Following his name and legacy being revitalised to a newer generation thanks to the hit local movie, the late Malay warrior Mat Kilau is named as the recipient of the Pahang Tokoh Maal Hijrah award for 2022. The award was given during a ceremony by the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to Mat Kilau’s grandson Mohd Alhamadi Abu Bakar.
As reported by national news agency Bernama, the award was presented in the form of a trophy, certificate and RM10,000 towards Mat Kilau’s heir and was part of the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah in Kuantan yesterday. Also present during the ceremony were Tengku Panglima Raja Kol Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and State Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman.
Mat Kilau’s grandson, 56-year-old Mohd Alhamadi expressed his gratitude to the Pahang government for the recognition given to his grandfather and hoped that the award would be a catalyst to inspire and encourage others to continue to spread the teachings of Islam. He asserted,
“Mat Kilau’s struggle was based on religion…Mat Kilau, his father Tok Gajah and Datuk Bahaman stood up against the British colonialists who wanted to introduce their administration system,”
Mat Kilau’s grandson, Mohd Alhamadi.
He further shared how his late grandfather Mat Kilau lived with his parents for about 30 years until his death on 16 August 1970 at the age of 104. Mat Kilau was a native of Kampung Kedondong, Pulau Tawar in Jerantut and had a thorough command of religious knowledge as he was the student of several prominent religious figures and scholars. These include Pahang’s first Mufti Uthman Senik, religious scholars Sayyid Abdul Rahman Sayyid Muhammad Al-Idrus or popularly known as Tokku Paloh and Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong.
On what he will be doing with the prize, Mohd Alhamadi said that he will be using the money to improve the facilities at the Mat Kilau gallery in Kuantan. The gallery was established in 2016 in collaboration with Pertubuhan Silat Tapak Setia Suic, Warisan Mat Kilau.
So, what do you guys think of the award posthumously given to Mat Kilau? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: Sultan Selangor Says Malay Political Leaders Should Watch ‘Mat Kilau’ Movie & Reflect On The Lessons
