Sarawak

For the river, see Sarawak River. For the ship, see HMS Sarawak (K591).

Sarawak
State
Sarawak
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Bumi Kenyalang (Land of the Hornbills)
Motto(s):  "Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti" "United, Striving, Serving"
Anthem: Ibu Pertiwiku (My Motherland)
Sarawak in    Malaysia
Capital	Kuching
Divisions	List Betong Bintulu Kapit Kuching Limbang Miri Mukah Samarahan Sarikei Serian Sibu Sri Aman
Government
• Yang Di-Pertua Negeri	Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud
• Chief Minister	Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem (BN)
Area
• Total	124,450 km2 (48,050 sq mi)
Population  (2015)
• Total	2,636,000
• Density	21/km2 (55/sq mi)
Demonym	Sarawakian
Human Development Index
• HDI (2010)	0.692 (high) (11th)
Time zone	UTC+8 (MST)
Postal code	93xxx to 98xxx
Calling code	082 (Kuching), (Samarahan) 083 (Sri Aman), (Betong) 084 (Sibu), (Kapit), (Sarikei), (Mukah) 085 (Miri), (Limbang), (Marudi), (Lawas) 086 (Bintulu), (Belaga)
Vehicle registration	QA & QK (Kuching) QB (Sri Aman) QC (Kota Samarahan) QL (Limbang) QM (Miri) QP (Kapit) QR (Sarikei) QS (Sibu) QT (Bintulu) QSG (Sarawak State Government)
Brunei Sultanate	15th century–1841
Brooke dynasty	1841–1946
Japanese occupation	1941–1945
British Crown Colony	1946–1963
Self-government	22 July 1963
Malaysia Agreement	16 September 1963a
Website	www.sarawak.gov.my
a Despite the fact that the Federation of Malaysia only came into existence on 16 September 1963, 31 August is celebrated as the Independence day of Malaysia. Since 2010, 16 September is recognised as Malaysia Day, a patriotic national-level public holiday to commemorate the foundation of Federation of Malaysia that joints North Borneo, Malaya, Sarawak and (previously) Singapore as states of equal partners in the federation.

Sarawak (Malay pronunciation: [saˈrawaʔ]) is one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. It is also one of the founding members of the Malaysian federation alongside North Borneo (now Sabah), Singapore (expelled in 1965) and the Federation of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia or West Malaysia). This territory has a certain level of autonomy in administration, immigration, and judiciary which differentiates it from the Malaysian Peninsula states. It is also known as Bumi Kenyalang ("Land of the Hornbills").

Sarawak is situated in northwest Borneo, bordering the state of Sabah to the northeast, Kalimantan Borneo to the south, and surrounding the independent state of Brunei. The capital city is Kuching. The city is also the economic centre of state and seat of Sarawak state government. Other cities and towns are Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu. As of the last census (2015), the state population was 2,636,000. Sarawak has an equatorial climate with tropical rainforests and abundant animal and plant species. The state has several prominent cave systems at Gunung Mulu National Park. Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia. Bakun Dam, one of the largest dams in Southeast Asia is located at one of the tributaries of the Rajang River. Mount Murud is the highest point in Sarawak.

Earliest human settlements in Sarawak was 40,000 years ago at Niah Caves. The state had a trading relationship with China during 8th to 13th century. It came under the influence of Bruneian Empire in the 16th century. The state was governed by the Brooke family for 100 years from 19th to 20th century. During World War II, the state was occupied by the Japanese for three years before being ceded as British Crown Colony in 1946. On 22 July 1963, Sarawak was granted self-government by the British and later formed the federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. However, the federation was opposed by Indonesia and this led to the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation for three years. The state also experienced a Communist Insurgency from 1960 to 1990.

The state is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual. The head of state is the Governor, also known as Yang di-Pertua Negeri while the head of government is Chief Minister. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and has the earliest state legislature system in Malaysia. The state is divided into administrative divisions and districts. English and Malay are official languages of the state while there is no official religion. Sarawak State Museum is the oldest museum in Borneo. The state is known for its traditional musical instrument, the Sapeh. Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is one of the premier music events in Malaysia. Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia to celebrate Gawai Dayak festival.

Sarawak has abundant natural resources and its economy is strongly export-oriented, mainly in oil and gas, timber, and oil palm. Other industries are manufacturing, energy, and tourism.

Etymology

The official explanation of the word Sarawak is that it is derived from Sarawak Malay word of serawak which means antimony. Another popular but unofficial explanation is that it is an acronym from the four Malay words purportedly uttered by Pangeran Muda Hashim, "Saya serah pada awak" (I surrender it to you) when he gave Sarawak to James Brooke in 1841. However, such explanation has several flaws because the territory already named Sarawak even before the arrival of James Brooke and the word awak never existed in the vocabulary of Sarawak Malay before the Malaysian federation.

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Malaysia

The main entrance to the Niah Caves.

The first foragers visited the West Mouth of Niah Caves (located 110 km southwest of Miri) 50,000 years ago when Borneo was connected to the mainland of Southeast Asia. The landscape of the Niah Caves was drier and more open than it is now. Prehistorically, the Niah Caves were surrounded by a combination of closed forests with bush, parkland, swamps, and rivers. The foragers were able to survive in the rainforests through hunting, fishing, mollusc collection, and plant gathering. The earliest evidence of human settlement in the area dates back to 40,000 BC in Niah Caves during the Paleolithic period. This is evidenced by the discovery of a Homo sapiens skull nicknamed "Deep Skull" in a deep trench uncovered by Tom Harrisson in 1958,; this is also the oldest modern human skull in Southeast Asia. The skull probably belongs to a 16- to 17-year-old adolescent girl. Unfossilised Manis paleojavanica (Asian giant pangolin) bone dated back to 30,000 BC was found nearby as well as in the Mesolithic and Neolithic burial sites inside the Niah Caves. The area around the Niah Caves has been developed into the Niah National Park.

Other archaeological sites have since been discovered in the central and southern regions of Sarawak. Another excavation by Tom Harrisson in 1949 unearthed a series of Chinese ceramics at Santubong (near Kuching) that date back to the Tang and the Song dynasties around 8th to 13th century A.D. Hence it is possible that Santubong was an important seaport in Sarawak during the period; its importance declined during the Yuan dynasty and the port was deserted during Ming dynasty. Other archaeological sites in Sarawak include the Kapit, Song, Serian, and Bau districts.

History

Bruneian empire

A west view of a river from the anchorage off Sarawak, Borneo circa 1800s. Painting from the National Maritime Museum of London.

During the 16th century, the area was under the influence of the Bruneian Empire and was self-governed under Sultan Tengah. The eastern seaboard of Borneo was charted, though not settled, by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. The area of Sarawak was known to Portuguese cartographers as Cerava. By the early 19th century, Sarawak had become a loosely governed territory under the control of the Brunei Sultanate. The Bruneian empire only had authority along the coastal regions of Sarawak held by semi-independent Malay chiefs. Meanwhile, the interior hinterland of Sarawak was mainly dominated by tribal wars fought by Iban, Kayan, and Kenyah people who were aggressive in their territorial expansions. Following the discovery of antimony ore in the region now known as Kuching, Pangeran Indera Mahkota began to develop the area between 1824 and 1830. When antimony production increased, the Brunei Sultanate demanded higher taxes from Sarawak; this led to a civil unrest and chaos. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II (1827–1852), the Sultan of Brunei, ordered Pangeran Muda Hashim in 1839 to restore order; it was around this time that James Brooke arrived in Sarawak. Pangeran Muda Hashim initially requested assistance in the matter, but Brooke refused. However, he agreed to the request in his next visit to Sarawak in 1841. Pangeran Muda Hashim signed a treaty in 1841 surrendering Sarawak and Sinian to Brooke. On 24 September 1841, Pangeran Muda Hashim bestowed the title of the Governor on James Brooke. In 1846, Brooke effectively became the Rajah of Sarawak and founded the White Rajah Dynasty of Sarawak after the death of Pengeran Muda Hashim.

Brooke dynasty

Main articles: Kingdom of Sarawak and White Rajahs

Sir James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak.

James Brooke was appointed Rajah by the Sultan of Brunei in August 1846. Brooke ruled the territory, later expanded, across the western regions of Sarawak around Kuching until his death in 1868. His nephew Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke became Rajah after his death; he was succeeded on his death in 1917 by his son, Charles Vyner Brooke, with the condition that Charles should rule in consultation with his brother Bertram Brooke. Territorial expansion of Sarawak were pursued by James and Charles Brooke by signing treaties with Brunei. In 1861, Bintulu region until Tanjung Kidurong was ceded to James Brooke. In 1883, Sarawak was extended to Baram River (near Miri). Limbang was acquired in 1885 and later added to Sarawak in 1890. Expansion of Sarawak completed in 1905 when Lawas was ceded to the Brooke government. Sarawak was divided into five divisions, corresponding to territorial boundaries of the areas acquired by the Brookes throughout the years. Each division was headed by a Resident. Sarawak was recognised as an independent state by the United States in 1850 and Great Britain in 1864. The state issued its first currency as Sarawak dollars in 1858. However, in the Malaysian context, the Brooke is viewed as a colonialist (penjajah in Malay).

An 1888 revenue stamp of Sarawak featuring the picture of Charles Brooke.

The Brooke dynasty ruled Sarawak for a hundred years as "White Rajahs". Sarawak was accorded a status of similar to Indian princely states in the British Empire. The Brooke dynasty adopted the policy of paternalism to protect the interests of indigenous population and their overall welfare. The Brooke government established a Supreme Council consisting of Malay chiefs who advised on all aspects of governance to the Rajahs. The first General Council meeting took place at Bintulu in 1867. It is also the oldest state legislative assembly in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Ibans and other "Dayak" were hired as contingent militia. The Brooke dynasty also encouraged the immigration of Chinese merchants for economic development in the state especially in mining and agricultural sectors. Western capitalist were restricted to enter the state while Christian missionaries were tolerated. Piracy, slavery, and headhunting were also banned. Borneo Company Limited was formed in 1856. It was involved in wide range of businesses in Sarawak such as trade, banking, agriculture, mineral exploration, and development.

The original residence of James Brooke was a Malay house built in Kuching. In 1857, Hakka Chinese gold miners from Bau, under the leadership of Liu Shan Bang, assaulted the Brooke's residence and it was burnt down. James Brooke escaped and organised Malayo-Iban assistance. He was able to defeat them later. After that, the Brookes built a new government house by the Sarawak River at Kuching which is known today as The Astana. An anti-Brooke faction at Brunei Court was defeated in 1860 at Mukah. Other notable oppositions that were successfully quashed by the Brookes include rebellions led by an Iban leader Rentap (1853-1863), and a Malay leader named Syarif Masahor (1860-1862). As a result, a series of forts around Kuching were built to consolidate Rajah's power. This includes Fort Margherita which was completed in 1879. In 1888, Sarawak, together with neighbouring North Borneo (present day Sabah), and Brunei became British protectorates where the foreign policies were handed over to the British in exchange for military protection. In 1891, Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak, established the Sarawak Museum, the oldest museum in Borneo.

In 1941, during a centenary celebration of Brooke rule in Sarawak, a new constitution was introduced to limit the power of the Rajah and to allow Sarawak people to play a greater role in government functions. However, the draft constitution contained irregularities, including a secret agreement drawn up between Charles Vyner Brooke and British government officials, in which Vyner Brooke ceded Sarawak as British Crown Colony in return for a financial compensation to him and his family.

Japanese occupation and Allied liberation

Main articles: Japanese occupation of British Borneo and Borneo campaign (1945)

Japanese propaganda banner as seen in Kuching shortly after the surrender of Japan. Image taken on 12 September 1945.

Aerial view of Batu Lintang POW camp taken on or after 29 August 1945.

The Brooke government under the leadership of Charles Vyner Brooke, established several airstrips in Kuching, Oya, Mukah, Bintulu, and Miri for preparations in an event of a war. By 1941, the British had withdrawn its defending forces from Sarawak and returned to Singapore. With Sarawak left defenceless, the Brooke regime decided to adopt scorched earth policy where oil installations in Miri would be destroyed and Kuching airfield will be held as long as possible before being destroyed eventually. On the other hand, Japanese forces decided to seize British Borneo to guard their eastern flank of Malayan Campaign and to facilitate their invasion on Sumatra and West Java. A Japanese invasion force led by Kiyotake Kawaguchi landed Miri on 16 December 1941 (8 days into Malayan Campaign) and conquered Kuching on 24 December 1941. British forces led by Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Lane decided to retreat to Singkawang II in Dutch Borneo bordering Sarawak. After 10 weeks of fighting in Dutch Borneo, the Allied forces surrendered on 1 April 1942. When the Japanese invaded Sarawak, Charles Vyner Brooke already left for Sydney, Australia while his officers were captured by the Japanese and interned at Batu Lintang camp.

Sarawak became part of the Empire of Japan for three years and eight months. Sarawak together with North Borneo, and Brunei formed a single administrative unit named Kita Boruneo (Northern Borneo) under Japanese 37th Army headquartered in Kuching. Sarawak was divided into three provinces namely Kuching-shu, Sibu-shu, and Miri-shu with each under their respective Japanese Provincial Governor. Basically, the Japanese retained pre-war administrative machinery and replaced important positions in the government with Japanese people. Administration of Sarawak's interior were left to native police and village headmen under Japanese supervision. Generally, the Malays were receptive of the Japanese while other indigenous tribes such as Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, and Lun Bawang were generally hostile against the Japanese because of policies such as compulsory labour, forced deliveries of foodstuffs, and confiscation of firearms. The Japanese also did not resort to strong measures in clamping down the Chinese population because the Chinese population in the state were generally apolitical. However, a considerable number of Chinese moved from urban areas into the less accessible interior to avoid contact with the Japanese.

Allied forces later formed Z Special Unit to sabotage Japanese operations in Southeast Asia. Beginning March 1945, Allied commanders were parachuted into Borneo jungles and established several SEMUT bases in Sarawak. Hundreds of indigenous people were trained to launch offensives against the Japanese. Intelligence gathered from the operations had helped Allied forces in reconquering Borneo in May 1945 through Operation Oboe Six. This led to the surrender of Japanese to the Australian forces on 10 September 1945 at Labuan. Sarawak was immediately placed under British Military Administration until April 1946.

British crown colony

Main articles: Crown Colony of Sarawak and Anti-cession movement of Sarawak

Anti-cession demonstration in Sarawak.

After the war, the Brooke government did not have enough resources to rebuild Sarawak. Charles Vyner Brooke was also not willing to hand over his power to heir apparent, Anthony Brooke (his nephew, the only son of Bertram Brooke) because of serious differences between them. Besides, Vyner Brooke's wife Sylvia Brett also tried to discredit Anthony Brooke while trying to install her own daughter to the throne. Therefore, Vyner Brooke decided to cede the sovereignty of Sarawak to the British Crown. A Cession Bill was put forth in the Council Negri (now Sarawak State Legislative Assembly) and was debated for 3 days. The bill was passed on 17 May 1946 with a narrow majority (19 versus 16 votes). Supporters of the bill were mostly European officers while the Malays opposed the bill. This has caused hundreds of Malay civil servants resigning in protest, sparking anti-cession movement of Sarawak, and assassination of second colonial governor of Sarawak Sir Duncan Stewart by Rosli Dhobi.

Anthony Brooke opposed the cession of the Rajah's territory to the British Crown. However, he was linked to anti-cessionist groups in Sarawak, especially after the assassination Sir Duncan Stewart. Anthony Brooke continued to claim sovereignty as Rajah of Sarawak even after Sarawak became a British Crown colony on 1 July 1946. For this he was banished from Sarawak by the colonial government and was allowed to return only 17 years later for a nostalgic visit, when Sarawak became part of Malaysia. In 1950, all anti-cession movements in Sarawak ceased after a clamp down by the colonial government. In 1951, Anthony relinquished all his claims to the Sarawak throne after he used up his last legal avenues at the Privy Council.

Self-government and the Federation of Malaysia

Main articles: Malaysia Agreement, 18-point agreement, Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, and Sarawak Communist Insurgency

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan declaring the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963.

On 27 May 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the prime minister of Federation of Malaya announced his plan of forming a greater federation together with Singapore, Sarawak, Sabah, and Brunei which would be called Malaysia. Such plan has caused the local leaders in Sarawak to be wary of Tunku's intentions because of great disparity of socioeconomic development between Malaya and Singapore with the Borneo states. There was a general fear that without a strong political institution, the Borneo states would be subjected to Malaya's colonisation. Therefore, various political parties in Sarawak emerged to protect the interests of the communities they represented. On 17 January 1962, Cobbold Commission was formed to gauge the support of the Sarawak and Sabah towards the federation. Between February to April 1962, the commission met more than 4,000 people and received 2,200 memorandums from various groups. The Commission reported divided support among the Borneo population. However, Tunku interpreted the figures as 80% support for the federation. Sarawak drafted 18-point agreement to safeguard its interests in the federation. On 26 September 1962, Sarawak Council Negri passed a resolution which supported the federation with a condition that the interests of Sarawak people will not be compromised. On 23 October 1962, five political parties in Sarawak formed a united front that supported the formation of Malaysia. Sarawak was officially granted self-government on 22 July 1963, and later formed the federation of Malaysia with Malaya, North Borneo, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, despite the initial opposition from parts of the population.

Sarawak Rangers comprising Ibans leap from a Royal Australian Air Force Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter to guard the Malay–Thai border from potential Communist attacks in 1965, two years before the starting of the second war against the Communist in Malay Peninsula in 1968.

The Malaysian federation had drawn opposition from the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei People's Party, and Clandestine Communist Organisation (CCO). The Philippines and Indonesia claimed that the British would be "neocolonising" the Borneo states through the Malaya federation. Meanwhile, leader of Brunei People's Party, A. M. Azahari instigated a Brunei Revolt in December 1962 to prevent Brunei from joining the Malaysian federation. Azahari seized Limbang and Bekenu before being defeated by British military forces sent from Singapore. Claiming that Brunei Revolt as the solid evidence of the opposition to Malaysian federation, Indonesian President Sukarno ordered a military confrontation with Malaysia by sending armed volunteers and later military armed forces into Sarawak. Sarawak became a flashpoint during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation between 1962 and 1966. Such confrontation gained little support from local Sarawakians except for CCO. Thousands of CCO members went into Kalimantan and underwent training with Communist Party of Indonesia. During the confrontation period, around 10,000 to 150,000 British troops were stationed in Sarawak, together with Australian and New Zealand troops. When new President of Indonesia, Suharto replaced Sukarno, negotiations was restarted between Malaysia and Indonesia which led to an end of confrontation on 11 August 1966. In 1967, a new agreement was signed which required anyone who wished to cross the Sarawak-Kalimantan border to have a border pass endorsed at border control posts.

After the formation of Peoples' Republic of China in 1949, the ideology of Maoism started to penetrate Chinese schools in Sarawak. The first communist group in Sarawak was formed in 1951. The group has its origins from Chung Hua Middle School in Kuching. The group was later succeeded by Sarawak Liberation League (SLL) in 1954 and later by Clandestine Communist Organisation (CCO). Its activities spread from schools into trade unions and farmers. CCO activities mainly concentrated in southern and central regions of Sarawak. It also successfully penetrated a political party named Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP). CCO tried to realise a communist state of Sarawak through constitutional means but during the confrontation period, it resorted to armed struggle against the government. Weng Min Chyuan and Bong Kee Chok were the two notable leaders of CCO. Following this, the Sarawak government started to establish New Villages along the Kuching-Serian road to prevent the community from helping the communists. CCO formally set up North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) in 1970. In 1973, Bong surrendered to chief minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, which significantly reduced the strength of the communist party. However, Weng, who directed CCO from China since the mid-1960s, called for a continued armed struggle against the government. After 1974, armed struggle continued in Rajang Delta. In 1989, Malayan Communist Party (MCP) signed a peace agreement with the government of Malaysia. This has caused NKCP to reopen negotiations with Sarawak government which led to a peace agreement on 17 October 1990. Peace was restored in Sarawak after the final group of 50 communist guerrillas laid down their arms.

Territorial disputes

Main article: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea

Sarawak has seen several territorial disputes with Malaysia's neighbours of Brunei and Indonesia as well on the ownership of islands in the South China Sea with China. In 2009, the dispute over Limbang District was settled with Brunei dropping its claim over the territory. Sarawak claimed over the James Shoal (Beting Serupai) and Luconia Shoals (Beting Raja Jarum/Patinggi Ali) as part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). While land border demarcation and maritime disputes between Sarawak and Kalimantan are currently yet to be settled with Indonesia.

Government and politics

See also: Politics of Malaysia, 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis, 1987 Ming Court Affair, and Table of precedence of Sarawak

State Assembly building houses the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.

Timeline of political parties in Sarawak.

The head of state of Sarawak is Yang di-Pertua Negeri (also known as TYT or State Governor) which is largely symbolic in nature, appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. TYT would appoint chief minister as the head of government. The chief minister post is usually filled by the leader of a party who commands the majority of Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. Elected representatives would be known as state assemblymen. The state assembly would be able to pass state laws which is not under the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Malaysia such as land administrations, employment, forests, immigration, merchant shipping, and fisheries. The state government is made up of chief minister with his cabinet ministers and assistant ministers.

To protect the interests of Sarawak people in the Malaysian federation, special safeguards has been written into Constitution of Malaysia. Sarawak has the power to control the entry and residence of those who are non-Sarawakians and non-Sabahans. Only lawyers who are residents of Sarawak can practice law here. There is a High Court of Sarawak which is independent from High Court in Peninsular Malaysia. Chief minister of Sarawak must be consulted before the appointment of chief judge in Sarawak High Court. There are also Native Courts in Sarawak. Sarawak would receive special grants from the federal government and charge their own sales tax. Natives in Sarawak would be able to enjoy special privileges such as quotas and employment in public service, scholarships, university placements, and business permits. Local governments in Sarawak are independent from the laws enacted by the Malaysian parliament.

Major political parties in Sarawak generally can be divided into three categories: native non-Muslim, native Muslim, and non-native although each party do accept members from the other groups. The first political party, Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) was established in 1959 followed by Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS) in 1960, and Sarawak National Party (SNAP) in 1961. Other major political parties later appeared by 1962. Sarawak has been a political stronghold of ruling Alliance Party and later Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition since its independence in 1963. Stephen Kalong Ningkan (SNAP) was the first Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1963 to 1966 following his landslide winnings of three tier system of local council elections. He was later ousted in 1966 by Tawi Sli (PESAKA) with the help of Malaysian federal government, causing 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis. Sarawak political climate was stable until 1987 Ming Court Affair. It was a political coup initiated by Abdul Taib Mahmud's uncle to topple the Taib led Sarawak BN coalition. However, the coup was unsuccessful and Taib was able to retain his chief minister post.

The year 1970 saw the completion the first Sarawak state election where members of Council Negri (now Sarawak State Legislative Assembly) was directly elected by the voters. This election also marks the beginning of ethnic Melanau domination in Sarawak politics at first by Abdul Rahman Ya'kub and followed by his nephew Abdul Taib Mahmud. In the same year, North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) was formed which mounted guerilla warfare against the newly elected Sarawak state government. The party was dissolved after the signing of peace agreement in 1990. The year 1973 saw the birth of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) following a merger of several parties. This party would later become the backbone of Sarawak BN coalition. Meanwhile, a Dayak-based party, Sarawak National Party (SNAP) was fragmented into several splinter parties since 1983 due to recurrent leadership crisis. Sarawak originally held state elections together with national parliamentary elections. However, during the tenure of chief minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, he delayed the dissolution of state assembly by one year to prepare for the challenges posed by opposition parties and to solve the seat allocations for the newly admitted SNAP party into Sarawak BN. This makes Sarawak the only state in Malaysia to hold state elections separately from the national parliamentary elections since 1979.

In 1978, Democratic Action Party (DAP) was the first Peninsular-based party to open its branches in Sarawak. This party derived majority of its support from urban centres since 2006 state election and become the largest opposition party in Sarawak. In 2010, it forms Pakatan Rakyat coalition with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) where the latter two parties entered Sarawak only between 1996 and 2001. Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia where Peninsular-based component parties in BN coalition especially UMNO has not entered Sarawak.

Subdivisions

Administrative divisions

Unlike other states in Malaysia, Sarawak is divided into divisions rather than districts. Each division is headed by one resident. Currently, the state is divided into 12 divisions:

Limbang

Serian

Betong

Kuching

Kapit

Miri

Simanggang

Sibu

Sarikei

Kota Samarahan

Mukah

Bintulu

  First Division

  Second Division

  Third Division

  Fourth Division

  Fifth Division

Administrative districts

The divisions are further divided into districts, each of which is headed by a district officer; and each district is divided into sub-districts, which every sub-districts headed by a Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO). Currently, there are around 32 districts in the state. There is also one Development Officer at each Division and District to implement development projects. Under each district, the state government would appoint a village headman (known as ketua kampung/penghulu) for each village. Meanwhile, the 23 local governments in Sarawak are put under the jurisdiction of Sarawak Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

Division	District	Subdistrict
Kuching	Kuching	Siburan, Padawan
	Bau
	Lundu	Sematan
Samarahan	Kota Samarahan
	Asajaya
	Simunjan	Sebuyau
Serian	Serian	Siburan
	Tebedu
Sri Aman	Sri Aman	Lingga, Pantu
	Lubok Antu	Engkilili
Betong	Betong	Pusa, Spaoh, Debak, Maludam
	Saratok	Roban, Kabong, Budu
Sibu	Sibu
	Kanowit
	Selangau
Mukah	Mukah	Balingian
	Dalat	Oya
	Daro	Belawai
	Matu	Igan
Miri	Miri	Subis, Niah-Suai,Bario Kelabit
	Marudi	Beluru, Long Lama
Bintulu	Bintulu	Sebauh
	Tatau
Limbang	Limbang	Ng. Medamit
	Lawas	Sundar, Trusan
Sarikei	Sarikei
	Meradong
	Julau
	Pakan
Kapit	Kapit	Nanga Merit
	Song
	Belaga	Sungai Asap

Security

Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of Malaysia stated that Malaysian federal government is solely responsible for foreign policies and military forces in the country. The earliest para-military armed forces in Sarawak was founded by the Brooke regime in 1862. It was known as Sarawak Rangers regiment. The regiment had helped the Brookes to pacify the state, took part in guerilla warfare against the Japanese, and took part in Malayan Emergency and Sarawak Communist Insurgency against the communists. The regiment is famed for its jungle tracking skills. Following the formation of Malaysia, the regiment was absorbed into Malaysian military forces and is now known as Royal Ranger Regiment. Sarawak State Security Unit was formed in 2002 to enable formulation of policies that is suitable with the security in Sarawak.

Geography

Pinnacles at Gunung Mulu National Park.

Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia.

Having land area of 124,450 square kilometres (48,050 sq mi) spanning between latitude 0° 50′ and 5°N and longitude 109° 36′ and 115° 40′ E, Sarawak makes up 37.5% of the total Malaysian land area. It also contains large tracts of tropical rainforest with abundant plant and animal species

The state of Sarawak has 750 kilometres (466 mi) of coastline, interrupted in the north by about 150 kilometres (93 mi) of Bruneian coast. Sarawak is separated from Kalimantan Borneo by ranges of high hills and mountains that are part of the central mountain range of Borneo. These get higher to the north and reaches the highest point near the source of the Baram River with the steep Mount Batu Lawi, Mount Mulu and Mount Murud as the highest point in Sarawak. Lambir Hills National Park is known for its various waterfall formations. The world's largest underground chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, is present inside the Gunung Mulu National Park. Other attractions in the park includes Deer Cave (world's largest cave passage) and Clearwater Cave (longest cave system in Southeast Asia). The national park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sarawak can be divided into three natural regions. The coastal region is rather low lying and flat with large extents of swamps and other wet environments. Examples of beaches in Sarawak are: Pasir Panjang and Damai beaches in Kuching, Tanjung Batu beach in Bintulu, Tanjung Lobang and Hawaii beaches in Miri. The hill region provides most of the inhabited land. Cities and towns are built in this region. The ports of Kuching and Sibu are built some distance from the coast on rivers. Bintulu and Miri are close to the coastline where the hills stretch right to the South China Sea. The third region is the mountainous region along the Kalimantan Borneo border and with the Kelabit (Bario), Murut (Ba'kelalan) and Kenyah (Usun Apau Plieran) highlands in the north.

The major rivers in Sarawak are: Sarawak River, Lupar River, Saribas River, and Rajang River. Sarawak river is the main river flowing through Kuching. Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia measuring 563 kilometres (350 mi) when its tributary Balleh River adds to the total length of the river. To the north, Baram River, Limbang River, and Trusan River drains into the Brunei Bay.

Sarawak is a tropical country with an equatorial climate. It experiences two monsoon seasons: Northeast monsoon and Southwest monsoon. Northeast monsoon occurs between November and February and usually brings heavy rain but Southwest monsson is usually drier. Sarawak climate is stable throughout the year except for the two monsoon changes. Average daily temperature varies between 23 °C in the morning and 32 °C in the afternoon, with Miri having the lowest average temperatures when compared with other major towns in Sarawak. Miri also has the longest hours of sunshine (more than 6 hours a day) when compared to other parts of Sarawak (5 to 6 hours daily). Humidity is usually high, exceeding 68%, with annual rainfall varies between 330 cm and 460 cm, spanning 220 days a year. Lothosols and lithosols are the two types of soil that make up 60% of the Sarawak land area, while Podzol made up 12% of Sarawak land area. Alluvium are found at the coastal and riverine regions while 12% of Sarawak land area are covered with peat swamps.

Sarawak can be divided into two geological regions. Sunda Shield extends southwest from the Batang Lupar River (near Sri Aman) forming the southern tip of Sarawak. Meanwhile, Geosyncline region extends northeast to the Batang Lupar river, forming central and northern regions of Sarawak. The oldest rock in southern Sarawak is Schist rock which was formed during Carboniferous and Lower Permian times. While the youngest Igneous rock in this region is Andesite lava at Sematan. For central and northern regions of Sarawak, geological formation started during the late Cretaceous period. Types of stones that can be found here are: shale, sandstone, and chert.

Biodiversity

See also: Fauna of Borneo, Deforestation in Borneo, and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre

Rhinoceros hornbill is the state bird of Sarawak.

Sarawak coastline is covered by mangrove and nipah forests. It forms 2% of he total forested area in Sarawak, most commonly found in the estuarine areas of Kuching, Sarikei, and Limbang. Main tree species that can be found here are: Bako (Rhizophora), Nipah palm (Nypa fruticans), and Nibong (Oncosperma tigillarium). Peat swamp forests covers 16% of forested land, most commonly found in southern Miri and lower Baram Valley. The main tree species in peat swamp forests are: Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), Meranti (Shorea spp), and Medang Jongkong (Dactylocladus stenostachys). Kerangas forest occupies 5% of total forest area while hill Dipterocarpaceae forests occupies mountainous area. Several plant species have been studied for its medicinal properties.

Sarawak rainforest has one of the highest concentration of species per unit area in the world. The state has about 185 species of mammals, 530 species of birds, 166 species of snakes, 104 species of lizards, and 113 of amphibians. It also has 19% of the mammals, 6% of the birds, 20% of the snakes and 32% of the lizards as endemic species. These species are largely found in Totally Protected Areas. In case of flora species, there are 2,000 tree species, 1000 species of orchids, 757 species of ferns, and 260 species of palm. The state is also the habitat of endangered animals, including borneo pygmy elephant, proboscis monkey, orangutans and rhinoceroses. Matang Wildlife Centre, Semenggoh Nature Reserve, and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary are notable for their orang utan protection programmes. Talang-Satang National Park is notable for its turtle conservation. Birdwatching can be done in various national parks such as Gunung Mulu National Park, Lambir Hills National Park, and Similajau National Park. Miri-Sibuti National Park is known for its coral reefs. Gunung Gading National Park is known for its Rafflesia flowers. Bako National Park is the oldest national park in Sarawak. The national park is known for its 275 species of proboscis monkeys. Padawan Pitcher Garden is known for its various carnivorous pitcher plants. Rhinoceros hornbill is the state bird of Sarawak.

The state government has enacted several laws to protect the forests and endangered wildlife species in Sarawak such as Forests Ordiance 1958, Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, and Sarawak Natural Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance. Examples of protected species are: orang utan, green turtle, flying lemur, and piping hornbill. Under Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, Sarawak natives are given permissions to hunt for restricted range of wild animals in the jungles but should not possess more than 5 kg of meat. Sarawak Forest Department was established in 1919 to conserve forest resources in the state. Following international criticisms of logging industry in Sarawak, the state government decided to downsize Sarawak Forest Department and created Sarawak Forestry Corporation in 1995. Sarawak Biodiversity Centre was set up in 1997 to initiate conservation, protection, and sustainable development of biodiversity in the state.

Conservation issues

A logging camp along the Rajang River.

The percentage of current forest cover in Sarawak has been controversial. Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud claimed that the state has 70% forest cover in 2011 and 48% in 2012. Meanwhile, his cabinet minister claimed of 80% forest cover in 2012 and to maintain 60% forest cover in the coming years. Meanwhile, Sarawak Forest Department claimed of 80% forest cover in Sarawak in 2012. On the contrary, foreign media asserted that Sarawak has lost 90% of its forest cover with 3% to 5% remaining intact. According to Wetlands International, 10% of all Sarawak forests and 33% of peat swamp forests were cleared from 2005 to 2010, which is 3.5 times higher than the total rate of deforestation in Asia and 11.7 times more than peat swamp deforestation in Asia.

Sarawak's rainforests have been gradually depleted by the demand driven by the logging industry and the introduction of palm oil plantations, which links to corruption by chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his family. The issue of human rights of Penan and deforestation in Sarawak became an international environmental issue when Swiss activist Bruno Manser entered Sarawak from 1984 until 2000. Deforestation has affected the life of indigenous tribes especially Penan whose livelihood are heavily depended on forest produce. This led to several blockades by indigenous tribes during the 1980s and 1990s against logging companies encroaching their lands. There are also cases where Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands are given to timber and plantation companies without the permission of the inhabitants. The indigenous people has resorted to legal means to reinstate their NCR rights. In 2001, High Court of Sarawak fully reinstated NCR land claimed by Rumah Nor people but was overturned partially in 2005. However, this case has served as the reference which led to more NCR rights being upheld by the high court in the coming years. Sarawak mega dams policy such as Bakun Dam and Murum Dam projects has submerged thousands hectares of forests and displaced thousands of indigenous people. Currently, the proposed Baram Dam project is delayed due to ongoing protests from local indigenous tribes. Since 2014, the Sarawak government under new chief minister Adenan Satem has started to clamp down illegal logging in the state and to diversify economy of the state away from logging businesses.

Economy

Sarawak GDP Share by Sector (2013)

  Services (37.2%)

  Manufacturing (26.6%)

  Mining & Quarrying (21.5%)

  Agriculture (11.4%)

  Construction (3.1%)

  Import Duties (0.3%)

A LNG port at Bintulu, Sarawak.

Sarawak has abundant natural resources. Primary sectors such as mining, agriculture, and forestry accounted for 32.8% of the state economy in 2013. Manufacturing industry of Sarawak mainly consisting of food and beverages, wood-based and rattan products, basic metal products, and petrochemical products. Services industry mainly contributed by cargo transportation services, air transport, and tourism. Sarawak had an average annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 5.0% from 2000 to 2009. Annual GDP growth was volatile from 2006 to 2013, ranging from -2.0% (2009) to 7.0% (2010) with standard deviation of 3.3%. Sarawak contributed 10.1% of the national GDP for the last 9 years until 2013, behind only to Selangor (22.2%) and Kuala Lumpur (13.9%) Sarawak GDP has grown from RM 527 million in 1963 to RM 58 billion in 2013, a 110 times increase. At the same time, GDP per capita has jumped from RM 688 to RM 46,000, a 60 fold increase. Sarawak has the third highest GDP per capita (RM 44,437) in Malaysia; after Kuala Lumpur and Labuan. Sarawak state government is able to maintain fiscal surpluses over seven years until 2013, supported by oil and gas industry which accounted for 34.8% of the state's revenue. Sarawak also attracted RM 9.6 billion in foreign investments where 90% of the investments went to Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). SCORE is the second largest economic corridor in Malaysia.

Sarawak economy is strongly export oriented, therefore susceptible to global commodity prices. Total exports as a percentage of GDP is more than 100% in 2013 while total trade exceeds 130%. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports accounted for more than half of the state's total exports while crude petroleum exports accounted for 20.8%. Meanwhile, palm oil, saw logs, and sawn timber accounted for 9.0% of the total exports. Sarawak currently receives 5% oil royalty from Petronas over oil explorations in Sarawak territorial waters. Majority of the oil and gas deposits are located offshore next to Bintulu and Miri at Balingian basin, Baram basin, and around Luconia Shoals. Sarawak is also one of the world's largest exporters of tropical hardwood timber, constituted 65% of total Malaysian log exports in 2000. The last UN statistics estimated Sarawak's sawlog exports at an average of 14,109,000 cubic metres (498,300,000 cu ft) per year between 1996 and 2000. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC Bank) was the first foreign bank to open its branches in Sarawak in 1955. Apart from domestic banks, Sarawak currently has local branches of 18 European, 10 Middle Eastern, 11 Asian, and five North American banks. There are also several Sarawak-based companies involved in various economic sectors such as Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB), Naim Holdings, Rimbunan Hijau, Ta Ann, Shin Yang, Samling, WTK, and KTS.

Sarawak consumer price index (CPI) is highly correlated with Malaysian CPI, with inflation averaging between 2.5 to 3.0% in the last 4 years until 2013 with a high in 2008 (10.0%) and a low in 2009 (-4.0%). Income inequality in Sarawak has not shown any significant changes from 1980 to 2009, with Gini coefficient fluctuating between 0.4 to 0.5. Sarawak saw a reduction in poverty rate from 56.5% (1975) to less than 1% (2015). Unemployment rate also reduced from 4.6% (2010) to 3.1% (2014).

Energy

Turbines inside the Bakun Dam power house. The dam is the main source for electric energy in Sarawak.

Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical power throughout Sarawak. There are currently three operational dams in Sarawak as of 2015: Batang Ai Dam, Bakun Dam, and Murum Dam with several others under feasibility study and planning. Sarawak also derived its electrical energy from coal fired power plant and thermal power station using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The total capacity of the state power generation is expected to reach 7,000 MW by 2025. Alternative energy sources such as biomass, tidal, solar, wind, and micro-hydroelectric dams are also being explored for their potential of power generation.

Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) was established in 2008 and planned for further development until 2030 to exploit the abundant energy resources in the state (Murum Dam, Baram Dam, Baleh Dam, and coal fired power plants) and to develop 10 high priority industries such as aluminium, glass, steel, oil, fisheries, livestock, timber, and tourism. Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) is the government agency responsible for managing SCORE. The entire central region of Sarawak would be covered under SCORE which would include major areas such as Samalaju (near Bintulu), Tanjung Manis, and Mukah. Samalaju would be developed as an industrial park, with Tanjung Manis as Halal food Hub, and Mukah as administrative centre for SCORE with focus on resource-based research and development.

Tourism

French Gypsy band performing during Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2006.

Tourism plays a major role in the economy of the state. Sarawak Tourism Board is responsible for tourism promotion in the state under the purview of Sarawak Ministry of Tourism. Meanwhile, private tourism sectors are united under Sarawak Tourism Federation. Sarawak Convention Bureau is responsible for attracting conventions, conferences, corporate events to be held in Borneo Convention Centre Kuching. Number of tourists visiting Sarawak has been steadily rising from 3.3 million (2010) to 4.8 million tourists (2014), both international and domestic, contributing to 17% of state GDP, amounting to RM 10.6 billion. Most of the foreign visitors come from Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and China. The Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Award is held every two years to recognise the best in the tourism sector of the state. Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is the region's premier "world music" event, attracting more than 20,000 music fans yearly. Other events that are held regularly in Sarawak are: ASEAN International Film Festival, Asia Music Festival, Borneo Jazz Festival, Borneo Cultural Festival, and Borneo International Kite Festival. Major shopping complexes in Sarawak are: The Spring, Boulevard, Hock Lee Centre, City One shopping malls in Kuching, Bintang megamall, Boulevard, Imperial Mall, and Miri Plaza shopping malls in Miri. Sarawak capital of Kuching has been mentioned as one of the retirement destinations in Malaysia.

Sarawak Tourist Arrival Statistics

Key Tourism Indicators	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Foreign Arrivals (millions)	1.897	2.343	2.635	2.665	2.996
Domestic Arrivals (West Malaysia & Sabah) (millions)	1.373	1.452	1.434	1.707	1.862
Total Arrivals (millions)	3.271	3.795	4.069	4.372	4.858
Total Tourism Receipts, billions (RM)	6.618	7.914	8.573	9.588	10.686

Infrastructure

The overall infrastructure in Sarawak are less developed when compared to Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Communications (MIDCom) is responsible for infrastructure and telecommunication developments in Sarawak. Sarawak has 21 industrial estates, with four main agencies responsible for its implementation and development. In 2009, 94% of urban areas and 67% of rural areas has electrical supply. In 2014, 91% of the rural areas has electrical supply. In terms of telecommunication, fixed line penetration rate in Sarawak was 25.7% and mobile phone penetration rate was 93.3% in 2013. Computers usage was only 45.9% in the same year. Internet usage was 58.5% in urban areas and 29.9% in rural areas. State-owned Sacofa Sdn Bhd is responsible for constructing telecommunication towers in Sarawak. Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) is responsible for implementation and development of Information technology (IT) in Sarawak. In 2012, Sarawak has 63 post offices, 40 mini post offices, and five mobile post services. Mail delivery coverage in rural areas was 60% in 2015.

Kuching Water Board (KWB) and Sibu Water Board (SWB) are responsible for the management of water supply in their respective areas. Meanwhile, state-owned LAKU Management Sdn Bhd manages water supply for Miri, Bintulu, and Limbang. Rural Water Supply Department manages water supply for the remaining areas. In 2014, 82% of the rural areas has fresh water supply.

Transportation

Kuching International Airport terminal building.

Bintulu International Container Terminal (BICT) at Bintulu seaport.

Sarawak has a total of 32,091 km of connected roadways in 2013, with half of these (18,003 km) being paved state routes, 8,313 km of dirt tracks (built by timber and plantation companies), 4,352 km of gravel roads, and 1,424 km of paved federal highway. The primary route in Sarawak would be Pan Borneo Highway, connecting from south-western tip of Sematan, Sarawak through Brunei until the north-eastern end of Tawau, Sabah. However, the road condition is unsatisfactory. Therefore, a federal budget has been allocated to upgrade the roads in Sarawak. Under SCORE economic corridor, more roads were built to the major hydroelectric dams, Bintulu, and Kapit. Major cities and towns in Sarawak also provides public transportation services such as buses, taxis, and limousine. Bus services are also available for travelling to neighbouring state of Sabah, Brunei, and Pontianak, Indonesia. Sarawak uses dual carriageway with left-hand traffic rule. It also allows motorists to "turn left when the exit is clear".

Kuching International Airport is the main gateway to Sarawak. Meanwhile, Miri Airport serves a limited number of international flights. Other smaller airports such as Sibu Airport, Bintulu Airport, Mukah Airport, Marudi Airport, Mulu Airport, and Limbang Airport provide services to Kuala Lumpur and other domestic destinations in Sarawak. There are also a number of remote airstrips serving rural communities in the state. There are three airlines serving flight routes in Sarawak: Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, and MASwings.

Sarawak has four primary ports at Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri. The Bintulu seaport is placed under the jurisdiction of Malaysian federal government. It is also the busiest port in Sarawak, mainly handling LNG products and standard cargo shipping. The remaining ports are placed under respective state port authorities. Other ports in Sarawak includes Samalaju Industrial Port and Tanjung Manis Industrial Port (TIMP). The combined throughput of the four primary ports was 61.04 million freight weight tonnes (FWT) in 2013. Sarawak has 55 navigable river networks with combined length of 3,300 kilometres (2,100 mi). For centuries the rivers of Sarawak have been a primary means of transport as well as provided a route for timber and other agricultural goods moving downriver for export at the country's major ports. Sibu port is the main hub along the Rajang River, located 113 kilometres (70 mi) from its mouth. The port mainly handles timber products. However, due to opening of Tanjung Manis Industrial Port (TIMP) further downriver, the total throughput of Sibu port has declined. Express boats are an important means of transport along the rivers of Sarawak.

No railways are built in Sarawak because of logistical challenges and dispersed population in the state.

Healthcare

The Sarawak General Hospital.

Sarawak has three major government hospitals: Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital, and Miri Hospital. There are also district hospitals, public health clinics, 1Malaysia clinics, and rural clinics. Besides government-owned hospitals and clinics, there are several private hospitals in Sarawak such as Normah Medical Specialists Centre, Timberland Medical Specialists Centre, and Sibu Specialist Medical Centre. Sarawak is also a medical tourism destination for Brunei and Indonesian visitors. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is the only government university that produces medical graduates in the state. Sarawak Hospice Society was set up in 1998 to promote hospice care in home settings. Hospital Sentosa is the only mental hospital in Sarawak.

However, access to good quality healthcare is still a challenge to the rural communities. For villages located outside the operational areas of health clinics, flying doctor service (FDS) is available once a month. Village health promoters are stationed among remote villages where they are provided with 3 weeks of first aid and basic health care training. A variety of traditional medicinal practices are still being used by the various communities in Sarawak.

In 2015, the doctors:patient ratio in the state was 1:1,104 which is lower than World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of 1 doctor to 600 patients. There are 2,237 doctors in Sarawak, where 1,759 are serving in public sector and 478 in private sector. There were also 248 specialists, 942 medical officers, and 499 house officers in the state.

Education

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) chancellory building.

Sarawak overall literacy rate was 25% in 1960. Today, the state has 90% literacy rate. Malaysian Ministry of Education is responsible for primary and secondary education in Sarawak. The oldest schools that are established in Sarawak are: St. Thomas’s School Kuching (1848), St Mary’s School Kuching (1848), and St Joseph’s School Kuching (1882). In 2012, Sarawak has 185 government secondary schools, four international schools, and 14 Chinese independent schools. Sarawak government also emphasises on pre-school education in the state. Sarawak has three public universities: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kota Samarahan campus, and Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus. Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) also set up several off-campus study centres in Kuching and Sibu. Sarawak also has two private universities: Curtin University Sarawak and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus. Vocational training is also given priority to supply skilled workforce for SCORE economic corridor. There are also several community colleges in the state. There are four Teachers' Training Colleges in Sarawak. Batu Lintang Teachers' Training College is the third oldest of its kind in Malaysia. In 2015, the total teaching workforce in Sarawak was 40,593.

Sarawak State Library (also known as PUSTAKA) is the largest library in the state. Public libraries and village libraries are found in respective towns and cities.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Sarawak

As of the 2015 census, the population of Sarawak was 2,636,000, making it the 3rd most populous state in Malaysia. However, due to the large area of Sarawak, it has the lowest population density in Malaysia, which stands at 20 people per km². Average population growth rate per year from 2000 to 2010 was 1.8%. In 2014, 58% of the population are staying in urban areas while 42% of the population are staying in rural areas. As of 2011, crude birth rate in Sarawak was 16.3 per 1000 population, crude death rate was 4.3 per 1000 population, and infant mortality rate was 6.5 per 1000 live births.

Ethnic groups in Sarawak
Ethnic			Percentage
Iban			31%
Chinese			28%
Malay			20%
Bidayuh			8%
Melanau			6%
Orang Ulu			5%
Others			2%

People from Sarawak are called Sarawakians. Sarawak has more than 40 sub-ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language, culture and lifestyle. Cities and larger towns are populated predominantly by Malays, Melanaus, Chinese, and a smaller percentage of Ibans and Bidayuhs who have migrated from their home villages for employment opportunities. Generally, Sarawak has six major ethnic groups: Iban, Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh, Melanau, and Orang Ulu. Several minor ethnic groups include: Kedayan, Javanese, Bugis, Murut, and Indian. Sarawak has 150,000 registered migrant workers working in plantation, manufacturing, construction, services, agriculture, and as domestic workers. However, total number of illegal immigrants may reach 320,000 to 350,000 people.

The term Dayak is commonly referred to the Iban people and the Bidayuh. The term is often used in nationalistic contexts. In 2015, Malaysian federal government recognises the usage of the term in official forms. Bumiputera (son of the soil) refers to the Malays and other indigenous groups in the Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. This group of people generally enjoy special privileges in education, jobs, finance, and political positions. Meanwhile, Orang Asal refers to all the indigenous groups in Malaysia excluding Malays.

Iban

Main article: Iban people

A traditional Iban longhouse.

Sarawak has the highest number of Ibans in Borneo. They are also known as Sea Dayaks. The large majority of Ibans practise Christianity. The Ibans originally inhabited the areas around Rajang basin but following Brooke's military expeditions, they gradually moved into northern regions of Sarawak. Iban settlements are usually in the form of a longhouse. The longhouse was a defensive unit when headhunting was prevalent in the past but today it remains as a symbol of ritual well being among its households. In the past, the Ibans recognised status hierarchy such as "raja berani" (the rich and the brave), "orang mayuh" (ordinary people), and "ulun" (slaves). However, during the Brooke era, Iban society was restructured into formal offices such as "tuai rumah" (headman), "penghulu" (regional chief), and "temenggong" (paramount chief). They still observe many of their traditional rituals and beliefs today such as Gawai Dayak (Harvest Festival) and Gawai Antu (festival of the dead).

Chinese

Main article: Malaysian Chinese

A Chinese paifang in Kuching.

The Chinese first came to Sarawak as traders and explorers in the 6th century. The Chinese population today consists of communities built from immigrants of the 19th and early 20th centuries during the Brooke era. These migrants first worked as labourers inside gold mines at Bau, Sarawak. They organised themselves economically. The Sarawak Chinese belong to a wide range of dialect groups such as Cantonese, Foochow, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew, and Henghua (Putian people). They celebrate major cultural festivals such as Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Sarawak Chinese are predominantly Buddhists and Christians. In Kuching, most of the Chinese settled near the Sarawak River which would later form Chinatown. In 1901, Wong Nai Siong brought his clansmen to settle in Sibu, near the Rajang River. The Chinese later went to work at coal mines and oil fields in Miri· Sarawak Chinese has been influenced by Kuomintang and later Communist Party of China before subscribed to the ideology of Sarawak nationalism after the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

Malay

Main article: Sarawak Malay

A Sarawak Malay traditional house.

The Malays are traditionally fishermen. They choose to build settlements (Malay kampung/village) along the river banks. Today, they migrated to urban areas and work in public and private sectors. They are notable for their wood carvings, silver/brass craftings, and textiles. Examples of Malay kampungs (villages) are located along the riverside near Fort Margherita, behind the Kuching Mosque, and at the foot of Mount Santubong. There has been several theories about the origins of the Malays in Sarawak. James Brooke purportedly applied the term for the first time on the coast-dwelling indigenous Muslims in Sarawak. However, not all Muslims in Sarawak are Malays. Most of the Melanau tribe are also practising Islam. Other theories claimed that the Malays came from Malay Archipelago such as Java or Sumatra, Arabs from the Middle East, or through cultural and religious conversions of indigenous people of Sarawak.

Melanau

Main article: Melanau

The Melanaus are the original settlers of Sarawak. Most of them come from the coastal town of Mukah. They traditionally stay in tall houses but after adopting a Malay lifestyle, they stay in kampungs (villages). They worked as fishermen, boat-builders, and craftsmen. The Melananus originally practices paganism but today most of them are Muslims. However, some of them still practices Christianity and paganism. They do celebrate traditional animists Kaul festival.

Bidayuh

Main article: Bidayuh

A traditional Bidayuh baruk roundhouse.

The Bidayuh mainly stayed in southern part of Sarawak such as Lundu, Bau, Serian, and Padawan municipality. They are known as Land Dayaks because they traditionally live on steep limestone mountains. They consists of several sub-ethnic groups such as Jagoi, Biatah, and Selakau with different dialects incomprehensible with each other. Therefore, they resorted to English and Malay languages as their common language. They are known for several musical instruments such as gigantic drums and bamboo percussion instrument known as pratuakng. Like Ibans, their traditional settlements are longhouses but they also constructed baruk roundhouses for community meetings. Majority of the Bidayuh practices Christian faith.

Orang Ulu

Main article: Orang Ulu

The word Orang Ulu means "upriver people". It includes numerous tribes staying in upriver of the Sarawak's interior such as Kenyah, Kayan, Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Penan, Bisaya, and Berawan tribes. Formerly headhunters, most of them stay in Bario, Ba'kelalan, Belaga, and near drainage basin of Baram River. They decorate their longhouses with murals and woodcarvings. They are also known for boat building, beadwork, and tattooing. Well known musical instruments from Orang Ulu are Kayan's sapeh and Lun Bawang's bamboo band. Kelabit and Lun Bawang people are notable for their production of fragrant rice. Majority of Orang Ulu are Christians.

Religion

Main article: Demographics of Sarawak § Religions of Sarawak

Religion in Sarawak – 2010 Census
Religion			Percent
Christianity			42.6%
Islam			32.2%
Buddhism			13.5%
Chinese Ethnic Religion			6.0%
Hinduism			0.2%
Others			1.2%
No religion			2.6%
Unknown			1.9%

Although Islam is the official religion of the federation, Sarawak has no official state religion. However, during the chieftainship of Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, Sarawak constitution was amended to make Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the head of Islam in Sarawak and empowers the state assembly to pass laws regarding Islamic affairs. With such provisions, Islamic policies can be formulated in Sarawak and establishment of Islamic state agencies are also possible. The 1978 Majlis Islam Bill enabled the setting up of Syariah Courts in Sarawak with jurisdictions over matrimonial, children custody, betrothal, inheritance, and criminal cases in the state. Appeal Court and Courts of Kadi were also formed.

Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia where Christians outnumber Muslims. The earliest Christian missionaries in Sarawak were propagated by Church of England (Anglicans) in 1848, followed by Roman Catholics few years later, and Methodists in 1903. Such missionaries first took place among the Chinese immigrants before spreading to animists indigenous people. Other Christian denominations in Sarawak are Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM or Sidang Injil Borneo, S.I.B.), and Baptists. Indigenous people such as Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu have adopted Christianity although they do retain some of their traditional religious rites. Many Muslims come from Malay, Melanau, and Kedayan ethnic groups. Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese Folk Religion are predominantly practised by Chinese Malaysians. Other minor religions in Sarawak are Baha'i, Hinduism, Sikhism, and animism.

Languages

English was the sole official language of Sarawak from 1963 until 1974 because the first chief minister of Sarawak Stephen Kalong Ningkan opposed the usage of Malay language in Sarawak. In 1974, the new chief minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub adopted Malay language and English as the two official languages of Sarawak. He also changed medium of instruction in schools from English into Malay language. Today, English language is being used in courts, state legislative assembly, and certain government functions in Sarawak. On 18 November 2015, Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem announced the state adoption of English as the official language of Sarawak, along with Malay.

The Malay language, known as Bahasa Sarawak (or Sarawak Malay), is the main language among the Sarawak Malays and other indigenous tribes. Bahasa Sarawak has a different dialect when compared with Peninsular Malay languages. Besides, Iban language is also widely spoken among 34% of the population. Meanwhile, Bidayuh language is spoken by 10% of the Sarawak population with six major dialects. Orang Ulu has about 30 different language dialects. The Chinese generally uses Standard Chinese although they also uses many different dialects such as Hokkien, Hakka, Foochow, and Teochew.

Culture

The Sarawak State Museum.

Sarawak has a multiracial, multicultural, and multilingual society. The indigenous people forms the original culture of this area, followed by the culture imposed by the Bruneian Malays at the coastal areas. Substantial cultural influences also existed from the Chinese and British cultures. Headhunting was once an important tradition for the Ibans. Today this custom is no longer observed. Religions such as Christianity has affected the lives of indigenous people particularly Kelabit people and Lun Bawang people. Christianity plays an important role in their daily lives, and has changed their ethnic identities. The Penan people is the last indigenous group to abandon their nomadic way of life in the jungles. Interracial marriages is common in the state.

Sarawak Cultural Village is located at the foot of Mount Santubong, Kuching. Known as the "living museum", it showcases the various ethnic groups carry out traditional activities in their respective traditional houses. Cultural performances are also presented here. Sarawak State Museum houses a collection of artefacts such as pottery, textiles, and woodcarvings tools from various ethnic tribes in Sarawak, and also ethnographic materials of local cultures. The museum building preserves its French architecture. Other museums includes: Islamic Heritage Museum, Chinese History Museum, Kuching Cat Museum, Sarawak Textile Museum, Art Museum, Lau King Howe Medical Museum, and Baram Regional Museum. There is also a series of well-preserved forts in Sarawak built during the Brooke regime such as Fort Margherita, Fort Emma, Fort Sylvia, and Fort Alice.

The Batang Ai Resort and Bawang Assan Iban longhouses allows the visiting guests to have an overnight stay and to participate in traditional Iban daily activities. Other longhouses includes: Iban longhouses in Kapit, Bidayuh longhouses in Kuching, Kelabit longhouses in Bario, Lun Bawang longhouses in Ba'kelalan, and Melanau wooden houses in Sibu. Main Bazaar and Carpenter Streets are the two notable streets in Chinatown, Kuching. India Street in Kuching is notable for its textile products. An Indian-Muslim mosque can be found in the vicinity.

Fine arts and crafts

A Kayan tribesman, playing the sapeh.

Sarawak Craft Council is responsible to popularise local ethnic crafts. Sarakraf Pavilion houses a workshop which demonstrates a wide range of craft making skills. Examples of well-known handicrafts in Sarawak are: beadworks by Orang Ulu, Pua Kumbu by Iban, Kesah mat and Tambok baskets by Bidayuh, Kain Songket by the Malays, ethnic headgears, and pottery by the Chinese. Sarawak Artists Society was established in 1985 to promote local cultures and arts in the form of paintings. Most artists in the post-war Sarawak prefers scenery and nature, traditional dances, and traditional daily activities as their drawing themes.

Orang Ulu's Sapeh (a dug-out guitar) is the most notable traditional musical instrument in Sarawak. The musical instrument was played to Queen Elizabeth during her official visit to Sarawak in 1972. It was first introduced to the world during Asian Traditional Performing Arts (ATPA) at Japan in 1976. Other traditional musical instruments are various types of Gongs and Kulintang (Tawak, Ketupung, and Engkeromong), Idiophones, bamboo flutes and zithers.

Oral tradition has been the culture of various indigenous groups in Sarawak for generations. It is used for passing life lessons, traditions, and values to the younger generations. It is usually told repeatedly by the elders to the younger ones, storytelling during special occasions, and through traditional performances. Examples of traditional practices are: Iban's Ngajat dances, Renong (Iban vocal repertory), Ensera (Iban oral narratives), and epic storytelling by the Kayan and Kenyah. Borneo Literature Bureau existed from 1958 until 1977 which encouraged the documentation of local cultures, local authorships, and publications in English, Chinese, Malay, Iban and other local native languages. However, the Bureau was replaced with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in 1977 which advocated publications only in Malay language. Documentations of oral traditions has also been taken by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Sarawak Customs Council. Sarawak Gazette was first published by the Brooke government in 1870. It recorded various news in Sarawak in terms of economics, agriculture, anthropology, and archaeology. The Gazette is still being published today. Hikayat Panglima Nikosa (Story of Nikosa the Warrior), printed in 1876 at Kuching, is one of the earliest text publications in Borneo. It is also the first novel in Malaysia. The indigenous traditions has also become a source of writing for Sarawak Chinese authors.

Cuisine

A bowl of Sarawak Laksa.

Notable dishes in the state are: Sarawak Laksa, Kolo Mee, and Ayam pansuh. The state is also known for its Sarawak layer cake dessert. Each ethnic group has their own delicacies with different styles of preparing, cooking, and eating food. However, modern technology have altered the way of cooking for native dishes. Examples of ethnic food are: Iban's tuak (rice wine), Melanau's tebaloi (Sago palm crackers) and umai (raw fish mixed with lime juice), and Orang Ulu's urum giruq (pudding). Other international food such as Western food, Indonesian food, Indian food, and Middle Eastern food can also be found here. Sarawak traditional food has also been marketed as a Culinary tourism product.

Media

The government and its wealthy allies virtually controls every newspapers in Sarawak through restrictive laws and personal connections. Examples are Sin Chew Daily controlled by Rimbunan Hijau, See Hua Daily News, The Borneo Post, and Utusan Borneo controlled by See Hua Group. In the 1990s, major newspapers had negatively portrayed the timber blockades in Sarawak as detrimental to the state's growth and development. Sarawak Tribune was indefinitely suspended in 2006 for publishing a caricature of Prophet Muhammad. The daily was rebooted as New Sarawak Tribune in 2010. In 2010, Clare Rewcastle Brown, sister-in-law of former British prime minister Gordon Brown set up Sarawak Report website and a London-based short-wave radio station named Radio Free Sarawak to provide alternative news and views free from the influence of Sarawak government.

Radio Sarawak existed from 1954 until 1976. It had broadcasts in Malay, Iban, Chinese, and English languages. Examples of Sarawak-based radio stations are: Sarawak FM, cats FM and TEA FM.

Holidays and festivals

Sarawakians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year. Apart from national Hari Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations, the state also celebrates Sarawak Self-government Day on 22 July and the State Governor's birthday. Sarawak ethnic groups also celebrate their own respective festivals. The open house tradition allows other ethnic groups to join the celebrations. Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia to declare Gawai Dayak celebration as a public holiday. It is also the only state in Malaysia that does not gazette national Deepavali celebration as a public holiday. Respective religious groups are free to hold processions in major towns and cities during festivals. Sarawak and Sabah are the only two states in Malaysia that declare Good Friday as public holiday. Kuching Festival is a month long celebration that is held every August to commemorate its elevation to city status in 1988. Miri City Day is also held in conjunction with Miri May Fest every year.

Sports

Sarawak sent its own teams to participate in 1958 and 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and 1962 Asian Games before representing Malaysia after 1963. Sarawak State Sports Council was formed in 1985 to uplift the standard of sports in Sarawak. Sarawak was the host of Malaysian SUKMA Games in 1990 and for the second time in 2016 Sukma Games. The state also became the overall champion in 1990, 1992, and 1994 SUKMA games. Sarawak also sent teams representing Malaysia during Southeast Asian Games. Sarawak also contributed one Olympic medal to the total of 6 medals won by Malaysia. Sarawak also emerged as overall champion for 11 consecutive editions of Malaysia Para Games since 1994. The state also sent athletes to participate in Special Olympics World Games.

There are several stadiums in Sarawak: Sarawak Stadium, Sarawak State Stadium, Stadium Perpaduan (Unity Stadium), and Sarawak State Hockey Stadium. Sarawak FA football association was founded in 1974. It won Malaysia FA Cup in 1992, and Malaysia Premier League in 1997 and 2013.

External links

• Sarawak at Sarawak Tourism Board
• Laws of Sarawak at Sarawak State Attorney-General's Chambers
• Sarawak at Lonely Planet