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Category: Borneo Research

Adventures in Penang, Sambas and Pontianak

Palace at Sambas Captain John Smith and His Adventures: Penang, Sambas and Pontianak After the occupation of Prince of Wales Island (Penang) in 1786 by the East India Company (EIC), there soon arose a small community of merchants and traders whose activities complemented those of the EIC. Their “country vessels”

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June 25, 2023 No Comments

Wooden Figures of the Katangan River

Wooden Figures of the Katingan River The Dayaks of south-central Kalimatan practice a religion called kaharingan. It is practised by the people on the Katingan River.This essay deals with the sculptures called hamptaong.   The hampatongs are statutes that represent the souls of the departed. They distinguish themselves by their

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June 21, 2023 No Comments

All Creatures Great and Small # 40

All Creatures Great and Small # 40 Moth A new species of moth has been made known to science. The southern Kalimatan individual is dark on top with an orange crescent and light on the bottom of the wings. https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2023.62.12 Snapping Shrimp Three new species of snapping shrimp from Sarawak

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June 21, 2023 No Comments

Special Branch and Sarawak part #3

Sarawak and the Special Branch Part Three To counter the SUPP the Malayan government (pre–Malaysia days) more or less openly promised to bankroll any political party that would do its bidding in Sarawak.  Five brand-new parties registered in quick succession, each claiming to represent group interests, but each in truth

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June 13, 2023 No Comments

Special Branch and Sarawak

Special Branch and Sarawak Part Two of a three Part Series Konfrontasi Armed Konfrontasi began on 12 April 1963, when about 30 armed raiders from Indonesian Kalimantan overran the police post at Tebedu, a border post about 60 kilometres south of Kuching, murdering several constables and looting the place. Responding

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June 12, 2023 No Comments

Special Branch in Sarawak

The Special Branch Part One of a three-part series The Special Branch, the Brunei Rebellion and the role of Sarawak The Special Branch (SB) in Sarawak was formed in June 1949 to collect intelligence on secret societies and subversive activities. At that time, there was a vocal anti-cession movement within

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June 11, 2023 No Comments

“Abang” in Borneo

Abang in the Middle and Upper Kapuas by Reed l. Wadley Borneo Research Bulletin, vol. 37 Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg or Abang Jo, as he is affectionately known, became the Chief Minister of Sarawak in 2017.  Where does the term abang come from? We try to answer the

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June 4, 2023 No Comments

Rebellion of 1879

ABU BAKAR’S REBELLION by Reed L. Wadley Borneo Research Bulletin vol. 38 2007 Along the Embaloh River in Southwestern Kalimantan, Haji Abu Bakar allied with some Iban from the upper Rejang of Sarawak and started a rebellion against the Dutch. What motivated Abu Bakar and his accomplices may have been

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May 28, 2023 No Comments

The Rise and Fall of Sarawaks first government

Two White Men and a Chief Minister: A Fall from Grace and Then a Revival of Sarawak. Stephen Kalong Ningkan was born on 20 August 1920. His Chinese grandfather adopted him, lived in China and spoke Mandarin. He was a clerk with the Rubber Fund and was with the Sarawak

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May 21, 2023 No Comments

All Creatures Great and Small # 39

All Creatures Great and Small #39 Imported Malaria Although most kinds of malaria have been eradicated in Sarawak, malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi, continues to be imported from other areas. Kapit, Sibu and Miri lead the way in cases because of workers returning from malaria-infested areas. DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13875  New Species A new species of shining

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May 13, 2023 No Comments
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