Abang Openg Abang Sapiee | |
|---|---|
| ابڠ حاج اوڤيڠ ابڠ شافعي | |
 | |
| 1stYang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak | |
| In office 16 September 1963 – 28 March 1969 | |
| Chief Minister | Stephen Kalong Ningkan Tawi Sli |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1905-10-07)7 October 1905 |
| Died | 28 March 1969(1969-03-28) (aged 63) Kuching,Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Spouse | Dayang Masniah Abdul Rahman |
| Children | 10 (includingAbang Abdul Rahman Zohari) |
| Relatives | Datu Patinggi Ali (great-grandfather) |
Abang Openg bin Abang Sapiee (Jawi:ابڠ حاج اوڤيڠ بن ابڠ شافعي; 7 October 1905 – 28 March 1969)[1] was aMalaysianpolitician who served as the firstYang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from September 1963 to his death in March 1969. He assumed the newly established post following Sarawak's independence fromGreat Britain and the formation ofMalaysia in 1963. He is the father toAbang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg, the currentPremier of Sarawak.
Abang Openg was born on 7 October 1905 in Kampung Bandarsah,Kuching,Sarawak, during theWhite Rajahs of Brooke dynasty's rule.[2] He came from a Malay family with historical involvement in local leadership. His ancestry includesDatu Patinggi Ali and Datu Patinggi Abdul Ghafur, who held leadership positions during the Brooke administration in Sarawak..[3]
Growing up in an era when educational opportunities for Bumiputeras were scarce, Abang Openg faced the challenge of limited formal schooling. Despite these obstacles, he attended the Government Malay School in Kuching.[4] At that time,formal education opportunities for Bumiputera were limited.[4]
At the age of 19, in 1924, Abang Openg started his career in public service as a government clerk. He was later transferred to the Office of Native Affairs, a department responsible for the administration and welfare of indigenous communities.[4] He subsequently received a promotion.
In 1932, Abang Openg was appointed as a government officer in Sarikei.[4] While working in there, he attended night classes at St. Anthony's School, taking Junior Cambridge lessons to further his education.
By 1940, Abang Openg held the position of Native Officer, which included the powers of a Class III Magistrate with legal authority in local governance. In 1941,Charles Vyner Brooke appointed him as a member of the Council Negeri (State Council), the legislative body of Sarawak. He served in this role until 1963.
Abang Openg chose to be loyal to the Brooke rule until the Japanese surrender in September 1945.[4] When Vyner decided to cede Sarawak to Britain,[5] Abang Openg and several other Brooke officials opposed the decision.[4]
Malaysia_-_SMN.svg)
Grand Commander of theOrder of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) –Tun (1964)[6]
Sarawak
Knight Commander of theMost Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) –Dato,' nowDato Sri (1954)
United Kingdom_Ribbon.svg)
Officer of theOrder of the British Empire (OBE) (1962)Several places were named after Abang Openg, including:
... 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.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New creation | Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak 1963–1969 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
