Warkah Diplomasi antara Kesultanan Melayuwiyyah Islamiyyah Terengganu dengan Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British, 1881-1918

The government of Great Britain, through the English East India Company (SHTI), began to expand its power in Malaya by occupying Penang in 1786. This European power has brought a threat to the sovereignty of the Malay Kings. However, the Terengganu Islamic Malay Sultanate under the leadership of Sultan Zainal Abidin III, managed to deal with it wisely through diplomacy. Sultan Zainal Abidin III managed to deal with it wisely through diplomacy. Sultan Zainal Abidin III established good relations with the British through the sending of royal correspondence, that allowed Terengganu to remain sovereign and free from foreign influence, especially Siam. With this diplomatic approach, Terengganu became the only Malay Muslim state that remained independent under British protection. Accordingly, this article analyzes the structure and content of diplomatic documents between the Sultanate of Terengganu and the British High Commissioner during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III (1881-1918). This study uses a qualitative approach, historical research methods and library methods. A total of 10 diplomatic correspondences between Sultan Zainal Abidin III and the British High Commissioner have been selected from the Malaysian National Archives Collection. The documents were then analyzed through the document analysis method. The results of the study show that this diplomatic relationship not only guarantees the sovereignty of the state of Terengganu, but also this bilateral relationship has a positive effect on the economic growth, security, and well-being of the people of the state.