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Mat Kilau bin Rasu (مت كيلاو بن راسو; 1866/67 – 16 August 1970), alternatively known as Mohamed bin Ibrahim or 'Mat Siam', was a local chieftain and folk hero from Pahang, Malaysia, best known for his role in the Pahang Uprising (1891-1895) againts the British Empire. The outbreak of the resistance movement in Pahang in the late 19th century was mainly fueled by the grievances among the traditional ruling class towards the British Residential system.

The exceptional valor demonstrated by Mat Kilau in the uprising have gained him a place in popular memory as one of the heroes of Malay nationalism. The uprising however, was gradually suppressed by the British colonial government, with important leaders, including Mat Kilau, were forced to flee to the neighboring Terengganu and Kelantan. The British authority later on reported several conflicting accounts of his death between 1895 and 1896.

In December 1969, an old man who goes by the name 'Mat Siam', made a shocking announcement before the congregation at the mosque in Pulau Tawar, claiming to be the Mat Kilau. A committee was formed to investigate the authenticity of his identity. From the investigations conducted as well as through statements obtained from key witnesses and birth marks on his body, it was soon confirmed that he was Mat Kilau, the long lost warrior. He died shortly afterwards.

Early life
Mat Kilau was born between the year 1866/1867 in Kampung Masjid, Pulau Tawar, Jerantut District. He was the eldest son of Tok Gajah, a high ranking nobleman in Pahang court, by his third wife, Teh Mahda binti Tok Kaut from Burau, Jerantut. He was said to be excelled in Quranic recitation, berzanji and dikir maulud, as well as in the traditional dikir rebana called 'Dikir Pahang'.

Based on the description of his contemporaries, Mat Kilau was a man of moderate stature, strongly built, with light skin tone and handsome face He was said to be a master in Silat and believed to possesses magical powers. At the age of 20, he was married to a daughter of a religious teacher, Yang Chik binti Imam Daud from Kampung Kedondong. From this marriage, he had issued 4 children.

In the early years of British involvement in Pahang, the then British agent to Pahang, Hugh Clifford who visited Pulau Tawar in 1888, established friendly relations with two sons of Tok Gajah, Mat Kilau and Awang Long. It was reported that Mat Kilau was fondly referred to by Clifford as Adik Mat ('younger brother Mat'). Mat Kilau was described by Clifford as a diplomatic young man which was easier to deal with, compared to his father.

The uprising
The early phase of the Pahang uprising that began in 1891 was primarily confined to the area of Semantan, Temerloh. It was led by the chief of Semantan himself, Dato' Bahaman, in what also known as the Semantan War. As the disturbances spread to other districts in Pahang, more local chiefs began joining the ranks. During the period from April to June 1892, a more contentious personality, Mat Kilau, emerged. His rise coincided with the supposedly a plan schemed by Tok Gajah to overwhelm British strategic positions. Among others who involved were Panglima Muda of Jempul who was to overrun Pekan, while Mat Kilau of Budu and the Jelai Chief to annihilate Clifford's small force at Kuala Lipis.

Sultan Ahmad appears to have allowed Tok Gajah, who was in secret communication with Bahaman and the Jelai Chief, to assume direction at this period. It was said that the Sultan's royal wife, Tengku Ampuan, exerted her influence in favour of the rebels. Earlier some time between the end of 1891 and early 1892, a secret meeting was held at Sungai Selan, Pulau Tawar, Jerantut in attendance of both the Sultan and the Queen, and all the principle chiefs, where a sworn agreement was made.

On 10th April 1892, Mat Kilau with a force of a hundred men armed with spears, swords and muskets, sacked the business district of Kuala Lipis. The British garrison with 30 Sikh and a small local force unable to resist them. The looting halted with the arrival of Sultan's envoy, Haji Muhammad Nor who was tasked to dissuade Mat Kilau from occupying Kuala Lipis. The motive behind the Sultan's order to cancel the intended attack was unclear, some citing the time was inappropriate, while others suggest for diplomatic reason. Nevertheless, it was clear that the planned full scale attack was already leaked to the British. By the early May, the British position at Kuala Lipis was strengthened with the reinforcements from Perak and Selangor.

After the sack of Kuala Lipis, the general uprising spearheaded by Mat Kilau reached its most dangerous point. He also carried out attacks and threatened the gold mines at Raub, in northern Pahang. On 21st May 1892, Mat Kilau's stronghold at Budu was attacked and burnt. Mat Kilau with sixty men and their women and children escaped and joined forces with Bahaman at Ulu Cheka. His activities gained momentum during the month of June 1892, when the skirmishes also reached further south at Bera.

Upon the outbreak of aggression by Mat Kilau, the British began to suspect Tok Gajah's role in directing the uprising. The Resident, JP Roger proposed his arrest, but this was prevented by Sultan Ahmad. The ruler promised to bring him to Pekan and then send him to Mecca. The suggestion appeared satisfactory to the British, but Sultan Ahmad's plan was to allow Tok Gajah to escape into Kelantan-Terengganu borders via Tembeling, where he was later joined by Mat Kilau. Throughout the disturbances, Sultan Ahmad resided in Pulau Tawar from June to August 1892. The Sultan was later asked by the British to reside at Pekan, a decision brought about by rumours that he was aiding the rebels with food supplies and ammunition.

Second phase
The mounting pressure imposed by the British upon the Sultan prevent him from rendering further assistance to the rebels in the second phase of the uprising, whereupon it took on a different pattern. Through the influences of religious leaders in Terengganu, a Jihad against the infidels was declared.

In an attempt to further isolate the rebels, a general amnesty was proclaimed in 16th October 1892, to be issued to all dissidents, except for Tok Gajah and Bahaman. In a report by Roger, it is estimated that the total strength of the rebels that retreated to the neighbouring Kelantan-Terengganu, have been reduced to sixty men under the Dato' Bahaman and thirty five men under Mat Kilau and Tok Gajah, all fully armed with guns.

On 14 June 1894, the rebels, assisted by local reinforcements, attacked and occupied a British stockade at Kuala Tembeling. A counter-attack by the British came on 29 June 1894 when the rebels were defeated at their stockade in Jeram Ampai. The victory enabled the British to reinforce their strength for attacks on the rebels. With the fall of Jeram Ampai, it would appear that the British could have easily wiped out out the rebels, but due to the large following won by the rebels among the local population, series of attacks continued. Determined to put down the uprising from their bases, Clifford undertook an expedition to Kelantan and Terengganu on 17 July 1894, but met with little success initially due to the sympathy of local chiefs and population to the rebels' cause.

As both Kelantan and Terengganu were at that time the feudatory states of Siam, the British received commitment from the Siamese foreign minister, Prince Devawongse, to prevent both states from harbouring the dissidents. The prolongation of the uprising and the accompanying hardships which the natives experienced forced them to surrender and betray the dissidents. Ultimately, it was during Octber-November 1895 that several key ring leaders, Bahaman, Awang Nong Yusoh, Teh Ibrahim, Haji Mat Wahid, and Mat Lela were captured by the Siamese commissioner Phya Dhib Kosa and deported to Chiang Mai. Both Rasu and Mat Kilau were recorded dead. With their exit the rebellion came to an end, but it was only in 1913 that the dissidents who had resided in Siam finally allowed to return to Pahang.

Reappearance
A committee was formed to investigate the authenticity of his identity. From the investigations conducted as well as through statements obtained and birth marks on his body. It was soon confirmed that he was Mat Kilau, the long lost warrior. Alas, Mat Kilau passed on soon after the revelation.

Pahang War
The Pahang War (Malay: Perang Pahang, Jawi: ڤرڠ ڤهڠ), also commonly known as 'Semantan War', or 'Pahang Rebellion', was a guerilla war waged by local chieftains against the British colonial forces in the state of Pahang, Malay peninsula from 1891 to 1895.

The conflict arose mainly in response to the expansion of British power in the state. By 1880s, the Pahang politics came under the purview of the British Straits Settlements government. Increasing pressure was exerted upon the Sultan by the residing British Agent to administer the state according to the British ideals. The British ultimately compelled Sultan Ahmad to put the sultanate under the British protectorate in 1888 and John Pickersgill Rodger was appointed Pahang's first Resident. The tax reform introduced by the British residency brought serious discontent among the local chieftains who were traditionally given the right to collect tax in their respective territories.

The war began when the chieftain of Semantan, Dato' Bahaman, retaliated to the arrest of his followers by attacking a detachment of British Sikh police, burning down a police station at Lubuk Trua, and sacking the town of Temerloh in 1891. Over the years, the rebellion grew with many other chieftains joined Dato' Bahaman, among notable one are Tok Gajah, the chieftain of Pulau Tawar and his son Mat Kilau. At the beginning of the conflict, the rebels managed the gain significant victories but later gradually pushed back by heavy British enforcement. In 1895, the war was concluded when many of the ringleaders were either captured or became exiles in the neighbouring states.

Sultan Ahmad appeared co-operating with the British during the conflict, but his sympathies was known for the dissidents. He had personally led a force to destroy the insurgents' fortifications during the first outbreak, but later helped supplying them with ammunition. In the broader scale, the Pahang War represented the last large-scale resistance against the British advance in Malay peninsular. The victory on the British side sealed the consolidation of their authority and the end of real traditional power in the Malay states, with the creation of Federated Malay States in 1895. The key rebel leaders like Dato' Bahaman, Tok Gajah and Mat Kilau, have come to be regarded as nationalist heroes in Malaysia who had stood up to foreign aggression.

The personal name of the Semantan chief was Abdul Rahman, Rahman or Bahman. He was of humble, partly Jakun origin, and in his youth had been menial servant attached to the Sultan's household. A born fighter, he distinguished himself in the war between Ahmad and Mutahir in which he fought under the style of Panglima Kakap, and in recognition of his services was raised to the rank of secondary chief (orang besar berlapan) with the title Dato' Setia Perkasa Pahlawan of Semantan. He gained further distinction in the Selangor war at the conclusion of which he was for a time in charge of Ulu Klang. On his return to Pahang he took advantage of the absence of a Major Chief in his district (due to Ahmad's failure to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Orang Kaya Indera Segara) to extend his influence, and by 1887 or earlier was sometimes called to the Sultan's councils, and claimed to be ranked on an equalilty with the Major Chiefs. He had a unique knowledge of jungle craft gained from his scouting expeditions all over Pahang and Selangor, and was intimately acquainted with the language, customs and forest-lore of the aboriginal tribes of his district.

Before the British ever came to Pahang, the Semantan Chief, fearless and turbulent, had once refused to obey an order of the Sultan prohibiting him from collecting taxes, and it was not until a force led by principal chiefs had been sent against him that he submitted and obeyed the order calling him to Pekan. When he commanded to surrender his letter of authority he threatened suicide, and Sultan who, in spite of the Orang Kaya's misdeeds, had always retained a certain affection for him because of his past services, ultimately pardoned him, and permitted him to retain his title and post. At the time of the establishment of the protectorate, Bahaman had a following of about 300 men.

In 1889, the Orang Kaya had been accused of levying illegal taxes but the complainants, petty traders, were afraid to proceed against a powerful Chief, and the government contented itself with warning him that irregular imposts would not be tolerated. In spite of the warning it was rumoured that he still levied taxes in the Semantan. He was known to be disaffected towards the government because its refusal to grant him an allowance on the same scale as a Chief of the rank of Orang Besar Berempat.

In December 1890, the Semantan Chief addressed an insulting and threatening communication to the magistrate at Temerloh (E.A Wise), the ostensible reason for which was a dislike which he professed for the site selected at Lubok Trua for the erection of a police station. About the same time he wrote to the Resident of Selangor (W.E Maxwell) asking that his district might be attached to the state. In this letter referred to the other Chiefs in Pahang as traitors to the Sultan, and boasted that he alone had not submitted to the British government.

The acting resident of Pahang (Hugh Clifford) brought these matters to the notice of the Sultan who called the Orang Kaya to Pulau Tawar. The Semantan Chief denied the authorship of the letters, and Sultan ordered him to Pekan so that his conduct might be investigated. The Orang Kaya disobeyed the command and took refuge in the jungle. It would not have been difficult to arrest him at this period had such a course been deemed advisable, but the government was loath to take severe measures against an important Chief who held a warrant from the Sultan, except through the Sultan's agency, and in a manner fully approved by him. In pursuance of this policy the matter was placed in Ahmad's hands, and in February 1891 Maharaja Perba of Jelai was despatched to the Semantan in an effort to bring the recalcitrant Chief to Pulau tawar for detention at the Sultan's pleasure, unless he gave an adequate pledge for his future good conduct. The Jelai Chief's mission proved abortive as Bahaman again fled into the jungle. Not long afterwards the disaffected leader, probably the most expert woodsman in the peninsula, made his way to Kelantan through Tembeling.

On his return to the Semantan, Bahaman was seen by the magistrate to whom he declared that he refused to obey the laws, or to permit his people to observe them, unless he were given an annual allowance of 6000 dollars. Nothing less, he stated, would compensate him for the loss of his customary privileges of taxation. In pursuance of his plan Bahaman proceeded to defy the orders of the government in the Semantan. He forbade his people to apply for permits for the extraction of jungle-produce, incited them to resist all State regulations, and prevented the enumeration of his people in the census in 1891.

In accordance with his promise made at the council meeting held on the 8th October 1891, the Sultan signed an order whereby Bahaman was deprived of his title and position. In the words of Hikayat Pahang, the Orang Kaya "reverted to the name Bahaman which he received when he was brought to into this world. This order was circulated in the Semantan district. Shortly afterwards, in view of Bahaman's threats, the strength of the police force at the station of Lubok Trua was increased to 25 men of whom 17 were Sikhs. The sergeant in charge of the post was instructed to arrest Bahaman if he again threatened the police, or committed any other unlawful act.

On the 15th December 1891, C.E.M Desborough, collector of Semantan district, with the Inspector of Minse, entered the Semantan river, taking with them 15 Sikh and six Malay

Johor, Pahang, Perak and Terengganu
This is the principal royal house of the Malay world that claimed descent from the legendary founder of Singapura, Sang Nila Utama. The Melaka branch originated from Melaka Sultanate (1400-1511) had close marriage relationship with the Bendahara branch that traditionally hold the position of Bendahara since the time of Singapura. Sang Nila Utama's cognatic descendants have historically reigned in Melaka, Aceh and Pattani, and also have been reigning in Johor, Pahang, Perak and Terengganu until today.

The honorific Malay title "Raja" (for descendants of Melaka rulers) and "Tun" (for descendants of Bendahara) in this tree are hereditary from either a female or male ancestors (ambilineal).

- The plain white flag represents the official color of the Malay sultans - The plain black flag represents the official color of Bendahara or Raja Bendahara - Flag of Johor when a Sultan from Bendahara dynasty ascended the throne - Flag of Terengganu when a Sultan from the Bendahara dynasty ascended the throne - Flag of Pahang when a Sultan from the Bendahara dynasty ascended the throne

The background colors denotes the monarchs from: