As Malays, the Sambas do not have a tradition of violence but allied with the Dayak due harassment of the migrant Madurese over the course of many decades.

[1] The Madurese first arrived in Borneo in 1930 under the transmigration program initiated by the Dutch colonial administration, and continued by the Indonesian government.

[2] After the Madurese massacred the Sambas Malays in Parit Setia while exiting the local mosque after performing the Muslim Aid al-Adha prayer, the Sambas Malays lost all patience with the harassment and murdering on the part of the Madurese.

They thus joined forces with the Dayaks to resist the attacks of the Madurese in the Sambas district.

Some of the Indonesian soldiers that were sent to quell the riots were attacked by the Sambas Malays and Dayaks due to their support for the Madurese.