Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang Chapter 3: Raja Alang

3.0 RAJA ALANG Raja Alang was claimed as the son of Raja Berayuon, from
Sumatera. However, according to Yahya (2016) he was only a
3.1 Introduction
stepson. Up until now, his real father and mothers name still
This chapter discusses about Raja Alang and his descendent with remain unknown, and the only information about his family was,
the relationship between Raja Alang and the Selangor Sultanate. his father died when his mother was still pregnant. Based on
Most of the information derived from interviews with the villagers, another source which was from Raja Allang (one of the grandson
and the expertise in Malay history. of Raja Alang), Raja Alang was a Mandailing on his maternal side
while Bugis on his paternal side.
3.2 Raja Alang and His Ancestor
According to Fahrulradzi (2016), some of the best
Raja Alang was one of the influential men in Selangor history. He
warriors from Sumatera came to Malay Peninsular during Padri
was once entitled as a Sultan advisor during the reign of Sultan
War. They were Raja Asal, Raja bilah and Raja Berayun. Raja
Abdul Samad and also the ruler of Hulu Langat area on that time.
Asal and Raja Bilah went to Perak, while Raja Berayun went to
According to Yahya (2016), the reason behind his name being
Selangor to be the general warrior for Sultan Abdul Samad. While
immortalized for Masjid Raja Alang in Beranang, Semenyih; was
Raja Berayun lived in Jugra, Raja Alang was claimed to be one of
believed to honor his merit in saving Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman
the richest men whom also had contribution to the establishment
Shahs family from the threat of some people whom wanted to
of Kuala Lumpur. Raja Alang had made an exploration through
seize the throne of Sultan on the particular time. Sultan Sulaiman
Sungai Langat in search of sustenance, where eventually lead him
had once being accused as a stooge of the Japanese army, thus his
to open a new city named Kajang.
chance of being Sultan had been taken.
Raja Alang had also once claimed the Sultan title from the
Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah was one of the master
Selangor Sultanate (Adat Penggantian dalam Selangor). Being
builders for Masjid Raja Alang. The masjid was initially built by
one of the royal descendent, Raja Alang was actually eligible to be
eight (8) people including Sultan Sulaiman himself (or also called
the next Sultan but he admitted the ancestors of Yahya are the
as Pak Khatib Ujang in order to hide his own identity) and
better person to fit the throne. Regarding the sultanate system
grandfather of Yahya, named Janggi bin Yunus.
during his ancestors age, even the Japanese knew on the struggle

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on the throne between the parties whom fought endlessly to get the only granted as a Crown Prince of Sultan and the ruler of Hulu
Sultan power. Most of the Bugis people on Malay Peninsular were Langat.
recognized as Sayyid descendent which the title was claimed to
be more powerful than Sultan on that time. Raja Alang was one of
them. Thus, during that time of constant power seizure, he was

Chart 4-1 Raja Alangs Family

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Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang
3.3 Relationship between Raja Alang and Selangor Sultanate
The history of Selangor started in the 16th century when
abundant of tin deposits were found in Selangor. Meanwhile, in
th
late 17 century, the history of Selangor Sultanate started.
Meanwhile, Bugis has already settled in Sungai Selangor without
permission from Johor Sultanate even though Sungai Selangor was
a protectorate of Johor. However in the 18th century, Johor
Sultanate granted permission for them to live in Sungai Selangor.
Bugis actually had been working with official governors of Johor
before they settled there and they were widely known due to their
expertise in trading and as respectable warriors.
Besides that, in year 1713 and 1722, they officially assist
in civil war break out in Kedah. The influence of Bugis has
increasingly rocketing in 1722 when the five Bugis Brothers set
out to expel the sultan of Johor, Raja Kechil. After that, Raja
Sulaiman, a descendent of Sultan Abdul Jalil was crowned as a
ruler of Johor-Riau by the Bugis. At the same time, Daeng
Merewah was appointed as Yamtuan Muda Johor by the Five
Bugis Brothers (Lima Bugis Bersaudara). In 1766, the son of
Daeng Chelak, Raja Lumu has tackled the people in Kuala
Selangor and became the first Sultan Selangor named Sultan
Salehuddin Shah ibni Al-Marhum Yamtuan Daeng Chelak. In
contrary, people of Kuala Selangor rejected all the leaders from
Perak and Kedah and they swore that they would only appoint a
Chapter 3: Raja Alang
ruler from a Bugis family only. (Kesultanan Selangor, 2007 &
Khoo K.Y, 1992)
Raja Berayun was the one whom helped Sultan Abdul
Samad during Klang war. According to Raja Allang (2016), it is
believed that Sultan Abdul Samad had rewarded Raja Alang with
vast amount of land around the Hulu Langat area as a token of
appreciation to Raja Berayun for being a great General or
Panglima Perang (Also known as warrior). The relationship
between Raja Berayun with Sultan Abdul Samad was believed as
close friends (Azmir, 2016). Keris Beruk Berayun, the dagger
which is primarily used for royal coronations in Selangor, was
believed to be the property of Raja Berayun (Fahrulradzi, 2016).
The relationship between Raja Berayun and Sultan Abdul
Samad still remains a mystery and further research is required.
According to Yahya (2016), Sultan Abdul Samad and Raja Alang
were both from Bugis progeny, but different clan. Thus, this could
also justify the good relationship between them which enabled
them to work, reliance and assurance towards each other when the
time was full of treachery.
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Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang Chapter 3: Raja Alang

Figure 3-1 Bugis Warriors in Sultan Abdul Samad reign, 1889.

(Source: Yahya Ahmad)

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3.4 Raja Alang Families Karim, had sold some of his land endowed by their ancestor, for
the renovation of Masjid Raja Alang. He also managed to build
During the interview with some of the Raja Alangs families, Raja
another masjid which is Masjid As-Shakirin, Gombak. Through
Allang bin Raja Ali (one of Raja Alangs grandson), Raja Allang
this act, it is shown that Raja Alang has portrayed a good lesson to
displayed the genealogy of Raja Alangs descendent which
his heir on contributing towards society to gain eternal rewards till
claimed him as a Mandailing brood. The ancestor chart showed the
death.
lineage of Raja Alang (refer diagram 4-2) which depicted that Raja
Alang was Raja Berayuns son. Unfortunately, there was no names
for the maternal side, thus the mother of Raja Alang was
anonymous. Raja Alangs first wife remains unknown until now.

According to Raja Allang (2016), his grandfather had

donated most of his lands for public use. Another source stated that
Raja Alang was the second richest man after Sultan (Azmir, 2016).
Evident from Arkib Negara stated that Raja Alang had donated
RM31,500.00 for a masjid construction in Pekan, Beranang,
believed to be Masjid Raja Alang. Other than that, this source also
showed that Masjid Raja Alang might have been constructed after
the death of Raja Alang, since the name of masjid had not been
confirmed yet. Raja Alang might have provided allowances
merely for the masjid and entrusted his will to five trustees to be
granted including his son, Raja Mohamed bin Raja Allang.

The family of Raja Alang had continuously contributed

expenditure for the masjid renovations, either by using their own
assets or by collecting donation from the public until now.
According to Raja Allang (2016), his eldest sibling, Raja Abdul
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Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang Chapter 3: Raja Alang

Chart 3-2: Raja Alang Genealogy from Mandailing side

(Source: Arkib Negara Kuala Lumpur, 2016)

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Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang
3.5 Bugis Sultanate in Malay Archipelago
In the early 18th century, Selangor was no longer territory
of the Dutch as the Selangor Sultanate was established by a
descendent of the five Bugis Brothers, Raja Lumu bin Daeng
Chelak or Sultan Salahuddin Shah ibni Al-Marhum Yamtuan
Daeng Chelak. His coronation happen in 1765 and at the same time
increased the influence of Bugis in Selangor. His coronation also
intended to show the people of Selangor that the Bugis wanted to
unify the districts in the region under one Sultanate and not to
colonize it. (Paiman Keromo, 1992)
The Selangor Sultanate nowadays was established by Raja
Lumu (Sultan Salehuddin Shah), which was the prince of Daeng
Chelak or Daeng Pali (the second Yamtuan Johor in 19th century).
His arrival to Selangor was around the 1730s.
Sultan Abdul Samad was the Sultan of Selangor from
1859 until 1898. He was married to Raja Tipah (Sultan
Muhammads daughter). He was granted a royal status as a Sultan
in Selangor state even though he was not in the royal lineage and
entitled as Panglima Perang. (Abdullah Ghazali, 1992)
Even though Selangor state was being ruled by the Kings
of Bugis Descendent, their number was still small compared to the
other immigrants such as Jawa, Minangkabau, Mandailing,
Banjar, Kerinci and Rawa. People from Sumatera mostly came to
Chapter 3: Raja Alang
the area of Hulu Langat and Hulu Selangor. Majority of them are
from Minangkabau and Mandailing. This is caused by the massive
killing of this race on the 20th century.
Bugis people were originally established in Setambun
Being Bugis, people made him hide his own identity because by
doing so he would be safer from the parties whom wanted the
Sultans throne. Apart from that, Yahya also stated that one of the
people whom influenced Masjid Raja Alang construction was one
of the Wali Songo, Sunan Gunung Jati.
On other hand, Fahrulradzi (2016) said that Bugis Empire
had been established during the 8th to 12th centuries (same period
as the Srivijaya Empire), primarily located in Luwu, Indonesia.
However, after the downfall of the Luwu Empire (15th century),
the Bugis dispersed to the surrounding states such as Bone, Wajo
and Goa, which those areas are currently located in Indonesia.
The Bugis arrival in Malay Peninsular had started since
the Dutch managed to conquer Makassar in conjunction with the
Bungaya Agreement, which those whom agreed with the Dutch
could stay in their own region while the others whom disagreed
could migrate to other countries they preferred. Diaspora occurred
in Malay Peninsular upon the mass arrival of Bugis immigrants in
the 18th century. When the 5 brothers of Opu Daeng successfully
defeated Raja Kechil, Daeng Merewah was granted as Yamtuan
Riau (a title which was second powerful after Sultan) and after his
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death, Daeng Chelak took his title. In other hand, Daeng

Menambun got title in Kalimantan.

Fahrulradzi (2016) stated that Daeng Chelak had these two

well-known sons named Raja Haji and Raja Lumu. Raja Lumu
asked Sultan Perak to grant him as Sultan Selangor and then he
was entitled as Sultan Salehuddin.

During the reign of Sultan Ibrahim (1776-1826) Padri war

occurred on 1803 until 1837. Selangor was granted a cannon
named as Seri Rambai for their contribution of helping Acheh
when Raja Muda Nala was sent there. These cannon had been
eventually situated in Penang in Fort Cornwallis when Francis
Light came to make British-Anglo Treat on the year 1874, where
the Malay Peninsular had been distinguished from the Indonesian
empire.

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Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang Chapter 3: Raja Alang

Chart 3-3: The 5 Bugis Brothers Genealogy in Relation to Sultan Salehuddin

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Masjid Raja Alang, Beranang Chapter 3: Raja Alang

Chart 3-4: Selangor Sultanate Genealogy

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