Rempang Malays

According to Dedi Arman, a researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency, The Rempang Malays was formed from the unification of the Malay people from Galang Island, Orang Darat, and Orang Laut who before the 19th century had inhabited Rempang Island.[3]

In the 19th century, many reports or files stated that Dutch officials, Elisa Netscher had visited Rempang Island around 1846. At that time, Rempang Island was already inhabited by people from the Galang Malays, Orang Darat, and Orang Laut.[3]

Long before the 19th century, from 1722 to 1818 to be precise, the center of government of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate moved from Hulu Riau (Tanjungpinang) to Bulang Island which is located between island of Batam and Rempang.[3]

In the book Tuhfat al-Nafis by Raja Ali Haji written in Riau Malay language written Jawi in 1885, which was first published in 1890, and the manuscript was also published in 1923 for the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, London. In the book, it is explained that the residents of Rempang, Galang and Bulang Islands are descendants of soldiers from the Riau-Lingga Sultanate who inhabited these islands since 1720, precisely during the reign of Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alamsyah I.[4]

It is said that during the Riau War I in 1782–1784 against the Dutch, local residents became soldiers of Raja Haji Fisabilillah, Raja Ali Haji's grandfather. Then, in the Riau War II of 1784–1787, they were under the leadership of Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah and participated in the war against the Dutch.[4]

In 1829, the Sultan of Riau-Lingga, Sultan Abdul Rahman gave power to Raja Isa or better known as Nong Isa to lead Nongsa which includes the islands of Batam, Galang, Rempang, and surrounding areas. In fact, that year was used as the birthday of Batam. This handover of power is also proof that Batam Island and its surroundings were already crowded with people in 1829.[3]

According to local folklore, in 1837, a British ship was hijacked on Galang Island. It turns out that the pirates (called lanun by local people) were Galang Malays who at that time also lived on Rempang Island.[3]

In 1787, Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah moved the center of government to Daik in Lingga Island. At that time, Rempang, Galang and Bulang Islands were used as the largest defense bases of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate led by Tengku Muda Muhammad and Panglima Raman.[4]

According to Dedi, the Rempang Malays is divided into three community groups, namely Orang Laut who inhabit the coast and are spread across the islands of Batam, Rempang, and Galang, then Orang Darat who inhabit the interior of Rempang Island (only found in Sadap Village and only a few families remain) and the people live nomadic lives, and Galang Malays who are the original inhabitants of Galang Island and its surroundings.[3]

Currently, the Rempang Malays only lives in 16 old villages which are also threatened with eviction due to plans of Proyek Strategis Nasional (National Strategic Project) which was initiated by President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo to build Rempang Eco City in collaboration with the China company, Xinyi Group.[5][6] The Rempang Malay community, who are indigenous residents of Rempang Island, staged a demonstration against being relocated for the project because they reasoned that the project plan was detrimental to them and caused them to be expelled from their ancestral land.[7] According to the National Commission on Human Rights, the Indonesian government is considered to be violating human rights and there are indications of the deployment of excessive force on Rempang Island. Based on evidence, there was excessive use of force by a combination of officers and the use of tear gas against civilians on 7 September 2023 on Rempang Island.[8]

The Rempang Malays have the same culture as the Malays in Riau and the Riau Islands in general as well as the Malays on the Malay Peninsula, more precisely Johor.[9] They have a saying that says "lebih baik mati berdiri daripada hidup berlutut" ("it is better to die standing than to live on your knees"), which means it is 'better to die fighting than to live as a slave'. This proverb has inspired them to continue to fight since the Dutch colonial era until now their ancestral land is again threatened by foreigners.[10]

They have long been known as the best sailors used by Riau-Lingga Sultanate and Johor Sultanate as rowers of government ships or working as pirates to disrupt European monopoly trade in the Malacca Strait and its surroundings. They also sailed to the Bangka and even to the north coast of Java.[9]

• Malays
• Proto-Malay
• Rempang Island