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.

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!

A Big Malaysian Debate

I own a rather worn out glossy color comic with the title "Judge Colt". It's about a judge who's known as "The Hanging Judge" dispensing merciless justice in the Wild, Wild West but unfortunately, he does it with a zeal in his hunt for the murderers of his family.

I've had the comic for over 30 years and today the words that were used in his delivery of his judgment fills my head "You shall be taken out and hung till you're are dead, dead, dead".

So you can see it can be rather dramatic to play the role of a just judge.

Well here's a debate by mail to Malaysiakini that allows you and I to be the judge as to who's right or wrong ...

Do bear in mind though, that this "Uncle Yap" seems to be a "Malaysian republican" as he takes the stand that East Malaysians are not accepted as partners in the formation of Malaysia.

Sabah, Sarawak could have ended up Indonesian
Uncle Yap
Sep 18, 07 3:38pm

I refer to the Malaysiakini article 916 – A personal testimony. I am indeed honoured that an eminent person like Sim Kwang Yang (whose writings in Malaysiakini I have long admired) has taken note of my slightly different perception of the formation of Malaysia.

I have always been an adherent of the concept of ‘substance over form’ and whichever way you look at it, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak joined the other 11 states of the Federation of Malaya and this enlarged nation was renamed ‘Malaysia’. Each of the three added one more point to the star and one more stripe to the erstwhile flag of the Federation of Malaya.

The then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (the Raja of Perlis) became the head of Islamic affairs of these three states that did not have a Malay ruler, just like Malacca and Penang and later, Wilayah Persekutuan. The constitution of Malaysia was essentially identical to that of the Federation of Malaya.

People who argue for the form would have you believe that the local leaders of Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak negotiated with the independent Federation of Malaya as equals. Yet none have addressed the issue that the sovereignty of these three states- pre-Aug 31, 1963 - rested with Queen Elizabeth II. All three were British possessions whereas the Federation of Malaya was an independent country and a member of the United Nations.

May I ask Sim what would happen if Brunei one day were to join Malaysia, say on Jan 1, 2009? Would Brunei be celebrating Malaysia's centenary on Aug 31, 2057 or would it be the 48th anniversary? No one has yet to cast a dent on my drawing of a parallel of the formation of Malaysia with that of the United States of America.

Many East Malaysians often forget that in the early 1960s, the effete Britain (after the debilitating WWII) was anxious to get out of the Far East and of other far-flung colonial possessions and was desperate to offload its Borneo burden. If Tunku had not been pressured to take on this burden, it was an accepted hypothesis that if North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei were to be somehow allowed to become independent, they would not last six months with rapacious and avaricious Sukarno's Indonesia next door.

We have traveled the same road for nearly five decades and our destinies are somewhat, for better or for worse, entwined. Problems we have many but surely we do not need to add another by this annual parade of denial and whining about the date of independence and nationhood.

The name ‘Malaysia’ was coined to be a better, fitting name for an entity enlarged to include the Borneo states. Prior to Aug 31,1957, the term ‘Malaya’ included the nine Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. (Even the term, ‘University of Malaya’ was first used for the union of the Raffles College and King Edward School of Medicine, both of which were located on the island of Singapore.)

That slight name change is now being quoted to support this erroneous perception that North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore ‘formed’ Malaysia as equal partners with the Federation of Malaya in 1963. To any thinking person who look not merely at the form but at the substance, this cannot be further from the truth.

All three joined the federation as three additional new states to the existing 11 and that is the substance.

Here's the rebuttal by "Tanak Wagu":
Sabah, S'wak would not have fallen to Indonesia
Tanak Wagu
Sep 28, 07 2:10pm

Uncle Yap in his letter ‘Sabah and Sarawak could have ended up Indonesian’ tries to suggest that if Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to be independent, they would have ended up being invaded by Indonesia.

This is simplistic thinking, and also the type of propaganda churned out in Malaysian school textbooks. If Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to go independent, the British would have taken appropriate measures to ensure that these states would not be easily colonised by Indonesia. A case in point would be Brunei, which despite its small size still exists independently. But please bear in mind, there is still British military presence in Brunei up to this day.

In his arguments, Uncle Yap also fails to look at the importance of the Malaysia Agreement. If Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore were to be merely added as the 12th, 13th and 14th states of Malaya, then there would be no need to draw up the Malaysia Agreement. Please also note that the creation of Malaysia necessitated the United Nations to send a fact finding mission
to this country.

When Singapore joined Malaysia, it already had an internal self-government with Lee Kuan Yew as the prime minister. Two weeks before Malaysia was formed, Sabah had become an independent state.

Uncle Yap asks what if Brunei was to join Malaysia now. Should we celebrate Malaysia day on another date he asks if that happens? Do remember that if Brunei is to join Malaysia, we do not need to celebrate Malaysia day as beginning from any new date. This is because Malaysia was already formed 44 years ago. Unless of course Malaysia intends to change its name to Malaysianei. Then yes we should celebrate Malaysianei as beginning from the date Brunei joins us.

Flashback into an event that could but did not occur following the Japanese occupation of Malaya.

Click to enlarge!

Old Miri-the Tale Begins

This is a hand-drawn map of Miri from 1910 to 1945 extracted from my uncle's autobiography, The Rise and Fall of the Rising Sun in Miri, Sarawak. It was drawn by my uncle who used to be a government engineer in Miri (Click on it to enlarge it).

In 1945, he tragically lost his dad to the occupying Imperial Japanese Forces who summarily executed him, and many others after many days of torture by the dreaded Japanese Secret Police, the Kempeti, before the Australian troops liberated Miri.

In 1962, during the Brunei Rebellion, he led a group of 60 Ibans to defend Miri against the attacking rebels from Brunei. He was awarded by Sarawak's then Governor Sir Alexander Waddell with a Commendation Award for his courageous selfless act.

He has settled down overseas to enjoy his 'golden years'.

I will add in the latest comparative map of Miri later in another posting.

Sarawak's Generous Wealthy Neighbour

This article is from TIME again. The problem is the date which is not available due to an accidental omission while snipping it out from the mag. The mag was possibly published in early 2000.

For an extraordinary read about this man and his immense wealth, grab James Bartholomew's fascinating biography, The Richest Man in the World (Bartholomew, James. The Richest Man in the World. Suffolk: Penguin Books, 1989).

Yeah, this unauthorized biography is banned in Brunei.

Citations from it might occasionally appear here in future to show you how amazingly extravagantly indulgent humankind can be.

BANNED IN BRUNEI!

This September 12, 1987 Asiaweek was definitely banned in Brunei. For the sake of its Sultan, (whom I admire for his generosity) I will not open this magazine for all of you dear visitors to read the juicy bits. Here's a tantalising glimpse though: