Jason Desmond Anthony Brooke

Jason Desmond Anthony Brooke, MPhil FRAS (born 22 April 1985) is the grandson of the last ruling Rajah Muda of Sarawak, His Highness Anthony Walter Dayrell Brooke, and a prominent representative of the Brooke Dynasty in Sarawak.[1]

Jason Brooke at a press conference in Kuching

Background

Born in London, Brooke grew up in there, in Edinburgh and the East Coast of Ireland, reading English Literature at University College Dublin, and earning an MPhil International Relations from Trinity College, Dublin. In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society. He is a Life Member and Committee Member of the Sarawak Association, founded by his great grandfather Bertram, Tuan Muda of Sarawak in 1924.[2]

Jason Brooke founded along with his brother and father, The Brooke Heritage Trust, and through it has supported and promoted an appreciation of Sarawak's heritage, managing the digitisation of the Papers of the Brookes of Sarawak in 2012, and frequently visiting Sarawak in his role as representative of the Brooke family.[3] In 2012 it was announced that Jason would be appointed 'Honorary Curator' of the new Brooke Gallery to be housed in Fort Margherita Kuching.[4] He has been responsible for signing important memorandums with the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak State Library in Kuching, and has been appointed technical advisor on an upcoming feature film on the life of his ancestor Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak.[5]

In 2011, Brooke was involved in seeking a formal exhoneration from the British Government for his grandfather, over allegations Anthony Brooke had been complicit in the assassination of the Second Governor of Sarawak in 1949. The release of previously missing records clearing Anthony's name led to a BBC Radio 4 documentary aired in March 2011, just weeks after Anthony's death.[6] In 2013, Brooke brought his grandfather's ashes to Sarawak for burial following a large public memorial service. The Acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia attended and offered an apology on behalf of Great Britain, clearing Anthony Brooke's name of any involvement.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Paramount chief descendants thankful to the White Rajahs – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo". Theborneopost.com. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  2. ↑ "The Brooke Heritage Trust". Brooketrust.org. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  3. ↑ "Brooke records now available to public". New Sarawak Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  4. ↑ "Fort Margherita to house historical artefacts – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo". Theborneopost.com. 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  5. ↑ "'White Rajah' movie worth USD 15 mill expected to shoot next year - Latest - New Straits Times". Nst.com.my. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  6. ↑ Thomson, Mike (2012-03-12). "BBC News - The stabbed governor of Sarawak". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  7. ↑ "Farewell to the Crown Prince – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo". Theborneopost.com. Retrieved 2014-02-04.