Read from BackLine Media that Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince hits theaters November 21, 2008.

Here’s a quick shot from IMDB (Read only if you want to be spoiled by the spoiler). Ah Harry Potter, at least that’s something I can look forward to at the end of this year.

“When I seat myself on the mat, one by one they come forward, and tie little bells on my arm; a young cocoa-nut is brought, into which I am requested to spit. The white fowl is presented. I rise and wave it, and say ‘May good luck attend the Dyaks; may their crops be plentiful; may their fruits ripen in due season; may male children be born; may rice be stored in their houses; may wild hogs be killed in the jungle; may they have Sijok Dingin or cold weather.’ The people, both men and women, ‘take my hand, [and] stroke their own faces’. After this, they wash my hands and my feet, and afterwards with the water sprinkle their houses and gardens. Then the gold dust, with the white cloth which accompanies it, both of which have been presented by me, is placed in the field.”
James Brooke (1845)

The title Brooke ‘returns’ to Sarawak reported in TheStar caught my attention this morning.

Kuching: Jason Brooke has always been fascinated by Sarawak, having grown up hearing stories about the place from his father and grandfather. Now, the great-great-grandson of Sarawak’s second White Rajah, Charles Brooke, is here to see the place for himself. At 23, he is the youngest Brooke descendant to visit Sarawak since the state gained independence. (Source: TheStar)

I have always wanted to express my thoughts on Sarawak. Now’s the good time to spend some time in front of my laptop to write out my thoughts. Sarawak is in many ways special.

“The White Rajahs refer to a dynasty that founded and ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946, namely the Brookes, who came originally from England,” quoted from Wikipedia.

Sarawak was part of the realm of Brunei until James Brooke, who was to become the first White Rajah, received a sizable chunk of land from the Bruneian Sultan. Throughout the rule of the first two Brookes, Sarawak’s size increased tremendously as more territory was leased or annexed from Brunei. There were three White Rajahs:

James Brooke (1841–1868)
Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke (1868–1917)
Charles Vyner Brooke (1917–1946)

The flag of Kingdom of Sarawak and the current Sarawak.

The period of Brooke rule is generally looked upon favourably in Sarawak, although successive post-federation Malaysian governments have attempted to downplay and to a certain extent, denounce the Brooke Raj. Despite this we Sarawakians never fail to appreciate our very own and unique history. Though I was not born in the White Rajah’s Dynasty, but the legacy of the dynasty will always be here, in the hearts of many Sarawakians. Though the Federation of Malaysia may have not given us the very RIGHT share despite our economic contribution to the country in terms of natural resources, we still stand strong!

The architectural legacy of the dynasty can be seen in many of the country’s nineteenth century and colonial heritage buildings. In Kuching these include the Astana, or governor’s residence, the Old Sarawak Museum, Fort Margherita, the Square Fort, the Old Courthouse and Brooke Memorial.

Sarawakians will always stand strong, it is not that I am playing the sentiment card but at times like this we really must appreciate our own unique history. We are who we are. Knowing who we are makes us love our State as well as our country. Remember this, the National Day of Malaysia should be September 16 and not August 31! This was the day that the Federation of Malaysia was formed.

West Malaysians, you can start throwing your rotten eggs or tomatoes at me. I stand for what I believe in, history has it that Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore joined Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia in September 16, 1963. Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until 1963 (Source: Wikipedia).

Here’s a good read for those who are interested to know more about the Rajahs of Sarawak.

Wikipedia: White Rajahs
Wikipedia: Kingdom of Sarawak
White Rajahs of Sarawak
Rajahs of Sarawak
Jane Austen and the Rajah of Sarawak
Britons in South-East Asia