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176-419: Sibu Municipal Board was founded on 31 January 1925 during the period of Kingdom of Sarawak . Resident of the third division of Sarawak was the chairman of the municipal board. The municipal officer at that time was Sibu District Officer. Other members of the municipal board includes Sibu Divisional Engineer, Superintendent of Sibu Lands & Surveys, and Sibu Divisional Medical Officer. "Unofficial members" which

352-545: A Japanese navy detachment on Sagiri arrived at Miri from Cam Ranh Bay in French Indochina . The Japanese then launched an air attack on Kuching on 19 December, bombing parts of the town's airfield while machine-gunning people in the streets. The attack created panic and sent residents fleeing to rural areas. The Dutch submarine HNLMS  K XVI managed to bring down the Japanese from Miri but, with

528-742: A clamp-down by the colonial government. On 27 May 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman , the prime minister of the Federation of Malaya , announced a plan to form a greater federation together with Singapore , Sarawak , North Borneo and Brunei , to be called Malaysia. On 17 January 1962, the Cobbold Commission was formed to gauge the support of Sarawak and Sabah for the plan; the Commission reported 80 per cent support for federation. On 23 October 1962, five political parties in Sarawak formed

704-498: A coal-fired system. In January 1923, a power station covering an area of 620 square metres (6,700 sq ft) was completed at Khoo Hun Yeang Street, Kuching, and started operation in June 1923, supplying Kuching with a direct current (DC) system. Today the road where the power station was once located is now known as the "Power Street". Sibu's first power station was installed in 1927, followed by Mukah in 1929. From 1922 to 1932,

880-593: A crew for the schooner, training in the Mediterranean Sea in late 1836, before beginning their sail to the Far East on 27 October 1838. By July 1839, he reached Singapore and came across some British sailors who had been shipwrecked and helped by Pengiran Raja Muda Hashim, the uncle of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II of Brunei . Brooke originally planned to sail to Marudu Bay in northwestern Borneo , but

1056-530: A final decision to acquire the island. Following the ratification agreement of the transfer of Labuan to the British, the Sultan also agreed to allow British forces to suppress all piracy along the coast of Borneo. Brooke in 1847, acting as HM Commissioner and British Consul to the Sultan and Independent Chiefs of Borneo negotiated the 1847 Treaty of Friendship and Commerce. One of the articles agreed to, prevented

1232-534: A headman (known as ketua kampung or penghulu ) for each village. There are a total of 26 sub-districts in Sarawak all under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. The list of divisions, districts, sub-districts and their local authorities is shown in the table below: Kuching South City Council Padawan Municipal Council Sibu Rural District Council The first paramilitary armed forces in Sarawak,

1408-517: A hornbill is seen flying over residences, it will bring good luck to the local community. Sarawak has eight of the world's fifty-four species of hornbills, and the Rhinoceros hornbill is the state bird of Sarawak. Foragers are known to have lived around the west mouth of the Niah Caves (located 110 km (68 mi) southwest of Miri ) 40,000 years ago. A modern human skull found near

1584-577: A largely symbolic position appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) on the advice of the Malaysian federal government. The position has been held by Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar since 2024. The TYT appoints the Premier , currently held by Abang Johari Openg ( GPS ), as the head of government . Generally, the leader of the party that commands the majority of the state Legislative Assembly

1760-547: A later date. In the 14th century, the Javanese manuscript Nagarakretagama , written by Prapanca in 1365, mentioned Barune as the constituent state of Hindu Majapahit , which had to make an annual tribute of forty katis of camphor . In 1369, Sulu which was also formerly part of Majapahit, successfully rebelled and then attacked Boni, and had invaded the Northeast Coast of Borneo and afterwards had looted

1936-428: A major rebellion, ultimately forced them to practice horticulture and abandon headhunting. Land Dayaks had also been involved in headhunting but more readily abandoned the practice and became loyal followers of James Brooke. Most Malay coastal villages were also raided as part of the kingdom's policy to combat piracy and slavery . Despite success in these endeavours, stagnant economic conditions persisted and

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2112-725: A number of them being studied for medicinal properties. Mangrove and nipah forests lining its estuaries comprise 2% of its forested area, peat swamp forests along other parts of its coastline cover 16%, Kerangas forest covers 5% and Dipterocarpaceae forests cover most mountainous areas. The major trees found in estuary forests include bako and nibong , while those in the peat swamp forests include ramin ( Gonystylus bancanus ), meranti ( Shorea ), and medang jongkong ( Dactylocladus stenostachys ). Animal species are also highly varied, with 185 species of mammals, 530 species of birds, 166 species of snakes, 104 species of lizards, and 113 species of amphibians, of which 19 per cent of

2288-629: A pro-British government through Hashim and his brother Pengiran Badruddin. In October 1844, Brooke with the aid of Captain Sir Edward Belcher in HMS Samarang and the EIC steamer Phlegethon returned the two brothers to Brunei. The vessels anchored at the Sultan's audience chamber, requesting Pengiran Yusof's position as Bendahara to be replaced by Hashim and asking the Sultan to pledge to suppress piracy in his dominions, as well ceding

2464-737: A regiment formed by the Brooke regime in 1862, were known as the Sarawak Rangers . The regiment, renowned for its jungle tracking skills, served in the campaign to end the intertribal wars in Sarawak. It also engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Japanese, in the Malayan Emergency (in West Malaysia) and the Sarawak Communist Insurgency against the communists. Following the formation of Malaysia,

2640-576: A requirement that the Sarawak Chief Minister be consulted prior to the appointment of the chief judge of the Sarawak High Court, the existence of Native Courts in Sarawak and the power to levy sales tax. Natives in Sarawak enjoy special privileges such as quotas and employment in public service, scholarships, university placements, and business permits. Local governments in Sarawak are exempt from local council laws enacted by

2816-606: A restricted range of wild animals in the jungles but should not possess more than 5 kg (11 lb) of meat. The Sarawak Forest Department was established in 1919 to conserve forest resources in the state. Following international criticism of the logging industry in Sarawak, the state government decided to downsize the Sarawak Forest Department and created the Sarawak Forestry Corporation in 1995. The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre

2992-466: A short railway connecting Kuching to Tenth Mile (now Kota Padawan) was opened to the public. Subsequent construction of a road running parallel to the railway led to substantial losses, however, and its operations were limited to transportation of rocks from Seventh Mile (now Kota Sentosa) to Kuching. In 1894, while plans for electric street lightning were being drawn up in Penang and Kuala Lumpur on

3168-710: A squadron of from six to eight ships to release two Lascar seamen who were believed to be hidden there. Badruddin accused Yusof of being involved in the slave trade due to his close relations with a notable pirate leader –Sharif Usman– in Marudu Bay and the Sultanate of Sulu . Denying the allegation, Yusof refused to attend a meeting with Cochrane, and escaped after being threatened with force by Cochrane before regaining his own force in Brunei's capital. Cochrane then sailed away to Marudu Bay in pursuit of Usman, while Yusof

3344-595: A united front that supported the formation of Malaysia. Sarawak was officially granted self-government on 22 July 1963, and federated with Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah ), and Singapore to form the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. The governments of the Philippines and Indonesia opposed the new federation, as did the Brunei People's Party and Sarawak-based communist groups, and in 1962,

3520-472: Is also known as Sibu Municipal Commissioners were nominated from the leaders of various communities. Sibu Municipal Board was named to Sibu Urban District Council in 1952 when the Council is capable of managing its own finances and internal affairs. The Sibu District Officer was the chairman of the Council until 1957. The original area of jurisdiction for the Council was 3 square miles (7.77 km). The area

3696-487: Is appointed as the chief minister; democratically elected representatives are known as state assemblymen. The state assembly passes laws on subjects that are not under the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Malaysia such as land administration, employment, forests, immigration, merchant shipping and fisheries. The state government is constituted by the premier, the cabinet ministers and their deputy ministers. To protect

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3872-529: Is found in coastal and riverine regions. 12 per cent of Sarawak is covered with peat swamp forest . Limestone with well-developed karst topography and cave systems is found scattered from west to east Sarawak, but concentrated in certain regions such as in the Bau district in the west and southwards near the Kalimantan border. There are thirty national parks, among which are Niah with its eponymous caves,

4048-582: Is notable for its turtle conservation initiatives. Birdwatching is a common activity in various national parks such as Gunung Mulu National Park, Lambir Hills National Park, and Similajau National Park . Miri–Sibuti National Park is known for its coral reefs and Gunung Gading National Park for its Rafflesia flowers. Bako National Park , the oldest national park in Sarawak, is known for its 275 proboscis monkeys, and Padawan Pitcher Garden for its various carnivorous pitcher plants . In 1854, Alfred Russel Wallace visited Sarawak. A year later, he formulated

4224-400: Is the highest point in Sarawak. Sarawak has a tropical geography with an equatorial climate and experiences two monsoon seasons: a northeast monsoon and a southwest monsoon. The northeast monsoon occurs between November and February, bringing heavy rainfall while the southwest monsoon, which occurs between March and October, brings somewhat less rainfall. The climate is stable throughout

4400-830: Is usually high, exceeding 68 per cent, with annual rainfall varying between 330 cm (130 in) and 460 cm (180 in) for up to 220 days a year. At highland areas, the temperature can vary from 16 °C (61 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F) during the day and as low as 11 °C (52 °F) during the night. Sarawak is divided into three ecoregions . The coastal region is rather low-lying and flat with large areas of swamp and other wet environments. Beaches in Sarawak include Pasir Panjang and Damai beaches in Kuching, Tanjung Batu beach in Bintulu, and Tanjung Lobang and Hawaii beaches in Miri. Hilly terrain accounts for much of

4576-566: The 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis . In 1969, the first Sarawak state election was held, with members of the Council Negri being directly elected by the voters. This election marked the beginning of ethnic Melanau domination in Sarawak politics by Abdul Rahman Ya'kub and Abdul Taib Mahmud. In the same year, the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) which subsequently waged a guerrilla war against

4752-459: The Bakun Dam and Murum Dam projects, have submerged thousands of hectares of forest and displaced thousands of indigenous people. Since 2013, the proposed Baram Dam project has been delayed due to ongoing protests from local indigenous tribes. Since 2014, the Sarawak government under chief minister Adenan Satem started to take action against illegal logging in the state and to diversify

4928-590: The Battle of North Borneo , the Australian forces landed at Lutong-Miri area on 20 June 1945 and penetrated as far as Marudi and Limbang before halting their operations in Sarawak. After the surrender of Japan , the Japanese surrendered to the Australian forces at Labuan on 10 September 1945. The following day, the Japanese forces at Kuching surrendered, and the Batu Lintang camp was liberated. Sarawak

5104-613: The Brunei Revolt broke out. Indonesian president Sukarno responded by deploying armed volunteers and, later, military forces into Sarawak. Thousands of Sarawak communist members went to Kalimantan , Indonesian Borneo, and underwent training with the Communist Party of Indonesia . The most significant engagement of the confrontation was fought at Plaman Mapu in April 1965. The defeat at Plaman Mapu ultimately resulted in

5280-689: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the participation of the United Kingdom, became joint associate members of the IMO. Sarawak is separated from Kalimantan Borneo by ranges of high hills and mountains that are part of the central mountain range of Borneo. These become loftier to the north, and are highest near the source of the Baram River at the steep Mount Batu Lawi and Mount Mulu . Mount Murud

5456-528: The Kingdom of Italy . The defence of Sarawak depended on a single Indian infantry battalion –the 2/15 Punjab Regiment – together with the local forces of Sarawak and Brunei. As Sarawak had a significant number of oil refineries in Miri and Lutong , the British feared that these supplies would fall to Japanese control, and thus instructed the infantry to carry out a scorched earth policy. On 16 December 1941,

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5632-488: The Malay Peninsula , Rajah Charles Brooke refused to adopt this new technology because of his dislike of "new-fangled things". The sparse population of Sarawak also presented a logistical challenge to install power stations and connecting cables. However, wired telephones were installed around Kuching in 1898 for keeping up to date communications with the outstations. Otherwise, messages from the northernmost areas of

5808-580: The Malaysian state of Sarawak . Following recognition, Brooke expanded the Raj's territory at the expense of Brunei. Several major rebellions occurred against his rule, causing him to be plagued by debt incurred in countering the rebellions, and the sluggish economic situation at the time. His nephew, Charles Brooke , succeeded James and normalised the situation by improving the economy, reducing government debt and establishing public infrastructure . In 1888,

5984-623: The Netherlands refused recognition. Brooke then expanded his Raj into territory of Brunei. In 1861, he acquired the Rajang River basin, which subsequently became the Third Division. The expansion continued after his death in 1868, when he was succeeded by his nephew, Charles Brooke . Under Charles' administration, Sarawak's economy grew rapidly, especially later on with the discovery of oil , introduction of rubber , and

6160-660: The Pakatan Rakyat coalition with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS); the latter two parties had become active in Sarawak between 1996 and 2001. Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia where West Malaysia-based component parties in the BN coalition, especially the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), have not been active in state politics. On 12 June 2018,

6336-477: The Sarawak Parties Alliance was formed by the BN parties in the state in the aftermath of an historic meeting of party leaders in Kuching, where they decided that in light of the BN defeat in the 2018 Malaysian general election and the changing national situation and a new government, the parties will leave the BN altogether. In conjunction with the celebration of Malaysia Day in 2018 under

6512-729: The Sarawak River being the main river flowing through Kuching. The Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia, measuring 563 km (350 mi) including its tributary, Balleh River . To the north, the Baram, Limbang and Trusan Rivers drain into the Brunei Bay . Sarawak can be divided into two geological zones: the Sunda Shield , which extends southwest from the Batang Lupar River (near Sri Aman ) and forms

6688-587: The Sea Dayak on the river Skrang at Karangan Peris, resulting in the death of Datu Patinggi Ali. Shortly after this punitive expedition Brooke heard that Mahkota, the former administrator of the Kuching area, had taken shelter at the Lingga, and managed to capture him and send him back to Brunei. To prevent any further dispute with Brunei, Brooke hoped to reform the administration of the Sultanate and establish

6864-616: The Sir James Brooke , to carry antimony, coal, and sago . The ships were the link between Sarawak and Singapore. Charles Brooke encouraged the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce to set up its own shipping lane to Singapore, offering to sell the Royalist to it. In 1875, the "Singapore and Sarawak Steamship Company" was formed and, shortly thereafter, bought the Royalist and the steamer Rajah Brooke . There were complaints that

7040-584: The agricultural sector. Conflicts ensued between the government and the Chinese in 1857, believed to have arisen in relation to the Second Opium War , among other things. There was no forced labour, except for prisoners doing public works and roads repair. In contrast to Dutch East Indies 's forced cultivation system ( cultuurstelsel ), the indigenous people of Sarawak paid only a small amount of door tax and land rent. Borneo Company Limited

7216-538: The brig Findlay before his father died in 1835. Inspired by the adventure stories regarding the success of the East India Company (EIC) where his father had been serving, and especially by the efforts of Stamford Raffles to expand the company influence in the Asiatic Archipelago, he purchased a schooner named Royalist using the £ 30,000 left to him by his father. He recruited

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7392-541: The "Sarawak Law" which foreshadowed the formulation of his (and Darwin's ) theory of evolution by natural selection three years later. The Sarawak state government has enacted several laws to protect its forests and endangered wildlife species. Some of the protected species are the orangutan, green sea turtle , flying lemur , and piping hornbill . Under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, Sarawak natives are given permissions to hunt for

7568-727: The "Sarawak Law", which anticipated aspects of Darwin's theory of evolution . The oldest museum in Borneo, the Sarawak State Museum , was constructed with endorsement from Wallace. Charles Hose , who served under Brooke as an administrator in the Baram region, was an avid photographer, naturalist , ethnologist , and author. He is credited with the discovery of various mammal and bird species endemic to Borneo: some of his specimens are now housed in London 's Natural History Museum . His ethnological collections are in, amongst others,

7744-526: The 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia , Sarawak is located in East Malaysia in northwest Borneo , and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of Borneo) to the south, and Brunei in the north. The state capital, Kuching , is the largest city in Sarawak, the economic centre of the state, and the seat of

7920-486: The 16th century as Cerava , one of the five great seaports of Borneo. The Sultanate of Sarawak was established during this time and lasted for almost half a century before being reunited with Brunei in 1641. By the early 19th century, the Bruneian Empire was in decline, retaining only a tenuous hold on the coastal regions of Sarawak which were otherwise controlled by semi-independent Malay leaders. Away from

8096-469: The 1800s but no records are available. The earliest record of the Kuching Hospital (now Sarawak General Hospital ) was available in 1910 which shows it admitted 920 patients that year. In 1925, a leprosy settlement was constructed in Kuching. Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital was also constructed to treat leprosy patients. In 1931, a facility to treat mental illness was constructed beside

8272-637: The AIF landings. Most of the major towns of Sarawak were bombed during this period. The war ended on 15 August 1945 following the Japanese surrender and the administration of Sarawak was undertaken by the British Military Administration from September. Vyner returned to administer Sarawak but decided to cede it to the British government as a Crown colony on 1 July 1946 due to a lack of resources to finance reconstruction. Prior to

8448-604: The British Governor-General in Singapore asked him to thank Raja Muda Hashim in southwestern Borneo. He sailed to the western coast of the island the following month, and on 14 August 1839 berthed his schooner on the banks of the Sarawak River and met Hashim to deliver the message. The Raja told Brooke that his presence in the area was to control a rebellion against the Sultanate of Brunei caused by

8624-424: The British Museum. The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (since 1820), the Sarawak Gazette (since 1870), and the Sarawak Museum Journal (since 1911) hold a significant amount of information on Sarawak before and during the Rajahs administration. Sarawak Sarawak ( / s ə ˈ r ɑː w ɒ k / sə- RAH -wok , Malay: [saˈrawaʔ] ) is a state of Malaysia . The largest among

8800-429: The British government although internally remaining an independent state ruled by the Rajahs. According to an agreement signed on 14 June 1888, it was stipulated: I. The State of Sarawak shall continue to be governed and administered by the said Rajah and his successors as an independent State under the protection of Great Britain; but such protection shall confer no right on Her Majesty's Government to interfere with

8976-480: The British. The British destroyed the town forts and invited the population to return with no harm to be done to them while the Sultan remained hiding in the jungle. Another expedition was sent to the interior but failed to find the Sultan. Brooke remained in Brunei with Captain Rodney Mundy and HMS Iris along with the Phlegethon and HMS Hazard while the main expedition continued their mission to suppress piracy in northern Borneo. Upon finding that Haji Saman

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9152-417: The Brooke government created an advisory Supreme Council, mostly consisting of Malay chiefs. This council is the oldest state legislative assembly in Malaysia, with the first general council meeting taking place at Bintulu in 1867. In 1928, a judicial commissioner, Thomas Stirling Boyd, was appointed as the first legally trained judge. A similar system relating to matters concerning various Chinese communities

9328-541: The Charles Brooke invited Chinese black pepper and gambier growers from Singapore to cultivate their crops in Sarawak. As a result, by the early 20th century, Sarawak became one of the world's major producers of pepper. The kingdom was a relative latecomer to the natural rubber boom due to the reluctance of Charles Brooke to give over indigenous farmland to European companies. In 1910, Charles Brooke declined offers by five foreign companies to set up large-scale rubber plantations here because speculation of rubber prices

9504-403: The Consular officers, and shall be entitled to hoist the British flag over their residences and public offices. V. British subjects, commerce, and shipping shall enjoy the same right, privileges, and advantages as the subjects, commerce, and shipping of the most favoured nation, as well as any other rights, privileges, and advantages which may be enjoyed by the subjects, commerce and shipping of

9680-453: The First Division, James Brooke came into possession of a large quantity of antimony from mines around the area. At the time of his arrival, a land tenure system known as the Native Customary Rights had been practised by the indigenous communities. James Brooke's first priority was to abolish headhunting among the indigenous communities of the interior. The kingdom's authorities conducted repeated raids on Sea Dayak villages and, facing

9856-458: The Government of Sarawak and that of any other State, the Government of Sarawak agrees to abide by the decision of Her Majesty's Government, and to take all steps necessary to give effect thereto. IV. Her Majesty's Government shall have the right to establish British Consular officers in any part of the State of Sarawak, who shall receive exequaturs in the name of the Government of Sarawak. They shall enjoy whatever privileges are usually granted to

10032-402: The Jambusan road to Tegora via the Dahan estate, and Penrissen road built by the Brooke government. Together with the road developments, bullock carts were introduced together with porters, and hand carts in the mid-19th century, followed by rickshaws at the end of the 19th century, and bicycles in the early 20th century. Public motor services appeared in 1912 together with private taxis. In 1915,

10208-516: The Japanese and interned at the Batu Lintang camp . Sarawak remained part of the Empire of Japan for three years and eight months. During this time it was divided into three provinces – Kuching-shu, Sibu-shu, and Miri-shu – each under their respective Provincial Governor. The Japanese otherwise preserved the Brooke administrative structure and appointed Japanese people to important government positions. Allied forces later carried out Operation Semut to sabotage Japanese operations in Sarawak. During

10384-484: The Japanese occupation. Charles Vyner Brooke had been attempting to persuade doctors from the Straits Settlements to serve in Sarawak but the response had been cold. The medical service continued under Japanese occupation. There are few records regarding the development of dentistry in the 1900s. Several accounts from elderly people stated that there were traditional healers and roadside tooth-pullers performing palliative treatments at that time. The first government dentist

10560-401: The Kuching Hospital. In Sibu, the construction of Lau King Howe Hospital (now Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum ) was completed in 1936. In 1935, there were six doctors serving the needs of the senior government servants. The State Health Office (known as Medical Headquarters) was located at the Kuching Pavilion building from 1909 to 1947. There was only one assistant dental officer before

10736-493: The Kuching airfield held as long as possible before being destroyed. A Japanese invasion force led by Kiyotake Kawaguchi landed in Miri on 16 December 1941 and captured Kuching on 24 December 1941, with British ground forces retreating to Singkawang in neighbouring Dutch Borneo . The Allied forces surrendered on 1 April 1942 after ten weeks of fighting there. Charles Vyner Brooke , the last Rajah of Sarawak, had already left for Sydney , Australia; his officers were captured by

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10912-455: The Malaysian parliament. This level of autonomy means Sarawak is sometimes referred to as a "region", to differentiate it from less autonomous states. Major political parties in Sarawak can be divided into three categories: native Sarawak Bumiputera (PBB and PBM), native Sarawak Dayak (PRS, PDP, PBDSB, etc.), and non-Bumiputera (SUPP, PSB, PBK, etc.); Parties, however, may also include members from more than one group. The first political party,

11088-415: The Niah Caves is the oldest human remain found in Malaysia and the oldest modern human skull from Southeast Asia. Chinese ceramics dating to the Tang and Song dynasties (8th to 13th century AD, respectively) found at Santubong (near Kuching ) hint at its significance as a seaport. One of the earliest Chinese records of an independent kingdom in Borneo is the 977 AD letter to the Chinese emperor from

11264-411: The Raj acquired protected state status from the British Government whilst avoiding cession . To promote economic growth, Charles Brooke encouraged the migration of Chinese workers from Qing China and British Singapore for agricultural work. With proper economic planning and stability, Sarawak prospered and emerged as one of the world's major producers of black pepper , in addition to oil and

11440-427: The Rajah, considered Sarawak a mere vassal state of Brunei. Prior to the ongoing piracy suppression, a major battle with the Illanuns of the Moro pirates from the southern Philippines occurred in mid-November 1862. In 1864, the United Kingdom appointed a Consul to Sarawak and recognised the Raj. British warships saluted the Raj's flag with 21 guns while entering Kuching as a sign of recognition. However,

11616-436: The Rajahs. There were also concerns about its financial viability and probable drain on the Exchequer . Brooke then thought to sell his kingdom to Belgium , France , Russia or to Brunei again, or to other European powers rather than to the neighbouring Dutch who were ready to retake Sarawak. Brooke's intention had already been decried by neighbouring British governors such as Labuan Governor Hennessy who, while respecting

11792-424: The Sadong River, Keppel and Brooke's native forces attacked three rivers in the Saribas; the Padi, Paku and Rimbas. After which, Keppel was called away on orders, but returned in August 1844 along with EIC steamer Phlegethon . By this time Serib Sahib had abandoned the Sadong and retreated to Patusan. Keppel and Brooke's native forces once again overwhelmed all opposition in Patusan and the Undop, but were ambushed by

11968-418: The Sarawak Malay datus with opportunities to re-establish their positions. They sent a delegation to Brooke led by Datu Tumanggong Mersal and Datu Patinggi Ali’s son, "to request him to become their Rajah, offering to support him by force of arms." On 23 September 1841, Brooke, with the Royalist fully armed, went ashore to Hashim's audience chamber and called on him to negotiate. With little choice, and putting

12144-412: The Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), was established in 1959, followed by the Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS) in 1960 and the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) in 1961. Other major political parties such as Parti Pesaka Sarawak (PESAKA) appeared by 1962. These parties later joined the national coalition of the Alliance Party. The Alliance Party (later regrouped into Barisan Nasional ) has ruled Sarawak since

12320-424: The Sarawak state government. Other cities and towns in Sarawak include Miri , Sibu , and Bintulu . As of the 2020 Malaysia census, the population of Sarawak was 2.453 million. Sarawak has an equatorial climate with tropical rainforests and abundant animal and plant species. It has several prominent cave systems at Gunung Mulu National Park . Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia; Bakun Dam , one of

12496-494: The State of Sarawak. VI. No cession or other alienation of any part of the territory of the State of Sarawak shall be made by the Rajah or his successors to any foreign State, or the subjects or the citizens thereof, without the consent of Her Majesty's Government; but this restriction shall not apply to ordinary grants or leases of lands or houses to private individuals for purposes of residence, agriculture, commerce, or other business. Upon acquisition of his first territories in

12672-594: The Sultan's adviser in Yusof's absence. He prevailed on the Sultan to order the execution of Hashim, whose presence had become unwelcome to the royal family, especially due to his close ties with Brooke that were favourable to English policy. Beside that, an adventurer named Haji Saman, who was connected to Yusof, played upon the Sultan's fear of Hashim taking his throne. By the order of the Sultan, Hashim and his brother Badruddin together with their family were assassinated in 1846. One of Badruddin's slaves, Japar, survived

12848-568: The Sultanate from engaging in any concession treaty with other foreign powers especially after the visit of USS  Constitution in 1845. American policy at the time however made no intention to establish any solid presence in Asia and the Pacific. By 1850, the United States recognised the status of Brooke's raj as an independent state. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II died in 1852 and he

13024-555: The administration of SUDC to 129.5 km when SUDC was upgraded to SMC. The library was started as a Methodist Missionary Library in the 1950s. It was taken over by SUDC in 1955. It was relocated to SUDC (now SMC town hall) at Wong Nai Siong road from 1962 to 1985. The library was moved to the present location at Keranji road in 1986. In 2014, the library was relaunched with a new logo, mascot, website and also free wi-fi service for its members. Kingdom of Sarawak The Raj of Sarawak , Kingdom of Sarawak or State of Sarawak ,

13200-465: The administration. In 1915, Dr Ledingham Christie, surgeon to Borneo Company Limited, conducted a study regarding latent dysentery and parasitism amongst the Malay population staying near the Sarawak River . Those who had latent dysentery or parasites may not show any symptoms, but they may be pale and thin. The Malays at that time usually dumped their sewage into the river, while bathing or drinking from

13376-654: The arrival of the Shirakumo together with other ships, the Japanese secured the town on 24 December. From 7 January 1942, Japanese troops in Sarawak crossed the border of Dutch Borneo and proceeded to neighbouring North Borneo . The 2/15 Punjab Regiment were forced to withdraw to Dutch Borneo and later surrendered on 9 March after most of the Allies had surrendered in Java . A steamship of Sarawak –the SS ; Vyner Brooke –

13552-514: The assassination of the second colonial governor of Sarawak, Sir Duncan Stewart . Despite the resistance, Sarawak became a British Crown colony on 1 July 1946. Anthony Brooke opposed the cession of Sarawak to the British Crown, for which he was banished from Sarawak by the colonial government. He was only allowed to return 17 years later after Sarawak had become part of Malaysia. In 1950 all anti-cession movements in Sarawak ceased after

13728-533: The attack and intercepted HMS Hazard , which brought him to Sarawak to inform Brooke. Enraged by the news, Brooke organised an expedition to avenge Hashim's death with the aid of Cochrane from the Royal Navy with Phlegethon . On 6 July 1846, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II complained through a letter about the discourtesy of HMS Hazard and invited Cochrane to ascend the capital with two boats. HEICS Phlegethon , HMS Spiteful and HMS Royalist then moved up to

13904-561: The blame mainly on Mahkota, Hashim granted Sarawak to Brooke on 24 September 1841. Brooke issued new laws for the territory banning slavery , headhunting and piracy ; and by July 1842, his appointment was confirmed by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II. From 1843, Brooke actively suppressed piracy on the coasts of western and northern Borneo together with Captain Henry Keppel in HMS Dido . After talks with Serib Sahib, who controlled

14080-485: The capital of its treasure and gold including sacking two sacred pearls. A fleet from Majapahit succeeded in driving away the Sulus, but Boni was left weaker after the attack. A Chinese report from 1371 described Boni as poor and totally controlled by Majapahit. The Bruneian Empire was established in the coastal regions of Sarawak by the mid-15th century, and the Kuching area was known to Portuguese cartographers during

14256-539: The co-operation of the native village headmen, while the Native Officers acted as a bridge. The Sarawak Rangers was established in 1862 as a para-military force of the raj. It was superseded by the Sarawak Constabulary in 1932 as a police force, with 900 members mainly comprising Dayaks and Malays . As a British protected state, all foreign relations were conducted under the purview of

14432-626: The coast, territorial wars were fought between the Iban and a Kenyah - Kayan alliance. The discovery of antimony ore in the Kuching region led Pengiran Indera Mahkota , a representative of the Sultan of Brunei, to increase development in the territory between 1824 and 1830. Increasing antimony production in the region led the Brunei Sultanate to demand higher taxes, which ultimately led to civil unrest. In 1839, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II (1827–1852) assigned his uncle Pengiran Muda Hashim

14608-514: The coasts of the Celebes Islands before returning to Sarawak on 29 August 1840. When he returned to Sarawak, the rebellion against Brunei's rule was still ongoing and Hashim asked Brooke to help. Brooke joined Mahkota's forces at Leda Tanah on 18 October 1840. By 20 December 1840 the rebels offered to surrender to Brooke provided they should not be put to death. Hashim initially refused to pardon them and wanted to execute them all, but

14784-649: The commander of the boat Heartsease , died of cholera. Meanwhile, the two children of Rajah James Brooke also died on board the SS Hydaspes , possibly due to cholera. In 1888, an outbreak occurred amongst a number of Malays in Simanggang District. In 1902, another cholera pandemic occurred with 1,500 deaths, at a time when an expeditionary force was organised by the Brookes to punish the Dayaks living in

14960-567: The company provided irregular services to its customers and, in 1908, the Brooke government transferred another two small steamships, the Adeh and Kaka , to the company in expectation of improvement. In 1919, Chinese interests bought the company's shares, liquidated it and formed a new company named the "Sarawak Steamship Company". The company established shipping lanes linking the Rajang , Limbang, and Baram river systems. The Sibu-Singapore shipping lane

15136-812: The construction of bitumen running track for "King George VI Memorial Grounds" (now "Padang Sukan Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang" at Bukit Lima Sports Complex, Sibu). Olympic sized swimming pool was completed by Public Works Department in November 1963 at a cost of RM 0.5 million. Sibu Fire Brigade moved out from old place (now MAKSAK Building at Channel Road/Cross Road) and shifted into present Fire station at Central Road on 25 December 1959. The Council also completed Island Road/Hospital Road pavement for Lau King Howe Hospital in 1958, bus station (now used for car parks at Market Road) in 1959, Sungei Bakong Market and Channel Road Market in 1959, Khoo Peng Loong Road Market in 1964, and Channel Road Hawkers' Stand in 1965. SUDC

15312-454: The construction of public infrastructure as his main priorities to stabilise the economic situation and reduce government debts. He encouraged the migration of Chinese to boost the economy, especially in agricultural sectors, where most of them settled around Kuching (mainly Hokkien and Teochew ), Sibu (mainly Fuzhou ) and Sri Aman (mainly Teochew). Charles was trusted and respected for his fairness and strict order, although he

15488-541: The country of Siniawan and Sarawak, and its government and trade. On 14 February 1841, Brooke received papers declaring him "resident at Sarawak,", which granted him the permission to live in the province, and "to seek profit by trade". Brooke left the next day in the Royalist for Singapore, only to return to Sarawak in May 1841 with a second boat: the Swift , filled with British manufactured goods to trade with Muda Hashim. Brooke

15664-408: The country. Several border disputes between Malaysia and its neighbouring countries concern Sarawak. Land and maritime disputes exist with Brunei. In 2009, Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi claimed that in a meeting with Sultan of Brunei, Brunei agreed to drop its claim over Limbang . This was however denied by the second Foreign Minister of Brunei Lim Jock Seng , stating the issue

15840-597: The economy of the state. Through the course of 2016 over 2 million acres of forest, much of it in orangutan habitats, were declared protected areas. Sources vary as to Sarawak's remaining forest cover: former chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud declared that it fell from 70% to 48% between 2011 and 2012, the Sarawak Forest Department and the Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment both held that it remained at 80% in 2012, and Wetlands International reported that it fell by 10% between 2005 and 2010, 3.5 times faster than

16016-564: The electrical supply in Kuching was managed by the Electrical Department, under the jurisdiction of Public Works Department. This department was then privatised as the Sarawak Electricity Supply Company . From the 1930s, a telegraph line connected the country with Singapore. Wireless telegraph stations were located in all major towns in Sarawak. Postal service was also available throughout

16192-509: The establishment of the Sarawak Administrative Service under Charles Brooke, there had been no formal civil administration. The civil service recruited Europeans, mainly British officers, to run district outstations where the residents became exposed to and trained in many British and European methods and culture, while retaining the customs of the indigenous people . After the acquisition of more territory, Sarawak

16368-434: The export of oil and gas, timber and palm oil , but also possesses strong manufacturing, energy and tourism sectors. It is ethnically, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse; ethnic groups including Iban, Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh, Melanau, Orang Ulu, Indian, Eurasian and Kedayan. English and Malay are the two official languages of the state; there is no official religion. The generally-accepted explanation of

16544-492: The export-oriented economy is dominated by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which accounts for more than half of total exports. Crude petroleum accounts for 45.1%, while palm oil, sawlogs , and sawn timber account for 12.0% collectively. The state receives a 5% royalty from Petronas over oil explorations in its territorial waters. Most of the oil and gas deposits are located offshore next to Bintulu and Miri at Balingian basin, Baram basin, and around Luconia Shoals. Sarawak

16720-588: The failure to reach two-thirds majority support (148 votes) in the Parliament with only 138 agreed with the move while 59 abstained from the voting. On 14 December 2021, the proposed amendment was passed in the Parliament unanimously with 199 votes in favour, and 21 MPs absent from the 6-hour long debate. Unlike states in Peninsular Malaysia , Sarawak is divided into 12 divisions, each headed by an appointed resident. On 26 November 2015, it

16896-591: The fall of Sukarno and his replacement with Suharto as President of Indonesia. Negotiations were restarted between Malaysia and Indonesia and led to the end of the confrontation on 11 August 1966. A number of communist groups existed in Sarawak, the first of which, the Sarawak Overseas Chinese Democratic Youth League, formed in 1951. Another group, the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP, also known as Clandestine Communist Organisation (CCO) by government sources)

17072-642: The first electrical power stations were installed in Miri by Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company and Bau by the Borneo Company Limited . The oil production boom in Miri and gold mining in Bau gave rise to the need of more efficient lightning and motor systems. Cinematography also began that year in Miri. In 1920, J. R. Barnes, the manager of the Sarawak Government Wireless Telegraphs and Telephones Department, proposed an electrical lightning scheme for Kuching using

17248-426: The formation of Malaysia. The opposition in Sarawak has consistently alleged that the ruling coalition uses various types of vote-buying tactics in order to win elections. Stephen Kalong Ningkan was the first Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1963 to 1966 following his landslide victory in local council elections. However, he was ousted in 1966 by Tawi Sli with the help of the Malaysian federal government , causing

17424-543: The head of government is the premier . Sarawak is divided into administrative divisions and districts, governed by a system that is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and was the earliest state legislature system in Malaysia. Under the Malaysian constitution, Sarawak has greater autonomy than the states in Peninsular Malaysia. Because of its natural resources, Sarawak specialises in

17600-550: The highly developed ecosystem around Lambir Hills , and the World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu . The last contains Sarawak Chamber , one of the world's largest underground chambers, Deer Cave , the largest cave passage in the world, and Clearwater Cave , the longest cave system in Southeast Asia . Sarawak contains large tracts of tropical rainforest with diverse plant species, which has led to

17776-489: The influence of the Bruneian Empire in the 16th century. In 1839, James Brooke , a British explorer, arrived in Sarawak. He, and his descendants, governed the state from 1841 to 1946. During World War II , it was occupied by the Japanese for three years. After the war, the last White Rajah , Charles Vyner Brooke , ceded Sarawak to Britain, and in 1946 it became a British Crown Colony . On 22 July 1963, Sarawak

17952-606: The inhabited land and is where most of the cities and towns are found. The ports of Kuching and Sibu are built some distance from the coast on rivers while Bintulu and Miri are close to the coastline where the hills stretch right to the South China Sea. The third region is the mountainous region along the Sarawak–Kalimantan border, where a number of villages such as Bario , Ba'kelalan , and Usun Apau Plieran are located. A number of rivers flow through Sarawak, with

18128-604: The interests of the Sarawakians in the Malaysian federation, special safeguards have been included in the Constitution of Malaysia . These include: control over immigration in and out of the state as well as the residence status of non-Sarawakians and Sabahans, limitations on the practice of law to resident lawyers, independence of the Sarawak High Court from the High Court Peninsular Malaysia,

18304-651: The interior: comprising Iban , Bidayuh and other interior tribes such as the Kayan , Kelabit , Kenyah , Lun Bawang and Penan , while coastal areas were dominated by the Sarawak local Malays , Melanau , and Kedayan . The government of Sarawak welcomed the migration of Chinese workers to boost the economy. Following various immigration schemes initiated by the Rajahs, the population increased to 150,000 in 1848, 300,000 in 1893, 475,000 in 1933, and 600,000 in 1945. Public infrastructure began to be given attention during

18480-641: The internal administration of the State further than is herein provided. II. In case any question should hereafter arise respecting the rights of succession to the present or any future Ruler of Sarawak, such question shall be referred to Her Majesty's Government for decision. III. The relations between the State of Sarawak and all foreign States, including the States of Brunei and North Borneo, shall be conducted by Her Majesty's Government, or in accordance with its directions; and if any difference should arise between

18656-497: The introduction of rubber plantations. He was succeeded by his son, Charles Vyner Brooke , but World War II and the arrival of Imperial Japanese forces ultimately brought an end to the Raj, with the territory placed under British Military Administration upon the Japanese capitulation in 1945, and annexed by Britain as its last acquisition as a Crown Colony in 1946, contrary to the Atlantic Charter . The Raj

18832-525: The island of Labuan to the British (although the British government had not asked for this). The status of Brooke as a Rajah and consul for the British at the time also remained controversial in the United Kingdom as he was not recognised by the British government to represent the British subjects. Indirectly, Brooke had become involved in an internal dynastic dispute of Brunei. In August 1845, Rear-Admiral Thomas Cochrane arrived at Brunei with

19008-402: The killings of Hashim, his brother and their family. Through his confession, the Sultan recognised Brooke's authority over Sarawak and mining rights throughout the territory without requiring him to pay any tribute as well granting the island of Labuan to the British. Brooke departed Brunei and left Mumin in charge together with Mundy to keep the Sultan in line until the British government made

19184-475: The kingdom amassed huge debts. James Brooke promoted Chinese immigration, convinced that they would inject vigour into the economy and prove an encouragement to indigenous communities to participate. Initially, most of the immigrants were miners originating from Sambas in neighbouring Dutch Borneo. These later formed a Kongsi system in Bau . The Charles Brooke continued this policy, particularly targeting

19360-528: The largest dams in Southeast Asia , is located on one of its tributaries, the Balui River . Mount Murud is the highest point in the state. Sarawak is the only state of Malaysia with a Christian majority. The earliest known human settlement in Sarawak at the Niah Caves dates back 40,000 years. A series of Chinese ceramics dated from the 8th to 13th century AD was uncovered at the archaeological site of Santubong. The coastal regions of Sarawak came under

19536-628: The late Cretaceous period. Other types of stone that can be found in central and northern Sarawak are shale , sandstone , and chert . The Miri Division in eastern Sarawak is the region of Neogene strata containing organic rich rock formations which are the prolific oil and gas reserves . The rocks enriched in organic components are mudstones in Lambir, Miri and Tukau Formations of Middle Miocene - Lower Pliocene age. Significant quantities of Sarawak soil are lithosols , up to 60 per cent, and podsols , around 12 per cent, while abundant alluvial soil

19712-508: The latter explanation is incorrect: the territory had been named Sarawak before the arrival of James Brooke, and the word awak was not in the vocabulary of Sarawak Malay before the formation of Malaysia. Sarawak is nicknamed "Land of the Hornbills" ( Bumi Kenyalang ). These birds are important cultural symbols for the Dayak people, representing the spirit of God. It is also believed that if

19888-651: The life of indigenous tribes, especially the Penan, whose livelihood is heavily dependent on forest produce. This led to several blockades by indigenous tribes during the 1980s and 1990s against logging companies encroaching on their lands. Indeed, illegal logging in particular has decimated the forest regions indigenous populations depend on for their livelihoods, depleting fish, wildlife, but also traditional medicinal herbs and construction staples like Palm. There have also been cases where Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands have been given to timber and plantation companies without

20064-711: The mammals, 6 per cent of the birds, 20 per cent of the snakes and 32 per cent of the lizards are endemic . These species are largely found in Totally Protected Areas. There are over 2,000 tree species in Sarawak. Other plants includes 1,000 species of orchids, 757 species of ferns, and 260 species of palm. The state is the habitat of endangered animals, including the borneo pygmy elephant , proboscis monkey , orangutans and Sumatran rhinoceroses . Matang Wildlife Centre, Semenggoh Nature Reserve, and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary are noted for their orangutan protection programmes. Talang–Satang National Park

20240-439: The manufacture of food and beverages, wood-based and rattan products, basic metal products, and petrochemicals , as well as cargo and air services and tourism. The state's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 40.5% per year on average from 2010 to 2021, but became very more volatile later on, ranging from −3.0% in 2009 to 35.0% in 2021. Sarawak contributed 9.5% of Malaysia's GDP in the nine years leading up to 2020, making it

20416-640: The mid-1960s but nonetheless retained control of the CCO, pushed for a continued armed insurrection against the government in spite of this agreement. The conflict continued mostly in the Rajang Delta region but eventually ended when, on 17 October 1990, the NKCP signed a peace agreement with the Government of Sarawak. The head of the Sarawak state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (also known as TYT or Governor),

20592-548: The need for efficient governance and thus, beginning in 1841, Sarawak was separated into the first of its administrative divisions and the Sarawak dollar , entered circulation in 1858. By 1912, a total of five divisions had been established in Sarawak, each headed by a Resident . The Brooke family generally practised a paternalistic form of government with minimal bureaucracy, but were pressured to establish some form of legal framework. Since they were unfamiliar with local customs,

20768-538: The new government, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has promised to restore the status of Sarawak (together with Sabah) as an equal partner to Malaya, where all three parties (and then, Singapore) formed Malaysia in accordance to the Malaysia Agreement . However, through the process of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Malaysia in 2019, the bill for the amendment failed to pass following

20944-652: The newly elected Sarawak state government, was formed. The party was dissolved after the signing of a peace agreement in 1990. 1973 saw the birth of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) following a merger of several parties. This party would later become the backbone of the Sarawak BN coalition. In 1978, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) was the first West Malaysia-based party to open its branches in Sarawak. Sarawak originally held state elections together with national parliamentary elections. However,

21120-530: The oldest museum in Borneo – in 1891, and brokered a peace in Marudi by ending intertribal wars there. Economic development continued, with oil wells being drilled from 1910 and the Brooke Dockyard opening two years later. Anthony Brooke , who would become Rajah Muda (heir apparent) in 1939. A centenary celebration of Brooke rule in Sarawak was held in 1941. During the celebration, a new constitution

21296-427: The oppressive policies of Pengiran Indera Mahkota, a kinsman of the Sultan. Mahkota had earlier been dispatched by the Sultan to monopolise the antimony in the area; which as a result directly affected the income of the local Malays there amid growing frustration from the indigenous Land Dayak , who had been forced to work in the mines for about 10 years. It has also been alleged that the rebellion against Brunei

21472-570: The permission of the locals. The indigenous people have resorted to legal means to reinstate their NCR. In 2001 the High Court of Sarawak fully reinstated the NCR land claimed by the Rumah Nor people, but this was overturned partially in 2005. However, this case has served as a precedent, leading to more NCR being upheld by the high court in the following years. Sarawak's mega-dam policies, such as

21648-538: The regiment was absorbed into the Malaysian military forces and is now known as the Royal Ranger Regiment . In 1888, Sarawak, together with neighbouring North Borneo , and Brunei, became British protectorates , and the responsibility for foreign policy was handed over to the British in exchange for military protection. Since the formation of Malaysia, the Malaysian federal government has been solely responsible for foreign policy and military forces in

21824-455: The reign Charles Brooke. The river systems in Sarawak are not inter-connected. As a result, coastal ships were used by the Brooke government to carry merchandise from one river system to another. The Brooke government also established a trade route from Kuching to Singapore, using its own ships such as The Royalist , Julia , and Swift . Among the early cargoe was antimony and gold. Borneo Company Limited bought another steamer, which they named

22000-483: The rest of Asia combined. Sarawak GDP share by sector (2021) Historically, Sarawak's economy was stagnant during the rule of previous three white Rajahs. After the formation of Malaysia, Sarawak GDP growth rate has risen due to increase in petroleum output and the rise in global petroleum prices. However, the state economy is less diversified and still heavily dependent upon the export of primary commodities when compared to Malaysia overall. The per capita GDP in Sarawak

22176-414: The river on 8 July where they were fired on from every position with slight damage. Mahkota and the Sultan retreated upriver while most of the population fled upon their arrival at Brunei's capital, leaving the brother of the Sultan's son, Pengiran Muhammad, who was badly wounded and Pengiran Mumin , an opponent of the Sultan's son who despised the decision of his royal family to be involved in conflict with

22352-599: The ruler of Boni, which some scholars believe to refer to Borneo. The Bruneians regained their independence from Srivijaya due to the onset of a Javanese-Sumatran war. In 1225, the Chinese official Zhao Rukuo reported that Boni had 100 warships to protect its trade, and that there was great wealth in the kingdom. Marco Polo suggested in his memoirs that the Great Khan or the ruler of the Mongol Empire , attempted and failed many times in invading "Great Java" which

22528-440: The rural areas of the Simanggang District. This was because the Dayaks were killing and attacking friendly neighbours. The epidemic caused the break-up of the expeditionary force without achieving any of its military objectives. There were also outbreaks in 1910 and 1911. No outbreaks were reported from 1911 to 1941. The first doctor was appointed shortly after James Brooke was proclaimed Rajah. Kuching Hospital services existed in

22704-490: The same spot, believing that water currents would remove the waste. Among the 100 stool samples tested, whipworm ( Trichuris trichiura ) and roundworm ( Ascaris lumbricoides ) were most commonly found. Cholera was endemic in Sarawak; however very little is documented about the disease. The earliest cholera outbreak in Sarawak was in 1873 but it was not known how many died in it. In the same year, Captain Giles Helyer,

22880-465: The same time, rivers remained the most important means of transportation to coastal towns. In the first 70 years of Brooke rule, bridle paths were constructed to connect administrative posts to the surrounding districts. After the 1930s, the policy was changed to providing access from villages to navigable rivers. Most of the roads located near the towns were short, with the exception of the economically important Miri-Lutong road built by Sarawak Oilfields,

23056-507: The service expired. Overstaying his furlough resulted in his position in the military being forfeited, but he was awarded a pension by the government for his service. He continued on from India and went to China to improve his health. On his way to China in 1830, he saw the islands of the Asiatic Archipelago , still generally unknown to Europeans. He returned to England and made an abortive trading journey to China in

23232-604: The southern part of Borneo under the navy, while its army were responsible for management of the north. As part of the Allied Campaign to retake their possessions in the East, Allied forces were sent to Borneo in the Borneo Campaign and liberated the island. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) played a significant role in the mission. The Allies' Z Special Unit provided intelligence gathering which facilitated

23408-499: The southern tip of Sarawak, and the geosyncline region, which extends northeast to the Batang Lupar River, forming the central and northern regions of Sarawak. The oldest rock type in southern Sarawak is schist formed during the Carboniferous and Lower Permian times, while the youngest igneous rock in this region, andesite , can be found at Sematan . Geological formation of the central and northern regions started during

23584-433: The stagnant economic conditions at the time, caused Brooke to be plagued by debt. He was driven into planning to cede Sarawak to the British to settle his debt; while the idea was supported by some of Britain's members of parliament and businessmen, it was rejected by Prime Minister Lord Derby who feared that the introduction of a British taxation system would shock the population more than exercising their own system under

23760-463: The state such as Limbang and Baram could take up to a month to reach Kuching. Besides, telephones were cheap to install and required little power. By 1908, the Mukah-Oya region was connected to telephone lines, followed by Miri in 1913, and Sibu in 1914. The first wireless telegraphy station was erected in Kuching in 1917, followed by Sibu and Miri immediately thereafter. It was not until 1914 that

23936-573: The state was stable until the 1987 Ming Court Affair , a political coup initiated by Abdul Taib Mahmud 's uncle to topple the Taib-led BN coalition. However, the coup was unsuccessful and Taib retained his position as chief minister. Since the 2006 state election , the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has derived the majority of its support from urban centres and became the largest opposition party in Sarawak. In 2010, it formed

24112-571: The state's name is that it is derived from the Sarawak Malay word Serawak or Cerava by Portuguese cartographers in the 16th century, which means antimony . A popular alternative explanation is that it is a contraction of the four Malay words purportedly uttered by Pangeran Muda Hashim (uncle to the Sultan of Brunei ), " Saya serah pada awak " (I surrender it to you), when he gave Sarawak to James Brooke , an English explorer, in 1841. However,

24288-492: The task of restoring order but his inability to do so caused him to request the aid of British sailor James Brooke . Brooke's success in quelling the revolt was rewarded with antimony, property and the governorship of Sarawak, which at that time consisted only of a small area centred on Kuching. The Brooke family , later called the White Rajahs , set about expanding the territory they had been ceded. With expansion came

24464-419: The then chief minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub delayed the dissolution of the state assembly by a year to prepare for the challenges posed by opposition parties. This made Sarawak the only state in Malaysia to hold state elections separate from the national parliamentary elections since 1979. In 1983, SNAP started to fragment into several splinter parties due to recurrent leadership crises. The political climate in

24640-567: The third largest contributor after Selangor and Kuala Lumpur . From 2015 to 2021, the oil and gas industry accounted for 55.2% of the Sarawak government's revenue. It attracted RM 80 billion (US$ 17.85 billion) in foreign investments, with 95% going to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), the second largest economic corridor in Malaysia. As of 2021, Sarawak is producing 2,800,000 barrel of oil equivalent every day in 150 oil and gas producing fields. However,

24816-406: The total area of Malaysia, and lies between the northern latitudes 0° 50′ and 5° and eastern longitudes 109° 36′ and 115° 40′ E. Its 750 km (470 mi) of coastline is interrupted in the north by about 150 km (93 mi) of Bruneian coast. A total of its 45.5 km (28.3 mi) coastline have been eroding . In 1961, Sarawak including neighbouring Sabah , which had been included in

24992-411: The year except for the two monsoons, with average daily temperature varying between 23 °C (73 °F) in the morning to 32 °C (90 °F) in the afternoon at coastal areas. Miri has the lowest average temperatures in comparison to other major towns in Sarawak and has the longest daylight hours (more than six hours a day), while other areas receive sunshine for five to six hours a day. Humidity

25168-404: Was "a mania at the present which did not suit the quiet non-speculative spirit of the country". Only five large rubber estates were established during his reign. Oil reserves were discovered in his final years. From the 1930s, through the work of the Chinese businesses in the kingdom, it became a significant raw material supplier, with Singapore as a major trading partner. The Sarawak dollar

25344-474: Was a kingdom founded in 1841 in northwestern Borneo and was in a treaty of protection with the United Kingdom from 1888. It was formed from a series of land concessions acquired by the Englishman James Brooke from the Sultan of Brunei . Sarawak was recognised as a sovereign state by the United States in 1850, and by the United Kingdom in 1864. The territory of the kingdom is now

25520-571: Was aided by the neighbouring Sultanate of Sambas and the government of the Dutch East Indies , who wanted to establish economic rights over the antimony. Due to these disturbances Brooke had limited access to explore the country, but he managed to explore up the Samarrahan River and spent some time at Rumah Jugah's longhouse at Lundu. On 2 October 1839 he returned to Singapore. Brooke then spent another six months cruising along

25696-483: Was also formed. Members of the local community were encouraged by the Brooke regime to focus on particular functions within the territory; the Ibans and other Dayak people were hired as militia while Malays were primarily administrators. Chinese, both local and immigrant, were mostly employed in plantations, mines and as bureaucrats. Expanding trade led to the formation of the Borneo Company Limited in 1856. The company

25872-555: Was announced that the Kuching Division district of Serian would become Sarawak's 12th division and it had officiated by Adenan Satem at its formal creation on 11 April 2015. A division is divided into districts, each headed by a district officer, which are in turn divided into sub-districts, each headed by a Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO). There is also one development officer for each division and district to implement development projects. The state government appoints

26048-462: Was appointed in July 1925 at Kuching General Hospital. In 1932, the "Sarawak Government Registration of Dentist Ordinance" was introduced. A total of 15 dentists were registered before the Japanese occupation. In 1854, Alfred Russel Wallace arrived in Kuching as a guest of James Brooke. In 1855, he wrote a paper entitled " On the law which has regulated the introduction of new species ", also known as

26224-685: Was completed in 1993 and Phase II in 1997. New Sibu Central Market at Channel Road was completed in 1996. A new market at Grand Height, Jalan Upper Lanang was completed in 1999. SMC moved its headquarters to Wisma Sanyan in 2001. SMC is responsible for public health and sanitation, waste removal and management, town planning, environmental protection and building control, social and economic development and general maintenance functions of urban infrastructure. Administrative area of SMC included Sibu city centre, Sungei Merah Bazaar, extending from east bank of Rajang River to Teku, Ulu Oya, and Salim roads. The area of coverage has increased from 50 km during

26400-526: Was convinced by Brooke to forgive them, as Brooke had taken the major part in their suppression. "Hassim agreed to spare the insurgents’ lives and took the wives and children of the insurgency's leaders as hostages. Of the leaders themselves, Datu Patinggi Abdul Gapur and Datu Tumanggong Mersal withdrew to the protection of Sambas, while Datu Patinggi Ali found refuge among the Malays at Sarikei." In exchange for Brooke's support, Muda Hashim had promised Brooke

26576-517: Was defeated by Badruddin. Hashim managed to establish a rightful position in Brunei Town to become the next sultan after successfully defeating the pirates led by Yusof who fled to Kimanis in northern Borneo, where he was executed. Yusof was the favourite noble to the Sultan and with Hashim's victory, this upset the chances of the son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II becoming the next leader. Mahkota, after his capture in Sarawak in 1844 became

26752-493: Was disappointed upon his return that the house Hashim had promised to build for him was not ready, and the antimony he wanted in trade for the manufactured goods had not yet been worked. Furthermore, Hashim began questioning giving the territory to Brooke, which was fanned by Mahkota, who had been deprived of his power in the area in favour of Brooke. This led Hashim to constantly delay the recognition of concession which frustrated Brooke. "Brooke’s estrangement from Hassim provided

26928-631: Was divided into five divisions, each headed by a Resident . A Resident's job was to establish law and order, convene courts to settle disputes, punish crimes, be accessible at all times to the natives, and "gain the confidence of the chiefs of the wilder tribes and to lead them to accept the Sarawak flag and the benefits of the Rajah's government". The Rajahs also encouraged the establishment of schools, healthcare services and transport. The government worked to restore peace where piracy and tribal feuds had grown rampant and its success depended ultimately on

27104-401: Was entitled to three acres of land, in which sale was prohibited, and no one could own more than 100 acres without the permission of the government. Although the majority of the lands were in smallholders, the Brooke government granted several land concessions to Borneo Company Limited to develop rubber, timber, oil, coal, and antimony. In 1869, by which time total trade had reached $ 3,262,500,

27280-487: Was extended to 20 square miles (51.8 km) in 1957. In 1947, the population was 9,983 but it increased to 29,630 in 1960. Sibu town roads was completed by Public Works Department (consisted 16.61 miles (26.73 km) of bitumen road and 6.59 miles (10.61 km)) gravel roads was handed over to the Council in 1962. First attempt of bitumen road construction was done by the Council at Tiong Hua Road. Bus shelters were provided since 1960s. The Council also spent RM 45,000 for

27456-541: Was first issued in 1858 and remained at par with the Straits dollar . Different notes were issued by the Sarawak Government Treasury, the earliest notes using English , Jawi and Chinese characters . From the 1880s, the notes' background featured the Rajah's portrait and coat of arms. In 1841, Sarawak had an indigenous population of about 8,000. The Dayaks were the largest indigenous group in

27632-410: Was formally set up in 1970. Weng Min Chyuan and Bong Kee Chok were two of the more notable communist leaders involved in the insurgency. As the political scene changed, it grew progressively more difficult for the communists to operate. This led to Bong opening talks with chief minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub in 1973 and eventually signing an agreement with the government. Weng, who had moved to China in

27808-512: Was formed in 1856. It was involved in a wide range of businesses in Sarawak, including trade, banking, agriculture, mineral exploration and development. The second Rajah worked to stabilise the economy and reduce government debt. The economy grew significantly under his reign, with total exports reaching $ 386,439 ( Sarawak dollars ) and imports $ 414,756 in 1863. The Rajah established the land tenure policy in 1863 with some minor modifications throughout James Brooke's rule. Every inhabitant in Sarawak

27984-449: Was founded by James Brooke , an English former soldier and adventurer who arrived at the banks of the Sarawak River and berthed his schooner there in 1839. After having served in the First Anglo-Burmese War , where he was severely wounded in battle, Brooke returned to England in 1825 to recover from his injury. Despite his attempts to return to service, he was unable to return to his station in India before his temporary leave from

28160-406: Was granted self-government by the British and subsequently became one of the founding members of Malaysia, established on 16 September 1963. However, the federation was opposed by Indonesia, leading to a three-year confrontation . The creation of Malaysia also prompted a communist insurgency that lasted until 1990. The head of state is the governor, also known as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri , while

28336-536: Was immediately placed under British Military Administration and managed by the Australian Imperial Force until April 1946. Lacking the resources to rebuild Sarawak after the war, Charles Vyner Brooke decided to cede Sarawak as British Crown Colony and a cession bill was put forth in the Council Negri (now Sarawak State Legislative Assembly ), which was debated for three days. The bill passed on 17 May 1946 with 19 votes to 16. Hundreds of Malay civil servants resigned in protest, sparking an anti-cession movement and

28512-453: Was introduced that would limit the power of the rajah and grant the Sarawak people a greater role in running the government. However, this constitution was never fully implemented due to the Japanese occupation. That same year saw the British withdrawing its air and marine forces defending Sarawak to Singapore. With Sarawak now unguarded, the Brooke regime adopted a scorched earth policy where oil installations in Miri were to be destroyed and

28688-465: Was involved in a wide range of businesses in Sarawak including trade, banking, agriculture, mineral exploration, and development. Between 1853 and 1862, there were a number of uprisings against the Brooke government but all were successfully contained with the aid of local tribes. To guard against future uprisings, a series of forts were constructed to protect Kuching, including Fort Margherita , completed in 1871. By that time Brooke's control of Sarawak

28864-403: Was living in Membakut and that he was involved in the plotting that caused Hashim's death, HEICS Phlegethon and HMS Iris departed there destroyed Haji Saman's house and captured the town of Membakut although Saman managed to escape. Brooke returned again to Brunei and finally managed to induce the Sultan to return to the capital where the Sultan wrote a letter of apology to Queen Victoria for

29040-419: Was lower than the national average from 1970 to 1990. As of 2021, GDP per capita for Sarawak stands at RM 65,971 (US$ 15,173), which is the third highest in Malaysia. However, the urban-rural income gap remained a major problem in Sarawak. Sarawak is abundant in natural resources, and primary industries such as mining, agriculture, and forestry accounted for 32.8% of its economy in 2013. It also specialises in

29216-463: Was never discussed during the meeting. James Shoal (Betting Serupai) and the Luconia Shoals (Betting Raja Jarum/Patinggi Ali), islands in the South China Sea , fall within Sarawak's exclusive economic zone , but concerns have been raised about Chinese incursions. There are also several Sarawak–Kalimantan border issues with Indonesia. The total land area of Sarawak is nearly 124,450 km (48,050 sq mi), making up 37.5 per cent of

29392-450: Was not as popular among the local Malays as his uncle, while being a close friend to the Dayak . Sarawak prospered under his rule and he did not seek protection from any European power other than Britain, with requests for protection from the British being rejected in 1869 and 1879. Charles continued to seek protection from the British, securing Protected State status from them on 14 June 1888. He ruled Sarawak until his death in 1917 and

29568-521: Was poorly developed owing to the swampy environment around rivers downstream, while dense jungles presented significant challenges to road construction inland. Most of the roads were constructed in coastal areas. Borneo Company Limited and Sarawak Oilfields also constructed a small number of short roads to serve their own economic interests. Meanwhile, in the interior, raised paths were made by the natives using logs to connect villages and their environs, easing access to farms and collection of forest produce. At

29744-438: Was set up in 1997 for the conservation, protection, and sustainable development of biodiversity in the state. Sarawak's rain forests are primarily threatened by the logging industry and palm oil plantations. The issue of human rights of the Penan and deforestation in Sarawak became an international environmental issue when Swiss activist Bruno Manser visited Sarawak regularly between 1984 and 2000. Deforestation has affected

29920-542: Was started by the company but soon abandoned, being unprofitable. The establishment of the shipping lanes by Sarawak Steamship Company allowed the indigenous people to participate in wider markets, thus narrowing the income gap between urban and rural areas in Sarawak. The company suffered heavy losses in the trade depression of the 1920s and was acquired by the Singapore-based "Straits Steamship Company". The company established branches at Sibu and Bintulu and installed agents at other small river ports. Land transport in Sarawak

30096-434: Was succeeded by Mumin, which already proved a success in Brooke's efforts to establish a pro-British government in Brunei. The new Sultan then ceded the Saribas and Skrang districts, which later became the Second Division, to Brooke in 1853 due to conflict with pirates. Three major rebellions led by Rentap (1853), Liu Shan Bang (1857) and Syarif Masahor (1860) shook the Rajah's administration which, together with

30272-414: Was succeeded by his son, Charles Vyner Brooke . Following World War I , the Empire of Japan began to expand their range in Asia and the Pacific. Vyner became aware of the growing threats and began to institute reforms. Under the treaty of protection, Britain was responsible for Sarawak's defence but it could do little, most of its forces having been deployed to the war in Europe against Germany and

30448-413: Was such that defences were largely unnecessary. Charles Anthoni Brooke succeeded his uncle as White Rajah in 1868. Under his rule, Sarawak gained Limbang and the Baram and Trusan valleys from the Sultan of Brunei, later becoming a protectorate in 1888 with Britain handling foreign affairs but the Brooke government retaining administrative powers. Domestically, Brooke established the Sarawak Museum –

30624-557: Was sunk while evacuating nurses and wounded servicemen in the aftermath of the fall of Singapore . Most of its surviving crew were massacred on Bangka Island . Lacking air protection, Sarawak, together with rest of the island, fell to the Japanese and Vyner took sanctuary in Australia . Many of the British and Australian soldiers captured after the fall of Malaya and Singapore were brought to Borneo and held as prisoners of war in Batu Lintang camp in Sarawak and Sandakan camp in North Borneo. The Japanese military authorities placed

30800-421: Was the European name for Bruneian controlled Borneo. In the 1300s the Chinese annals, Nanhai zhi , reported that Brunei invaded or administered Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Philippine kingdoms of Butuan , Sulu , Ma-i (Mindoro), Malilu 麻裏蘆 (present-day Manila ), Shahuchong 沙胡重 (present-day Siocon), Yachen 啞陳 ( Oton ), and 文杜陵 Wenduling (present-day Mindanao ), which would regain their independence at

30976-517: Was upgraded to Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) on 1 November 1981. In 1991, the Sibu Municipality have 126,000 residents. Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and 24 Councillors are to serve the SMC for 2-year term. During this period, Traffic Garden at Rejang Park was completed in 1983, Rejang Esplande Park was completed in 1988, Mission Road Mini Park was completed in 1990, Bukit Lima Recreational Park in 1991, Multi-Storey Car Park at Jalan Kampung Nyabor and Jalan Wong Nai Siong in 1993, Taman Jubli Bukit Aup (Phase I)

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