At the time of chaotic situation in Sarawak, a British explorer, James Brooke, came to Sarawak. Brooke came to Sarawak from Singapore as he had heard about Sarawak's economic potentials. Also, at this time, Brooke met the Prime Minister (Bandahara) Pengiran Muda Hashim, who was the uncle of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II, and the two became close friends. Pengiran Muda Hashim asked for Brooke's assistance to help him to suppress the disturbances in Sarawak, in return, Pengiran Muda Hashim ensured the appointment of Brooke as the new Governor of Sarawak, after the current Governor Raja Pengiran Indera Mahkota had been deposed. There is no clear reason why Brooke later accepted Pengiran Muda Hashim's offer.