People have been living along the border of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia with Kalimantan, Indonesia for centuries. When there was a conflict such as the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation which broke out between the two countries, it was unfortunate that they found themselves caught in between. So how did the Sarawakians near Kalimantan border
Tag: History
Why did Indonesia give guerrilla training to Sarawak Chinese youths during Konfrontasi?
During Konfrontasi or the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, Indonesia lent their support to Sarawak Chinese. But why? When the formation of Malaysia was proposed, President Sukarno-led Indonesia was not the only who opposed the idea. The Sarawak Communist movement was also against the idea of Malaysia. Instead, the Sarawak Communists supported the idea of unification of
Was the first contact between James Brooke and the Kanowits a peaceful one?
The name of Kanowit town comes from the earliest ethnic group who settled in the area, the Kanowits. Today, they are often referred to as Melanau Kanowit. Their first contact with the British took place in 1846 when the steamer, the Phlegethon, commanded by James Brooke and Captain Rodney Mundy sailed
What sparked the Bau Rebellion?
Pigs reared in Batu Lintang Camp had better food than the POWs
When Batu Lintang camp was liberated on Sept 11, 1945 by the Australian 9th Division, the camp population was 2,024. Overall, there were 1,392 prisoners of wars (POWs), 395 were male civilian internees and 237 were civilian women and children. There were two death orders found among the official Japanese papers at
The forgotten All Saints Chapel of Sandakan POW Camp
The ruins of huts in the prisoner of war camp, Sandakan, North Borneo, October 1945. Those who were too ill for the march were eventually murdered here. Credits: Public Domain (Copyright expired) Courtesy Australian War Memorial: 120457 Do you know there was an Anglican chapel at Sandakan prisoners of war
The Berhala Eight, the daring escape from Berhala Island during WWII
Located in Sandakan Bay, Malaysian state of Sabah, the Berhala island is a small forested island. Before World War II (WWII), the island was used as a layover station for labourers coming from China and the Philippines. There was also a leper colony on the island. Then during WWII, the Japanese used
What happened to the 300 prisoners of Labuan POW camp during WW2?
Flying over the prisoner of war camp (POW) in Batu Lintang at a low height, RAAF Beaufighter pilots reported sighting white POWs, clad in khaki shorts, who excitedly waved as the RAAF aircraft flew over to drop leaflets announcing Japan's surrender. Credits: Public Domain (Copyright expired). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C242106 When it comes to
The forgotten Javanese forced labourers of Sandakan during WWII
The forgotten Javanese forced labourers or romusha of Sandakan during WWII The Allied Prisoners of Wars (POWs) who were taken to Sandakan during World War II (WWII) had one job, to build an airstrip for the Japanese. The site of the Sandakan airstrip was selected during WWII for a United Kingdom’s Royal
