Johor Ruler revives ‘Mejar Cina’ title

Descendent of noted Chinese community figure bestowed historic honour

JOHOR BARU: Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has revived the title of “Mejar Cina”, which was last bestowed during Sultan Abu Bakar’s time back in the 1800s.

The title was given to Mado’s oil palm estate manager David Wong Khong Soon (pic), a descendant of Wong Ah Fook, a prominent leader and chief government contractor who built some of the most recognisable heritage buildings in Johor.

A statement issued and signed by Johor Royal Court Council president Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Ramli yesterday said the appointment was effective Sept 1.

Abdul Rahim said that the conferment was in line with his Majesty’s decree of reviving the Mejar Cina title as a continuity of modern Johor’s history.

In the statement, he explained that back in 1840, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim allowed his followers of Chinese descent to move to Johor from Singapore, and placed them in a settlement called “kangkar”, or a river port by the Tebrau River.

By 1870, there were 29 such kangkar in Johor.

“The Chinese community was allowed to conduct activities such as agriculture and raising livestock as well as practising their religion, culture and traditions without interference.

“The Temenggong also appointed a Kangcu (translated as master of the riverbank) among them, to manage the community and take care of their security.

“The outstanding ones among the Kangcu would then be appointed as Kapitan Cina and Mejar Cina,” Abdul Rahim said.

He added that among their duties included acting as the mediator between the ruler and the community, to ensure the community’s needs were met and also to shape and strengthen unity within the society as a whole.

When Maharaja Abu Bakar took over as ruler, he invited even more Chinese people and those from Indonesian islands, India and other Malay states to settle down here and develop Johor, he said.

As a way of expressing their gratitude to the Temenggong and Maharaja Abu Bakar, the Chinese community built a Chinese Hall in 1873 at the Istana Besar grounds, which served as a venue for important state affairs and meetings, he said.

“Maharaja Abu Bakar had appointed prominent leaders such as Kangkar Tebrau Kangcu Tan Hiok Nee as Mejar Cina and Skudai

Kangcu Seah Tai Heng as Kapitan Cina.

“Both were also made state assemblymen to represent the Chinese community,” he said.

As a newly appointed Mejar Cina, Wong is tasked with cooperating and coordinating with the Sultan Ibrahim Foundation and other royal foundations, district officers, state elected representatives, village heads and community leaders on matters pertaining to the distribution of aid to the Chinese community throughout Johor.

“However, when carrying out his duties, he is not considered a representative of the Ruler.

“He is also not given any power, rights, compensation or privilege,” said Abdul Rahim.