HISTORICAL TIMELINE I BEFORE BRITISH COLONIAL GROUP MEMBERS

HISTORICAL TIMELINE I: BEFORE BRITISH COLONIAL GROUP MEMBERS: LOW BEE TENG CHEAH CAISING CHEAH HUI SEAN EUNICE TAY YEAP JIA TONG

BEFORE THE RISE OF LUKUT INITIALLY DWELL BY MOSTLY FISHERMAN AND FARMERS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF CHINESE TIN MINERS. UNDER THE REIGN OF PADUKA SRI SULTAN SALEHUDDIN (FIRST SULTAN SELANGO) UNTIL THE REIGN OF SULTAN MUHAMMAD SHAH (THIRD SULTAN SELANGOR), LUKUT IS STILL A PART OF SELANGOR BEFORE BEING DECLARED AS A CITY IN NEGERI SEMBILAN IN 1815, CHINESE MINERS HAS ALREADY BEEN CARRYING OUT MINING ACTIVITIES IN LUKUT EVEN BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF RAJA BUSU. THERE ABOUT 200 CHINESE AMONG THE 1000 CITIZENS OF LUKUT.

THE RISE OF LUKUT During the reign of Sultan Ibrahim, the second Sultan of Selangor (1778 – 1826), a Malay King, Raja Busu bin Raja Nala, a descendant of the Selangor royalty came to Lukut with his followers from Sungai Selangor, Kedah and the other states. Historical evidence states that there were about 1000 residents in Lukut in 1818. Consequently, Raja Busu started tin mining there. Indirectly he began to rule over Lukut. However, the revenue or tax from the tin trade was not surrendered to the Sultan of Selangor. Around the year 1824, in order to increase the production of tin, he encouraged Chinese, especially from Melaka, to come in numbers to work the tin mines. When the number of Chinese settlers gradually increased, a Chinese chieftain (Kapitan) was appointed by Sultan Ibrahim.

THE MASSACRES OF LUKUT IN 1824, RAJA BUSU CAME TO LUKUT WITH HIS FOLLOWERS FROM SELANGOR, KEDAH AND OTHER STATES TO DEVELOP THE RICH TIN RESOURCES. SCENE OF VIOLENT STRUGGLES AND INTRIGUES TO CONTROL THE AREA’S ONCE LUCRATIVE OF TIN INDUSTRY IS HAPPEN. RAJA BUSU TAKE OVER THE LUKUT DISTRICT WHERE A TIN MINING INDUSTRY IS ESTABLISHED. IN 1834, THE IMPOSITION OF A NEW TAX STARTED, AND RAJA BUSU DID NOT TREAT HIS CHINESE WORKERS GOOD. MANY CHINESE LABORERS WERE TREATED NO BETTER THAN FARM ANIMALS. THE CHINESE MINERS REVOLTED AND SET FIRE TO RAJA BUSU’S PALACE. THIS CAUSED THE DEATH OF RAJA BUSU AND HIS ROYAL FAMILY.

In 1846, a Bugis prince from Riau, Raja Jumaat, was officially appointed by the Sultan to rule Lukut on his behalf. While Raja Jumaat made great efforts in trying to win the support of locals and miners, he was also mindful of the district's bloody history and firmly stamped his authority.

THE RE-FORMATION OF LUKUT Raja jumaat built fort lukut at 1845 -1848 on top a hill, which named as bukit gajah mati (dead elephant hill) today, it remains as one of the most wellpreserved Bugis’s forts in existence. As a result of determination and wisdom, he achieved enormous success in a very short period. They also enjoyed the support from the Chinese tin miners who were satisfied with his rule.

In the year 1839 and 1846, Raja Jumaat helped to settle Sultan Muhammad’s debts. In 1846, Sultan Muhammad gave his daughter’s hand, Tengku Senai, in marriage to Raja Jumaat and a letter of authority was given to Raja Jumaat to rule Lukut and to take over all tax collection in the district.

THE FALL OF LUKUT Raja Jumaat passed away in 1864 and was succeeded by his son Raja Bot had continued his father’s effort, but he encountered many problems during his reign, such as Sungai Ujong’s jurisdiction claim of Lukut district, mounting debts and worst of all, the depleting tin ore production.

Security was further tightened with the employment of 30 Arabian soldiers. It was said the Raja Bot faced tremendous opposition from Raja Sulaiman of Sungai Raya, who had refused accede his powers. Political instability and violent disturbances eventually eroded the powers of the rulers, and with it, the prominence of the Lukut Fort. A battle ensued at Kampong Cina and Raja Bot's forces had to withdraw to the fort when every one his Arab mercenaries fled the field after one of their number was killed in the fighting. This led to lukut's slow decline, and the fall of lukut.

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