) in UNIMAS Samarahan, the main centre for information and communication technology (ICT) in the university [7]
  • SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, a secondary school in Kuching
  • Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg in Kuching
  • Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg in Sibu
  • Jalan Tun Openg in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu
  • Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

References edit

  1. ^ Profile of Abang Haji Openg
  2. ^ Government of Sarawak. "The Brooke Era (1841 - 1941)".
  3. ^ Chon, Ho Ah (16 November 1992). Tun Haji Openg bin Abang Spi'ee S.M.N., P.N.B.S., O.B.E. – First Malaysian Governor of Sarawak (PDF). Kuching, Sarawak: See Hua Daily News. p. iv.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i James Ritchie (29 March 2020). "Tun Openg dalam kenangan, selepas 51 tahun permergiannya" (in Malay). Suara Sarawak. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  5. ^ Alan Teh Leam Seng (30 October 2021). "Fascinating Sarawak tales from long ago". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2021. ... Rajah Vyner Brooke, faced with a series of family disputes concerning succession, made the difficult decision to cede sovereignty of Sarawak to the British Crown.
  6. ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1964" (PDF).
  7. ^ "UNIMAS opens TAHODC to honour late visionary". 4 August 2023.
New creation Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak
1963–1969
Succeeded by