Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang

Land of the Hornbills

Sarawak today is not about the crudity of logging as others would like it to be known. Sarawak is about a brave new Vision. A Vision to do with responsible and efficient management of the State's natural resources. A Vision to do with the development of the State and the enrichment of its' peoples through the implementation of Vision 2020. It has come from a feudal backwater forcibly imposed upon its' peoples, to being one of the most progressive States in Malaysia today. Sarawakians can be found in every sphere of Malaysian life, thanks to the brave new Vision and to their own endeavours. Truly, Sarawak and its' peoples are entitled to be the Keepers of the Hornbill's Heritage. ( Picture shows the Gunung Santubung )

History

Prehistoric remains of man dating back over fifty thousand years havebeen discovered in the Niah Caves area of Sarawak. In more modern times, Chinese settlers, who found a more attractive environment here for themselves and their families, started arriving in the area during the seventh century, followed by Muslim missionaries around the beginning of the fifteenth century. The region at that time was a seething mass of internecine warfare, with the Brunei Sultanate being the dominant power in the area from around the fourteenth century onwards.

During the early part of the nineteenth century, the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin was constantly having to deal with the fiercely independent spirits of the natives. In early 1839, in the midst of an uprising of Bidayuhs, Malays and Chinese, a young Englishman named James Brooke arrived on the scene with a well-armed ship. He helped Raja Muda Hissam, uncle of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, to quell the uprising.

In return for this help, he was given some territory between Tanjung Datu and Samarahan River. He quickly established himself as the 'Raja' and ran a strong government which destroyed the maritime power of the natives. Being strongly acquisitive by nature, Raja Brooke continued with the expansion of his territory at the expense of the Sultanate of Brunei. By the time he died in 1868, his fiefdom extended to Tanjung Kidurong.

His nephew, Charles Brooke, succeeded him as 'Raja' and continued his uncle's acquisitive ways until, at the time of his death in 1917, the territory he ruled was contained within the boundaries of what is now known as "Sarawak".

Charles Vyner Brooke, the second son of Charles Brooke, succeeded his father and ruled Sarawak until 1941, when the Japanese arrived. In the same year, and prior to the arrival of the Japanese, Charles Vyner Brooke together with his brother Bertram Brooke, had granted a written Constitution to the people of Sarawak.

The British at the end of the Second World War were given control of Sarawak by Charles Vyner Brooke. They converted it into a Crown Colony in 1946, amidst strong opposition from the natives of Sarawak. This opposition led, in 1949, to the assassination of the then British Governor, Duncan Stewart. The British Government persisted with their rule until 1962, when with clear evidence of popular support for the concept of Malaysia, they agreed to Sarawak becoming part of the new country.

The history of modern Sarawak begins with the formation of Malaysia in 1963. Sarawakians now enjoy an affluence in line with the rich natural resources of their State, and are part and parcel of the developments in Malaysia as a whole.

Geography

Sarawak is located on the north-western part of the island of Borneo. It shares a common border with the three other entities located on this island, namely the Indonesian Province of Kalimantan, the Sultanate of Brunei, and the Malaysian State of Sabah. It is the largest of the thirteen States of Malaysia, and has a land area of approximately one hundred and twenty five thousand square kilometres, with a coastline extending for eight hundred kilometres. The capital city of the State is Kuching, which is found at the south-western tip of Sarawak.

Sarawak may be divided into three topographical regions. The first is the coastal zone, which is dominated by mangrove swamps, the second is the tropical rainforests which abuts onto it, and the third is the range of mountains which run along the border with Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Although Sarawak has many hills and mountains, the highest of which at two thousand four hundred and thirty eight metres is Gunung Murud, it is the rivers which have been more important for the State. Rivers in Sarawak form an essential link between the peoples of the State in terms of commerce and travel as very often, the only other alternative is to travel by air. The longest river at seven hundred and seventy three kilometres, is the Sungai Rejang, and other important rivers are the Baram, Belaga, Balleh, Skrang, Balui and Balleh. ( Picture shows a sampan as a transport at Sarawak river )

Although Sarawak is affected by both the monsoons, it is prone to heavy rain at all times of the year. Annual rainfall averages between two thousand, six hundred millimetres and four thousand millimetres. Temperatures in the lowland areas of the State hover between twenty-three degrees Celcius and thirty two degrees Celcius. Humidity is very high as in other parts of Malaysia and range between eighty percent and ninety percent.

The forests of Sarawak are over one hundred million years old, and cover over seventy percent of the State. At least ten types of forests, each with its' own structure and species, have been identified in Sarawak.

States of Malaysia