It forged dynastic rules with the surrounding Malay kingdoms in western Borneo including the sultanates of Sambas, Sukadana and Tanjungpura-Matan.

[5] The administration of the territory was then replaced by the local Malay governors appointed from Brunei, reunifying the area into the Bruneian empire.

The historical significance of the Sarawak Sultanate, alongside neighboring Malay kingdoms such as Santubong (near Kuching), Sadong (near Samarahan), Saribas, Kalaka (both in Betong Division), Lingga and Banting (both in Sri Aman) collectively shaped the pre-Brooke Sarawakian history.

However, the crowning of Abdul Jalil Akbar was objected by Pengiran Muda Tengah, claiming that the status of Abdul Jalilul was invalid as the elder prince was born before their father become the sultan, in contrast to the Pengiran who was born after his father's ascension to the throne, hence he believed that he had the superior right to inherit the kingdom.

[10][11] Sultan Tengah constructed a fortified palace in Sungai Bedil, Santubong in 1599,[5] turning the area into the royal, judicial and administrate capital of the kingdom.

The King allowed Sultan Tengah to perform his missionary activities with the local populace, despite himself being a Hindu ruler of Majapahit descent.

The long stay in Sambas also saw the marriage of Sultan Tengah's prince, Radin Sulaiman to Puteri Mas Ayu Bongsu, the princess of Ratu Sapundak.

[11][1] Following the death of Ratu Sapundak, the throne of Sambas was succeeded by Pengiran Prabu Kenchana who appointed Radin Sulaiman as one of his advisers.

Historical records noted that Ratu Sapundak had desired to appoint Sultan Tengah as his successor due to his expertise in governance and administration, although his request was highly objected by the members of the Sambas aristocracy due to their religious differences, with the members of the Sambas nobility being predominantly Hindu.

There, he married a local princess that gave birth to a son, Pengiran Mangku Negara, who later became the Sultan of Matan.

[12] The polity of Sukadana was ruled by a Javanese Hindu king, Penambahan Giri Mustika, he was later known as Sultan Muhammad Saifuddin after his conversion to Islam by Sheikh Shamsuddin, a missionary from Mecca.

[1] It was 300 years later in 1826, when Sultan Omar Ali of Brunei decided to establish a direct rule on Sarawak (Kuching region) by sending his nephew Pengiran Indera Mahkota there.

While his missionary activities transformed the native Hindu society into a Malay Muslim community in coastal Borneo, his political marriage and alliances established new dynastic houses to the kingdoms of Sambas and Matan.

[17] In 2017, a bridge named "Darul Hana" was built across the Sarawak River, connecting The Astana to the Kuching waterfront.