Abang Openg

Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg bin Abang Sapiee (Jawi: ابڠ حاج اوڤيڠ بن ابڠ شافعي; 7 October 1905 – 28 March 1969)[1] was a Malaysian politician who served as the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from September 1963 to his death in March 1969. He assumed the newly established post following Sarawak's independence from

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Abang Sapiee is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Abang Openg. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Datuk
Abang Haji Openg Abang Sapiee
SMN PNBS OBE
ابڠ حاج اوڤيڠ ابڠ شافعي‎
1st Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak
In office
16 September 1963 – 28 March 1969
Chief MinisterStephen Kalong Ningkan
Tawi Sli
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman
Personal details
Born(1905-10-07)7 October 1905
Kuching, Raj of Sarawak
Died28 March 1969(1969-03-28) (aged 63)
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
NationalityMalaysian
SpouseDayang Masniah Abdul Rahman
Children10 (including Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari)

Great Britain and the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

Early life and career

Abang Openg was born on 7 October 1905 during the White Rajahs of Brooke dynasty's rule.[2] He had his early education in Kuching before moving to Sarikei with his father Abang Sapiee.[3] Abang Openg attended St. Anthony School in Sarikei before returning to Kuching to continue his education at St. Thomas School.[3]

As a 19-year-old man of the descendants of the elite with title Abang, Abang Openg chose to enter the Brooke administration as a clerk in 1924.[3] He was elevated to senior officer of native affairs in Sarikei after serving for eight years.[3] He was appointed third-class magistrate in 1937.[3]

White Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke gave Abang Openg a special appointment, and he was afterwards appointed to a member of the state council.[3] He was elevated to second-class magistrate and Kuching Division native affairs first officer in early 1941, just before World War II.[3]

Abang Openg held the principle of choosing to be loyal to the Brooke rule until the Japanese surrender in September 1945.[3] When Vyner decided to cede Sarawak to Britain,[4] Abang Openg and several other Brooke officials opposed the decision.[3]

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honour

Namesakes

Several places were named after Abang Openg, including:

  • SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, a secondary school in Kuching
  • Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg in Kuching
  • Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg in Sibu
  • Jalan Tun Openg in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu
  • Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

References
  1. Profile of Abang Haji Openg
  2. Government of Sarawak. "The Brooke Era (1841 - 1941)".
  3. James Ritchie (29 March 2020). "Tun Openg dalam kenangan, selepas 51 tahun permergiannya" (in Malay). Suara Sarawak. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  4. Alan Teh Leam Seng (30 October 2021). "Fascinating Sarawak tales from long ago". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2021. ... Rajah Vyner Brooke, faced with a series of family disputes concerning succession, made the difficult decision to cede sovereignty of Sarawak to the British Crown.
  5. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1964" (PDF).


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