Spenser St. John, among other authors, describes his personality and method of thinking in his book The Life of Sir Jame Brooke as follows: "He was probably the most intelligent Malay whom we ever met in Borneo, frank and open in manner, but looked upon us the most cunning of the raja's advisers.

He both reads and writes his own language, and is well acquainted with the government, laws and custom of Boreno" in his book Rajah and Rebels (1970).

His manner, schooled, perhaps, by subtle dissimulation, seems at once lively, frank and engaging; his descriptions of countries and people are so graphic that he is difficult to doubt their fidelity.

''[4] Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, who was in power in 1820, summoned Pengiran Salleh to return to Brunei.

Later in 1827, he was assigned the responsibility of serving as the Sultan of Brunei's representative as head of government or Governor of Sarawak.

Pengiran Muda Hashim, the son of Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, was dispatched by Brunei to quell the uprising.

The commitment made between James Brooke and Pengiran Muda Hashim was known to him, who perceived it as a threat that may result in Brunei being smaller and weaker.

The warning was issued on 24 September 1841, as Pengiran Salleh had garnered local support in numerous river cities in Sarawak later in the mid-19th century.

[11] He remained in Mukah for a while and didn't return to Brunei until 1845,[12] when he was called back by Pengiran Anak Abdul Momin, the Sultan's son-in-law and personal assistant.

He began writing Syair Rakis while en route to Brunei, and after spending some time there, he finished it.

Both Pengiran Anak Abdul Momin and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien II received copies of his book.

[3] Pengiran Salleh, who could not swim, drowned when his boat capsized on the route to Limbang at a spot called Lubai.

[3][13] There are conflicting sources on the story such as, claims that he was buried in Lubok Madung in Sambas,[2] and him being strangled to death by his opponents.

Associate Dr. Haji Hashim bin Haji Abdul Hamid makes the following assumptions on the composition date of this Syair Rakis: "This Syair Rakis was presented by Pengiran Shahbandar Mohammad Salleh ibnu Pengiran Sharmayuda to Sultan Abdul Momin as his hand after traveling for many years in the land of people.

And when Sultan Abdul Momin invited him back to Brunei, the poem was written on the return voyage, which was approximately in 1843 / 1844.

While Jamil Al-Sufri stated: "Pengiran Indera Mahkota composed Raks' poetry while traveling from Mukah to Brunei and was subsequently worshiped to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien II (1828–1852)."