Global InformationSarawak information
Sarawak | |
|---|---|
State | |
| State of Sarawak Negeri Sarawak (Malay) | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname(s): Bumi Kenyalang[1] Land of the Hornbills | |
| Motto(s): Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti United, Striving, Serving | |
| Anthem: Ibu Pertiwiku My Motherland[2] | |
 Sarawak in Malaysia | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
| Coordinates: 2°30′N 113°00′E / 02.5°N 113.0°E | |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| Sultanate of Sarawak | 1599 |
| Raj of Sarawak | 24 September 1841 |
| Japanese occupation | 16 September 1941 |
| Crown colony | 1 July 1946 |
| Self-governance granted | 22 July 1963[3][4] |
| Federated into Malaysia | 16 September 1963[5][6] |
| Capital (and largest city) | Kuching |
| Divisions | List
|
| Government | |
| • Type | Dominant-party parliamentary representative democracy |
| • Yang di-Pertua Negeri | Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar |
| • Premier | Abang Abdul Rahman Johari (GPS–PBB) |
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly (82 seats) |
| Federal representation | Parliament of Malaysia |
| • Dewan Rakyat seats | 31 of 222 (14.0%) |
| • Dewan Negara seats | 2 of 70 (2.9%) |
| Area [7] | |
| • Total | 124,450 km2 (48,050 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation (Mount Murud) | 2,424 m (7,953 ft) |
| Population (2023)[8][9] | |
| • Total |  2,907,500 (5th) |
| • Density | 23/km2 (60/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Sarawakian |
| Languages | |
| • Official |
|
| • Other spoken |
|
| Demographics (2023) | |
| • Ethnic group[10] |
|
| • Religions[8] |
|
| Time zone | UTC+8 (MST[11]) |
| Postal code | 93xxx[12] to 98xxx[13] |
| Calling code | 082 to 086[14] |
| ISO 3166 code | MY-13 |
| Vehicle registration | QA to QT[15] |
| HDI (2022) | 0.824[16] very high · 5th |
| GDP (nominal) | 2022 |
| • Total | $45.405 billion (RM 199.786 billion)[17] (3rd) |
| • Per capita | $18,377 (RM 80,857)[17] (3rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2022 |
| • Total | $88.709 billion (3rd) |
| • Per capita | $51,175 (3rd) |
| Driving side | Left |
| Electricity voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Currency | Malaysian ringgit (RM/MYR) |
| Website | Official website  |
Sarawak (/səˈrɑːwɒk/ sə-RAH-wok, Malay: [saˈrawaʔ]) is a state[18][19] of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in the region of East Malaysia in northwest Borneo, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of Borneo) to the south, and Brunei in the north. The state capital, Kuching, is the largest city in Sarawak, the economic centre of the state, and the seat of the Sarawak state government. Other cities and towns in Sarawak include Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu. As of the 2020 Malaysia census, the population of Sarawak was 2.453 million.[9] Sarawak has an equatorial climate with tropical rainforests and abundant animal and plant species. It 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 on one of its tributaries, the Balui River. Mount Murud is the highest point in the state. Sarawak is the only state of Malaysia with a Christian majority.[20]
The earliest known human settlement in Sarawak at the Niah Caves dates back 40,000 years. A series of Chinese ceramics dated from the 8th to 13th century AD was uncovered at the archaeological site of Santubong. The coastal regions of Sarawak came under the influence of the Bruneian Empire in the 16th century. In 1839, James Brooke, a British explorer, arrived in Sarawak. He, and his descendants, governed the state from 1841 to 1946. During World War II, it was occupied by the Japanese for three years. After the war, the last White Rajah, Charles Vyner Brooke, ceded Sarawak to Britain, and in 1946 it became a British Crown Colony. On 22 July 1963, Sarawak was granted self-government by the British and subsequently became one of the founding members of Malaysia, established on 16 September 1963. However, the federation was opposed by Indonesia, leading to a three-year confrontation. The creation of Malaysia also prompted a communist insurgency that lasted until 1990.
The head of state is the Governor, also known as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, while the head of government is the Premier. Sarawak is divided into administrative divisions and districts, governed by a system that is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and was the earliest state legislature system in Malaysia. Under the Malaysian constitution, Sarawak has greater autonomy than the states in Peninsular Malaysia.
Because of its natural resources, Sarawak specialises in the export of oil and gas, timber and palm oil, but also possesses strong manufacturing, energy and tourism sectors. It is ethnically, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse; ethnic groups including Iban, Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh, Melanau, Orang Ulu, Indian, Eurasian and Kedayan.[21] English and Malay are the two official languages of the state;[22][23] there is no official religion.[24][25]
- ^ "Profil Negeri Sarawak (Sarawak State profile)". Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (Malaysian Information Department). Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Sarawak State Anthem". Sarawak Government. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ Vernon L. Porritt (1997). British Colonial Rule in Sarawak, 1946–1963. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-983-56-0009-8. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Philip Mathews (28 February 2014). Chronicle of Malaysia: Fifty Years of Headline News, 1963–2013. Editions Didier Millet. p. 15. ISBN 978-967-10617-4-9.
- ^ "Malaysia Act 1963 (Chapter 35)" (PDF). The National Archives. United Kingdom legislation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ . 1963. p. 1 – via Wikisource.
- ^ "Sarawak @ a Glance". Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Census Dashboard". Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ a b Sim, Ashley (18 August 2022). "Malaysia Census 2020 reveals Sarawak's population totals 2.453 MLN, Kuching District accounts for 609,000". Dayak Daily. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "Facts and Figures 2022". Retrieved 27 August 2021.[dead link] Alt URL
- ^ "Facts of Sarawak". The Sarawak Government. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Postal codes in Sarawak". cybo.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Postal codes in Miri". cybo.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Area codes in Sarawak". cybo.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ Soon, Teh Wei (23 March 2015). "Some Little Known Facts On Malaysian Vehicle Registration Plates". Malaysian Digest. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Subnational Human Development Index (2.1) [Sarawak – Malaysia]". Global Data Lab of Institute for Management Research, Radboud University. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ a b DOSM. "Department of Statistics Malaysia". www.dosm.gov.my. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ Reporters, F. M. T. (15 January 2023). "Status of Sabah, Sarawak as regions not gazetted yet, says Abang Jo". Free Malaysia Today (FMT). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Bong, Karen (14 January 2023). "Sarawak is 'bigger' now with region status, says Abang Karim". DayakDaily. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaysia Christians pray for peace, equality, freedom - UCA News".
- ^ "People & Culture of Sarawak - Amazing Borneo Tours". www.amazingborneo.com. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Constitution states English remains Sarawak's official language". asklegal.my. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Premier: Unity govt agreement amended for Sarawak to use BM, English as official language". Borneo Post Online. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "PBK president suggests law on official religion in Sarawak, Sabah amended". Borneo Post Online. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ TAWIE, SULOK (11 December 2015). "Islam no more official religion on Sarawak government website". Malay Mail. Retrieved 20 February 2023.