Statement by Tungku Abdulrachman bin Mahmud bin Othman bin sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah
before Ungku Mentri Besar.
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1. I admit having sent a petition dated 12th January 1939 to H.E. the Governor General, Netherland India, in connection with the vacant throne of Riau Lingga. I am a descendant of the late Sultan Mohammad Madzam Shah who should be eligible to become Sultan in accordance with the genealogical table herewith. This claim is made in view of the Netherland India Government's proposal to revive the Sultanate of Riau Lingga.
2. Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah had three sons, viz.
(1) Tungku Mahmud
(2) Tungku Othman (Tungku Embong) my grandfather,
(3) Tungku Said
3. When Sultan Muhammad Muadzam died, he was succeded by his son Tungku Mahmud as Sultan Mahmud Mudzafar Shah. His only child was a daughter, Tungku Fatimah (Tungku Embong) and she married the tenth Yang diPertuan Muda Riau, Raja Mohammad Yusof Ahmad.
4. Sultan Mahmud Mudzafar Shah was dethroned by the Netherland Government in 1857 (A.H. 1274) and he was succeded by his uncle Tungku Sulaiman (Tungku Muda) as Sultan Sulaiman Badarulaam Shah. He had no issue.
5. When Sultan Sulaiman died in 1883 (A.H. 1300) Tungku Fatimah, daughter of Sultan Mahmud Mudzafar Shah, who had married the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Muda Riau, Raja Muhammad Yusof Ahmad (see para 3), became Regent. By his wisdom the Yang di-Pertuan Muda Riau, Raja Muhammad Yusof Ahmadi, was able to obtain the support of the Resident Riau in the selection of his son by Tungku Fatimah(T. Embong), Tungku Abdulrachman as Sultan Lingga Riau. He was known as Sultan Abdulrachman Muadzam Shah II.
6. The rightful selection should have fallen on one of the living descendants of Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah, viz. Tungku Mahmud and Tungku Hussain or on one of their sons who were Malays and not a descendant of Yang di-Pertuan Muda who was Bugis.
7. Sultan Abdulrahman was "dethroned" by the Netherland Government in 1911 (A.H. 1329). He died in Singapore in 1930 (A.H. 1349).
8. Since the abdication of Sultan Abdul Rahman Muadzam Shah II in 1911 the throne of riau Lingga has remained vacant.
9. Because I am one of the descendants of Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah, I sent in that application in para I hoping that it would be considered.
10. I am about 43 years old, passed standard IV in Malay and VII in English. My mother, Ungku Maimunah (Ungku Embi), is one of the children of the late Ungku Mohammad Khalid bin Temenggong Ibrahim.
11. I have been in the service of the Johore Government for about 20 years. At present I am attached to the Magistrate's Court as Clerk I.B. I hold a commission as Lieutenant in the Johore Volunteer Forces.
12. I have three brothers living who are all younger than I am namely, Tungku Abdul Jalil, Tungku Ali and Tungku Sulaiman. They are all in the service of the Johore Government.
13. I shall be obliged with your help and support to bring to the notice of the Netherland authority that I am truly descended from Sultant Muhammad Muadzam Shah.
(Sgd) Abdulrahman bin Mahmud
voor eensluidend afschrift:
De Gouvernements Secretaris,
True copy
(sgd) A. Aziz
7.3.39
Unquote
It is clear that the existence of several claimants weakened the claims of each, and this is why the claim to the Riau-Lingga throne was not completely clear. The major reason for the lack of interest in reinstating Tengku Osman or any other individual, however, was simply that the Dutch had no wish to see the Sultanate restored since they had now taken over direct control.
