The Bugis Merchant Haji Osman Daeng Passendrik Ambo’ Dalle’ bin Haji Ali

Singapura Stories is very fortunate to have two article contributions from an independent scholar, Daeng Paliweng from Johor, Malaysia, on two of the merchants buried in the historically significant Jalan Kubor Cemetery, Singapore. In this first article we learn more about a man who was possibly the wealthiest among the Bugis merchants in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Singapore, the Singapore-born Haji Osman Daeng Passendrik Ambo’ Dalle’ bin Haji Ali. He is buried in a very prominent grave with a mausoleum pavilion in Jalan Kubor Cemetery behind Malabar Mosque, Victoria Street, Kampung Gelam town, Singapore.

The second article on another Bugis merchant can be found here.

The original article is in Malay. and will be translated into English in due course.

UPDATE: Click here for the English translation

To quote this article:
Daeng Paliweng.  2015. “Haji Osman @Daeng Passendrik Ambo’ Dalle’ bin Haji Ali.” Singapura Stories,  21 Aug. http://singapurastories.com/2015/08/the-bugis-merchant-haji-osman-daeng-passendrik-ambo-dalle-bin-haji-ali/

Beneath the domed pavilion lies the grave of the Bugis merchant Haji Osman Daeng Passendrik [Pasandrik] Ambo’ Dalle’ (Ambok Dalek) bin Haji Ali, in Jalan Kubor Cemetery, Kampung Gelam, Singapore. Photograph by Imran bin Tajudeen, 2013

HAJI OSMAN @ DAENG PASSENDRIK AMBO’ DALLE’ BIN HAJI ALI

Oleh Daeng Paliweng.

Pengenalan

Nama Daeng Passendrik tidak terkenal seperti Ambo Sooloh (yang dikenali sebagai Municipal Commissioner mewakili masyarakat Melayu Singapura) dan ayahnya Haji Omar Ambo Dai’ [Ambok Daik] bin Ali, seorang lagi hartawan Bugis asal Wajo yang berjaya di Singapura. Namun beliau, yang bersaudara dengan Haji Omar yang baru disebutkan, merupakan seorang jutawan Bugis yang terawal serta memiliki hartanah yang banyak di Singapura meliputi rumah kedai dan kediaman di merata Kampong Rochor. Pada tahun 1899, Daeng Passendrik telah digelar “wealthy Bugis merchant” oleh suratkhabar Singapore Free Press and Merchantile Advertiser.

Satu perkara yang unik mengenai sejarah kehidupan Daeng Passendrik Ambo Dalle’ ialah kronologi yang agak jelas bagaimana beliau boleh mencapai status sebagai salah seorang saudagar Bugis yang kaya di Singapura. Bermula sebagai seorang saudagar kapal, Daeng Passendrik telah menunjukkan bahawa kesungguhan, kerja keras dan konsisten dapat menjamin masa depan yang cerah bukan untuk dirinya sahaja tetapi untuk keturunan yang akan datang. Jika dirujuk kepada daftar pelayaran yang telah direkodkan, Daeng Passendrik telah mula berdagang semenjak tahun 1865 dan hanya selepas 30 tahun bergelumang dalam bidang perdagangan dan bertarung nyawa berlayar disekitar Alam Melayu, Daeng Passendrik telah menunjukkan orang Melayu secara umumnya boleh berjaya di kota metropolitan Singapura yang diperintah oleh British, yang melihat setiap rakyatnya secara sama rata, tanpa ada sokongan dan pilih kasih (nota penyunting: kecuali dalam penggunaan British akan sistem komprador Cina dalam bidang perdagangan serta monopoli cukai atas arak, candu, termpat perjudian dan pelacuran). Dalam lingkup pasaran yang bebas, Daeng Passendrik  menghabiskan kebanyakkan usianya berdagang dari Pasir untuk mengumpul modal dan mempelbagaikan pelaburannya untuk mencapai status kehidupan yang mewah, untuk  diwarisi oleh anak cucunya. Al Fatihah.

Asal usulnya

Terdapat beberapa lagenda mengenai keturunan Daeng Passendrik. Menurut penyelidik Gilbert Hamonic (2000), Daeng Passendrik dan saudaranya merupakan keturunan La Pallawa Daeng Marowaq, salah seorang bangsawan Bugis Wajo yang membina pusat perdagangan di Muara Pasir, di bawah kerajaan Pasir di pantai timur Kalimantan. La Pallawa merupakan salah seorang pengikut La Madukkeleng, Arung Peneki dan Arung Singkang. Manakala catatan Jacqueline Lineton (1975) pula menyatakan, berdasarkan maklumat yang diperolehi daripada informannya di Singapura dan Sulawesi, seorang saudagar Bugis yang sangat kaya di Singapura telah berkahwin dengan kakak tiri kepada bangsawan Bugis Wajo di Sulawesi, iaitu Petta Ranreng Tua, dari ibunya yang berdarah masyarakat biasa. Saudagar Bugis tersebut mempunyai gelaran “Daeng” dan dikatakan menyerahkan sebahagian besar hartanya di Singapura, yang terdiri daripada hartanah rumah kedai dan rumah sewa serta lot-lot tanah yang banyak, kepada isterinya sebagai mas kahwin bagi membolehkan beliau mengahwini wanita bangsawan tersebut.

Daeng Passendrik, menurut waris keturunannya, lahir di Singapura. Namun kebanyakan masa hidupnya dihabiskan dengan berlayar dan berdagang di pelabuhan-pelabuhan koloni Belanda. Namanya tercatat pada daftar perkapalan Belanda sebagai seorang nakhoda kapal yang kerap menjalankan pelayaran di antara Pasir, Surabaya, Batavia serta Singapura. Terdapat 2 corak yang nyata mengenai jalur pelayaran dagang Daeng Passendrik. Yang pertama dalam tempoh 1870-1880, beliau banyak berlayar antara Pasir, Kalimantan dan Batavia. Dalam fasa kedua, antara 1880 hingga 1890, Daeng Passendrik kerap berdagang antara Pasir dan Surabaya. Namun yang pastinya semua pelayarannya dalam tempoh 20 tahun akan berpusat di Pasir.

Pasir merupakan koloni dagang Bugis yang terawal di Kalimantan. Ia merupakan pelabuhan yang dimajukan oleh orang Bugis Wajo, iaitu Arung Sengkang, seorang bangsawan dan hartawan Wajo dari Sengkang, Sulawesi. Arung Sengkang, atau nama sebenarnya La Maddukelleng, telah datang ke Pasir pada tahun 1725 bersama-sama angkatan kapal dagangnya untuk membuat sebuah koloni yang baru, setelah sekian lama berniaga di Selat Melaka, terutama sekali Johor dan Riau. Turut bersama-sama dengannya seramai 7 orang bangsawan kelas menengah Wajo yang berperanan menyebarkan pengaruh Bugis Wajo dalam bidang perkapalan dan perdagangan melalui monopoli perdagangan dari wilayah Timur Kalimantan, di sepanjang Selat Makassar. Sebelum beliau meninggalkan Pasir untuk menjadi Arung Matoa Wajo di Sulawesi, beliau telah melantik syahbandar Pasir, yang terdiri daripada orang Bugis Wajo.

Antara bangsawan Bugis Wajo yang menetap di Pasir ialah La Pallawa Daeng Marowaq. Beliau telah membina penempatan orang Bugis di Muara Pasir dan mengawal perdagangan di Pasir. Melalui La Pallawa inilah dikatakan keturunan Daeng Passendrik Ambo Dalle’ dan Haji Omar Ambo Dai’ berpunca. Oleh itu tidak hairanlah ramai pelabur-pelabur hartanah dari Kalimantan seperti bangsawan Pasir dan Pegatan mempunyai hubungan perdagangan dan kekeluargaan yang erat dengan keluarga 2 hartawan Bugis ini di Singapura.

Pedagang dan Nakhoda yang Berjaya

Daeng Passendrik telah memiliki sebuah kapal sendiri seawal tahun 1865, melalui pemilikan sebuah kapal layar Eropah jenis “schooner” dengan muatan 80 tan di Riau. Kapal tersebut yang diberi nama “Tjian Goan Haij” digunakan oleh Daeng Passendrik untuk berdagang, besar kemungkinan membawa hasil tanaman gambir dari Riau ke Singapura. Selain daripada itu, beliau turut memiliki dan berlayar dengan beberapa buah kapal layar buatan Eropah, iaitu “schooner” bernama “Slamat”, “Bintang Slamat” dan “Sri Bintang Slamat” pada tahun 1870-1890. Kapal yang terbesar ialah schooner “Bintang Slamat” dengan kapasiti muatan 200 tan dan didaftarkan dengan bendera Belanda di Pasir, Kalimantan. Secara kesimpulannya, Daeng Passendrik melakukan 10 pelayaran untuk jalur Pasir-Surabaya, 5 pelayaran untuk jalur Pasir-Batavia dan satu pelayaran ke Singapura, masing-masing dari Pasir, Samarang, Batavia dan Banjarmasin. Jumlah pelayaran yang dilakukan dalam tempoh 18 tahun adalah 21 pelayaran.

Komoditi utama yang didagangkan dari Pasir adalah rotan (anggaran sebanyak 178,500 ikat rotan telah diekspot oleh Daeng Pasendrik sepanjang tempoh 1870-1888). Pasir pada masa itu merupakan antara pengekspot rotan yang utama, disamping beberapa pelabuhan utama lain di Kalimantan seperti Banjarmasin dan Pegatan.

Pelaburan Hartanah di Singapura

Selepas tahun 1890, tiada lagi nama Daeng Passendrik dicatakan dalam rekod pelayaran Belanda. Kemungkinan besar beliau telah menjual kapalnya dan menetap di Singapura. Kekayaan yang diperolehi daripada hasil perdagangan dan penjualan kapal schooner Bintang Slamat, memudahkan Daeng Passendrik untuk mengembangkan portfolio pelaburannya dalam bidang hartanah di Singapura. Langkah melibatkan diri dalam bidang hartanah pada masa tersebut merupakan satu strategi yang dilakukan oleh kebanyakan masyarakat Islam di Singapura. Peranan Singapura sebagai kota kapitalis dan perdagangan antarabangsa menyebabkan pengaliran tunai dan aset berlaku dengan begitu bebas. Kecairan yang tinggi berpunca dari kepesatan ekonomi yang berlaku di Singapura. Banyak bank-bank ditubuhkan untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan deposit dan pinjaman bagi  perniagaan yang berdaya maju.

Namun sayangnya, pada ketika itu konsep perbankan syariah yang halal dan bebas dari riba tidak wujud lagi. Oleh itu, kebanyakkan masyarakat Islam, terutama sekali saudagar Arab dan Bugis menggunakan pemilikan rumah sewa dan rumah kedai sebagai alat bagi mengantikan simpanan di bank sebagai alternatif. Jika simpanan di bank menghasilkan riba, pelaburan dalam bidang hartanah pula memberi pulangan pelaburan dalam bentuk sewa bulanan. Oleh itu pada tahun 1913, dalam satu ulasan yang diberikan oleh The Straits Times pada 29 Nov 1913 menyatakan kadar sewa rumah di Singapura meningkat dengan mendadak kerana pemilik hartanah yang terdiri dari saudagar Arab dan Bugis, akan menaikkan sewa bulanan bagi memaksimumkan pulangan bulanan pelaburan mereka. Selain daripada itu, kadar sewa bulanan juga menjadi indikasi harga jualan rumah pada masa hadapan. Lebih tinggi sewa bulanan, maka lebih tinggi harga rumah yang boleh dijual.

Artikel di atas memberi indikasi bahawa pelaburan dalam bidang hartanah merupakan langkah yang paling bijak yang diambil oleh Daeng Passendri dan juga hartawan Bugis lain di Singapura pada masa itu untuk mendapat pulangan yang lumayan bagi keluarga dan keturunan mereka di masa hadapan.

Tiada rekod yang jelas untuk melihat bila Daeng Passendrik mula membeli deretan hartanah di Singapura. Besar kemungkinan Daeng Passendrik membeli rumah dan kedai tersebut melalui jualan lelong yang diadakan atau pembelian secara terus dari pemilik rumah. Ini dikuatkan lagi dengan rujukan tahun pembinaan rumah kedai yang dimiliki oleh beliau yang kebanyakkannya dibina antara tahun 1831 hingga 1859.

Namun peranan Daeng Passendrik dalam bidang hartanah tidak terhad sebagai pembeli deretan rumah kedai dan kediaman sahaja, malah beliau membiayai dan membina sendiri rumah-rumah sewanya. Daripada data yang dikemukan oleh Dr Imran bin Tajudeen (2011) dalam kajiannya, nama Daeng Passendrik muncul sebagai pemilik hartanah, melalui pembinaan rumah kedai, depot kayu balak, kompleks kandang kuda serta rumah kereta kuda. Beberapa pelan telah dihantar ke Building Authority untuk mendapatkan kelulusan pada tahun 1902,1904,1905 dan 1906 bagi pembinaan pelbagai jenis bangunan, dengan butiran berikut:

• Pelan 5505/1902 Pelan pembinaan depoh kayu balak di Terusan Jalan Rochore
• Pelan 7327/1904 Pelan pembinaan depoh kayu balak di persimpangan Jalan Rochore dan Terusan Jalan Rochore
• Pelan 8014/1905 Pelan pengubahsuaian rumah kedai di Jalan Arab
• Pelan 7833/1905 Pelan pembangunan semula rumah kedai di Jalan Arab
• Pelan 8493/1906 Pelan pembinaan 4 buah rumah kedai di Beach Road dan Java Road
• Pelan 8234/1906 Pelan pembangunan rumah kedai di Beach Road dan Java Road
• Pelan 8312/1906 Pelan membina dinding penghadang di Sungai Rochore

Pembinaan depoh kayu balak memberi indikasi penglibatan aktif Daeng Passindrik dalam aktiviti pengimpotan dan perdagangan kayu balak untuk industri pembinaan di Singapura dari Kalimantan.

Daeng Passendrik telah meninggal dunia di Singapura pada tahun 1907. Beliau meninggalkan harta yang banyak, daripada kenderaan, rumah persendirian, bahan mentah pembinaan rumah, tapak bangunan, ladang getah dan deretan rumah kediaman dan rumah kedai yang disewakan.

Sebuah wasiat telah disediakan oleh Daeng Passendrik pada September 1904, iaitu 3 tahun sebelum beliau meninggal dunia. Antara harta peninggalan beliau boleh disimpulkan seperti berikut:

Harta Benda: Kenderaan, Perabot dan Bahan Mentah Pembinaan

Satu unit kereta 7 tempat duduk dengan model “Studebaker”, jenama mewah dari USA.

Katil tembaga satu dan dua tingkat, kerusi, meja makan, tab mandi, jag minimuman, pintu, jam,lampu, meriam tembaga, meriam tembaga, 2000 keping 16 inc x 8 inch x 1 inch kapor flooring planks, 2000 Batam brick, 13 batang iron piles, 300 kayu bakau, 14 kapor beams, 90 keping 16inch x 8 inch x 1 inch kayu lantai berlian, 1 lot atap lantai dan atap Melaka, dan 1 lot brotee.

Senarai ini menunjukkan Daeng Passendrik merupakan pemaju perumahan yang aktif pada zamannya dengan menempatkan semua bahan mentah pembinaan dan perabot untuk hiasan dalaman di dalam gudang miliknya di persimpangan Thomson dan Balestier Road.

Harta Ladang dan Tapak Bangunan Perniagaan

1. Tapak bangunan di Thompson Road sebanyak 5 lot setiap satu 11 ekar, 2 ekar, 6 ekar, 17,000 meter persegi dan 2 ekar
2. Rumah kedai di Java Road dan Beach Road, 1,858 meter per segi dan Hutley House, No 136-1 Thomson Road seluas 2 ekar.
3. Ladang getah di Thompson Road, 52 ekar.
4. Tapak tanah rumah kedai di Kallang Road sebanyak 47 lot dengan keluasan antara 1,483 meter persegi hingga 2,295 meter persegi setiap lot
5. Tapak tanah rumah kedai di Crawfurd Road sebanyak 43 lot dengan keluasan antara 1,260 meter persegi hingga 2,743 meter persegi setiap lot

Harta Rumah dan Kedai Sewa

1. Deretan rumah sewa – 4 unit Cross Street, 4 unit Banda Street, 12 unit Sago Street, 8 unit Sago Lane, 1 unit South Bridge Road, 5 unit Hylam Street, 3 unit Bugis Street, 1 unit North Bridge Road, 11 unit Arab Street, 6 unit Beach Road, 10 unit Clyde Terra dan 6 unit Cheng Cheok Street.
2. Deretan rumah kedai –1 unit Boat Quay, 1 unit Smith Street, 2 unit South Bridge, 2 unit New Bridge, 5 unit Uppper Hokkien Street, 2 unit Merchants Road, 2 unit New Market Road, 3 unit Wayang Street, 2 unit Muar Road, 2 unit Beach Road, 4 unit Java Road, 6 unit Rochore Road, 9 unit Crawfurd Street, 23 unit Kallang Road, 2 unit Rochore Canal Road dan 3 unit Minto Road.

Jumlah pasaran bagi 71 lot harta rumah kediaman Daeng Passendrik pada ketika itu dinilaikan berjumlah $1,046,450.00, dengan keluasan 67,465 meter per segi. Daripada kesemua harta tersebut, Daeng Passendrik memperolehi sewa bulanan sejumlah $7,880.00 sebulan daripada 53 buah rumah kediaman yang disewakannya. Manakala jumlah kutipan sewa yang diperolehi daripada rumah kedai adalah sebanyak $4,514 sebulan. Jika jumlah ini di tambah dengan sewa rumah kediaman miliknya seperti di atas, pendapatan bulanan Daeng Passendrik dari hasil hartanahnya sahaja berjumlah $12,394.00, satu jumlah yang sangat besar pada ketika itu. Tidak hairanlah beliau merupakan hartawan Bugis yang utama di Singapura pada akhir awal kurun ke 21.

Sebagai contoh, di dalam satu petisyen mahkamah yang dilaporkan berlaku 13 Mei 1924, di dalam kes perkahwinan antara cucu Daeng Passendrik, Fatimah binti Lahalida dengan seorang Bugis dari Melaka, mahkamah diberitahu bahawa jumlah hasil kutipan sewa semua hartanah tinggalan Daeng Passendrik bernilai $100,000.00 setahun, dengan nilai taksiran tunai semasa harta tersebut adalah $3,000,000.00, manakala sebanyak $150,000.00 lagi hasil kutipan sewa tertangguh yang bakal menjadi milik Fatimah Lahalida sahaja.

Perkahwinan cucunya yang dilaporkan dalam akhbar Inggeris Singapura

Pada 21 July 1924, dilaporkan perkahwinan besar-besaran cucu Daeng Passendrik, Fatimah binti Lahalida dengan Labrahima, seorang Bugis dari keturunan bangsawan dari Melaka di Thompson Road, di mana letaknya kebanyakkan harta Daeng Passendrik. Majlis ini diserikan dengan kehadiran dif kehormat seperi Syed Omar dan Ibrahim Dendek, Justice of Peace (JP). Pengantin dinikahkan oleh Imam Haji Musa. Memandangkan kedua-dua ibu bapa Fatimah telah meninggal dunia, wali nikah jatuh kepada abangnya, yang juga seorang hartawan, Daeng Mohamad Tahir Daeng Lahalida.

Bahan Rujukan

Hamonic, Gilbert. 2000. ‘The Bugis-Makassar Merchant Networks: The Rise and Fall of the Principle of the Freedom of the Seas.’ In Asian merchants and businessmen in the Indian Ocean and the China Sea, eds. Denys Lombard and Jean Aubin. New York: Oxford University Press, 255-267.

Lineton, Jacqueline. 1975. ‘Pasompe’ Ugi’: Bugis Migrants and Wanderers.’ Archipel 10: 173-201.

Imran bin Tajudeen. 2011. “Sejarah Kota dan Senibina Masyarakat Pedagang Bugis/Makassar di Singapura, 1811-1940an.” Proceeding: Persidangan Konvensyen Antarabangsa Bugis Diaspora 25-28 November 2011. UTM Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

About the author and researcher

Daeng Paliweng is an independent researcher with an interest in documenting the Who’s Who among the Bugis in Singapore and other places in Malay Archipelago, particularly the individuals who have carved their names as important merchants, philanthropists and political or community leaders. He is a member of the Bugis Association of the State of Johor / Persatuan Bugis Negeri Johor (UGIK).

To quote this article:
Daeng Paliweng.  2015. “Haji Osman @Daeng Passendrik Ambo’ Dalle’ bin Haji Ali.” Singapura Stories,  21 Aug. http://singapurastories.com/2015/08/the-bugis-merchant-haji-osman-daeng-passendrik-ambo-dalle-bin-haji-ali/

English:

HAJI OSMAN @ DAENG PASSENDRIK AMBO’ DALLE’ BIN HAJI ALI

By Daeng Paliweng

Introduction

The name Daeng Passendrik is not well known as Ambo Sooloh (who is known for his work as the Municipal Commisioner, representing the Singapore Malay community) and his father Haji Omar Ambo Dai’ [Ambok Daik] bin Ali, another successful merchant of Wajo Bugis origin in Singapore. He, a multi-millionaire related to Haji Omar as mentioned, was part of the early few Bugis elite owning many properties in Singapore included shophouses and residences strewed over Kampong Rochor, in the year 1899. Daeng Passendrik was termed the “wealthy Bugis merchant” by the newspapers, Singapore Free Press and the Merchantile Advertiser.

One unique matter regarding the life history of Daeng Passendrik Ambo Dalle’ is the chronology which was arguably quite comprehensive, detailing how he achieved the status as one of the wealthy Bugis merchants of Singapore. Beginning as a shipping merchant, Daeng Passendrek showed how determination, hard work and consistency guaranteed a bright future not only for himself but also for his descendants to come. In reference to his recorded list of shipping activities, Daeng Passendrek began trading since the year 1865 and only after 30 years of wallowing in the trading enterprise and fighting for his life sailing throughout the malay world, Daeng Passendrik showed how malays in general could succeed in the metropolitan city of Singapore which was governed by the British, without showing favour to his Bugis community nor discriminating against the malay populace. (editorial note: except in the use of the British account system with their Chinese comprador in taxing the monopoly trade of alcohol, opium, gambling, and prostitution). In the realm of the free market, Daeng Passendrik spent most of his life trading from Pasir to build capital and diversify his trade to achieve a prosperous life, to be inherited by his descendants. Al Fatihah.

His origins

There are a few legends regarding the lineage of Daeng Passandrik according to the researcher Gilbert Harmonic (2000), Daeng Passendrik and his relatives were descendants of La Pallawa Daeng Marowaq, a nobleman of Bugis Wajo origin who built a trade centre in Muara Pasir, under the Pasir dominion along the eastern shoreline of Kalimantan. La Pallawa was one of the followers of La Madukkeleng, Arung Peneki and Arung Singkang, whereas Jacqueline Lineton (1975) stated, based on communications from her informants in Singapore and Sulawesi, that a fellow Bugis merchant of great wealth in Singapore married the stepsister of a Bugis Wajo community in Sulawesi, who is Petta Ranreng Tua, whose mother was a commoner. The said Bugis merchant had the title “Daeng” and was said to part with a large portion of property in Singapore, that was made up of shophouses, rental residences and many other plots of land, to his wife as a “bride price” (mas kahwin, literally marriage gold) to enable him to marry her.

Daeng Passendrik, according to his heirs, was born in Singapore. Yet most of his life was spent sailing and trading between the Dutch colony ports. His name was documented on a Dutch shipping list as a navigator who sailed between Pasir, Surabaya, Batavia and Singapore. Two documents can be found clearly indicating the shiiping lanes of Daeng Passendrik.  The first stated, in the period between 1870-1880, he frequently sailed between Pasir, Kalimantan and Batavia. In the second phase, between 1880 till 1890, Daeng Passendrik often traded between Pasir and Surabaya. What is certain is that all his shipping activities for the next 20 years were based in Pasir.

Pasir was part of early Bugis colonies in Kalimantan. It was a shipping trade port, made successful by the Bugis Wajo, which included Arung Sengkang, a nobleman and wealthy Wajo from Sengkang, Sulawesi. Arung Sengkang, or his actual name La Maddukelleng, arrived in Pasir in the year 1725 together with a fleet of ships to establish a new colony, after long trading in the Straits of Malacca, mainly Johor and Riau. With him were 7 middle class Wajo noblemen who spread the Bugis Wajo influence in the scope of shipping and trading through the trading monopoly region of east Kalimantan, stretching to the straits of Makassar. Before leaving Pasir to become Arung Matoa Wajo in Sulawesi, he trained a person of Bugis Wajo to be governor of Pasir.

Among the Bugis Wajo noblemen who settled in Pasir were La Pallawa Daenf Marowaq. He built a Bugis settlement at the mouth of Pasir and oversaw trade in Pasir. Through La Pallawa was said to be the descendants of Daeng Passendrik Ambo Dalle’ dan Haji Omar Ambo Dai’ stemmed from. It is not surprising that many shipping traders from Kalimantan such as noblemen of Pasir and Pegatan had business connections and close family links to Bugis merchants in Singapore.

A successful trader and navigator

Daeng Passendrik already owned his own ship as early as 1865, through ownership of a European “Schooner” sail ship with an 80 ton capacity from Riau. The ship was named “Tjian Goan Jaij” used by Daeng Passendrik for trade, most probably bringing the Gambir plantation yields from Riau to Singapore. Besides that, he owned and sailed using other ships of various European makes, that is a “schooner” named “Slamat”, “Bintang Slamat” and “Sri Bintang Slamat” spanning the years 1870-1890.  His biggest ship was the schooner “bintang Slamat” with a 200 ton capacity that had a Dutch flag on its mast in Pasir, Kalimantan. In summary, Daeng Passandrik maintained 10 ships for the Pasir-Surabaya route, 5 ships for the Pasir-Batavia route, and one ship each from Pasir, Semarang, Batavia and Banjarmasin, to Singapore. The total shipping routes maintained in the 18 years were 21.

The top commodity traded from Pasir were rotan, (approximately 178,500 batches were exported by Daeng Passandrik for the period 1870-1888). In that period, Pasir was one of the top exporters of rotan, alongside other main ports such as Banjarmasin and Pegatan.

Property trade in Singapore

After the year 1890, the name Daeng Passendrik was no longer in the shipping records of the Dutch. He had most probably sold off his ships and settled in Singapore. The accumulated wealth of his trade and the sale of his ship, the schooner Bintang Slamat, enabled Daeng Passendrik to divest his trading portfolio for him to then invest in property in Singapore. That step of involving himself in the property sector was one of the strategies that was done by many of the muslim community in Singapore. Singapore’s role as a capitalist city and international trade caused the shifts of cash and assets to happen freely. High liquidity came out of a rapid economy that was happening in Singapore. Many banks were set up to provide deposit services and loans for promising businesses.

Unfortunately, at that time, the concept of syariah banking that was halal (permissible in Islam) and free of riba (usury or unreasonably high interest) did not exist. Due to that, many of the Muslim community, especially the Arab and Bugis merchants, used rental homes and shophouses as a alternative tool instead of keeping their savings in the bank. If bank accounts were to accrue usury, property investment would instead provide investment returns in the form of monthly rentals. That is why in the year 1913, in a review by The Straits Times on 29 Nov 1913 stated that the rental rate of housing in Singapore has increased suddenly because of the merchant owners of arab and Bugis origin will be increasing their monthly rentals to optimize their  monthly investment returns. Other than that, the monthly rental rate was an indicator to value future property sale. A higher rental rate would fetch a higher sale price.

The above article provided an indication that the investment in property was the smartest approach that was taken by Daeng Passendrik and other Bugis tycoons in Singapore at that time to achieve a return that was more than sufficient for their family and future descendants.

There are no clear records to look into when Daeng Passendrik began buying rows of property in Singapore. Most probably, Daeng Passendrik bought the aforementioned houses and shops through auctions that were held or direct purchases from the owners. This is reinforced with references of the year construction of shophouses that were owned by him mostly took place between the year 1831 till 1859.

Yet the role of Daeng Passendrik in the field of property was not limited to just the purchases of rows of shophouses and residences, he also funded and built the rental homes in his own capacity. From data that was unearthed by Dr Imran Tajudeen (2011) in his research, the name Daeng Passandrik appeared as a lanlord, through shophouse construction, lumber depots, complexes to house stables and horse carriages. A number of his plans were sent to the Building Authority to obtain authorization in the year 1902, 1904, 1905, and 1906 to build a multitude of buildings such as the following:

Plan 5502/1902 Lumber depot building plan in Terusan Jalan Rochore

Plan 7327/1904 Lumber depot on the intersection of Jalan Rochore and Terusan Jalan Rochore

Plan 8014/1905  Shophouses renovation plan in Jalan Arab

Plan 7833/1905 Shophouse reconstruction plan in Jalan Arab

Plan 8493/1906 Construction plan of 4 shophouses in Beach Road and Java Road

Plan 8234/1906 Shophouse building plan in Beach Road and Java Road

Plan 8312/1906 Wall construction plan facing Sungai Rochore

The construction of a lumber depot provided an indication of an active involvement Daeng Passendrik in the import activities and the lumber trade for the building industry in Singapore from Kalimantan.

Daeng Passendrik passed away in Singapore in the year 1907. He left behind a large estate, consisting among others, vehicles, residences, construction raw materials, land, rubber plantations, and rows of rented out shophouses.

A will that was prepared by Daeng Passendrik on September 1904, 3 years before he passed away. Among his estate that was concluded are as follows:

Movable assets: vehicles, furniture and construction raw materials

One unit 7-seater car model “Studebaker”, a luxury brand from the USA.

One copper bed with double decks, chairs, dining tables, bathtubs, jugs, doors, clocks, lights, copper cannons, copper cannons, 2000 pieces 16 inches x 8 inches x 1 inch kapor flooring planks, 2000 Batam bricks, 13 shafts iron piles, 300 mangrove wood, 14 kapor beams, 90 pieces 16 inches x 8 inches x 1 inch wood flooring diamond, 1 lot roof flooring and Melaka roof, and 1 lot brotee.

The list shows that Daeng Passendrik was a successful and active developer in his time by obtaining all construction raw materials for interior design in his factory in the intersection of Thomson and Balestier Road.

Plantation field and commercial building plan

Building plan in Thompson Road numbering 5 lots of 11 acres, 2 acres, 6 acres, 17000 meter square and 2 acres.

Shophouse in Java Road and Beach Road, 1858 meter square and Hutley House, No 136-1 Thomson Road covering 2 acres

Rubber plantation in Thompson Road, 52 acres

shophouse Land plot in Kallang Road as much as 47 lot covering from 1483 meter square to 2295 meter square per lot

Shophouse land plot in Crawfurd Road totalling 43 lots covering between 1260 meter square to 2743 meter square per lot

Shophouse and residential properties

Rows of shophouses – 4 units Cross Street, 4 units Banda Street, 12 units Sago Street, 8 units Sago Lane, 1 unit South Bridge Road, 5 units Hylam Street, 3 units Bugis Street, 1 unit North Bridge Road, 11 units Arab Street, 6 units Beach Road, 10 units Clyde Terra and 6 units Cheng Cheok Street.

Row of shophouses –1 unit Boat Quay, 1 unit Smith Street, 2 units South Bridge, 2 units New Bridge, 5 units Uppper Hokkien Street, 2 units Merchants Road, 2 units New Market Road, 3 units Wayang Street, 2 units Muar Road, 2 units Beach Road, 4 units Java Road, 6 units Rochore Road, 9 units Crawfurd Street, 23 units Kallang Road, 2 units Rochore Canal Road and 3 units Minto Road.

The total market value for 71 residential lots of Daeng Passendrik of that time is $1,046,450.00 spread over 67465 meter square. From all the mentioned properties owned, Daeng Passendrik received a total of $7880.00 in monthly rentals from 53 residences. Whereas total rental receipts obtained from shophouses were $4514 per month. In total, the income from both sources come to $12394.00, a very large amount for that time. It is no wonder he became an important Bugis tycoon in the early 21^st century.

For example, one court petition reported in 13 May 1924, in a case involving the marriage of one of his granddaughters, Fatimah binti Lahalida with a Bugis from Melaka, the court was told that the total rental income inherited from Daeng Passendrik were worth $100,000.00 a month with a cash worth assessed at that time to be $3,000,000.00, whereas as much as $150,000 more rental income was intended for Fatimah Lahalida alone.

The marriage of his granddaughter as reported in the English newspaper of Singapore.

By 21 July 1924, a report of a large scale wedding of the granddaughter of Daeng Passendrik, Fatimah binti Lahalida with Labrahima, a bugis of noble lineage from Melaka in Thompson Road, where numerous properties of the estate of Daeng Passendrik was located. The occasion was graced by the attendance of honourable guests such as Syed Omar and Ibrahim Dendek, Justice of Peace (PI). The couple was wed by Imam Haji Musa. Considering the death of both of Fatimah’s parents, the responsibility as guardian fell upon her elder brother, also a merchant, Daeng Mohamed Tahir Daeng Lahalida.

References

Hamonic, Gilbert. 2000. ‘The Bugis-Makassar Merchant Networks: The Rise and Fall of the Principle of the Freedom of the Seas.’ In Asian merchants and businessmen in the Indian Ocean and the China Sea, eds. Denys Lombard and Jean Aubin. New York: Oxford University Press, 255-267.

Lineton, Jacqueline. 1975. ‘Pasompe’ Ugi’: Bugis Migrants and Wanderers.’ Archipel 10: 173-201.

Imran bin Tajudeen. 2011. “Sejarah Kota dan Senibina Masyarakat Pedagang Bugis/Makassar di Singapura, 1811-1940an.” Proceeding: Persidangan Konvensyen Antarabangsa Bugis Diaspora 25-28 November 2011. UTM Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

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