Koh anak Jubang

Koh anak Jubang MBE, commonly known as Temenggong Koh, (13 May 1870 – 4 November 1956) was an Iban tribal chief. During his lifetime, he was formally recognised as the first Paramount Chief of the Ibans with the title of Temenggong by the Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, the third Rajah of Sarawak.

Early life Koh was said to have been born in the Dutched-controlled territory of Borneo on 13 May 1870, the same day as a well-known local rebellion led by a local Kanowit chief named Lintong Moahari in Sibu. As an infant, his family moved to Song in the Sarawak Raj.

It is known that he became a penghulu or local chieftain of the Iban of the Rajang area before 1924.

1924 Kapit Peacemaking On 16 November 1924, the Brooke government convened a peacemaking ceremony in Kapit, Sarawak, to resolve long-standing inter-tribal conflicts. The gathering brought together Iban leaders from the Rajang and Batang Ai areas, Orang Ulu chiefs from Balui and Apo Kayan, alongside British and Dutch colonial officials.

The ceremony was partly facilitated by Koh as the local chieftain of the Rajang Iban with the resulting agreement formally ending the practice of headhunting and established a framework for inter-tribal negotiation, trade, and regional stability. Among those present at the event was Penghulu Melintang, grandfather to Malaysia Agreement signatory, Tun Jugah.

In the same year, the Governor-General of Malaya Malcolm MacDonald visited Sarawak and met Koh and the two formed a close friendship.

Koh retired in 1955 as paramount chief but stayed active as a prominent and distinguished tribal leader.

Daniel Jubang Kanyan, Koh's grandson, is involved in local politics and business, in addition to being a member of the Sarawak United Bumiputera Heritage Party (PBB).

Honours

Sarawak Government Long Service Decoration (1941)