Tag: History

5 strange epidemics you probably never heard of

by Patricia Hului -

An epidemic happens when there is a rapid spread of disease to a large of number of people under a short period of time. When the disease is spread to other countries or continents and affects a large number of people, then it is called a pandemic, just like what the

A curious case of sleep hollow in Bintangor in 1937

by Patricia Hului -

The Sarawak Gazette has published many eyebrow-raising stories since its first publication in 1870. Most of these incidents took place in Sarawak while others happened in other countries. One of the strange incidents that was reported in the gazette took place in May 1937. The headline of the report was “Asleep for a

Rowan Waddy and his experience as a Semut Operative in Sarawak

by Patricia Hului -

Operation Semut was a series of reconnaissance operations that took place in Sarawak. It was carried out by Australia’s Z Special Unit in 1945 during the final days of World War II (WWII). Altogether, there were four operations were undertaken under Operation Semut. Their main objectives? To gather intelligence and to train the

The locust plague that hit North Borneo in 1919

by Patricia Hului -

Do you know a plague of locusts once hit North Borneo about a century ago in 1919? The Sarawak Gazette on Dec 16, 1919 reported that until that year North Borneo had never suffered from a locust plague on a big scale. “As far as is known the only occasion on which

3 theories on Kayan migration to Borneo island

by Patricia Hului -

When the Kayans are naming a child, or engaged in any special ceremony, such as going on the war-path, matches may not be used and fire must be made by drawing rattan backwards and forwards on a piece of soft, dry wood. Credit: Public Domain. When speaking about Kayan migration, many

5 amusing Sarawak stories as recorded by colonial officer Ian Urquhart

by Patricia Hului -

The Crown Colony of Sarawak was established in 1946 right after the dissolution of the British Military Administration. On Sept 16, 1963, it was succeeded as the state of Sarawak through the formation of the Malaysian federation. Unlike other Crown colonies, Sarawak was perhaps the most unique one. Sarawak continued its pre-existing

How Korean dramas introduced the world to ‘chimaek’

by Patricia Hului -

Photo by Unsplash. If you are a K-drama fan, you must know about ‘chimaek’. It is a Korean slang word which mashes up chikin (fried chicken) and maekju (beer). For Sarawakians, the last thing you would imagine to pair your beer with is fried chicken. However, South Korean have introduced the