PENASIHAT BRITISH DI TERENGGANU: FAKTOR, PERANAN DAN KONFLIK TERHADAP MASYARAKAT MELAYU, 1909-1928

THE BRITISH ADVISER IN TERENGGANU: FACTORS, ROLES, AND CONFLICTS AFFECTING THE MALAY SOCIETY, 1909–1928

Abstract

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini membincangkan mengenai pelantikan Penasihat British terhadap pentadbiran negeri Terengganu pada tempoh 1909 hingga 1928. Fokus utama kajian ini adalah untuk menganalisis faktor yang mendorong pelantikan penasihat dan peranan yang dimainkan oleh mereka dalam struktur pentadbiran negeri serta konflik yang berlaku terhadap masyarakat ekoran daripada proses tersebut. Pelantikan Penasihat British sering dijustifikasikan sebagai usaha untuk memodenkan sistem pentadbiran Terengganu yang dikatakan lemah, namun pada hakikatnya ia bertujuan memperkukuh dominasi British secara halus. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif yang bersandarkan kepada sumber primer yang diperoleh dari National Archive, Kew seperti Colonial Office (CO), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Foreign Office (FO) dan laporan rasmi dari Pejabat Penasihat British di Terengganu. Selain itu, kajian ini turut menggunakan sumber sekunder seperti buku dan kajian sarjana terdahulu bagi mendapatkan kesinambungan dengan sumber primer tersebut. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelantikan Penasihat British dalam pentadbiran negeri secara langsung telah menghakis kedaulatan institusi tradisional dan menjadi pencetus awal kepada perubahan landskap politik Terengganu sehingga berlakunya konflik antara British dan masyarakat. Kajian ini turut menyumbang kepada pemahaman lebih mendalam terhadap bentuk penjajahan terselindung dan kesannya terhadap pembentukan kesedaran politik tempatan.

Kata kunci: penasihat British; pentadbiran kolonial; negeri Melayu; politik; kedaulatan tempatan

ABSTRACT

This study examines the appointment of British Advisors in the administration of the state of Terengganu during the period 1909 to 1928. The main focus of this study is to analyze the factors that prompted the appointment of Advisors, the role they played in the state's administrative structure and the conflicts that occurred with the community as a result of the process. The appointment of British Advisors is often justified as an effort to modernize the Terengganu administrative system, which is said to be weak, but in reality, it was intended to subtly strengthen British dominance. This study uses a qualitative approach based on primary sources obtained from the National Archive, Kew such as the Colonial Office (CO), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Foreign Office (FO) and official reports from the British Advisor Office in Terengganu. In addition, this study also uses secondary sources to obtain continuity with the primary sources. The study findings show that the appointment of British Advisors in the state administration directly eroded the sovereignty of traditional institutions and became the initial trigger for changes in the political landscape of Terengganu, leading to conflicts between the British and the community. This study also contributes to a deeper understanding of the hidden forms of colonialism and its impact on the formation of local political consciousness.

Keywords: British Adviser; colonial administration; Malay states; politic; local sovereignty