Please Wake Up, Bernama!

I'm confused here... did or did not Brunei agree to drop its claim over Limbang while Prime Minister Badawi was in Brunei to sign some agreements?

Who got it all wrong? Was it Bernama, the Malaysian delegation or just the printer's ghost?

To further add to the confusion, parliament's Deputy Speaker was reported in 'The Borneo Post' as praising Sarawak's Chief Minister for playing a major crucial role in the outstanding Limbang settlement in Brunei...

I can imagine all the many red faces around when Brunei categorically denied dropping its claim or ever mentioning the subject in the discussions with Malaysia. In fact, the country's widest selling daily, 'The Borneo Bulletin' claimed that its reporters were denied entry into the press briefing by the Malaysians!

Here's 'The Borneo Bulletin' dated 16/3/09 story:
Brunei denies Limbang story

By Azlan Othman

Pehin Lim
YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awg Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, yesterday said claims on Limbang were never discussed during Monday's deliberations between Brunei and Malaysia.
He was responding to YB Dato Paduka Hj Puasa bin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Tudin's query on the contents of the "Letter of Exchange" signed between Brunei and Malaysia, which also touched on Brunei's claims over Limbang at the Legislative Council meeting yesterday.

Pehin Lim said there were certain press reports yesterday claiming that Brunei has dropped claims over Limbang.

"In actual fact, the claim on Limbang was never discussed. What was discussed was the demarcation of land boundaries on the whole," he said.

"The joint press statement issued yesterday mentioned that the demarcation of the land boundaries between the two countries will be resolved on the basis of five existing historical agreements between the Government of Brunei and the State of Sarawak, and, as appropriate, the watershed principle.

"After that a working group comprising general surveyors of the two countries will follow with the technical aspect to solve the land border issue," Pehin Lim added.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi held a four-eye meeting at the Istana Nurul Iman on Monday and signed the Exchange of Letters to mark the successful conclusion of negotiations.

The negotiations have been ongoing for many years on outstanding bilateral issues between the two countries with regard to historical, legal and other relevant criteria involving both sides.

Both noted the agreement of their respective governments on the key elements contained in the Exchange of Letters, which included the final delimitation of maritime boundaries between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, the establishment of Commercial Agreement Area (CAA) on oil and gas, the modalities for the final demarcation of the land boundary between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia and unsuspendable rights of maritime access for nationals and residents of Malaysia across Brunei's maritime zones en route to and from their destination in Sarawak, Malaysia provided that Brunei's laws and regulations are observed.

Meanwhile, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan, the Minister of Home Affairs, said an allocation has been made in the budget to upgrade the Kuala Lurah Control Post.

After the border issue between Brunei and Malaysia is resolved, work will be carried out to identify the site.

He was responding to a query by YB Dato Paduka Hj Puasa on the long queues that border hoppers normally experience during school holidays, Hari Raya and other public holidays and the need to upgrade Pandaruan ferry services and Puni Control Post in Temburong.

YB Dato Paduka Hj Puasa added that the opening of a new bridge soon in Trusan, Lawas will further aggravate the situation should these control post projects are not carried out.

Okay...okay by popular demand... here's the boozo report by Bernama, Malaysia's national news agency:

Brunei Drops Territorial Claim Over Limbang
From Hafizah Kamaruddin BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 16 (Bernama) — Brunei has officially dropped its long-standing territorial claim over Limbang, a northern division in Sarawak, marking a new era in the bilateral relations between both countries, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
The prime minister said the matter was part of the historic Letters of Exchange (LoE) inked between him and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, which formalised the solution to the long-standing Malaysia-Brunei boundary issues, at the Istana Nurul Iman here Monday.
“It has been stated in the LoE that Brunei has dropped the issue and this means that Limbang is part of Malaysia,” he told a news conference with Malaysian journalists before heading home at the end of his two-day visit to the sultanate.

Good Job, Borneo Post!

Ah ha-I enjoy reading Sarawak's Borneo Post a lot as it has not failed in keeping Borneons, East Malaysians and Bruneians abreast of socio-economic and political developments back home.

Recently, I came across this chronology which was part of a report in the paper of past events leading towards independence from Great Britain in Sarawak's, and as well, Sabah's rich history.

I'm posting this in my blog so that an international viewership may perhaps generate some insightful comments from whoever is out there!
Good job, Borneo Post!

Excerpts:

Key moments before S’wak’s independence

Proclamation to mark self-rule was on 16 September .

With the peace and prosperity that the state is enjoying today, 45 years since it formed Malaysia, it is easy to take things for granted and forget how it all began.
How many Sarawakians can name their first chief minister? How many actually know that Sarawak was an independent nation for some two months before it decided to be part of Malaysia? How many know why the formation of Malaysia had to be postponed?

At the launch of Sarawak’s 45th anniversary at the State Stadium on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud impressed upon the people that they were not just Sarawakians but ‘anak Sarawak (children of Sarawak)’.

He made it clear in his rousing speech that it was vital for ‘anak Sarawak’ to know how their country was born; who were the people who fought for it and what sacrifices had to be made before they can forge forward into the future.

“Without knowledge of our history and how our politics have moved; without knowing our economic struggle, without knowing how we have changed socially and culturally, we cannot fight for a future that will be better for our children,” said Taib.
“Let all the younger generation imbibe the lessons of history; try to emulate whatever they can from the success of our past to build a brighter and more glorious Sarawak in Malaysia.”

With that in mind, let’s journey back in time to revisit some of the important dates for the independence of Sarawak and the formation of Malaysia.

1961
27 May: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Prime Minister of Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, at a Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Southeast Asia press conference in Singapore, says the Federation of Malaya should have a close understanding with Britain and the people of Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah.

20 June: Sir Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister, in a reply to a question in Parliament, says he is interested in the suggestion made by Tunku.

26 June: British officers from Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah, consisting of governors, hold a meeting in Singapore until June 27.

1 July: Tunku Abdul Rahman accompanies the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya to officially visit Brunei and Sarawak.

9 July: Azahari (Partai Rakyat Brunei), Ong Kee Hui (Sarawak United People’s Party) and Donald Stephens (Sabah) establish the United Front and disagrees with the proposal by Tunku Abdul Rahman and Britain.

12 July: Tunku Abdul Rahman exposes communist threats in South East Asia as an important factor in his proposal.

22 July: Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore chief minister, proposes that representatives from Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah present their views at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on the Malaysia proposal.

28 July: Establishment of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee (MSCC) in Singapore during the CPA Conference.

12 August: First visit of leaders from Sarawak and Sabah - Datu Bandar Abang Mustapa, Temenggong Jugah, Donald Stephens and Dato Mustapha - to Malaya to see the progress for themselves. Many such visits are organised for leaders in Sarawak and Sabah up till the formation of Malaysia.

24 August: MSCC holds its first meeting in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) in North Borneo (Sabah). Brunei did not attend.

16 October: A motion for the formation of Malaysia is tabled in Parliament by Tunku Abdul Rahman and is approved.

23 November: Malaya negotiates with Britain to amend the Defence Agreement to expand British assistance when Malaysia is formed and to maintain their army camps. Malaya and Britain negotiate and agree on the setting up of an investigative commission on the formation of Malaysia.
December: Parti Barisan Anak Jati Sarawak (Barjasa) is registered. Political parties formed earlier are the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) on 12 June 1959, Parti Negara Sarawak (Panas) on 9 April 1960 and Sarawak National Party (SNAP) on 10 April 1961. These older parties are formed for local council and district elections that started in 1959.

18 December: MSCC holds its second meeting in Kuching. Brunei attends only as observer.

20 December: The stand of Sarawak and Sabah shifts from opposition to bargaining on issues such as representation in parliament, freedom of religion, national language, civil service, immigration and economic development as stated in a press statement at the end of the MSCC meeting.

30 December: During a conference in Jakarta, Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI), the third largest communist party in the world, condemns the formation of Malaysia as a British neo-colonist ploy.

1962
4 January: British colonial government in Sarawak publishes a white paper on Sarawak’s consent for Malaysia and the establishment of an investigative commission proposed by the governments of Malaya and Britain on November 23, 1961. The White Paper is translated into local dialects and widely distributed in Sarawak.

8 January: MSCC holds its third meeting on constitution and politics in Kuala Lumpur. A decision is reached to produce all the proceedings for public consumption just as the British colonial government had done in Sarawak.

31 January: British colonial government in Sabah produces a white paper, similar to the one published in Sarawak. It is also translated into local languages and distributed widely.

1 February: MSCC holds its fourth and last meeting in Singapore.

3 February: All MSCC delegates sign a memorandum of proposals and recommendations which is then published in Sarawak and Sabah. The Cobbold Commission is set up to seek the views of the people of Sarawak and Sabah on the formation of Malaysia.
Members of the commission are Lord Cobbold (chairman), Sir Anthony Abell and Sir David Watheraton (British representatives) Dato Wong Pow and Ghazali Shafie (representatives of Malaya).

19 February: The Cobbold Commission arrives in Kuching to begin public hearings at 35 centres.

6 March: Deputy Prime Minister of Malaya, Tun Abdul Razak, said that at that time only Britain and the Philippines were involved in the territorial claims over Sabah.

17 April: The Cobbold Commission completes its task in Sarawak and flies to Jesselton to continue its investigations at 15 centres in Sabah.

24 April: The legislative assembly of the Philippines unanimously approve “Resolution No. 7 … the President of the Republic to take the necessary steps consistent with international law and procedure for the recovery of a certain portion of the Island of Borneo and adjacent islands which appertain to the Philippines”.

29 April: Sultan of Sulu hands over the rule of Sulu (which has never been colonised by Spain or the United States of America) to the Philippines until she was accepted as an independent sovereign country.

24 May: The British government sends a memorandum to the ruler of the Philippines on its claim to a part of Sabah. The other part was previously under the Brunei sultanate, particularly along the west coast.

22 June: The ruler of the Philippines sends a note to the British government on its claim over Sabah.

24 June: Donald Stephen, President United Kadazan Organisation (UNKO), says the people of Sabah challenge the claim by the Philippines.

27 June: Sarawak Chinese Association (SCA) Party formed.
July: The Cobbold Commission sends its report to the government of Malaya and Britain.

18 July: Sultan Omar Ali Saifudin, Sultan Brunei, declares that Brunei will join Malaysia separately from Sarawak and Sabah.

20 July: Parti Pesaka formed.
The ruler of the Philippines sends a note on its Sabah claim to the government of Malaya.

1 August: Negotiations on the Cobbold Report between Malaya led by Tunku Abdul Rahman and his colleague from Britain to announce the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on August 31, 1963 after it is approved by their respective legislatures.

30 August: Inter-Government Committee (IGC) holds a preparatory meeting in Jesselton, Sabah, and sets up its headquarters there.
Sabah political parties submit the Twenty Points claim to Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya Tun Abdul Razak and Lord Landsowne in Jesselton.

12 September: The Sabah State Legislative Assembly unanimously approves the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and the establishment of the IGC.

26 September: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly unanimously approves the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and the establishment of the IGC.
The Sabah Alliance is set up by Pasok Momogun, Sabah United Party, United Kadazan Organization (UNKO) and United Sabah National Organization (USNO).
September: Philippines Vice President, Emmanuel Paleaez, declares his country’s claims to a part of Sabah at the United Nations, New York.

16 October: Sabah Alliance declares the opposition of the people of Sabah on the claim of the Philippines.

December: Sabah Alliance wins the election with 131 out of 137 contested constituencies with a manifesto based on the Twenty Points.

8 December: Partai Rakyat Brunei causes a revolt in Brunei, Limbang, Lawas and Miri.

9 December: A M Azahari, Partai Rakyat Brunei chairman, announces the North Kalimantan Revolution Government while in exile in Manila. He is actually a citizen of Lebanon; his father had married the daughter of Hugh Low, the British Governor of Labuan, who had married a Sarawakian woman, Dayang Loyang.

20 December: IGC holds its last meeting in Kuala Lumpur. It had held 24 meetings in Kuching, Jeselton, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
1963

5 January: Curfew from 6pm to 6am is enforced in Limbang.

8 January: The Governor declares as illegal the Sarawak Farmers’ Association, Kesatuan Rakyat Insaf Sarawak, Chung Hua Alumni Association Sibu, Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara, Angkatan Dosu Berantu and Angkatan Rakyat Anak Sabah.

28 January: British Foreign Secretary Lord Home and Philippines Vice President Emmanuel Palaez begins negotiations on claims over Sabah until February 1 with no results.
Diosado Macapagal, the President of the Philippines states for the first time his country’s opposition to the formation of Malaysia in his state-of-the-nation speech in the Philippines Congress.

11 February: Dr Subandario, Indonesia Foreign Minister, officially objects to the formation of Malaysia.

23 February: IGC submits Reports to the Governments of the Four Parties Concerned - Britain, Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah.
The IGC report is published.

8 March: Sarawak State Legislative Assembly unanimously adopts the recommendations in the IGC report.

13 March: Sabah State Legislative Assembly adopts recommendations in the IGC report.

April: Sarawak local council elections are held until June.

15 May: Third Rajah Sir Charles Vyner Brooke passes away in England.

31 May: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Prime Minister of Malaya and Sukarno, President of the Republic of Indonesia negotiate in Tokyo for an agreement on the formation of Malaysia and to stop Indonesia from sending her army into Sarawak and Sabah.

18 June: The Sarawak Flag will use the old flag with a crown in the centre.

19 June: The results of the election are announced - Alliance 78, Independent 67, SUPP 16 and Panas 11.

20 June: 31 Independent legislators join Alliance, bringing the tally to 119.

9 July: The Malaysia Agreement is reached by Britain, Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah. Brunei withdraws at the last moment. It is signed by Temenggong Jugah, Dato Bandar Abang Mustapa, Abang Openg, Ling Beng Siew and PEH Pike. From Sabah are Donald Stephens, Dato Mustapha, Khoo Siak Chiew, G S Sundang, WS Holley, and WKH Jones. From Singapore are Lee Kuan Yew, and the representatives of Malaya and Britain are Tunku Abdul Rahman and Harold Macmillan respectively.

19 July: British House of Commons approves the Malaysia Bill to enable Sarawak and Sabah to form Malaysia.

22 July: Stephen Kalong Ningkan chosen as the first Chief Minister of Sarawak along with the state’s first cabinet.

30 July: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sukarno and Macapagal meet at the Manila Summit.

5 August: Manila Summit ends resulting in Manila Declaration in which the three countries agree to form a new confederation called Maphilindo (short for Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia). There is also a Manila Accord in which the three countries agree to work together in politics, economics, socially and culturally. Philippines and Indonesia request that the Secretary General of the United Nations get the views of the people of Sarawak and Sabah on the formation of Malaysia.

3 August: Governor Sir Alexander Waddel launches the 1962 uprising memorial for British commandos who were defeated in Limbang.

6 August: Teo Kui Seng, Natural Resources Minister, also the chairman of the Malaysia Day celebration, announces the programme.

8 August: Sabah Legislative Assembly unanimously passes the Merdeka motion to join Malaysia and also approves the Malaysia Agreement.

15 August: Parliament of the Federation of Malaysia approves the Malaysia Agreement.

16 August: United Nation Malaysia Mission (UNMM) arrives and carries out its task to get the opinion of the people of Sarawak and Sabah until September 5, 1963. Their arrival is also met with anti-Malaysia protestors at the Kuching Airport.

18 August: Indonesian soldiers and insurgents invade Sungai Bangkit in Song, resulting in a casualty.

19 August: Abdul Taib Mahmud, Communication and Works Minister, visits the headquarters of the Public Works Department in Kuching.
The merdeka celebration is postponed from August 31 to September 16.

26 August: Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya approves the Malaysian constitution.

27 August: Demonstrations against Malaysia in Sibu in connection with the arrival of the UNMM team.

29 August: Yang Di-Pertuan Agong signs the Malaysia Declaration, fixed on September 16, 1963.
Anti-Malaysia protest in Miri on the arrival of the UNMM team results in a clash with the police.

30 August: UNMM team arrives in Limbang, its last stop.

1 September: UNMM representative, Lawrence Michelmore, meets representatives from Alliance and SUPP at the State Legislative Assembly chambers.

4 September: Sarawak Legislative Assembly approves Malaysia motion with 38 votes for and five against. Stephen Kalong Ningkan tables the motion which states: “Be it resolved that this Council reaffirms its support for Malaysia, endorses the formal agreement which was signed in London on the 9th July and, while regretting that the Federation of Malaysia could not be brought into being on the 31st August, welcomes the decision to establish it on the 16th September, 1963.”

5 September: UNMM team leaves Sarawak.

11 September: Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, and three ministers as well as 10 members of the Alliance fly to Kuala Lumpur to meet the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Colony of Britain, Duncan Sandys.

13 September: UNMM presents its report.
“The Mission is satisfied that through its hearings it was able to reach a cross-section of the population in all walks of life and that the expressions of opinion that it heard represent the views of a sizeable majority of the population. The Mission is convinced that the time devoted to hearings and the number of localities visited was adequate and enabled it to fully carry out its terms of references.”
Sir Alexander Waddell announces that Datu Abang Openg is appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan as the first Yang Di-Pertua of Sarawak beginning from Malaysia Day.
Temenggong Jugah Barieng is appointed to the Federal Cabinet as the Sarawak Affairs Minister.

14 September: Duncan Sandys arrives in Kuching for a brief visit.

15 September: Dr M Sockalingam is appointed as the Speaker of the Sarawak Dewan Undangan Negeri.
British colonial Governor, Sir Alexander Waddell, and wife leave Astana, the official Brooke residence and that of British governors since 1870, at exactly 12.30pm.

16 September: Tun Abang Openg is sworn in as the first Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.
Prime Minister of Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman reads the Proclamation of Malaysia in front of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Raja-Raja Melayu and thousands of citizens at Stadium Merdeka to mark the birth of a new country named, the Federation of Malaysia. He says: “The great day we have long awaited has come at last - the birth of Malaysia. In a warm spirit of joy and hope ten million people of many races in all the states of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah now join hands in freedom and joy.”
Khir Johari reads Proclamation of Malaysia as the representative of the Prime Minister to mark the independence of Sarawak in the presence of Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Abang Openg, Chief Minister Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the State Cabinet and the people at Padang Sentral (now Padang Merdeka), Kuching, and in all divisions of Sarawak.
(Chronology is translated from the official 45th anniversary souvenir book, ‘Perayaan 45 Tahun Sarawak Maju Dalam Malaysia, 1963 - 2008).

Our Borneon Argument

The ongoing academic discussion that is going on in Malaysiakini is so enlightening. I am indeed impressed with the arguments put forth by both disputing sparring sides and frankly, as a reasonably non-partisan ordinary Joe, I find the arguments by the disgruntled Borneo side much more convincing than that of the patronising "Uncle Yap's". I would ask Uncle Yap to read the highly respected statesman, ex-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's autobiography The Singapore Story and also one of the founding Malaysian forefathers, James Wong Kim Ming's book.

Here's more well-written arguments by Lucy Ahmad in her letter to Malaysiakini. Don't we wish the intimidated Malaysian press would publish daily matters of interest by Malaysians for everyone to read? Why must the population be prevented from knowing the truth? How can any society aspire to be a shiny beacon of academic excellence if even matters such as this, which are not harmful, unlike the encouragement to take illegal drugs and other controversial subjects, be dismissed by the mainstream docile boring local media?

Sabah, Sarawak - colonies all over again
Lucy Ahmed
Oct 5, 07 3:39pm

After reading Uncle Yap’s Stop dreaming, we didn't negotiate as equals, I just wonder what had motivated him to write such an insulting letter.

Uncle Yap should understand that when citizens (East Malaysians in particular) are whining non-stop, there must be some valid reasons for that.

Maybe we didn't negotiate as equals, but it was widely known that in 1961, in the midst of the independence mood going on in Southeast Asia, Tunku Abdul Rahman made a proposal to form the Federation of Malaysia which was to combine (1) Malaya, (2) Singapore, (3) Brunei, (4) North Borneo and (5) Sarawak.

Unfortunately (or rather fortunately for Brunei), Brunei opted out due to the strong opposition from its population, but mainly due to the disagreement over the payment of oil royalties plus the status of the sultan in the Federation of Malaysia. So the would-be merger was the marriage between the newly independent five states with the expectation of equal and humane treatment from the new government of the Federation of Malaysia (not Malaya).

We (the Borneans) surely did expect for equality as in due process the 20-point Agreement (Sarawak has more safeguard points) was forwarded to safeguard the people of North Borneo. Sabah and Sarawak understood that the 20-point Agreement to be perpetual, but sadly over the time, the federal government has successfully manipulated and eroded the guarantees agreed during the forming of the Federation of Malaysia.

There are many reasons why Tunku made the proposal to form the federation of Malaysia. It was not only to increase the size of the economic pie, but also to gain greater racial percentage on the bumiputera side - and this was proven in 1969 during the May 13 incident. By having North Borneo and Sarawak in the Federation, the number of bumiputeras increased and this helped a great deal to offset the ratio of the ‘communist’ Chinese's population in the Peninsular Malaysia.

I still do not understand 'why' so many of the West Malaysians (even the previous PM) were very much upset and ranted non-stop about the so-called "arm-twisting" British. I think it is time to make amend with the British. Without the British, we would not have managed to organise our social and political system as early as in the 60s. In fact, we should by now be grateful to the British for teaching us the system and showing us the way to the modern world.

Think of this: How twisted was the arm of the Malayans, compared to the twisted arm of the Sabahans? Weren’t our prominent political leaders thrown into the ISA lockup just for trying to voice the Sabahans needs and wants? Wasn’t our winning political party thrown out overnight, just because the federal government didn't agree with the democratically-elected leader? Even the previous PM bluntly threatened us that if we do not choose the federally-supported parties, Sabah will be denied the federal funding.

How much had the British robbed from the Malayans, and Malayans had not robbed from the Borneons? How about all those oil and other rich natural resources royalties which was one of the main reasons why Brunei opted out of the Federation of Malaysia. Five percent for the Borneons? You must be joking - even interest rate on ASB is around 10 percent and more.

Luckily we do not have any sultan in Sabah or Sarawak, or else they would have been long molested. Brunei is still standing tall with its crown, and Singapore's standard is almost at par with the Western countries.

Malaysia Boleh!

Penan Idealism, Reality & Solution

Please click to enlarge the extracts from The Battle for Sarawak's Forests by World Rainforest Movement (Sahabat Alam Malaysia), 1990.
There was a time when I was an idealist like Bruno Manser, believing everything in this world would best be left in its pristine state. There should be no development at all. Period.

Today, that idealism has to give way to the reality that as long as a state does not carry out development, there would be no progress in this part of the world. As we lag behind in progress, the rest of humankind will carry on, making us mere fools who have been deceiving ourselves in our delusions.

I would think it is time that the gentle nomadic people, the Penans of Borneo should be persuaded by kind means-not through gangsters or other dubious tough methods- to accept development. It is only through development that they would maintain their survival. Life is near impossible with the ongoing heavy deforestation as the rivers and streams remain polluted and wildlife food gets scarce. Diseases and deadly creatures are rampant in the interior and the early death rates of these folks remain high.

Sadly, there are some Penans who have totally rejected assimilation into the fabric of civilized modern society. They are so hard-core that they are prepared to either be imprisoned (The courts have been harsh on them), mistreated (The law-keepers have also been tough on them) or even die for their cause. Perhaps it is due to idealism, illiteracy, ignorance or just plain stubbornness (Let's leave this to the sociologists and psychologists to dissect and explain away) but the fact remains that they are actually happy the way they are.

Is there a solution for them? Maybe, just maybe, the kindest way to handle this problem is to resettle them in a beautiful Shangrila paradise with clear boundaries, somewhere in the virgin jungle. They, and all those many anti-development jungle dwellers could opt to resettle in this location. It would be their self-governing homeland without political power, much like one of the Northern American reservations. Here, they would be able to hunt and move about to their delight. Short of carrying that out, it could mean there will tragically be a subtle cleansing of this amazingly humble nomadic folks.

A Tribute to Past Courage

Please click pic to enlarge!


Seen here on the left are the British SAS specialists unloading supplies in an undisclosed area
of the Borneo jungle during the undeclared war called Konfrontasi with powerful well-trained disciplined troops from Indonesia who managed to infiltrate Sarawak in the 1960s.

Some SAS soldiers never made it back to their homeland alive in the brutal war which according to some books was an unofficially declared war for insurance reasons as the insurer's assessment cost would be heavy for Great Britain.

Undoubtedly without the aid of the SAS, Malaysian history would be different today.

Below the chopper pic is another pic of some of the specialists having a discussion at an undisclosed Dayak location.

A Tribute to Courage Pics (A)

This tribute is dedicated to the brave men of the Sarawak Rangers (Later a.k.a. Sarawak Police Field Force) and their trainers, the dedicated men of the British Special Air Services (SAS), one of the world's best and famous elite clandestine fighting forces.

I remember the heroes from the families of the Manjings, Nicholas, Bujangs, Bijans, Andrews, Greenmasons, Bonifaces, Mais, Chabus, Jabus, Palengs, Donalds, Terangs, Ritihs and many others including, at a later stage, some other very, very few Chinese and Malays. Overwhelmingly, the majority of the Dayaks were good, decent Christians. A few of them remained as animists.

Below left: An SAS corporal in the war against Indonesian infiltrators in Borneo. Remember, as usual, to click to enlarge this and other pics. If you wish to have any of my pics, please support my blog by purchasing them in the links provided all over this blog.

Interestingly, while the SAS and the Rangers were equipped with American M16s, they were supplied with American Armalite rifles when they infiltrated the enemy lines with quiet official approval. In Indonesian territory, obviously, they had to disguise themselves with no identification, dog tags or anything which looked British. Sometimes their penetration into the Indonesian territory went over 20 km into the land. These Claret operations were reconnaissance patrols to watch known tracks and rivers and monitor troop movements. Contact with the enemy was to be avoided at all cost and when captured, a map-reading error was to be the excuse.

Other pics show the early SAS boarding a plane for a parachute drop into the Malayan jungle in their fight against communist militants. Also shown is the appearance of an SAS trooper and his standard issued wear and weaponry.