Before Sarawak came into the view of the Westerners, Sarawak was under the rule of the Sultanate of Brunei. However, under the reign of Pangeran Indera Mahkota, the country is in turmoil due to piracy and insurgency among the diverse tribes in Sarawak. When an English traveller James Brooke made his way here, the Sultan of Brunei asked for helped from Brooke after the Raja Muda failed to put an end to it.
Brooke came up with a cunning plan of aligning some of the tribes with the Sultan and convinced them to conquer others. This plan worked and results in lasting peace and harmony. Pleased with the outcome, Kuching was given to Brooke and he was made the first ‘White Rajah of Sarawak’ in 1841. Thus begins the reign of the Brooke family, passing from Charles Brooke and eventually to Vyner Brooke, and as time gradually pass, Sarawak’s land increase as more and more territory was acquired or leased from the Sultan of Brunei. Vyner Brooke was the last White Rajah as the Japaneses invaded and took the region during World War II. Sarawak was declared a British Colony after the war ceased. Alongside Sabah, Sarawak gained independence in 1963 and joined Tanah Melayu, forming the country Malaysia. Currently, Sarawak is known as the Land of the Hornbill and houses a diversity of ethnic backgrounds, dialects and food. Sarawak has many little treasure to offer, ranging from its bustling city to tranquil nature getaways and a rich and diverse culture that cannot be found in any part of the world. |