On Dec 9, 1962, as the Brunei Revolt took place, the North Kalimantan National Army (Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara, TNKU) seized the town of Limbang. After attacking the police station, they captured several rifles and machine guns. They even held the British resident and his wife as hostage along with 12 others. On
Culture
Atrocities aboard Japanese destroyer Akikaze during WWII
Adults executed, babies thrown overboard from Japanese destroyer Akikaze during WWII If you're a history buff, you might have heard of all kind of atrocities that took place during World War II (WWII). However, have you heard about how adults were executed and children thrown overboard while still alive? About Japanese destroyer Akikaze Akikaze
10 things you might not know about Japanese hell ships during WWII
When we look at how Prisoners-of-War (POWs) suffered in internment camps or death marches during World War II (WWII), little do most people know about the atrocities onboard Japanese hell ships. 'Hell ship' describes a ship with extremely inhumane living conditions or with reputation for cruelty among the crew. The term was
The Melanau Oya legend of Bunga Lawan and the wicked antu sababu
Susumi Hoshijima, the Beast of Belsen of Sandakan POW Camp
Captain Susumi Hoshijima (center) Susumi Hoshijima, the Beast of Belsen of Sandakan POW Camp One of the infamous commandants of concentration camps during World War II (WWII) was none other than Josef Kramer. He was the Commandant of Auschwitz-Birkenau (from May 8, 1944 to Nov 25, 1944) and of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Iban, Malay or Chinese? Looking at the origin of the name ‘Santubong’
The name Santubong is widely known among Sarawakians as the name of a mountain located in Sarawak.The common myth is that the mountain takes its name after a celestial princess. But what other origin stories are there behind the name Santubong? The legend of Princess Santubong The common understanding of the legend
‘Fake news’ about Sarawak in The Manila Bulletin in 1931
On Oct 1, 1931, the editor of The Sarawak Gazette published an extract from the Manila Bulletin. Founded in 1900, the bulletin is the Philippines’ largest English language broadsheet newspaper. Published under what the gazette referred as ‘Fiction Column(?)’, the title of the article was “Only one Filipino lives in the British
Explorer Franz Witti and his death by sumpitan in British North Borneo
Francis Xavier Witti or also known as Franz Witti, was one of the first few Europeans to explore the northern part of Borneo. He was a former navy officer in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and avid explorer. When Witti came in contact with German adventurer and diplomat Baron Gustav von Overbeck during his
10 things you might not know about the Sandakan Death Marches
Iban olden customary laws against adultery and elopement
Some people call it love, while others call it breaking the adat (custom). Historically, many cultures consider adultery a very serious crime, subject to severe punishment such as capital punishment, mutilation or torture. This includes the Iban people of Sarawak. According to Iban ethnologist Benedict Sandin, before Sarawak was under Brooke rule, if