Sarawak
From SgWiki
Sarawak historic state that is now a part of Malaysia. It comprises the northwestern part of the island of Borneo and is bounded by the British protectorate of Brunei and Sabah (Malaysia) on the north and by Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan) on the east and south. Sarawak has a low-lying and heavily indented coastline along the South China Sea.
Much of its area is covered by primary rain forest. The alluvial, swampy coastal plain is backed by rolling country that is intersected by mountains and numerous navigable rivers.Sarawak became the southern province of the sultanate of Brunei when the Majapahit empire of Java declined in the 15th century.
James Brooke, an English adventurer and a former military officer of the East India Company, visited the territory in 1839 and aided the sultan in suppressing a revolt. As a reward for his services, Brooke was installed (1841) as raja of Sarawak over the sector from Tanjung Datu to the Batang (River) Samarahan; there he endeavoured to suppress piracy and headhunting.
Sarawak was recognized as a separate state by the United States (1850) and Great Britain (1864) and, until 1905, was gradually enlarged through purchase and annexation. In 1868 Brooke died and was succeeded as raja by a nephew, Charles Brooke. The latter ruled until 1917 and was succeeded by his son Charles Vyner Brooke. In 1941 the latter Brooke abrogated his absolute powers by enacting a constitution that was designed to establish democratic self-government, but the effort was delayed by the Japanese occupation (1942-45). The territory, devastated by war, was ceded to the British crown in 1946.
Sarawak achieved self-government and joined Malaysia in 1963.The economy of Sarawak is almost entirely agricultural, with cash-crop production (rubber, pepper, and sago small holdings) confined to the coastal zone; subsistence and shifting agriculture extends into the interior. Rice is also widely grown. The main exports are petroleum products, timber, and rubber. Industries include sawmilling and the processing of sago, copra, and pepper. Textiles, metal containers, soap, tiles, and small boats are manufactured.Ibans (Sea Dayaks), who were the original headhunters of Borneo, and Chinese form a majority of the population, which also includes Malays, Land Dayaks, and Melanaus. The rivers are the principal arteries of internal transportation. The capital is Kuching
- the largest State in Malaysia with an area of 124,450 sq. km
- It had vast timber in their forestry interior, and it is a region of endless fascination, possessing the largest cave chamber in the world, verdant jungles, unique fauna and flora, white beaches, and remote islands. Pepper, timber, palm oil and cocoa are some of their natural exports but its remote area are still wild jungles where many wild life predominated. It has some of the largest (Mulu) caves in the world. Still many places along the rivers are only assessable by air or riverboats (ferries).
- It has a population of about over two millions, living in the towns and cities, and along the many riverbanks.
- A breakdown of races with the three major groupings including other Sarawakians
- Chinese (534,000)
- Ibans (575,000)
- Malay (421,000)
(Previous all the native people were considered as Dayaks- an old English label) Indian (5,000) Bidayuhs (162,000) Melanaus (18,000) Others (12,500) Other Bumiputeras :(119,500 )
- There are many smaller groups in Sarawak where it borders with Brunei and Kalimantan (Indonesia). It is where peoples of adjourning Countries could cross over easily as it was traditionally their lands and peoples with common cultures and languages.
- Geographically divided into 5 divisions with 28 administrative Town centers<highlighted> (or Cities)
ie:- Bau, Belaga, Betong, Bintulu, Dalat, Daro, Julau, Kanowit, Kapit, Kuching, Lawas, Limbang, Lubok Antu, Lundu, Maradong, Marudi, Matu, Miri, Mukah, Samarahan, Saratok, Sarikei, Serian, Sibu, Simunjan, Song, Sri Aman, Tatau. (NB some of the smaller admintrative centres may merger and centralised under new administrative directives. wikipedia listed 11 only).
- Kuching is the Capital City, and Miri the second largest City as from official declaration of 20.05.2005.
History : Under the Brunei Sultanate in the 16th century, Sarawak was divided into districts governed by Pangerans, representatives of the Sultan. Various chieftains' dissatisfaction with the Sultanate resulted in insurgency in the 17th century. Sarawak's history begins with the colorful stories of the fighting with the Sultanate. In 1839, when Sarawak was rebelling against the Brunei Sultanate, the Sultan of Brunei had to enlist the help of Pangeran Muda Hashim who in turn sought the assistance of an English adventurer named James Brooke.
- In 1917, Charles Vyner Brooke succeeded Charles Brooke. The implementation of a written constitution drawn up in 1941 was precluded by the Japanese invasion in the same year.
- With the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II, Sarawak was placed under the British Military Administration till 1946 when it became a British Crown Colony. Sir Charles Arden was appointed as the first British Governor.
- The formation of the Federation of Malaysia comprising the Malay Federated States, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei was proposed in 1961. Initially, this was met with resistance from the political leaders of Sarawak. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-haj led missions to Sabah and Sarawak to detail the proposal and assure the leaders as well as the people. The leaders of Sarawak were also invited to join the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Singapore. Subsequently Sarawak along with Sabah became part of Malaysia since 1963. Singapore (Left in 1965) and Brunei operate independently, Brunei stayed out of the association of the alliance altogether.
[edit] Politically speaking
Opposition throws down the gauntlet
KUCHING: Barisan Bersatu Sarawak (BBS), the state opposition alliance, and the DAP are determined to take on the Barisan Nasional in all 71 seats.
“We will challenge all the Barisan candidates to show our seriousness in providing an alternative government,” said BBS spokesman Datuk Daniel Tajem.
BBS comprises Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) and the yet-to-be registered Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC).
The DAP is not a member of the alliance but BBS has reached an understanding with the DAP to avoid a multi-cornered fight with Barisan.
Barisan won four of the 62 seats uncontested in the 2001 polls.
“We will contest all the 29 Dayak-majority seats using SNAP tickets,” said Tajem, also MDC adviser, at the launch of the BBS manifesto at the SNAP headquarters here yesterday.
The 29 seats are to be shared between SNAP and MDC.
Tajem, formerly acting president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) before it was deregistered 18 months ago, will contest in Bukit Begunan, a seat once held by him.
The BBS will announce its full list of candidates for the polls tomorrow.[[User:Terry How|: Terri talk 01:12, October 8,2005 (UTC)]] 22:50, 7 May 2006 (SGT)
The myth of the White Rajah
- The rajah is a chief or local King such as the Chieftain of a river tribe in a certain area.
Among the natives of Sarawak the people practices and believes in many spirits in a jungle world full the unknown. Many of such mysteries in the jungles are assumed to be in control by the datohs or the counterpart of the rajahs in the actual world of the living.
Among the Ibans, the Dayaks and other tribal people the white Rajah was a myth created to give credentials to James Brooke who was the first white man to subdue the warlike fighting spirit by defeating them in several physical conflicts.
Whereas in Singapore, the founder Sir Stamford Raffles who made it an English colony where it was barely a rocky Island of no importance became an entreport trading post and had achieved the status global city.
The spirit of the White Rajah may not be worshipped but definitely alive among the local people in Singapore who still believe in the fact the White Rajah can be utilized to bring forth new and innovative concept into realities such as by being CEOs who are still revered like the White Rajahs the white westerners from American and elsewhere!
Sarawak a place for tourists to go and explore...
[edit] More...
- 07072006 I am going there 4 my big birthday celebration! user:alien01:12, October 8,2005 (UTC)]] 06:56, 2 July 2006 (SGT)
Sarawak remained an isolated place until modern air travel and the Internat made it aware of the vast Country and her political allegiance as part of the greater Malaysia. Geography it is still as isolating as before when one tried to move intot he interior of her wast jundle and forested area.
Only the radio and the telephone made the interior people able to communicate with one another. Many of the people had attended schools open up for the natives who used to stay withinthe dark jungles. Along with schools the people have learnt many new things about their home in the jungle were not as remote as they used to be. Their iban children ahd moved over to served in the Government posts all over Sarawak according to their abilities, and some evn come to learn their trades and schooling in West Malaysia. For the wealthier people it has been fashionaable to send their child oversea Universities to pursue their degrees and many come back to ran the local offices for their local administration under Malaysia. To be able to read and write was now a common thing among the people, and msot young people could coverse in the Bahasa their national language.
There were a few papers for the local readers among them the Borneo Bulletin and the Sarawak Tribune are serving the readers all over especially among the English educated. There are many Chinese language papers as well as the National language or Bahasa ones.
- Lately the Sarawak Tribune was suspended due to its comments about the caricatures reproduction of Prophet Mohaammad which goes to show religion is a very sensitive matters in the Nation of Malaysia.
- Another English papers the NST (New Strait Times) is also now taken to task over by the Internal Security officers in Malaysia leaving the few English papers to be fewer ...
- See discussion for a front paper photocopy of the event in the New Strait Times, also a national paper serving all Malaysians.****[[]]
- Was it true that for security reasons, there Third Emergency, limited to the State of Sarawak, was declared on 14 September 1960 by reason of the events surrounding the dismissal from office of the Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan? No! Because Tunku was angry that Stephen Kalong Ningkan can rule better then him.
- Was it true that the event was the swearing in of Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan as Sarawak's first Chief Minister on July 22, 1963 took place at the Court House ? It is now to undergo extensive restoration and eventually become a tourism centre. yes
- Malaysia: Former Sarawak chief minister (1963-60s?) Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan probably dies in 1966 or was it in 1964? No. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Passed away on 31st August 1997. He was born on the 20th August 1920. He was 67 when he died peacefully at Normah Medical Centre.
- Goto see Niah Cave
- Dyaks are headhunters be4, now they just sit around in circles and dance for tourists!
- Among Dayaks their priests were known as pliens or bliens (shining brilliants?).
