Commemorating the efforts of the Kaum Ibu from the years of their organisation, to their contributions within the community during the anti-cession movement, the Brooke Trust will be releasing archives of photos and stories from the past — a collection of the Ranee Muda Kathleen Brooke under the Brooke Archive project, supported by Yayasan Hasanah.
The fortitude of Sarawak’s Kaum Ibu
When driven, women in power can have a great influence on society. With a graceful nature, a balanced mind, and the sternness of a male, many powerful women have brought about changes. Though it is common to see a woman in control now, this was not the case in the early 1900s.
Nonetheless, many notable women in those days used their voices to shape history. With their motherly natures, the women became the pillars of support for the community. Names like Lily Eberwein, Barbara Bey Mendu, Mary Chong, Gopala Pillai, Datuk Ajibal Abol, and many others have rocked the cradle of the society to which they belonged.
They came together as the Kaum Ibu, each with a figurative role that contributes to community development. The Kaum Ibu was formed as a female representation for the locals during Sarawak’s Japanese occupation in 1943 by the Japanese governor, Setsua Yamada.
When the ladies were assigned, Yamada appointed representatives from each ethnic group. Lily Eberwein, the first headmistress of the Permaisuri Melayu School, represented the Malays; Barbara Bey Mendu, the first Sarawak woman to obtain a nursing qualification, represented the Ibans; Mary Ong, the granddaughter of Ong Tiang Swee, represented the Chinese; and Gopala Pillai, the wife of an Indian doctor, represented the Indians.
Their tasks during the occupation included assisting in the organisation of singing and dance for ceremonial events, as well as setting an example to their communities by planting and cultivating tapioca plots. They were also asked to hold jumble sales in order to raise funds for the Japanese soldiers.
According to Christina Thomas-Mamora’s book “The Pioneers Sarawak Women in Politics”, the women had also furtively smuggled food to the prisoners of war at the Batu Lintang internees camp.
The Kaum Ibu’s role during the anti-cession movement
When the Japanese occupation — the Pacific War — ended and Charles Vyner Brooke ceded Sarawak to the British Crown, the Kaum Ibu took on a new role. Lily, Barbara, Datuk Ajibah Abol, and many more from the Kaum Ibu saw demonstrations and campaigns throughout Sarawak amid the trials and tribulations of the anti-cession movement.
Speaking with a Brooke descendant, Jason Brooke, he recalled reading his grandmother’s, Ranee Muda Kathleen Brooke’s, ventures into Sarawak during a time of treacherous waters from 1947 to 1948.
Following the annexation of Sarawak, the British barred Rajah Muda Anthony Brooke from entering. Ranee Muda Kathleen, his wife, had gone instead to lift the spirits of the betrayed Sarawakians.
The Ranee Muda had marched alongside the Kaum Ibu during the anti-cession movement.
“In her diaries, she reflected on the eight months she spent with these powerful women, travelling and sleeping alongside them from kampung to longhouse, from Bau to the Baram.”
The voices of the women collected provide solace to many as they journey through the movement. Many resigned from their government jobs following the issue of Secretariat Circular No 9/1946, which stated that individuals involved in the rallies were required to resign from their civil servant roles.
The murder of Duncan Stewart, the Colony of Sarawak’s second governor, in Sibu on December 3, 1949, marked the movement’s climax. In 1947 and 1948, huge anti-cession movement protests were held on December 10, the birthday of Rajah Muda Anthony Brooke.
With today being the 75th anniversary of the large protest, Jason aimed to commemorate it by releasing an archive of photos and history of the Kaum Ibu under the Brooke Archive project, under the Brooke Trust, supported by Yayasan Hasanah.
A tribute to the women of Sarawak’s history
Jason, a unique voice in the community, believes it is important to preserve the story of the strong women of Sarawak’s history. Furthermore, he said that many people are unaware of how these women have contributed to society, and he hopes that this project would spotlight the many voices from the past.
While each woman was making personal sacrifices for the love of Sarawak, Jason said that his grandmother had to leave behind her three children in England to fight for a movement that is close to her heart.
“The involvement of women in such a prominent manner is a fascinating moment in Sarawak’s history, when circumstances led to increasing political power and influence of women in society. The Kaum Ibu and the women’s movement were important because they provided these women a political voice and shaped them into influential figures afterwards.”
When asked about the significance of the Kaum Ibu to Brooke’s family history, Jason said that the movement reflected Kathleen’s own sacrifice as a mother to her three children.
“The Brookes have seen themselves for generations as representing the people of Sarawak, and in those last moments where my grandparents were involved, it gave the family an opportunity to reaffirm their very Sarawakian sense of identity.
“Though Kathleen did not lead the Kaum Ibu, her presence brought new energy at a crucial time. And with the driving force, these women deserve recognition on their own,” he added.
