Author: James Alexander Ritchie

From crocodile farm to children’s wonderland

Set amidst the charming backdrop of a 60 year old jungle, Jong’s farm has an interesting history; it all started with six baby crocodiles which were sold to the father of Johnson Jong — the man who established the property in 1963. Not too long ago, Jong’s Crocodile Farm was known

GPS to bank on Bidayuh power

Last Sunday, Sarawak Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong said it was a foregone conclusion that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government would win all of the eight Bidayuh state legislative assembly seats “hands down”. A brave statement given the fact that the eight Bidayuh

Malaysia Day do raises great expectations for national unity

Our flag is not just one of many political points of view. Rather, the flag is a symbol of our national unity.     – Adrian Cronauer, US Airforce airman   It was interesting to read about how two great leaders have come together for the sake of national unity.

A united Borneo by 2030?

FOR the last 30 years I have travelled to some of the remotest border towns of Indonesian Kalimantan, one of the most unexplored regions in the world. As a journalist I have been able to visit some of the towns and villages along the 1,100km-long border which Sarawak shares with

Our forgotten Sarawak writers

Few Sarawakians pay attention to history and because of that they lose sight of their proud heritage. Old Kuching was enchanting for a long time but along the way the tide of time wiped out the memory of two generations of historic events. Having grown up in Kuching since 1967,

From a lost tribe to people of progress

One of Malaysia’s most backward districts is Lawas, Sarawak’s Northernmost region which is home of the Lun Bawang hill people. The prized possession of Brunei, it was a troubled region because of the constant inter-tribal wars forcing the Sultan to cede the district to the Brooke regime in 1905. Even

A tribute to Laila Taib and our dearest mothers

It’s never too late to say Happy Mother’s Day because mothers are there for us always – every single day. Sometimes, we don’t give them enough credit for their selfless love and sacrifices even though some of us men and children still need a clip across the ear occasionally, I

In honour of BLTC’s pioneer rural teachers

For 100 years Sarawak under the Brooke government, the rural community was devoid of any rural teaching programme. Sir Charles Brooke felt that it was a waste of time educating the natives because all they needed was to learn how to read and write and learn simple arithmetic, because “that

Abang Johari – dare to be different!

It’s difficult being the leader of a developing country if you are at the mercy of people with negative comments and to whom you have to bow to their whims and fancies. On May 9 last year, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg proved he was no rookie when he

Life journey of an intrepid marine pilot

Fifty years ago a young Sabahan dreamed about travelling the world as his European and Chinese forebears did. Captain Lubin Chiew who is of English, Chinese and native ancestry set his mind on his ideals and charted a career as an officer in the merchant navy. An experienced Maritime Pilot