ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the legacies of imperial propaganda, specifically the idea of the man on the spot. In the Victorian era, the builders of empire were valorised and memorialised as heroes, and figures such as Stamford Raffles and James Brooke both held important places in the history of the British imperial presence in Southeast Asia. A comparison between the two is arguably important because Brooke’s actions in Sarawak were seen to be motivated by a ‘Rafflesian vision’ for Southeast Asia. This chapter traces the complex issues of imperial propaganda, the legacies of empire and memorialisation to explore how Stamford Raffles and James Brooke are represented in postcolonial Singapore and Sarawak. This chapter also questions the extent to which representations of the ‘colonial past’ have found new utility in attracting tourists.
