Author: James Ritchie

Proud to be a policeman’s son

A policeman must know everything — and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake. – Paul Harvey, American radio broadcaster My love for Malaysia’s police is far beyond words and that is why I empathise with our self-sacrificing “forgotten heroes”. I can speak for

The making of Miri — our Jewel of the North

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. — George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright As we usher in 60 years of Independence, we must be mindful that we have a sparkling gem of pride in the North East Sarawak. Nestled next to Brunei Darussalam, it was once part

Darul Hana — making a ‘Great Sarawak Empire’   

Empires inevitably fall, and when they do, history judges them for the legacies they leave behind.– Noah Feldman, American legal scholar Long before James Brooke discovered “Sarawak”, there was Negara Darul Hanah — a mythical country of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It was part of the domain of the powerful Brunei

A 40-year journey with maneaters

Crocodiles are easy. They try to kill and eat you. People are harder. Sometimes they pretend to be your friend first. — Steve Irwin, Australian conservationist Long before I became a journalist, there was Fort Margherita, named after Sir Charles Brooke’s English wife and cousin Margaret Lili Alice de Winte!

Discovering the truth behind Borneo’s ‘cave dwellers’

What difference is there, do you think, between those in Plato’s cave who can only marvel at the shadows and images of various objects, provided they are content and don’t know what they miss, and the philosopher who has emerged from the cave and sees the real things? – Desiderius

Celebrating the life of Tok Nan

KUCHING: On January 11, 2017 I received the tragic news that Tan Sri Adenan Satem or “Tok Nan” had suffered a fatal heart attack at the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan.It was a shock for the nation, but somehow, I knew it was coming.The signs were there — in

Rentap — destined for immortality!

Agi Idup, Agi Ngelaban (I will fight as long I will live). – Rentap Most Sarawakians have heard about Rentap — a Brooke-era revolutionary, but, honestly, what do we know about him? Maybe glimpses of Sarawak’s cultural hero have been featured in films such as ‘Edge of the World’ or Farewell

Spirit of Pancasila

Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. – Winston Churchill, British statesman IT was the harsh but military-type disciplined Japanese which toughened and fuelled the fire of nationalism in Ahmad Zaidi.

Tuanku Bujang — a gentleman and an officer

A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out. – George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright, critic and political activist Born in Sibu in 1898 during the era of Sir Charles Brooke, Tuanku Haji Bujang Tuanku Othman was destined to lead. A member of the Rajang

Limbang — end of a bitter war

Being brave means knowing that when you fail, you don’t fail forever. – Lana Del Rey, American singer-songwriter At 6am on December 12, four days after Limbang was taken, Captain Jeremy Moore of ‘L’ company of the Royal Marines led a mission to recapture Limbang. Deployed from the HMS Albion,