34 Facts About Rosli Dhobi

Rosli Dhobi Rosli Dhoby, was a Sarawakian nationalist from Sibu of mixed Malay-Melanau descent during the British crown colony era in that state.

Rosli Dhobi was a member leader of the Rukun 13, an active organisation in the anti-cession movement of Sarawak, along with Morshidi Sidek, Awang Rambli Deli and Bujang Suntong.

Rosli Dhobi was well known for his assassination of Duncan George Stewart, the second governor of colonial Sarawak, in 1949.

Rosli Dhobi's father, Dhobi bin Buang was an ethnic local Sibu Malay who had ancestral roots in Kalimantan, Indonesia and was a descendant of Raden ranked nobles.

In 1949, Rosli Dhobi resigned from government service when the colonial government issued Circular No 9.

At 16 years old, Rosli Dhobi attended morning classes at a Methodist school as a standard 6 pupil.

Rosli Dhobi became a teacher at the Sekolah Rakyat Sibu religious school in the evenings.

Rosli Dhobi became a member and was appointed vice secretary of Sibu Malay Youth Movement under the leadership of Sirat Haji Yaman.

In mid-1948, Rosli Dhobi complained to Abang Ahmad Abang Haji Abu Bakar that the PPM top leaders were plotting to chase the white people away from Sarawak but didn't invite him to participate.

Rosli Dhobi responded that he would rock Sarawak by giving a nice punch against the British colonial masters.

Rosli Dhobi later joined the top leaders of PPM in the establishment of a new organisation named Rukun 13 with Awang Rambli as the leader in the same year.

Rosli Dhobi was selected to perform this task because he was still young and the British would not expect an assassination attempt by a young person.

Rosli Dhobi brought them to Ibu Habsah's house where other friends such as Morshidi Sidek, Rabee Adis, Wan Ahmad were waiting in the house.

When talking about the new governor Duncan George Stewart first working visit to Sibu tomorrow, Rosli Dhobi stood up and said that he wished to kill the governor.

At 6 am, Rosli Dhobi went to Morshidi's house to discuss the planned assassination.

At 8 am, Rosli Dhobi met Yusuf at Pacific Traders office at Pulo Road.

Rosli Dhobi requested forgiveness from Yusuf and wish that the struggle for Sarawak independence to continue.

Rosli Dhobi then went to Methodist primary school, standing in line to welcome the arrival of new British Governor Duncan George Steward.

Rosli Dhobi stood beside Morshidi and gave the camera to him.

Rosli Dhobi then stepped out of the line, pulled out the dagger, and tried to stab the governor.

When two police officers noticed Rosli Dhobi and ran towards him, he threw the dagger towards the governor.

However, Rosli Dhobi did not feel any regret for his actions.

Rosli Dhobi did not want any defendant's lawyer on his behalf, while he stood trial on his own.

Rosli Dhobi questioned the witness on the following points: Firstly, when a Sikh police officer brought back the dagger, he left his thumbprint on the dagger.

Secondly, Rosli Dhobi argued that the governor did not die immediately after the incident but after the Dr Wallace's operation.

Rosli Dhobi was found guilty and was sentenced to capital punishment by hanging to death.

Just before his death, Rosli Dhobi gave a few advice to his friends and wrote letters to his family members.

Rosli Dhobi's wish was granted by Westin, an Englishman posted from Changi prison in Singapore.

Rosli Dhobi was hanged together with Morshidi on the morning of 2 March 1950 at the Kuching prison.

Rosli Dhobi became interested on the story of Rosli Dhobi.

Rosli Dhobi was given a state funeral by the Sarawak government.

The miniseries portrayed Rosli Dhobi as trying to run away after stabbing the governor.

In reality, Rosli Dhobi tried to stab the governor a second time but was stopped by the governor's bodyguards.

In 2013, Jeniri Amir, a professor from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak specialising in political communication, wrote a book about Rosli Dhobi which included new information.