Author: James Alexander Ritchie

Flying without wings

In the jet age many have forgotten another type of flying machine whose pilots have braved the hinterland to send politicians, doctors and businessmen to the remotest corners of the interior to carry out special missions. Skippered by brave and experienced pilots, these ‘unsung’ heroes have served Sarawak and its

Welcome to our rural countryside

My first visit to Ba Kelalan in 1985 was by Malaysia Airlines’ small Twin Otter aircraft — a small and noisy 16-seater flying machine. I was on a mission to write about a case of strange tongues of bright ethereal lights seen hovering in the sky around the Lun Bawang

History of Aviation in Sarawak Part 2

Rural airstrips built by missionaries  In this three-part series, we will look back at the 100-year history of aviation in Sarawak, which started from the Brooke era, through the Colonial and post-Malaysia Era. In 1948, the Borneo Evengelical Mission (BEM) sent in Bruce Morton, a pilot turned missionary, with a

Lest we forget!

Sarawakians should count their blessings that the haze is over and must thank Mother Nature as she prepares to send the annual northeast monsoon (landas season locally) our direction starting November. I first arrived in Kuching in December, at the height of the landas, 52 years ago. My younger brother

History of the Sarawak dilemma

It was interesting to hear Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad blaming the Malays for the predicament of being left in the backwaters. Speaking at the ‘Malay Dignity Congress’ in Shah Alam last week he said even though the Malays comprise 60 percent of the country’s population, they have lost

Exciting life of an investigative reporter

If I were to write my memoir, I would have a million and one stories to tell, especially as an investigative reporter. And I must mention a few iconic journalists who guided and honed my writing skills over the last 47 years, namely New Straits Times (NST) news editors Felix

S’wak’s ‘mission impossible’

I was quite disturbed to read in the newspapers about the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics to Year 1 pupils in Sarawak next year. Early this week, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong warned that it was going to be a challenge changing the system, with Sarawak chosen

Journey towards a ‘New M’sia’

It was like a breath of fresh air to see Sarawak remind the country that 56 years ago, our pioneers brought together two regional entities straddling the South China Sea at a great cost. Carried live on national TV from Kuching, the Malaysia Day celebration was a colourful show on

Celebrating Sarawak’s World War 2 Heroes

End of a reign of terror On September 11 1945, Sarawak was liberated from the Japanese who occupied the state in a reign of terror for almost four years. It was a historic day when Sarawak became the last important Japanese stronghold to surrender to the Allied Forces after the

S’wak a forsaken stepchild?

As Sarawak prepares to celebrate Malaysia Day on Sept 16, it’s time to reflect on the noble ideals of our forebears who fought for our independence. After 100 years under three White Rajahs, a short period under the Japanese and 20 years of colonial rule, the people of this once