Dol Said
Dol Said (Jawi: دول سعيد; August 1773–1849) or in full Dato' Abdul Said Omar was born in Semelenggang. He was a 19th-century Malay leader of the Naning region in Malaya. Naning was then part of Negeri Sembilan before its annexation into Malacca, then a Straits Settlement. He opposed the 10% taxation policy of the British in the area and refused to pay it. He also rejected the idea of the British that Naning was a British colony, which lead to the Naning War.
Why Dol Said refused the Taxation Policy
Before the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824, specifically in 1643, the Dutch who occupied Melaka at the time, had signed a treaty with Naning requiring to pay 10% of its produce to them by the way of tribute, which was later reduced instead to only a supply of rice.
This arrangement of payment appeared to work satisfactorily until after the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824, when Melaka was ceded to the British. The British were seeking means to increase their revenues at the time, so they demanded that Naning pay the 10% of their produce to them under the original Dutch agreement in 1643. Dol Said refused this policy as in his words, this agreement has never been enforced and the terms had lapsed long ago.[2]
Start of The Rebellion
Dol Said's resistance led the British to send 150 sepoy Indian troops, their British officers and artillery led by Captain Wyllie to capture Naning in early August 1831. Naning however successfully defended itself by employing guerilla tactics and reverting aid from Malay allies, which included the chiefdoms of Seri Menanti, Rembau, Sungai Ujong, Johol and Muar. Their (The British) supplies also quickly ran out, as the boats carrying them have been foundered in the mud. After that, the British returned to Melaka, defeated, leaving their artillery behind.[2]
British resistance and Win
The British realized that the rebelling forces could not be easily suppressed, so they requested reinforcement from the Yamtuan Muda Raja Ali in Rembau. Raja Ali agreed to send 600 troops to assist British in suppressing the revolt. Later in March 1832, the British sent a larger force, consisting of 1200 soldiers to defeat Dol Said's men. In the second attack, Naning failed to receive military aid from its neighbours, in which his allies also joined the side of the British, and along with the presence of a huge British expedition force, caused Dol Said to retreat to Seri Menanti before surrendering himself to the British, effectively ending the conflict. The British then incorporated Naning into their colony of Malacca.
Dol Said is remembered in contemporary Malaysian historiography as an anti-colonial patriot and forerunner of Malaysian nationalism.[3]
After Surrendering
After Dol Said surrendered to the British, he was relocated into Melaka. He was well treated, as the British gave him pension and a house. He lived in Melaka until he passed away in 1849.[4]
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