German scholar uncovers Sabah links to legendary 'Sandokan'
LABUAN (Aug 14): Dr Bianca M. Gerlich, a German researcher specializing in Austronesian cultures and the history of Borneo, is working on a biography of Sharif Osman of Marudu.
To this end, she has made multiple trips to Labuan and Sabah, interviewing locals with historical knowledge and consulting archival materials.
Her latest visit, lasting two and a half weeks, was devoted mainly to historical research.
A former lecturer at the Sabah Society, Dr Gerlich discovered that 'Sandokan' — long thought to be a purely fictional hero created by Italian writer Emilio Salgari — may have been a real 19th-century figure. In Sabah, oral accounts and some historical records mention a man by this name, with variations across different traditions.
Her research expanded from Italian literature into Austronesian studies to better understand Sandokan's homeland, culture, language, and history. She has now traveled to Southeast Asia 12 times, interviewing descendants of the historical figure.
She found that Sandokan was a friend and comrade-in-arms of Sharif Osman, who fought against the British in 1845 before being defeated.
The 'Tiger Flag' — associated with resistance — once flew over Marudu, and Dr Gerlich believes it may also have flown over the island known in Salgari's novels as Mompracem. She suggests this island may correspond to Keraman or Kuraman, near Labuan, which Sharif Osman claimed along with Labuan Island itself.
Dr Gerlich theorizes that Sandokan, the Tiger Flag, and Mompracem were all symbols of the struggle for freedom against European invaders and their allies.
While indigenous written records are scarce, the question of how Salgari learned about Sandokan remains a mystery.
Having completed a doctoral dissertation on Sharif Osman and published academic papers on Sandokan, Mompracem, and Sabah history, Dr Gerlich continues to give academic lectures in both literary and Southeast Asian studies.
Labuan–BIMP-EAGA Business Council Joint Tourism Development Cluster head Jerry Teo said that meeting Dr Gerlich reinforced his view that government departments and tourism agencies should tap into Labuan's rich cultural heritage.
He sees potential for cultural tourism, international creative industry investment, and even film and television adaptations to promote Labuan's history to the world.
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