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Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim

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While Sarawak has firmly established itself as THE place to go for world music, and as a Culture, Adventure and Nature destination (did you know Gunung Mulu National Park was a UNESCO World Heritage site?), it aims to be the leading fashion hub in this region with the upcoming lifestyle and fashion event ALTA MODA SARAWAK.

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was confident that ALTA MODA SARAWAK would become a successful yearly event to promote the state as a leading fashion hub in Asean and beyond.

“The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. This is because it involves a big group of people coming from all work and backgrounds, including those from production to design and marketing.

“There are also those who are making a good living out of writing, analyzing, shooting, commenting and blogging about fashion,” he said during a recent press conference at Restaurant Budaya Sarawak.

He added that the event could attract potential tourism and merchandise buyers domestically and internationally in support of Sarawakian designers and artists.

“It is therefore good for ALTA MODA SARAWAK to have the objective of promoting Sarawak as a state of diversity with different ethnic groups and cultures.”

Additionally, Abdul Karim believed that the event could be one of the catalysts and key players in helping to boost tourist traffic to Sarawak under the state’s tourism initiatives, which is why the Ministry suggested moving it from October last year to March 2019.

“This is to give more time for the organisers to make it a grand affair in conjunction with our ‘Visit Sarawak Campaign’ objectives.”

He also noted that ALTA MODA SARAWAK might be one of the last few events to be held at the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Building before it will be closed for renovations to transform it into a performing arts centre.

Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Abdul Karim (center) speaking to the press at Restaurant Budaya Sarawak on Feb 2.
ALTA MODA SARAWAK as a brand platform for Sarawak’s designers

The Sarawak fashion industry has seen a gradual boom over recent years.

Abdul Karim said, “We too have our very own designers whose meteoric rise is something to be proud of. These include names like Paul Carling, Anna Sue, Ben Nazry, Melinda Omar, Sereni & Shentel, Latip’s Collection and more. With ALTA MODA SARAWAK, I hope that their star continues to rise.”

The organisers of ALTA MODA SARAWAK are confident that the designers taking part will be able to establish themselves as the fashion and lifestyle brands to be reckoned with and help propel the growth of Sarawak’s fashion industry.

“This development will, in return, be able to attract more tourist traffic into Sarawak and create demand for a growing domestic industry among the talented artisans and skillful beads craftsmen,” he said.

Meanwhile, ALTA MODA SARAWAK organising chairperson Datin Esther Mujan Balan said the organising team was excited to be holding the event in conjunction with Visit Sarawak Campaign, with the support and partnership from the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and Sarawak Tourism Board.

“We are determined and focused for ALTA MODA SARAWAK to be a successful yearly event to promote Sarawak as a leading fashion hub in Southeast Asia and attract potential tourism and merchandise buyers domestically and internationally for our Sarawakian designers and artists.”

She stated, “Another objective of the event is to provide up and rising Sarawakian designers the opportunity to make their mark in their own country rather than having to go abroad to make a name for themselves. It also aims to give local fashion followers the chance to have ‘high fashion at their doorstep.’”

Besides Abdul Karim, the three-day event is expected to be attended by the Chief Minister of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife of the Governor of Sarawak Toh Puan Ragad Waleed Alkurdi.

The press conference also saw a short runway show featuring 11 out of the 24 designers that will be participating during ALTA MODA SARAWAK.

MARK YOU CALENDARS: The inaugural ALTA MODA SARAWAK will be held at the old State Legislative Assembly Building, Kuching on Mar 7 to 9.

Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim
Alta Moda Sarawak could be a successful yearly event for Sarawak: Abdul Karim

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The Iban woman who does Malay keringkam embroidery

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Keringkam embroidery is a significant artistic heritage for the Sarawak Malay community.

The word ‘keringkam’ comes from the gold or silver thread called clinquant thread used to embroider motifs on shawls and headscarves.

With traditional Sarawak Malay attire, there are two types of scarves; the shorter ones called selayah and the longer types called selendang.

In the olden days, the women would wear these keringkam embroidered scarves for special occasions such as weddings.

Charles Brooke’s wife, Margaret, was known to have loved these fine traditional embroidery, as she had several in her keeping and had also taken portraits of herself wearing the selayah keringkam.

Depending on the size of the fabric and the detail of the motifs, a piece can take up to three months to complete.

The Iban woman who does Malay keringkam embroidery
There are several types of flower motifs in traditional keringkam embroidery. The one pictured above is the ‘motif rose mekar’, or ‘blooming rose motif’.

Nowadays, only a handful of artisans know how to do keringkam embroidery. One of them is a 41-year-old Iban lady, Doris Hilda Reji, who fell in love with this Malay traditional craft.

She also happens to be the only non-Malay keringkam embroiderer in Sarawak.

Hailing from Lundu, she currently lives in Kampung Siol Kandis, and first began keringkam embroidery in 2003.

She was part of Skim Inkubator Kraf, an incubator scheme to start handicraft businesses under Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation. She still does custom orders today.

When KajoMag met her, she was working from home embroidering keringkam as per customers’ orders.

The Iban woman who does Malay keringkam embroidery
Doris showing her first keringkam embroidering work.
KajoMag: How did you first learn how to embroider keringkam?

Doris: I was a single mother trying to learn extra skills to make a living. Back then, I took some courses at Sarawak’s Women and Family Department (JWKS) and they started to offer a keringkam embroidery class.

I was among the youngest in the group so some of the officers suggested that I sign up for it. They said since I was still in my 20s, my eyesight was still good; perfect to do intricate work of keringkam embroidery. Before taking the class, I had never heard of keringkam before.

When I first saw a selendang with keringkam embroidery, I told myself I had to learn and finish one myself. It took me about three months and I still have my first ever keringkam embroidering work.

Since I started, I did keringkam embroidery on not just scarves but clothes and decorations to put in a frame.

There were some people looking for unique souvenirs, so I turned keringkam embroidery into small bookmarks to cater for their requests.

KajoMag: How does it feel being the only non-Malay in this artistry?

Doris: I have always liked anything that is handmade so I was not choosy on what to do; as long as the finished product is something made by hand. Since there was an opportunity for me to learn, I took it without thinking about it.

KajoMag: Do you have any plans on teaching your children how to embroider keringkam?

Doris: I taught my daughter how to embroider over the three months as we waited for her SPM results. She did that before she went off to further her studies. Even now, she occasionally sits next to me and helps embroider with me.

I don’t think she would take it seriously as a career, but at least she has some basic skills on how to do it. I always welcome those who are willing to learn from me at an affordable fee.

KajoMag: What is your hope for the future of keringkam embroidery in Sarawak?

Doris: As far as I’m concerned, pua kumbu is still widely known among the Iban community because we still use it to this day, so the younger generation knows about pua kumbu.

For keringkam, however, perhaps there are not many who are familiar with this art.

There is always room to promote more about keringkam among the younger generation. If they do not learn about it, then they would have no interest in wearing anything with keringkam embroidery on it.

The Iban woman who does Malay keringkam embroidery
A closer look at Doris’ keringkam embroidery work.

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How a father’s rage led to the origin of oil in Miri

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British Charles Hose was the one responsible for the discovery of oil in Miri, Sarawak.

After his appointment as the Resident of Baram in 1890, Hose started mapping oil seeps in and around Miri.

He reportedly gave his findings to the Sarawak government but an oil exploration was an impossible mission back then due to its poor logistic conditions.

No one pursued the idea again until Hose retired and returned to England. There, he showed his map of oil seeps to Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak.

After a series of meetings, Sarawak signed the first Sarawak Oil Mining Lease in 1909, allowing the oil in Miri to be exploited.

However, according to legend there was another man who not only discovered oil, but was responsible for the origin of oil in this northern city of Sarawak.

How does the legend of the origin of oil in Miri go?
How a father’s rage led to the origin of oil in Miri

History writer Lee Fook Onn wrote in Miri Legends and Historical Stories about a family that lived in the middle course of Baram river many years ago. They came down to live there from Usun Apau highlands.

The family consisted of Balai and his wife, their son and their two daughters, Miri and Seria.

They were a happy family, with Usung famous for his hunting skills as well as Miri and Seria for their beauty.

The family owned a mortar from which black-coloured fluid would continuously flow but would never overflow.

Balai and his family would dip a piece of wood or leaf into the fluid to light a fire. This made their life easy and convenient as they saved a lot on firewood.

Time passed and the two daughters married, going off to live with their own families. Their only son Usung had died a while ago in a hunting mishap, and so Balai and his wife began to feel lonely in their own home.

The good thing was that Miri and Seria both lived nearby, so they often came back to visit their parents.

Every time they returned to their own homes, however, they brought the black fluid back with them.

Balai was not happy with that. However, their mother was more than willing to give and even used bamboo pipes to store the black fluid for her daughters.

One day, Balai caught his wife pouring the black fluid into the pipes. This time, he was so furious that he took a knife to cut the pipes. In his rage, he broke the mortar as well.

In the midst of his temper tantrum, Balai lost his balance and fell. As he struggled to get up, according to legend, he stamped the ground so hard that a heap of soil was formed. The black fluid then seeped through the ground and flowed into the sea.

This heap of soil is what Sarawakians recognise as Canada Hill today. Baram river, Sungai Melayu and several other rivers separating Miri and Seria towns (named after Balai’s daughters) are the ‘cuts’ made by Balai.

And the black fluid is the oil which now can be found in Miri and Seria.

Since Balai’s tantrum, oil has not been found in the middle course of Baram river to this day.

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A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry

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Nusi Poetry was back for its second edition last Feb 2 in conjunction with the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019.

Initiated by Nading Rhapsody, an Avant-Garde Borneo ethnic world music ensemble, vocalist Opah Aspa explained that Nusi Poetry was an inter-ethnic and inter-language event.

“In each edition, we will show a different mosaic. This edition, we are presenting Nusi Poetry: Mosaic -Ngebat Mimpi which means ‘weaving dreams’ in Iban.”

She added, “Each and everyone of us we all have our own dreams. We spend our lives riding our own journey, weaving our way to our own dreams.”

During the event, 12 presenters from different walks of life shared their stories about achieving their dreams through poetry, chants and lyrics.

A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry
  • A night of storytelling and poems at Nusi Poetry

Teacher Philomina Wilson for instance, shared her story by reciting a poem called ‘Heaven’s Very Special Child’ by Edna Massimilla.

As a mother to an autistic son, she related with Massimilla who wrote the poem for her daughter who had Down syndrome.

Meanwhile, Dr Deborah Chong gave a glimpse of her life as a successful fitness athlete through a poem she wrote called ‘Dare to Dream’.

Sharing how she lived her life as a dream chaser, Chong attributed her success to her seven-year-old son who was born prematurely.

As for Raziv from local metal band Myopia, it was the first time he would actually read the lyrics of his song to his audienxe, instead of singing and yelling them out as he normally would.

He shared about the scepticism he faced in his life for being passionate about metal music, something he experienced since he first discovered his passion at 9 years old.

Sticking true to the spirit of being an inter ethnic and inter language event, the presentations were done in different languages such as Iban, Sarawak Malay, English and Melanau.

Other poets and presenters were Gabriel Fairuz Louis, Opah Aspa, Kulleh Grasi, Ronney Bukong. Calvin Mikeng, Raygyna Hayden, Neyna Radzuan, Dauz Iezara, Zakaria Hassan and Venu K Puthankatil.

The audience was also entertained by the band Imaginasi founded in 2013 by Shahrol, Naz, Zair and Zul.

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KajoPicks: Check out these four coffee places in Bintulu

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Apart from shopping complex, Bintulu is currently witnessing the rising number of different kind of eateries.

These include coffee places offering good coffee from dirty coffee to nitrogen-infused java and relaxing ambience for patrons to just hang out.

Here are four coffee places in Bintulu, Sarawak you need to check out:
1.Coffee Dream

Located at Parkcity Commerce Square, this coffee place has been operating since 2014.

Besides coffee, Coffee Dream is famous among the locals for its western food.

Omelette sandwich, spaghetti bolognese, mushroom soup, cheesy beef balls, mushroom cheese omelette, eggs Benedict, chicken Caesar salad are just the tip of their wide range of menu items.

For rice eaters out there, don’t worry because Coffee Dream has a selection of Asian favourites to choose from such as the typical nasi lemak.

While you are at it, might as well end your meal with one of their freshly baked cakes for dessert.

2.The Coffee Code Bintulu
KajoPicks: Check out these four coffee places in Bintulu
Do you like it dirty? Dirty Code from The Coffee Code.

The Coffee Code is Sarawak’s very own cafe chains. The first one was opened in Sibu, then Bintulu at Ibraco Town Square and the latest was in Kuching at Saradise, BDC.

When you’re at Coffee Code, how about giving the Dirty Code a try? It is their in-house version of dirty coffee. It is one of the best coffee places in town to spend your tea time because it serves wide range desserts.

Their specialty is perhaps waffles which come with different kind of toppings.

KajoPicks: Check out these four coffee places in Bintulu
Waffles at The Coffee Code Bintulu.
3.Escape Coffee

 

You can’t satisfy your coffee craving early in the morning at Escape Coffee. But you can satisfy your coffee craving late at night here because it opens from 12pm till 12am.

It is perfect for the late night work hustle since it provides free wifi.

Feeling hungry? They have good options of food on their menu such as beef sirloin steak, mixed grill, lamb chop, butter chicken waffle and chicken macaroni fruit salad.

4.Melt Cafe

The current star of Melt Cafe Bintulu, no, not its famed grilled cheese sandwich but its Nitro Coffee.

If you have not tried Nitro Coffee before, just imagine Guinness draft beer, only it’s coffee! Since the drink is infused with nitrogen, it has this rich, creamy head similar to Guinness.

So if you are a big fan of coffee, this beverage is definitely worth a try.

Longing for dessert? Give Melt Cafe’s Burnt Cheesecake a try. Some described Burnt Cheesecake as the alter ego to the classic New York cheesecake. The differences are this cake is burnt outside with toasty edges and without the usual pressed cookie base.

Of course you cannot leave Melt Cafe without trying its signature grilled cheese sandwich.

KajoPicks: Check out these four coffee places in Bintulu
Nitro Brew Coffee at Melt Cafe. Look at its creamy head on top of the glass!
KajoPicks: Check out these four coffee places in Bintulu
How the Nitro Brew Coffee looks like after few minutes.

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Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause

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Style Series is a series of events organised to share fashion concepts and empower emerging new talents in Southeast Asia and Europe.

The first of its event, Style Series Episode 1: China Rouge was held on Jan 27 at Chabo Dine and Bar.

And this time, the fashion event showcased a spectacular Chinese New Year Collection to raise funds for Miss World Malaysia’s Indigenous Digital Outreach Program (IDOP).

The Miss World Malaysia 2019 titleholder, Larissa Ping Liew explained that she collaborated with Kuching-based community building organisation to start IDOP.

She said, “One of the main reasons why I joined Miss World was because Miss World focuses so much on reaching out to people, especially underprivileged children around the world. Hence, I’ve collaborated with the Champions to run programs around the rural areas of Sarawak called the IDOP.”

IDOP’s first project was held in October 2018 where Liew and her team reached out to the Penan community nearby Long Seridan. There, they brought in computers, painted murals around the school, fixed their fans and lights as well as organised motivational sessions for the students.

“Why children in the rural areas?” Liew said, “We realised that there is a major education gap between the rural community and urban folk.”

According to the 20-year-old beauty queen, not many rural youth enjoy good quality education or have the opportunity to further their tertiary studies and change their status quo.

She continued, “Being there to experience the lifestyle of the children has motivated my team and I to do more this year.”

With funds raised from Style Series Episode 1, Liew and her team are hoping to reach out to ten different villages this year around Sarawak.

About Style Series
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause
Style Series teams up with Miss World Malaysia 2018 for a good cause

Style Series was founded by Geraldine Sim, Wong Kai Lee and Roselyn Ling.

The main aim of Style Series events is to connect designers through fashion, while fostering a community of collaboration and inspiration.

For its debut, the events featured collection from Yacutha Borneo, Romyda KL, TeeCode, Wynka, Rozie Khan, Mastuli Khalid, Emil Hamlyn and Melor.

There were 40 looks featured on the runaway with celebrity model Amber Chia took the closing spot for the fashion show.

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7 Sarawak firsts in transportation history

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‘Sarawak First’ may have become the main theme for newly registered Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), but when it comes to other firsts in Sarawak, here are some notable milestones in the region’s transportation history:

1.The first aeroplane to have landed in Sarawak

The first aeroplane which landed in the Land of the Hornbills was a sea plane. It landed on Oct 16, 1924 along the stretch of Sarawak river in front of Main Bazaar, Kuching.

7 Sarawak firsts in transportation history
The first aeroplane landed in Sarawak. Credits: Ho Ah Chon [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Sarawak tried to launch its own government air service in 1929. They had two planes, namely the Royalist and Venus. Nonetheless, the venture did not last long.

The first land plane to touch down in Kuching on Sep 26, 1938. It landed on the then newly-built Kuching Landing Ground.

2.When Sarawak’s streets were first lit

Sarawak installed its first street lamps in 1906 in Kuching. However, there were no records of which specific areas where the street lamps were installed.

3.The first bullock carts

After the Brooke government imported Indian cattle, the number of bullock carts used to carry heavy loads started to increase in the 1870s.

4.The first form of vehicles for hire before taxis

The first few rickshaws were brought in 1895 from Singapore. Eventually the number of rickshaws began to increase, which prodded the government to introduce rickshaw stands just like taxi stands today.

They also imposed standard rates such as one mile costs 12 cents and 10 miles-journey costs a dollar.

Some of these stands were located at India Street, Gambier Road as well as at the end of Main Bazaar.

Ho Ah Chon wrote in Kuching in Pictures 1841-1991 that some of the wealthier people who lived in town kept private rickshaws for their own convenience.

He stated, “Those, with a tendency towards overweight often employed two pullers, because, at the best of times, going up or down a steep hill in a rickshaw could be dangerous, many people were decanted onto the road, sometimes with quite serious results, at the hill to Padungan, and on the bend of Reservoir Road.

5.The first car, bicycles, motorcycle in Sarawak

The manager of Borneo Company Limited J.M. Bryan brought in the first car to Kuching in 1917 (although some records stated 1907). It was a 10-12 HP Conventry Humber.

Meanwhile the third Rajah, Vyner Brooke brought the first motorcycle into the country. Another popular means of transportation was the bicycle which was first introduced in the 1900s.

6.The first railway service

The only type of transportation service that is not available now in Sarawak is train. But Sarawak once had a small railway line in Kuching.

It was about 10 miles long spanning from Kuching town to the 10th Mile. It provided both cargo and passenger service. The journey took about 15 minutes.

There were three engines in those days called Bulan (moon), Bintang (star) and Jean. Due to financial losses, the service was shut down in 1931.

During World War II, the Japanese took over the railway service. By 1947, the line was officially closed while the tracks were sold for scrap in 1959.

7.The first lorry in Sarawak

An unnamed local trader brought in a lorry back in 1912. Then, he made use of the 2-tonne lorry to give Sarawak’s first public bus service in the same year.

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10 unexploded bombs found in Sabah and Sarawak over the past 10 years

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What would you do if you stumbled upon unexploded bomb in your backyard? Well, the best and only thing to do is to call the police.

Here in East Malaysia, discoveries of unexploded bombs have been reported from time to time. In most cases, these unexploded bombs were discovered by construction workers.

Additionally, a number of them were from the World War II (WWII) era. Beyond this, there are little details on whose bombs they were. Did most of them belong to Japanese or Allied forces?

Nonetheless, here 10 reports of unexploded bombs found in Sabah and Sarawak over the past 10 years:

1.Sandakan (Mar 31, 2010)

A WWII bomb was found in the compound of a driving school in Sandakan, Sabah. An excavator operator found it accidentally when digging a drain.

The authority immediately cordoned off and a bomb disposal unit from Kota Kinabalu flew in to defuse it.

2.Kuching (Apr 26, 2018)

We bet that when this grass cutter showed up for work on the morning of Apr 26 this year, the last thing he thought he would find was an unexploded bomb.

He found it in a drain near Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar, Kuching. After examination, the bomb was reported to be an unexploded ordnance (UXO) which is used for training.

3.Lahad Datu (Aug 20, 2018)

Unlike most unexploded bombs on this list, this one was launched quite recently. It was used during Ops Daulat when the 2013 Lahad Datu military standoff occurred.

The bomb belonged to the Malaysian Armed Forces and was believed to have not exploded during the battle against the Royal Sulu Army.

A plantation worker found it in the early morn of Aug 20 at Ladang Sahabat 17 Plantation.

4. Tawau (June 23, 2014)

While carrying excavation work to build a specialist medical centre, a group of construction workers found a remnant of World War II at the site.

The police bomb unit then immediately detonated the bomb. Reportedly, it was the first time such unexploded bomb was found in Tawau. The authority believed there could still be many bombs that have yet to be found.

5.Sandakan (July 28, 2017)

Can you imagine stumbling upon a 250kg bomb in your daily work? That happened when a construction worker carrying out excavation work at the Road Transport Department building, Sandakan.

And the scariest part? The 130cm long bomb, a remnant from World War II, was still active.

Authorities believed that it was possible for bombs to be found in Sandakan as the area was attacked during WWII.

6.Sarikei (Apr 24, 2018)

There can be a lot of things you can find if you start to dig the earth for something. The most common thing you would find are earthworms.

Meanwhile in Sarikei a man dug up an exploded WWII bomb near Tanjung Manis Fisheries port when digging the ground for scrap metal.

7.Sibu (Dec 28, 2013)

How many bags of sand are used to detonate a bomb? In this case, it took 50 bags of sand piled over the bomb before it was detonated an hour later.

Oil palm plantation workers found the unexploded bomb in Sungai Assan on an afternoon while working at the site.

8.Miri (Dec 7, 2014)

Watch out when trying to dig a hole to plant something, you might find a bomb instead.

A man in Miri was digging a hole near his house to grow coconut trees. Instead, he found a 5kg bomb measuring 38cm long and 11cm in diameter from WWII.

9.Bau (Mar 9, 2013)

Here is a bomb used during the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation. A villager in Bau came across it near his farm.

According to authorities, the 65-mm gauge mortar remained active all this time.

And this was not the first time a bomb has been found in the district.

10.Sarikei (Dec 16, 2018)

This is the latest bomb finding incident in Sarawak. A WWII bomb which was still active was found in Ulu Kedup, Sarikei.

A man found it while cleaning up the river afterbridge repair work.

Do you have any old stories about finding relics from WWII? Let us know in the comment box. 

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Paul Carling on being a young fashion designer in Sarawak

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Paul Carling on being a young fashion designer in Sarawak

Paul Carling Rahit, the brain behind the Paul Carling label is a young Kuching-based fashion designer.

He curated the national costume for Malaysian representative Debra Jeanne Poh for the 6th Miss Grand International Pageant in Myanmar last October.

Inspired by the Rhinoceros hornbill, Sarawak’s emblem and a powerful symbol for its headhunter warriors, the 28-year-old designer called it ‘Tebengang the Great’.

Traditional embroidery methods were used to create its patterns from cowries’ shells, along with traditional beadwork adorned with brass bells.

After the photo of ‘Tebengang the Great’ was released online, some Indonesian fans were quick to claim the design was from Indonesian Kalimantan.

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KajoMag sat with Paul Carling to know his thoughts on the issue and what it’s like being a young fashion designer in Sarawak.

KajoMag: Why did you choose fashion design as a career?

Paul Carling: I was an IT student before. After some time, I realised IT was not my thing anymore. I tried to change my major few times but couldn’t. Once I managed to change my course to Design Technology majoring in Fashion, I decided to do my best.

I like making clothes and I used to make dance costumes when I was still in Unimas (University Malaysia Sarawak). From there, slowly and finally it became something I was very passionate about.

KajoMag: What is your favourite part about being a fashion designer?

Paul Carling: When I see a client feeling satisfied with the dress that I made, that is my favourite part of my job. I see my design as an art and art is freeing. When I design, the idea comes spontaneously.

Paul Carling on being a young fashion designer in Sarawak

KajoMag: What do you want women to feel when wearing your label?

Paul Carling: I want them to feel confident in them. Some of my clients come to me to customise their dresses because they could not find anything for them off-the-rack. For example, a full-figured lady usually finds it hard to look for a wedding dress in local bridal shops. Even if they could find one that fits them, it is usually an ugly-looking dress. So when they came in for a custom-made dress, it is a piece which is solely tailored for them. I love looking at their happy reactions when they wear these dresses.

KajoMag: Your national costume for Miss Grand Malaysia to the Miss Grand International pageant gathered a lot of backlash online from some Indonesian fans. What are your comments on that?

Paul Carling: As a fan of pageantry, this kind of issue is boring for me. It has been happening every year, maybe it’s a way for them to make themselves feel good or to highlight their own beauty queen. I noticed it is like some sort of trend to cyberbully other participants. As for their comments on the costume being from Dayak Kalimantan; we are from the same island and we do have the same culture. Those who said that are clearly not from Borneo. Nonetheless, the best part was that there were even commenters from Kalimantan defending the design.

KajoMag: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

Paul Carling: I hope I can finish paying off my debt (laughing). First of all I want to be free of my study loan. I don’t feel like I need fame. For me, I don’t think you can be happy if you are famous but without money. The same thing goes for artistes like singers; although they are famous but if they do not have gigs, they cannot put food on the table.

I think the same thing can be applied to us fashion designers. You need to know how to maintain your business and have a good relationship with your customers. Your returning customers are always the best because they will introduce you to other clients and come back for more orders.

KajoMag: From a young designer perspective who is based in Sarawak, what do you think the local industry needs right now?

Paul Carling: We should celebrate more of our young designers. We do have famous Sarawakian fashion designers but they will not be here forever. My fellow young designers would agree that we are lacking in ways to promote our collection and we are always being compared to the famous ones like Von Jolly Couture and Datuk Tom Abang Saufi. But they are already at the top of their games. For us, the young designers, we need support and more opportunities. It is not like we are asking for funds or money; just more platforms to showcase our designs.

For myself, I’m grateful that I made the smart move to get involved with pageantry. That was how I got my name out there. However, to make a name for myself in the fashion industry – no, I’m not there yet. Without platforms to showcase our designs, most young designers in Sarawak would end up staying in their workshops at home working as just a tailor.

Paul Carling on being a young fashion designer in Sarawak
A model wearing Paul Carling design during Sarawak Fashion Awards 2017.

For more information on Paul Carling and his designs, check out his Facebook page here and Instagram. 

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A Sarawakian love story of a pirate and a slave

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Owen Rutter (1889-1944) was one of the most celebrated English travel writers in the early 20th century.

He was also an English historian and novelist who travelled through Borneo, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Canada and the United States.

During his journey, he collected stories and legends for his long list of books.

One of those interesting stories Rutter recorded was a love story of a pirate and a slave published in his 1930 book The Pirate Wind: Tales of the Sea-Robbers of Malaya.

Daud, the Malay pirate and his slave girl

A Sarawakian love story of a pirate and a slave

There was a pirate – whom Rutter called Daud – who fell in love with one of the slave girls living on the Sarawak river.

Daud was so in love with her that he offered to buy her from her master but he was denied. (Slave women were often highly prized by their masters and more sought after compared to slave men.)

Since Daud could not get his woman through legal means, he began an affair with her instead. When night time fell, the slave woman would sneak out to the jungle into Daud’s arms.

Shortly after the affair started, her master found out. So the master sent word to Daud telling him to present himself at the court.

Obviously very much in love, Daud agreed to appear in court in order to free his lover and be with her.

On that day, Daud came to the court with his brother. After much discussion, those present in the court agreed that if Daud could produce a brass cannon, the girl could belong to him.

Rutter wrote, “The amount was enormous, even for a wealthy young pirate, but Daud agreed to the terms and he and his brother were allowed to depart.”

When the day of payment arrived, Daud showed up at the court without his brother. Unfortunately, he did not manage to raise the full amount, so he asked for more time to collect the money.

A Sarawakian love story of a pirate and a slave
Daud the pirate fell in love with a slave girl who lived on the Sarawak river.

The tragic end to a love story

The council then deliberated for a while. Finally, the court decided that Daud should leave his kris (a small Malay dagger) as a pledge.

Reluctantly, Daud agreed even though for him, his kris was his most precious belonging. But the thought of losing his woman was simply unbearable for Daud.

He then slowly unfastened the cord around his waist, bending down to lay his kris on the floor before the council.

It was the moment that the master waited for. Before Daud could even react, a group of men seized him from behind.

Then, one of the master’s men stabbed him with his own kris, as Rutter put it “into the hollow between Daud’s collar bone and neck – down to the heart that had beaten so wildly for the little slave girl.”

Unfortunately Rutter’s story ends there, and so we can only assume that the master went on his own merry way and that the slave girl mourned the loss of her lover and that of a happy ending.

But folk stories rarely have the happy ending so popularised by the Disney franchise. For more weird endings, check out these stories from Five interesting stories from Central Borneo.

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