Muhammad Shah of Brunei established the Sultanate of Brunei in the 14th century after converting to Islam. He ruled as Sultan until his death in 1402. Oknha Son Kuy was a governor in Cambodia who was beheaded in 1841 for defending Khmer culture and religion against the Vietnamese. In his last words, he urged Cambodians to remain united and preserve their national identity. Lim Bo Seng was a hero of Singapore who led resistance against the Japanese during World War 2. As a leader of Force 136, he was captured and tortured but refused to reveal any information to the enemy, dying in captivity.

1. Name: Claribel C. Ayanan
BME-III
POSITION PAPER IN ASEAN
THE NATIONAL HEROES OF ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES
BRUNEI
Awang Alak Betatar (Muhammad Shah)
o First sultan of Brunei
o Established the sultanate of Brunei
o The Sha-er Awang Semaun legend says that
he founded Brunei with his brothers.
Description:
The current Sultanate of Brunei was formed by
Muhammad Shah, with the help of his brothers Awang Pateh Berbai (also known
as Ahmad of Brunei, the third Sultan of Brunei) and Awang Semaun. He ruled from
1368 to his death in 1402. He ruled as Raja Awang Alak Betatar until the early 1360s, at
which point he converted to Islam to marry the daughter of the King of Temasik (Old
Singapore, known as that time in Brunei as Johor).
Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Shah_of_Bruneii
CAMBODIA
Oknha Son Kuy
o Governor of Preach Trapeang province
o Beheaded in 1841 by the Vietnamese so that
Khmer Krom may practice their religion and
culture.
o Died for Khmer nation and religion in 1821
Last Words

2. “I am moved very much to have seeing [our] compatriots and Buddhist monks
before I depart this life. I beg for your forgiveness from [our] compatriots and their
Venerable Buddhist monksfor I do not possess sufficient ability to serve our Motherland
any more. Therefore I must end my life so that our [Khmer] Nation lives on without a bit
of remorse. Now our custom, tradition, culture and Khmer Buddhism have returned after
the demand. Therefore, may Your Venerable Buddhist Monks and all compatriots
preserve, defend, protect and guard them religiously from perishing. May Your Venerable
Buddhist Monksand compatriotsremember and understand clearly that our Khmer race
used to be superior and widely known throughout the world. Therefore we must be firm
and united always, do not believe the enemy’stricks, do not sell yourself to any enemies
so that they can kill your own nation and compatriots for personal interest. In the end, I
believe clearly that I, as an individual, die, but...there will be millions of future Khmer
children and compatriots, who are highly patriotic and bravely willing to sacrifice, die,
defend, protect, guard and preserve the national sovereignty, liberty, Buddhism and
Khmer race so they can live on.”
Retrieved from: http://www.khmerkromngo.org/oknha-son-kuy/
SINGAPORE
Lim Bo Seng
o Set up the Sino-British guerrilla task force Force
136
o Refused to provide the Japanese with any
information about Force 136 despite being
subjected to severe torture.
Description:
Lim Bo Seng is a national hero in Singapore for his resistance
to Japanese forcesduring World War II. A native Chinese who moved
to Singapore as a child, Lim led efforts to raise funds to help China fight Japanese
invasion in the late 1930s. When the Japanese captured Singapore, Lim escaped to India
and joined Force 136, a group of resistance fighters organized by the British. He was
captured after infiltrating Japanese territoryin 1944; despite punishment and torture, he

3. refused to reveal the names of other resistance fighters. He died in captivity, becoming a
martyr to the cause of Singapore.
Retrieved from: http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/limboseng.html
LAOS
King Chao Anouvong
Description:
Chao Anouvong (1767-1829), or Chao Anou for
short, was the last king of the former Lao kingdom of Lane
Xang. He ruled from 1805 to 1828 in Vientiane and came to
power after his brother’s death. Chao Anouvong had long
been an ally of the Thai monarchs against Burmese invaders
but unfortunately his accomplishments and support of the Thai kingdom was not well
recognized. From 1826 to 1828 Chao Anouvong rebelled against Siam in an attempt to
gain independence from Siam.
Chao Anouvong initially captured the Thai stronghold of Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) with
his army. He assumed that the local Lao people would follow and support him in his
attempt to liberate the area inhabited mostly by Lao people (modern-dayIsaan province).
The support, however, wasnot as great as expected and Chao Anouvong had to withdraw
his forces. Lady Mo, the deputy governor’swife, is known for harassing the Lao invaders
while they were withdrawing. Finally Chao Anouvong’sarmy was defeated in a three-day
skirmish near Vientiane and the Siamese King Rama III ordered his troops to sack and
occupy Vientiane.
Retrieved from : http://jclao.com/chao-anouvong-laos-last-king
THAILAND
King Naresuan

4. o Known for his campaigns to free Thailand from Bamars under the
Taungoo Dynasty
o Vanquished the leader of his enemies in the Elephant Battle, a one -
on-one battle fought on the backs of elephants.
History:
At the age of nine, he had been taken as hostage to
Burma for six years. On his return to Ayutthaya, he was given
the principality to govern by his father. He developed his
military expertise. When his father died, he was made King of
Ayutthaya in 1590 at the age of thirty- five.
During his reign, many armies attacked the city of
Ayutthaya. As a great warrior king, he liberated Ayutthaya from
Burma. He led the soldiers into battles to defend the country
against Burmese invasions several times. With courage, he
declared the independence of Ayutthaya at Muang Kraeng in
May, 1584. In the most famouscombat, King Naresuan had a duel on elephants with the
Burmese Crown Prince at Nong Sa Rai near Suphanburi Province in January, 1593. He won
and killed the Burmese Crown Prince in combat on elephant back. King Naresuan
succeeded in his offensive against both Burmese and Cambodians who made a series of
raids. During his reign, King Naresuan restored national independence and extended
Ayutthaya's territory to include Lanna, Lanchang, Cambodia and some parts of Burma. He
also made Ayutthaya such a powerful country that no enemy threatened the walls of
Ayutthaya again for a period of one hundred seventy three years.
Retrieved from :
https://teachers.net/lessonplans/posts/1961.html
INDONESIA
General Raden Sudirman
o First commander-in-chief of Indonesian
Armed Forces

5. o Known for his unwavering selfless patriotism, prioritizing the nation’s
security and sovereignty above his life
o Unified the disparate rival Indonesian armed groups that formed after
the Japanese defeat.
History:
General sudirman known as one of the mighty services Indonesia, remembered is
in the struggle for independence day of the Republic of Indonesia. General Soedirman
according to Great spelling Soewandi read Sudirman, He is one of those people who have
five-star rank besides Suharto and A H. Nasution. General of the army Indonesia was
born in Bodas Karangjati, Rembang, Purbalingga, January 24, 1916. His father was
named, Karsid Kartawiuraji and his mother called Siyem, his mother,.
But he was more lives with his uncle named Raden Cokrosunaryo after adopted.
When Sudirman moved to Cilacap in 1916, he joined with Islamic organization
Muhammadiyah and a student who diligently and active in extracurricular activities. His
capacity in led and organise and obedience in Islam made he was honored by the
community. General Sudirman was one of the great figures among the very few other
people who has ever been born by a revolution.
Retrieved form : http://wina-rto.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-great-general-
sudirman.html
PHILIPPINES
Jose Rizal (Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo
Realonda)
o Wrote 2 novels that criticized Philippines’
Spanish colonizers and helped spark the
rebellion
o Called on Spanish authorities to institute
reforms such as granting freedom of the
press and Filipino representation in the
Spanish Cortes.

6. History
Rizal was born in the Philippines' Laguna Province. He studied medicine in Manila
but left to complete his degree in Spain in 1882. While in Europe, Rizal wrote multiple
worksthat exposed the immorality of Spanish colonial rule and advocated for reform in
the Philippines, particularly rallying for equal treatment of Filipinos, curbing the power of
Spanish friars and allowing for Filipino representation in the Spanish political system.
When Rizal returned to the Philippines, he founded a group that championed non-violent
protest. Despite his peaceful ways, he was exiled from the Philippines to the island of
Mindanao.
Eventually, Rizal was allowed to return to the Philippines as an army doctor, but
within a year of his return, a Filipino nationalist society called the Katipunan revolted.
Though Rizal had no connectionsto the group and did not approve of the group's violent
methods, Rizal was nonetheless arrested, tried, convicted of sedition and executed by
public firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896. Rizal's execution further sparked opposition to
Spanish rule, and in 1898, the Philippines were liberated from Spanish rule.
Retrieved from: http://filipinojournal.com/national-hero/
MALAYSIA
Mahathir Mohamad
o Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia
o Granted the soubriquet of Bapa
Pemodenan (father of Modernization)
o Named a Grand Commander of the Order
of the Defender of the Realm
Description:
Mahathir had a significant impact on the economy, culture and government of
Malaysia. He won five consecutive elections and served for 22 years, longer than any
other prime minister in Malaysia’s history. Under him, Malaysia experienced rapid
economic growth. He began privatizing government enterprises, including airlines,
utilities and telecommunications, which raised money for the government and improved

7. working conditionsfor many employees, although many of the beneficiaries were UMNO
supporters. One of his most significant infrastructure projects was the North-South
Expressway, a highway that runs from the Thai border to Singapore.
Retrieved from: http://www.biography.com/people/mahathir-mohamad-
9395417#prime-minister
MYANMAR
Aung San
o Responsible for bringing Burma’s
independence from British rule
o Recognized as the leading architect of
independence
o Founded the union of Burma
Description:
Aung San was a revolutionary nationalist leader of Burmese origin. He is regarded
as the father of modern-dayBurma. He took the initiative to set up the Communist Party
of Burma and played a vital role in the independence of Burma from the British rule. His
political activity reflected his anti-British and anti-imperialist ideology. At the beginning
of his political career in national politics, be became a ‘Thakin’ after joining the Dobama
Asiayone or Our Burma Union. He worked for the establishment of the All-Burma
Peasants League. Along with Dr. Ba Maw, he was instrumental in setting up the Freedom
Bloc. During the World War II, Japanese Emperor Hirohito conferred him the Order of the
Rising Sun. With the help of the Japanese, he formed a Burmese military force namely the
Burma Independence Army. Later, he became sceptical about the promises made by the
Japanese about true independence of Burma and switched to the Allies. He played a
crucial part in the formation of the Anti-Fascist organization.He led the Burmes National
Army in a revolt against the Japanese occupiersand helped the Allies defeat the Japanese.
His successful negotiation at the Panglong Conference wasan important step towardsthe
independence of Burma. Unfortunately, he was assassinated six months before Burma
attained independence.
Retrieved from : http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/general-aung-san-
3327.php

8. VIETNAM
Ho Chi Minh
o Declared Vietnam’s independence and became the
first president of the republic.
o Instrumental role in the defeat of French forces in
1945 at Dien Bien Phu
Description:
Ho Chi Minh first emerged as an outspoken voice for
Vietnamese independence while living as a young man in France
during World War I. Inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution, he joined
the Communist Party and traveled to the Soviet Union. He helped
found the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 and the League for the Independence of
Vietnam, or Viet Minh, in 1941. At World War II’s end, Viet Minh forces seized the
northern Vietnamese city of Hanoi and declared a Democratic State of Vietnam (or North
Vietnam) with Ho as president. Known as “Uncle Ho,” he would serve in that position for
the next 25 years, becoming a symbol of Vietnam’sstruggle for unification during a long
and costly conflict with the strongly anti-Communist regime in South Vietnam and its
powerful ally, the United States.
Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/ho-chi-minh