Malaysian's Warrior...Mat Kilau in Memory: RE-EMERGENCE OF THE LEGENDARY WARRIOR

Rumours of his death were written in English papers published in Singapore. The Straits Times and The Free Press stated, “Traitors, Dato’ Bahaman had fallen to the hands of the Siamese rulers in October 1985” while the Free Press stated that “Mat Kilau, while resisting arrest, had sustained injuries in the face and head. His wounds were mortal and he had died on the way to Kota Bharu due to excessive bleeding.”

With news of his death circulating by newspaper The Free Press in 22nd October 1895, it was generally accepted by the public that he was no more. What truly became of him was not known except to few of his friends such as Mustafa bin Awang Mat (Jusoh Rimau), Pendekar Tok Demali, Raja Ibrahim (Pak Him), Mat Kelantan and few others.

The British had actually been misled by Mat Kilau into thinking that he was dead, ending their various pursuits in the jungles of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, which they tried in many times previously.

There were actually two versions of his death recorded in the history books. One version is that he died during an ambush by Siamese soldiers at a ceremony in Kelantan. Another version is that he died on the way to the Kuala Reh beach. These deaths were believed to have occurred around 1895.

It is interesting to note on the first version that he actually pretended dead, since he possessed this supernatural ability to stop heart and breathing movements for a few hours, making his death looked authentic, even upon examination. It was said that a banana stem was later inserted in place of his body into the grave.

When he re-emerged in 1969, the public was informed that he had made a pledge to Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, to stay peacefully in the state and not to reveal his true identity to anyone.

Mat Kilau led a quiet life at Kampung Batu 5, Jalan Kuantan, Pekan for more than 35 years. During this quiet period he assumed various names, including Mat Siam.

He came out in the open on 26th December 1969, accompanied by his son, Omar bin Mat Kilau, and announced his true identity at the Masjid (Mosque) Pulau Tawar, near Jerantut. He was about 122 years old then.