Welcome to the Blog of Kelantan's Historical Hero TOK JANGGUT!

Assalamu'alaikum and Warm Greetings to all bloggers :D

This blog will retell to all of you the story of Kelantan's historical but almost forgotten hero...
Enjoy reading it and hopefully they will remain in your hearts forever...
The man who fought in gaining back Kelantan's freedom...

Kelantan's Beard-man Hero Life Story

The one man that begins to rebel against the British who wanted to claim Kelantan, of Haji Mohd Hassan bin Munas who was called with the nickname TOK JANGGUT due to the fact that he has almost chest-reached long beard. This Kelantan’s hero was born on the year 1853 at Kampung Saring Jeram district, and lived at Kampung Nering, Kelantan. In addition to that, he had the experience of being a farmer and businessman. He received his education in Kelantan’s school hut and at the holy country, Mecca and was also a master of the Malay martial art, ‘silat’, proving that he was rich with both educations in Islamic religion and self-defence, thus was a character-strong person in gaining and claiming the country and religion’s rights.

In other words, he was one of the Islamic men of figure who has gained many of Kelantan’s supporters, with the main contribution of Kelantan’s fighter or rebellion for the freedom of the country and rights. At the end of his life, on June 1915, which was exterminated during the battle occurring near Kampung Pupuh, his dead body was exhibited throughout Kota Bharu and Pasir Puteh in addition to him being hung, upside down, in front of the Kelantan Royal Palace for several days, and soon after his body was finally buried in Pasir Pekan, Tumpat, Kelantan. The death of Tok Janggut however, contributed to the ending of the rebellion against British rule in Kelantan.

The figure of the standing tall TOK JANGGUT, the hero of Kelantan

TOK JANGGUT was hung upside down after being dragged around Kota Bharu, to scare off the Kelantan's civilians and his supporters of the consequences of rebelling against the British

Factors leading to TOK JANGGUT's Rebellion

The beginning of the rebellion story of TOK JANGGUT against the British forces was motivated by four main factors. The first two factors are based on TAX where one is due the introduction of new tax system, and second to the inconvenience in the payment of tax. 

It all started after the Britain taking over the administration of Kelantan from Siam on the date of 29^th April 1915 where the privilege of collecting the taxes was reassigned from the traditional chiefs to the British. The British made certain that everybody is to pay the tax assigned whether they are from the upper class people or the civilian of Kelantan, and if they refused to pay, the British will either penalized them or place them in the jail. The taxes that the Kelantan’s are required to pay are the head tax which was RM1.00 per person a year, and the tax for the growing of fruit trees a year and coconut per bunch both for 3 cent each. Besides that, the location of the government tax office was only situated at Kota Bharu making it harder for the residents from Pasir Puteh to go and pay the tax. In addition to that is the behaviour of the British tax officers which was unpleasant for the Kelantan civilians who went there.

Each and every one of the Kelantan's are required to pay the taxes ordered by the British

Elements motivating to TOK JANGGUT’s Uprising

The 3rd factor that motivates TOK JANGGUT in battling the British forces is based on Kelantan’s Engku Besar loss of power. The fact that the Engku Besar loss of power leads to the rebellion is due to the reason that the Sultan had obtained assistance from the British in order to go against Engku’s intention of setting up his own state. This is the beginning of how the British are able to sneak into the Kelantan’s territory and ruined it in the first place. However, in the end, Engku Besar had joined forces with Tok Janggut in going against the British in order to obtain back their deserved rights. 

The 4th and last causes of TOK JANGGUT’s rebellion, is by himself being influenced with the message of Jihadism, struggling to obtain back their rights in the country, that was spread during the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, which encouraged himself and his supporters in fighting against the Western’s domination of Kelantan’s district.

The Jihadism terms that was summoned up in struggling and fighting against the British in order to gain back his country’s rights

The Came Across of TOK JANGGUT and Kelantan's Difficult Encounters

His demanding battle starts off on April 1915, the day British demolishes Kelantan’s administration into their hands when they appointed Encik Latiff, a non-Kelantanese, to take over from the local leader, Engku Besar Jeram. To gain help, Engku Besar Jeram met with TOK JANGGUT, Haji Said, Che Sahak Merbol, and also ‘Penghulu’ Adam and signed a pact, which prohibits anyone from cooperating with the ‘demolisher’, and achieved support from most Kelantan residents. On the other side of the ‘game’, Encik Latiff directed Sergeant Che Wan, to arrest Tok Janggut for failing to pay the government tax. Tok Janggut refused to walk in front of the sergeant, which then revolved into a fight, with the outcome of the sergeant being stabbed by Tok Janggut.

Soon after, Tok Janggut draws together all his men and they all marched towards Pasir Puteh, in addition with burning down several European farmers’ existing constructions. Out of fright and panic, Encik Latiff fled the place immediately. At the end of their struggling days, Tok Janggut and the British battled one another, and after finally defeating them, for 3 days he lingered there, presently declaring Pasir Puteh's independence from British rule. Engku Besar Jeram was then made King of Pasir Puteh, while Tok Janggut became his Prime Minister. The Britain immediately labelled the ones that brought the British down 'traitors', and also guaranteed a $500 reward for their seizure, whether dead or alive.

As this method did not come into assistance, 200 British soldiers were then sent in from Singapore, but were still faced with Tok Janggut's refusal to surrender. To overcome this issue, the British burned down his and his fellow followers houses. From this, Tok Janggut responded immediately by placing a blockade on Pasir Puteh but was however killed in the battle near Kampung Pupuh. 

 The British who took over Kelantan’s administration

The battle between TOK JANGGUT and his followers with the British soldiers

Tok Janggut’s Name Degraded by the British…Why was that so?

The real name of the struggled leader TOK JANGGUT, which was Mat Hassan Panglima Munas, was denied by the British, in similar with his declared word ‘Jihad’, which was reformed by them into the term ‘Revolt’ and ‘Rebellion’.  

When Tok Janggut and his followers risen up to battle with the British, the British actually felt a bit frightened by what the following influence and effect would be, as their colonized country is becoming braver and braver in every second counting. Thus, for them, if Tok Janggut’s acts are not blocked, their dignity as one of the country that is in hold of the world’s power and smart people would be affected. This is the reason as to why the British really wanted to get rid of Tok Janggut’s life, together with his influence over the Kelantan’s citizens.

However, even after Tok Janggut’ death, his aura still remained, endangering the British’s minds of not wanting the same thing to happen again, them losing to their colony.  So, the British launched ‘Psychological Warfare’ or better known as ‘Perang Saraf’ to worsened the citizens’ perception towards Tok Janggut and his followers, which is to think of them as the country’s traitors. This method in certain, did not succeed as the Kelantan’s are still grateful for their contribution and respect their sacrifice made in order to gain back their rights as Kelantan’s citizens and Malaysians.  

The dead body of TOK JANGGUT 

TOK JANGGUT: The Man that has influenced the hearts of many Kelantan's citizens to fight back in order to gain their rights

May TOK JANGGUT Rest in Peace...

Thank you all bloggers, for spending some of your precious times to read my blog about Tok Janggut.
Let us all pray for him so that he may rest in peace...
Remember...all the sacrifices and contributions he and his followers had made in order to gain back their rights as both a human and a Kelantan's citizen, are the things that made us feel the peace and harmony today.
So, bury deep in your hearts...of Tok Janggut...the Bearded-man who had achieved harmony for the Kelantan's citizens, and in some way helped us in gaining what we have today...Independence!
Thank you...Tok Janggut...you will never be forgotten...

Let us all contribute to them 'Al-Fatihah' so that they will always be blessed by Allah S.W.T

Amin~