The Tomb Of Sharif Osman At A Forest Reserve

The Tomb Of Sharif Osman Need Conservation
In the forest reserve of Kudat and Kota Marudu lies the tomb of Sharif Osman as well as the other people who had died fighting including the British soldiers. According to the Ketua Kampong of Kg Sharif Osman in Kota Marudu, En Injin, it was not Sharif Osman because Sharif Osman had passed away. It was his son name, Sharif Rom. It started with a misunderstanding with Rajah Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak over that of Sharif Rom's wife who is the daughter of the Sultan of Sulu. The British had wanted to take the picture of Sharif Rom's wife who was claimed to have some extraordinary appearance in that when she ate anything you could see the color of the food in her throat. However Sharif Rom disagreed and had only agreed to take the picture of the palm of his hand. So the misunderstanding started and Rajah Brook told Sharif Rom to prepare for a battle and make himself a fort or a stronghold at Marudu. The British Armada fired from Pulau Mantanani, an island off Kota Belud, southwest of Kudat. Sharif Rom was said to be very fierce and cruel and he had instructed his men to hang the testicles of the British soldiers who had died. In the cementry at the forest reserve lies Sharif Rom and his followers as well as the British soldiers who had died. Rajah Brook was called by the Sultan of Brunei to engage with the rebellion from Sharif Dom. Rajah Brook was given the piece of land now called Sarawak for his success in defeating Sharif Dom and his men. So starts the White Rajah dynasty in Sarawak. The Ketua Kampong of Kg Sharif Osman said that they were under the Sultanate of Brunei before the Independence. The Sulu Sultanate came through the marriage of the daughter to Sharif Rom. The tomb and cemetary is not well looked after despite the visits by tourists to the area. You will miss the are if that was your first visit. The place must be preserved for the future generation to inherit as it is part of the history for Sabah. The Sabah Muzium and Historical Department of UMS had visited the area but not much had been done as was seen through the lack of sign-board and information and road signs. Even the road entrance did not mention the Tomb of Sharif Osman but called Jalan Ranau.

Bajau Laut At Kg Marudu Laut

As you head to Kota Marudu township you will see a road called Jalan Ranau, before you reach the steel bridge. You go right up to the end of the road and you will reach a river called Langkon River. Here lives some of the Bajau Laut people, about 100 of them. Their livelihood is fishing, making the roof from the Nipah leaves and they sell fish including dried fish. They still live in houses made from these roof including the walls of the houses. They have piped water but they still use the kerosene pump lamp as there is no electricity connection. Their land is actually within the Kudat and Kota Marudu forest reserve. Kg Marudu Laut could be the oldest village in Sabah as it is written in history about Rajah Brooke and the rebellion headed by Sharif Osman in Marudu. It was written in history that Rajah Brooke was given the land which is now called Sarawak after they had helped the Sultan Of Brunei brought down a rebellion headed by Sharif Osman. These group of Bajau Laut was said to have fled from Sabah East coast, a place called Jambongan, an island off Sandakan.