“to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery”1
By force or treachery?
Those are very strong words, but that's how Merriam-Webster defines the meaning of "supplant." This is a subject that needs to be looked into because it might explain why a mysterious man chose to change his identity and hide behind the alias we all know today as Kulup Lembang.
The power struggle that shook Kinta
Back in early June 1881, the peace and serenity of the Kinta district were threatened by a power struggle ignited when the then Panglima Kinta chose his own son, Ngah Wahab, as the new To’ Muda (Toh Muda) or his new assistant and heir apparent, after the death of To’ Muda Abdurrani. The awkward decision was met with staunch resistance from Yusuf or Che Alang Yusuf (grandfather of the late Panglima Kinta Dato Seri Dr. Abdullah Fadzil), half-brother of To’ Muda Abdurrani. Yusuf, who had considerable support in the Kinta district, also staked a claim for the position of To’ Muda. However, there was something else about Yusuf that caught my attention. Yusuf apparently held some kind of kuasa or authority given to him by ex-Sultan Abdullah. Due to the enormity of the power struggle, Hugh Low brought the matter to the attention of the State Council of Perak on June 10th, 1881.2
Ex-Panglima Kinta? Reason for his deposition as Panglima Kinta?
Ngah Wahab, later known as Panglima Kinta Abdul Wahab, was the son of Panglima Kinta Zainal Abidin. Zainal Abidin is believed to have been a staunch supporter of Sultan Ismail. He once met Birch at the Sultan's village, which was once located at present-day Pengkalan Pegoh.3
“I used to be the Panglima (General) of Kinta. After the war with Sultan Ismail, the white men deposed me, furthermore they removed me as Dato (Captain) of Ulu Kinta.”
Zainal Abidin apparently relocated to what was once known as Kuala Sakan or Kg. Kuala Tekan (located somewhere between present-day Tasek, Anjung Bercham Elit, and Kampung Tersusun Tasek) after the Perak War, where he had some orchards and paddy fields. He also had a house for one of his wives at what was once known as Kampung Tanjong Rinkong or Kg. Tg. Rangkong (present-day Anjung Bercham Megah and Ridgewood). Despite the relocation, Zainal Abidin was still referred to as the Dato of Pengkalan Pegoh. On August 2nd, 1884, Zainal Abidin met Jacques de Morgan over at Klian Kindin (somewhere between present-day Tanjung Rambutan and Changkat Kinding), an encounter that may have had a profound impact on the unfortunate man. He was verbally abused and insulted by the Frenchman right in front of the local Malays. Details regarding this encounter have been recorded in detail by de Morgan, and from his writings, one would realize that a sitting Panglima Kinta had actually been deposed or forced to step down in the past.4
It is entirely possible that the power struggle that had shaken Kinta in early June 1881 was the last straw that broke the camel’s back for Panglima Kinta Zainal Abidin.
Supplantation and extinction of the male line
The power struggle involving Panglima Kinta Zainal Abidin in 1881 was closely scrutinized by R.J. Wilkinson. Wilkinson confirmed that Uda Bidin, or Zainal Abidin, was indeed the Panglima Kinta in 1880. He further confirmed that Zainal Abidin came from the Ipoh or Paloh branch of the Panglima Kinta family, not Kepayang as initially thought by Hugh Low.5
“...Ipoh and Kepayang families were much more distinct, and that one of the two had just succeeded in supplanting the other altogether, and in getting two consecutive Panglimas appointed from its own ranks.”
I find it strange that Wilkinson believed the Kepayang branch had been supplanted, but at the same time, he acknowledged that the direct male line of the Kepayang family had died out or ceased to exist. If that is the case, why on earth did he say that the Kepayang family had been supplanted?6
Kulup Lembang and Panglima Kinta Abdul Wahab
“Leave no issue: When someone dies without any children or other descendants to inherit their property or belongings. If a person's spouse has also passed away, they are not considered issue. This is also known as dying without issue or default of issue.”7
Panglima Kinta Abdul Wahab passed away back in 1905 due to phthisis. He left behind no issue and had two wives, one of whom was divorced shortly before his death. Panglima Kinta Zainal Abidin once told Hugh Low that he wanted to rebuild the town and reopen the old paddy fields at Pengkalan Pegoh. It is not only fitting but also ironic that Panglima Kinta Abdul Wahab was interred at Pengkalan Pegoh upon his death.8
Kulup Lembang was then picked and chosen to be the executor and administrator of the estate of the late Panglima Kinta Abdul Wahab. As for Kulup Lembang, perhaps the answer to the question of why Kulup Lembang changed his name and identity can be found somewhere in the mysterious, dark nook and cranny of Kinta history.9
1Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “Supplant,” Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, accessed November 13, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplant.
2R. J. Wilkinson, Papers on Malay Subjects: History, Part IV. Council Minutes, Perak. 1880-1882 (Kuala Lumpur: J. Russell at F.M.S. Govt. Press, 1909), 24–25.
3Christopher Hutton Mervyn Llevelyn Wynne, Kingsley Bolton, Triad Societies: Western Accounts of the History, Sociology and Linguistics of Chinese Secret Societies, Volume 5 (Routledge, 2000), 325; J. W. W. Birch (James Wheeler Woodford), The Journals of J. W. W. Birch : First British Resident to Perak, 1874-1875 / Edited and Introduced by P.L. Burns., ed. Peter Laurie Burns (Kuala Lumpur ; London : Oxford University Press, 1976), 264, 266.
4Andrée Jaunay, Jacques de Morgan’s Explorations in the Malay Peninsula, 1884 / Andrée Jaunay, with Contributions by Christine Lorre, Antonio J. Guerreiro, Antoine Verney ; Preface by Genevieve Dollfus ; Foreword by Christian Pelras ; Translated by Allison Calla, Mary De (Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 2020), 30–31; “PERAK,” The Straits Times, November 18, 1877, 2, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes18770818-1.2.6; Federated Malay States. Survey Department, [Malaya 1:63,360] / F.M.S. Surveys, Map, 1:63,360 (Kuala Lumpur: F.M.S. Survey, 1925-1938), accessed November 17, 2024, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-233690967.
5Wilkinson, Papers on Malay Subjects: History, Part IV. Council Minutes, Perak. 1880-1882, app. A.
6Wilkinson, app. A.
7LSD.Law, “Leave No Issue,” Resource portal, LSD.Law, accessed November 17, 2024, https://www.lsd.law/define/leave-no-issue.
8Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, “Death of Datoh Panglima Kinta,” Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, November 10, 1905, 5, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/pinangazette19051110-1.2.29; “PERAK,” 2.
9Government of Perak, “Perak Government Gazette,” F.M.S. Government Printing Office 20 (1907): 27, 57, 103, 142, 173; Kinta Land Office, “K.L.O. 242/06: Applies for the Renewal of Ancestral Mining Lease No. 40 for Further Period of 21 Years” (Kuala Lumpur: Arkib Negara Malaysia, 1906).
Bibliography
Federated Malay States. Survey Department. “[Malaya 1:63,360] / F.M.S. Surveys.” Map, 1:63,360. Kuala Lumpur: F.M.S. Survey, 1925-1938. Accessed November 17, 2024. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-233690967.
Government of Perak. “Perak Government Gazette.” F.M.S. Government Printing Office 20 (1907): 1230.
Jaunay, Andrée. Jacques de Morgan’s Explorations in the Malay Peninsula, 1884 / Andrée Jaunay, with Contributions by Christine Lorre, Antonio J. Guerreiro, Antoine Verney ; Preface by Genevieve Dollfus ; Foreword by Christian Pelras ; Translated by Allison Calla, Mary De. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 2020.
Kinta Land Office. “K.L.O. 242/06: Applies for the Renewal of Ancestral Mining Lease No. 40 for Further Period of 21 Years.” Kuala Lumpur: Arkib Negara Malaysia, 1906.
LSD.Law. “Leave No Issue.” Resource portal. LSD.Law. Accessed November 17, 2024. https://www.lsd.law/define/leave-no-issue.
Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. “Supplant.” Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplant.
Mervyn Llevelyn Wynne, Kingsley Bolton, Christopher Hutton. Triad Societies: Western Accounts of the History, Sociology and Linguistics of Chinese Secret Societies, Volume 5. Routledge, 2000.
Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. “Death of Datoh Panglima Kinta.” Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, November 10, 1905. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/pinangazette19051110-1.2.29.
The Straits Times. “PERAK.” November 18, 1877. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes18770818-1.2.6.
Wilkinson, R. J. Papers on Malay Subjects: History, Part IV. Council Minutes, Perak. 1880-1882. Kuala Lumpur: J. Russell at F.M.S. Govt. Press, 1909.
Woodford), J. W. W. Birch (James Wheeler. The Journals of J. W. W. Birch : First British Resident to Perak, 1874-1875 / Edited and Introduced by P.L. Burns. Edited by Peter Laurie Burns. Kuala Lumpur ; London : Oxford University Press, 1976.
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