Kampung Cempaka

**Kampung Cempaka** is a village located in Lanchang, in Pahang, a state in Malaysia.

**Kampung Cempaka,** Semantan **– Historical and Cultural Significance**

**Kampung Cempaka** is a village located near the historic **Semantan River** in the state of **Pahang, Malaysia**. The settlement is noted for its **rich cultural lineage**, tracing its roots to a mix of Mandailing communities (Batubara & Nasution) from North Sumatra Indonesia, Rao (Rawa) ethnic groups, and descendants of the **Bruneian royal family** Brunei. This unique demographic composition has played a key role in shaping the local socio-political landscape, particularly during the colonial resistance movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

**Cultural Heritage**

**Kampung Cempaka** is distinguished by its **ancestral ties to various Nusantara ethnicities**:

* **Mandailing** migrants (Batubara & Nasution) from **North Sumatra**, known for their structured clan systems and Islamic scholarship.
* **Rao** **(Rawa)** people, originally from the west coast of Sumatra, who settled in the Malay Peninsula during the colonial era.
* **Bruneian** **royal bloodlines**, contributing to a legacy of leadership, nobility, and warrior traditions in Pahang.

These communities intermarried and integrated over time, forming a tight-knit society known for producing **respected religious leaders, warriors, and community elders**.

Notable Historical Figure: ***Panglima Perang Weh known as Imam Besar Imam Perang Weh (Imam Yaakob bin Jaafar Ali)***

One of the most renowned individuals born in Kampung Cempaka is:

***Imam Yaakob bin Jaafar Ali, also known as:***

* **Panglima** **Perang Weh** (War Commander Weh)
* **Imam** **Perang Weh**
* **Imam** **Besar** (Grand Imam)

**Biographical Summary:**

* **Full** **Name:** Yaakob bin Jaafar Ali
* **Titles:** Imam Besar, Panglima Perang Weh
* **Heritage:** Royal lineage from Brunei
* **Place** **of Birth:** Kampung Cempaka, Semantan, Pahang
* **Historical** **Role:** Listed among the prominent **Pahang** **warriors**
* **Family** **Connections:** Grandnephew and cousin-in-law of Dato’ Bahaman, a key figure in the Malay resistance against British colonisation

**Legacy:**

Imam Perang Weh is remembered for both his **spiritual leadership** and **military contributions** during periods of resistance and unrest in colonial Malaya. His influence, particularly in the Semantan region, was significant in uniting traditional warrior families under shared Islamic and cultural values.

**Significance of** Semantan River

The **Semantan River**, near which Kampung Cempaka is situated, has historically served as a **strategic and cultural artery**. It connected various interior settlements to the Pahang River and served as a vital route for both trade and defense.

**Modern Relevance**

Today, Kampung Cempaka stands as a **symbol of multicultural integration and historical resilience**. It serves as an important reference point for researchers and descendants tracing the intertwined legacies of **Indonesian migrant communities** and **Bruneian nobility** in Pahang's past.

Efforts are underway by local historians and cultural preservation groups to **document oral histories, preserve ancestral grave sites**, and promote awareness of the village’s historical importance.

**See Also**

* Dato’ Bahaman
* History of Pahang Resistance
* Mandailing Migration in the Malay Peninsula
* Mandailing People Pahang
* **Bruneian** **Royal** Diaspora

## Basic Facilities
### Education
#Lubok Terua National School
#Datuk Bahaman National Secondary School
 
### Place of Worship
#Kampung Chempaka Mosque Lanchang Pahang
 
## Postcode
Postcode 28500

## References

**References**

* <small>State archives of Pahang (Jabatan Arkib Negara Malaysia)</small>
* Oral history interviews with Kampung Cempaka elders
* “Sejarah Pahlawan Pahang” – Local historical accounts
* <small>Transformation of Traditional Mandailing Leadership in Indonesia and Malaysia in the age of Globalization and Regional Autonomy</small>
* <small>Academic</small> <small>papers on Mandailing & Rawa Migration to the Malay Peninsula in the 19th Century: The Case of Pahang</small>
 
## Pautan luar
* Lokasi '''Kampung Cempaka''' di Peta Google