With improved security in the Acehnese homeland the sultan strove to expand commercial relations with the British who had posts in Madras in India and Bengkulu on Sumatra.
One reason was that the Chinese had begun to avoid Aceh in favour of the more attractive Riau Archipelago south of the Malay Peninsula.
With decreasing incomes from trade Jamal ul-Alam tried to tighten control over commerce and port duties all over Aceh.
According to a story, the chiefs of Batubara feigned submission and sent poisoned young coconuts to the sultan who drank the juice without suspicion.
[4] One chronicle alleges that Jamal ul-Alam's popularity sank since he used African retainers who performed much mischief in Aceh.
[5] Two years after the defection of Batubara the sultan visited the XXII Mukims, one of the three sagis (regions) in which Aceh was divided.
The plans leaked out, however; Muda Setia fled and collected substantial troops to withstand Jamal ul-Alam.
When Alauddin Ahmad Syah died in 1735, the ex-ruler Jamal ul-Alam was invited back to Kutaraja by the uleëbalangs (chiefs) to deliberate about a new sultan.
[8] After a defeat at Kampong Jawa, Jamal ul-Alam barely escaped by wearing women's cloths.