EXPLORING BULANG KEBAM ISLAND BATAM
Pulang Bulang including the Batam area and the surrounding islands since classical times have never been quiet from trade activities. How could it not, the islands in this area and even the Riau Islands themselves have been magnets and strategic positions since the Spice civilization era in the East Sumatra Waters Area. The islands in this area have become Geopolitics in the vortex of the Malay kingdoms of Riau, Johor, Pahang and since the Strait of Malacca became an international route for world trade, the islands in this area have not been quiet from all political intrigues and hegemony, cultural assimilation.
The name of Pulau Bulang as the base of the Temenggung's command area since 1722 to 1824, and two opinions about the origin of the name of the island of Bulang. A number of Malay and European sources note that the island of Bulang once played a fairly important role in historical events in the Strait of Malacca area. In the Malay History or Sulalatus Salatin for example, the name of Bulang Island has been recorded at least in connection with Portuguese attacks on the defense center of Sultan Mahmud Syah, the Sultan of Melaka who retreated to Bintan Island. Since 1722, this island has been used as the "headquarters" of the Temenggung family, which is a small branch of the Bendahara dynasty that ruled Riau-Lingga-Johor-and Pahang.
Tumenggung, that is the title given to representatives of the Malay Kingdom of Riau, Johor and Pahang. This title is not an ordinary title but this title has become a symbol of the kingdom. The Temenggung is one of the four seal holders under the sultan and king. The seal is also accompanied by the ownership of a flag called the Fajar Menyingsing flag. The placement of the Temenggung position on Bulang Island is an indicator that the island was an important area during the existence of the Malay Kingdom, Johor and Pahang.
Following the footsteps of this royal official can be traced from Batam Center City by taking a taxi to Sagalung Port, taking a boat Pompom (Kapal Pancung), upon arrival at Buluh Island, take the Kapal Kancung to Bulang Island, a 10-minute walk will find a relic of a Bulang Island official who became an area of Batam City, during the time of the Malay Kingdom of Riau Johor and Pahang, a tumenggung named Tun Abdul Jamal was placed, estimated to have been born around 1720. Tun Abdul Jamal was the son of Tun Abbas Datuk Bendahara Sri Maharaja Johor Ibnu Sultan Jalil Riayat Syah. The Temenggung was based on Bulang Island until 1811 AD when he was moved to Singapore by the next Temenggung, Tun Abdul Rahman.
Bulang Island is the 'cradle' or 'cradle' for important Temenggungs in the history of Riau-Lingga-Johor-and Pahang before they moved to Singapore, and then were able to 'seize' the Sultan's throne over Singapore and Johor after the Treaty of London in 1824. That legacy is what then continues to the Sultan of Johor today. Temenggung Abdulrahman, although he had moved from Bulang Island to Singapore in 1811, was also reported to have started his career as Temenggung on Bulang Island.
In fact, in Trocki's records, Bendahara Tun Abbas, Temenggung Abdul Jamal's father, was also buried on Bulang Island, as were Temenggung Abdul Jamal and his son named Engku Muda Raja Muhamad. Trocki's opinion is somewhat contradictory to other opinions that state that Tun Abbas's tomb is in Hulu Riau, close to the tomb of Daeng Marewah Yang Dipertuan Muda Riau I. Although based on Bulang Island, in reality the Temenggung holder was never called Temenggung Bulang. On the contrary, a number of sources show that the Temenggung position has always been associated with the main center of the kingdom in Riau. Since 1804, the position of Bulang Island in the history of the Temenggung Riau-Johor, can perhaps be equated with the position and importance of Penyengat and Lingga islands in the history of the families of the Younger and Greater Yang Dipertuans of Riau-Lingga-Johor-and Pahang- if this comparison must be made.
In 1843, another European observer named Horsburg reported, “Boolang Bay, on the island of Battam, or Pulo Battam, situated about 13 or 14 miles southeast of Singapore, affords a safe anchorage, and is frequently visited by American ships; here they obtain cargoes, and trade with Singapore, in order to avoid the additional expense of going directly to Singapore, as the Bay of Bulang is outside the limits of British jurisdiction.” After 1824, which was marked by the division of the kingdoms of Riau-Johor-Lingga-and Pahang due to the Treaty of London of 1824, only then did the Temenggung family actually leave Bulang Island: mainly to Singapore and Johor