2004: THE MYSTERYOF THE MISSING BELL 206 LONG RANGER HELICOPTER IN BARIO, SARAWAK

On July 12, 2004, a Hornbill Skyways Bell 206L-4 LongRanger helicopter vanished over the dense, mountainous jungles of Sarawak. What followed was one of the most intensive search and rescue (SAR) operations in Malaysian history, involving international aid and a "miraculous" discovery 16 days later.

The Disappearance

The helicopter departed from Bario at 12:15 PM for a short, 17-minute flight to Ba’Kelalan. On board were seven people, including high-ranking Sarawak officials. When the aircraft failed to arrive, an immediate search was triggered, but the region's notoriously thick canopy and unpredictable weather made the task nearly impossible.

The Passengers and Crew

The crash claimed the lives of all seven people on board:

1. Dr. Judson Sakal Tagal: Sarawak Assistant Minister and Ba’kelalan State Assemblyman.
2. Capt. Samsuddin Hashim: The pilot.
3. Roger Wong: CEO of Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (SESCO).
4. Jason Eng: SESCO General Manager.
5. Ling Tian Ho: SESCO Engineer.
6. Datuk Marcus Raja: A prominent contractor.
7. Lawrence Th’ng: Chairman of the Padawan Municipal Council.

The Massive Search Operation

The SAR mission lasted 16 days and grew to include:

• International Support: The U.S. Navy provided a P-3C Orion aircraft; Australia, Indonesia, and Brunei sent specialized personnel and equipment.
• High-Tech Tools: For the first time in Malaysia, teams used hyperspectral imaging, Thermal Infra-Red (FLIR) sensors, and LIDAR to "see" through the forest canopy.
• The "Weird Dream": Years later, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. George Chan revealed he had a dream on the second day of the search where three religious men showed him the exact crash site. Despite his skepticism as a doctor, he ordered searches in that area (which was off the standard flight path), though nothing was found until the final day.

The Discovery and Cause

The wreckage was eventually spotted on July 27, 2004, at the foot of Mount Murud. A Hornbill Skyways pilot finally sighted pieces of the debris through a small break in the trees.

The investigation by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) attributed the crash to pilot error combined with adverse conditions. The helicopter was flying at a high altitude with a low power margin while battling heavy rain and strong winds, leading to a loss of control in the rugged terrain.

Legacy of the Incident

The tragedy deeply impacted Sarawak's political landscape and led to a mandatory grounding of the Hornbill Skyways fleet for safety audits. It also highlighted the extreme dangers of flying in the "Heart of Borneo," where weather can change in seconds.

All seven bodies were eventually recovered, though the process was difficult due to the nature of the crash and the 16 days that had passed before the site was found.

Recovery Details

When the search and rescue teams finally reached the crash site at the foot of Mount Murud on July 29, 2004, they confirmed there were no survivors. The recovery process involved the following:

• Initial Discovery: Rescuers initially found five bodies within the immediate wreckage of the helicopter.
• Wider Search: Because the impact was severe, the remaining remains and body parts were found scattered within a 200-meter radius of the crash site.
• Identification: Due to the 16-day delay and the impact, forensic identification was necessary. The remains were flown to Miri Hospital for post-mortem examinations and formal identification.
• Handover: On July 31, 2004, the remains of all seven victims were officially handed over to their families for burial.

The recovery brought a somber closure to what remains one of Malaysia's longest and most challenging aviation search operations.

Google Gemini AI

21 January 2026: 11.36 p.m

SARAWAK FOLKLORE : PUTERI SANTUBONG AND PUTERI SEJINJANG (SARAWAK)

The legend of Puteri Santubong and Puteri Sejinjang is one of the most famous folk tales from Sarawak, Malaysia. It explains the origins of Mount Santubong, Mount Sejinjang, and the various islands off the coast of Kuching.

The Celestial Mission

The story begins in the celestial kingdom (Kayangan). Two beautiful princesses, Santubong and Sejinjang, were sent down to Earth by their father, the King of Heaven. Their mission was to bring peace to two feuding villages on the Sarawak coast: Pasir Kuning and Pasir Putih.

The King gave them one strict condition: they must never quarrel. If they fought, they would be severely punished.

Harmony and Talents

Under the guidance of the princesses, the villages thrived:

• Puteri Santubong was a master weaver. She taught the villagers of Pasir Putih how to weave beautiful fabrics that attracted traders from far and wide.
• Puteri Sejinjang was skilled at pounding rice. She helped the people of Pasir Kuning produce the finest, tastiest rice in the region.

For a long time, the villages lived in prosperity and harmony.

The Conflict: Jealousy and a Prince

The peace was shattered when both princesses fell in love with the same man, Prince Serapi (Putera Serapi).

What started as a small disagreement soon escalated into a fierce, violent battle of magic and jealousy. Forgetting their father’s warning, they attacked each other with their tools:

• Sejinjang swung her rice-pounder (alu) and struck Santubong in the cheek.
• Santubong retaliated by throwing her weaving loom beam (belida) at Sejinjang, hitting her with such force that her head shattered.

The Curse

Witnessing their broken promise, the King of Heaven became furious. He cast a curse on both of them, transforming them into stone:

• Puteri Santubong became Mount Santubong. If you look at the mountain today, its jagged peak is said to be the scar on her cheek from Sejinjang’s blow.
• Puteri Sejinjang became Mount Sejinjang. The pieces of her shattered head fell into the South China Sea and became the nearby islands, including Pulau Kera (Monkey Island), Pulau Satang, and Pulau Talang-Talang.
• Prince Serapi, the cause of their rift, was also turned into a mountain, now known as Mount Serapi (Gunung Serapi).

Cultural Significance

Today, this legend is immortalized in a popular folk song titled "Puteri Santubong," which is often performed at cultural events in Sarawak. The story serves as a moral lesson about the destructive nature of jealousy and the importance of keeping one's word.

Fun Fact: If you visit Damai Beach near Kuching, locals will point out that Mount Santubong looks like a woman lying on her back, watching over the sea.

Google Gemini AI

18 January 2026: 11.22 p.m

BRUNO MANSER (1954 - 2000)

Bruno Manser (1954–2000) is one of the most polarizing and legendary figures in Sarawak's modern history. A Swiss environmentalist and human rights activist, he became the international face of the struggle against deforestation in Borneo and a champion for the indigenous Penan people.

Here is an overview of his significant role in Sarawak history:

1. Living with the Penan (1984–1990)

Manser arrived in Sarawak in 1984 with the goal of living a simple, pre-industrial life. He spent six years living nomadically with the Penan tribe in the upper Baram region.

• Cultural Immersion: He learned their language, hunting techniques (using blowpipes), and survival skills. He was eventually accepted as "Laki Penan" (the Penan Man).

• The Transition to Activism: During his stay, Manser witnessed the rapid destruction of the primary rainforest by logging companies. He shifted from a quiet observer to an organizer, helping the Penan launch peaceful road blockades in the late 1980s to stop timber trucks.

2. Conflict with the Government

Manser’s activism made him a "thorn in the side" of the Sarawak state government, then led by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

• Enemy of the State: The Malaysian government viewed him as a "meddling foreigner" who was instigating the indigenous people against development. He was declared an "enemy of the state," and a bounty was allegedly placed on his head.

• The Fugitive: He evaded capture by the Malaysian police and military for years, reportedly hiding in the jungle or using disguises, before eventually escaping back to Switzerland in 1990.

3. Global Advocacy and "Stunt" Activism

After returning to Europe, he founded the Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF) in 1991 to continue the fight from abroad. He became famous for high-profile, daring protests:

• Hunger Strikes: He went on a 60-day hunger strike in Switzerland to protest tropical timber imports.

• Aerial Protests: In 1999, he paraglided into the residence of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud in Kuching to offer a "lamb of peace" and a proposal for a rainforest reserve. He was promptly deported.

4. Disappearance and Legacy

In May 2000, Manser illegally re-entered Sarawak to visit his Penan friends. He was last seen trekking toward Bukit Batu Lawi, a sacred limestone pinnacle.

• Presumed Dead: Despite several search missions by the Penan and Swiss diplomats, no trace of him was ever found. He was officially declared dead by a Swiss court in 2005.

• Ongoing Impact: To some in Sarawak, he remains a hero who gave the Penan a global voice and helped preserve what remains of the northern rainforests. To others (particularly in government circles), he is remembered as a radical who obstructed the state's economic progress.

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Key Figures & Locations

Name	Description
Along Sega	A Penan leader and Manser's mentor/ally.
Abdul Taib Mahmud	The Chief Minister of Sarawak during Manser's time.
Upper Baram	The remote region where Manser lived and organized blockades.
Batu Lawi	The twin-peaked mountain where Manser was last seen.

PARADISE WAR: THE STORY OF BRUNO MANSER

Released in 2019, "Paradise War: The Story of Bruno Manser" (original title: Bruno Manser – Die Stimme des Regenwaldes) is an ambitious biographical drama that depicts Manser's life in Sarawak. It is one of the most expensive and successful productions in Swiss cinema history.

The film provides a visceral look at the events mentioned earlier, focusing on his transformation from a traveler to a desperate activist.

1. The Plot and Focus

The movie follows Bruno Manser (played by Sven Schelker) from his arrival in Sarawak in 1984.

• The "White Penan": It portrays his initial struggle to survive in the jungle and his eventual acceptance by the nomadic Penan.

• The Conflict: The narrative shifts as logging companies begin encroaching on Penan territory. The film recreates the iconic road blockades, where the Penan stood against bulldozers and armed police.

• Global Stage: The final acts follow Manser back to Europe and the UN, showing his frustration with international apathy and his eventual, mysterious return to Sarawak in 2000.

2. Authenticity and Casting

One of the film's most notable features is its commitment to realism:

• Indigenous Cast: Instead of using professional actors for the Penan roles, the director cast actual Penan people, some of whom had personally known Bruno Manser. For example, Nick Kelesau plays the tribal leader Along Sega.

• Language: The film features the Penan language, adding a layer of cultural preservation to the production.

• Filming Locations: Because the Malaysian government still considers Manser a controversial figure, the production was not allowed to film in Sarawak. Instead, it was shot in the remote jungles of Kalimantan, Indonesia (the other side of the Borneo border), to maintain the authentic look of the rainforest.

3. Critical Reception

The film was generally well-received for its breathtaking cinematography and powerful score (by Oscar-winner Gabriel Yared), but it also sparked discussion:

• The "White Savior" Critique: Some critics debated whether the film focused too much on the "heroic" European man rather than the indigenous struggle itself.

• Myth vs. Reality: The director, Niklaus Hilber, admitted he wanted to create a "myth" based on a true story, leaning into the legendary status Manser holds in Switzerland.

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Film Fact Sheet

Feature	Detail
Director	Niklaus Hilber
Starring	Sven Schelker (as Bruno), Nick Kelesau, Elizabeth Ballang
Budget	Approx. $8 Million USD
Awards	Won Best Actor (Swiss Film Award) and the Science Film Award (ZFF).

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9 January 2026: 7.47 p.m