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The Kuchingite, Jalan Main Bazaar, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Kuching (2026)

20/08/2026

It’s always nice to connect with fellow creatives here in Kuching. Few people can relate to that underlying anxiety that accompanies the creative drive, the burning urge to create and to express yourself, while not always having a clear idea on how to translate that madness into a sustainable career.

If you’re lucky, you find opportunities to learn from those who have successfully bridged that gap. That is what the Borneo Animation and Games Festival, organized by MDEC and SDEC, managed to deliver.

The lineup, both local and international, were compelling. Speakers whose body of work included Hasbro, Saturday Night Live, Shrek 4, Ratatouille, Call of Duty, PUBG, Valorant and Upin & Ipin etc. And that was only the first two days!

The conversations during the cocktail sessions were just as engaging. Brains were picked, numbers were exchanged, and new friendships were made. Ultimately, these genuine, candid connections are the true value that events like this bring.

-The Kuchingite-

11/08/2026

60 years ago, in mid-1966, representatives from Indonesia and Malaysia met in Bangkok to draft a peace agreement to end their ongoing military conflict.

However, Indonesian President Sukarno-who started the Konfrontasi against Malaysia-rejected it, insisting that Indonesia would not restore diplomatic relations unless the people of Sabah and Sarawak voted in an election to verify their desire to be part of Malaysia. Sukarno firmly believed the Federation of Malaysia was a British "neo-colonialist" plot to surround Indonesia and maintain Western control in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia, on the other hand, refused to let a foreign power dictate its internal affairs. Furthermore, the Malaysian government felt it was politically risky to hold early elections in Sarawak, having controversially ousted Sarawak's Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan from power in June of 1966.

📧Suharto’s Secret Letters

General Suharto, who had just seized de facto control of Indonesia from Sukarno in March 1966, wanted to end the costly war so he could secure Western financial aid for Indonesia's failing economy. Yet, he also had to keep Sukarno's loyalists and the powerful army on his side.

To break the deadlock, Suharto proposed a clever, face-saving trick: an exchange of secret letters.

Through these hidden messages with Malaysia, Suharto and Indonesia agreed to end the fighting and implicitly recognise Malaysia right away. In return, both would publicly delay formal diplomatic recognition until Sabah and Sarawak held their elections.

Crucially, Indonesia privately agreed to treat East Malaysia's upcoming elections as a mere formality, dropping their demand for a special, UN-monitored referendum.

Malaysia agreed to the compromise. The final peace treaty was signed in Jakarta on August 11, 1966, with zero mention of the secret letters. The official document publicly promised that elections would be held in Sabah and Sarawak.

This hidden loophole allowed both countries to claim a massive political victory:
Suharto could point to the official treaty to prove to Sukarno and domestic hardliners that he had successfully forced Malaysia to hold elections in Borneo.

Meanwhile Malaysia successfully ended a costly war and gained Indonesia's recognition of its sovereignty without having to sacrifice its territorial integrity.

Elections in Sabah (1967) and Sarawak (1970) both secured wins from pro-Malaysia coalition parties, officially fulfilling the treaty's requirements on paper. The secret compromise had worked, and the rest is history.

-The Kuchingite-

Source: 218. Intelligence Note From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Secretary of State Rusk. Washington, August 12, 1966.

06/08/2026

I gladly accepted a rare invitation to UCCN's Plates with Purpose: an eight-course charity dinner at voco Kuching featuring local and international chefs, with proceeds benefiting the Kuching Palliative Association, the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society, and Kuching Food Aid.

Regular readers of The Kuchingite will know this has never been much of a foodie page, and with good reason. Besides being a generally unfussy eater, I was once told during an ill-fated assignment for Kino Magazine that I write about food "like a business writer."

Despite my lack of culinary vocabulary, I genuinely enjoyed every dish. I appreciated the chefs’ ability to blend unique textures and flavours with those instantly recognisable to Sarawakian taste buds (see how bad that was?).

Taking that "business writer" perspective, I am a strong supporter of these events. Having followed Kuching’s City of Gastronomy bid from the outset as its initial website designer, I can see it acting as the catalyst it was always meant to be. Whether by training staff in proper wine service or empowering local chefs to elevate humble childhood ingredients into fine dining, the initiative is slowly transforming our food and hospitality industry.

Plus, I believe a vibrant, livable city thrives on a diverse, year-round calendar of fun and interesting events!

Kudos to all involved.

-The Kuchingite-

26/07/2026

In January 2013, Petronas and Japan's JX Nippon announced the discovery of oil and gas at Sarawak's Adong Kecil West-1, 20km northwest of Miri. It was a major milestone as Malaysia's first onshore discovery in 24 years, following the historic 1910 (pre-Malaysia) Miri Field and the 1989 Asam Paya find, both in Sarawak.

However, JX Nippon walked away from the project just two years later. The complex underground geology and lack of onshore logistical infrastructure made the site too unprofitable to develop, prompting them to refocus on offshore.

Today, after nearly 50 years of dormancy, Sarawak is reviving the sector, driven by strong political will, modern technology, and updated business strategies.

🛢Adong Kechil West and the revival of Sarawak’s onshore industry

In July 2026, PETROS and Petra Energy successfully operationalized the Adong Kechil West Early Production System (EPS), a modularized system designed to bring oil and gas production online rapidly, without the need for permanent infrastructure. By pumping roughly 800 barrels a day and shipping their first tanker, they successfully revived Sarawak's onshore oil industry.

Additionally, the natural gas extracted from the site will be used to power the new Miri Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant by 2027, effectively transforming a previously abandoned discovery into a key, long-term energy source for the state.

🛢Upland Resources and Block SK334

London Stock Exchange-listed Upland Resources, led by former Sarawak assemblyman Datuk Bolhassan Di, believes onshore Sarawak holds vast, largely unexplored oil potential matching nearby Brunei.

The company has made Block SK334 their principal activity, a 6,685 sq km area in Limbang and Lawas that shares Brunei's rich geological formations.

Following a successful Joint Technical Study with Big Oil Ventures Sdn Bhd, Upland is now advancing toward a Production Sharing Contract. Even though no wells have historically been drilled there, Block SK334 is considered highly promising.

🛢Future explorations and a very Sarawakian workforce

PETROS and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) are partnering to explore the promising, largely explored Mukah-Balingian region. Overall, 124000 sq km of Sarawak’s onshore is said to be largely untapped.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of these projects is the strong involvement of local vendors and crews. It is said that 75% of the on-site crew at Adong Kechil West are Sarawakians, while Upland has committed to building a team of experienced local contractors for their upcoming operations.

An intriguing (re)start.

-The Kuchingite-

Source:
The Edge Malaysia: Petronas’ 3rd discovery in Sarawak.
The Star: Petros signs deals for oil exploration in Sarawak.
PetroleumSarawak: Petros launches Sarawak Bid Round 2024
Upland.Energy: SK334
Malay Mail: Petros begins first oil production in Sarawak with 800 barrels a day from Marudi well

30/06/2026

🍻Interesting news for my fellow Sarawakian beer lovers.

Kuching-born Datuk Iain John Lo will succeed Bario-born Datuk Sri Idris Jala as Chairman of Heineken Malaysia on August 15. Datuk Iain brings a wealth of experience, having spent 30 years at Shell Malaysia and currently holds board positions with the Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund, RHB Bank, and Sepang International Circuit.

Under his watch, Shell and Petronas Bhd also established the Piasau Nature Reserve in Miri.

DS Idris, known for his extensive leadership track record at Shell, MAS, Pemandu, Sunway, and Heineken itself, steps down after seven years but will remain an advisor to the board.

🍺Other Sarawakians in Heineken

Datuk Iain’s appointment is just another shining example of Sarawakian corporate talent throughout Malaysia.

Incidentally, fellow Sarawakian Roland Bala made history in 2018 by becoming the company's first ever Malaysian Managing Director.

Under Roland’s leadership, the Heineken Malaysia achieved record-breaking post-pandemic success in 2022, reporting a net profit of RM413 million and contributing over RM1.6 billion in taxes to the government!

He was succeeded in 2024 by Martijn Rene van Keulen after taking the Managing Director role at Multi Bintang Indonesia (a Heineken Company subsidiary).

🍺A Strong Legacy in Difficult Times

DS Idris steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic and leaves the chairmanship at a challenging time for the beer industry, with headwinds such as rising living costs, a 10% excise duty hike, and geopolitical uncertainties.

Yet he continued to deliver solid results, including a net profit of RM459.3 million in 2025.

🍺The Sarawak Market

Drinkers in Sarawak are well aware of the popularity of Heineken’s portfolio, which, beyond the flagship brand, includes Tiger Beer and the licensed production and distribution of Guinness products in Malaysia.

However, official market data is notoriously difficult to track, as reports suggest up to 70% of beer sold in East Malaysia is illicit or contraband!

Despite this, Sarawak's local craft brewing scene is steadily expanding. With the continued success of local talent at the top of the beverage industry, could we one day see a major commercial brewery open its doors right here at home?

-The Kuchingite-

Sources:
2026 Heineken Malaysia AGM
Annual Report 2025 - Heineken Malaysia
‘70% Of The Beer Sold In Sabah And Sarawak Are From The Illegal Trade’ -The Rakyat Post

14/06/2026

✈️ AirBorneo Secures New Bangkok Route!🇹🇭

As reported by The Nation Thailand, AirBorneo will officially join Riyadh Air, Virgin Atlantic, and SkyUp Nistru as the four new airlines granted slots in Thailands Winter 2026/2027 schedule, following successful negotiations with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand at the recent IATA Slot Conference.

AirBorneo will be granted 14 flights per week between Kuching and Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. More details to follow.

Excited!!

Source: CAAT allocates winter slots to four new airlines serving Thailand-The Nation Thailand.

28/05/2026

💸RM100,000 For A Piece Of Sarawakian History!

Premier auction house Trigometric Auctions has listed a rare 1919 10-Cent Sarawak paper note for its 6th June 2026 auction, which is expected to fetch around RM100,000 (US$25,000).

The Rajah of Sarawak originally issued these small notes during a severe coin shortage in British Borneo and were widely used for daily transactions, but because most were heavily circulated, surviving examples in good condition are extremely rare today.

This particular note carries a PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) grade of 55, or About Uncirculated (AU) condition, meaning it appears nearly uncirculated with only minor signs of handling, typically limited to a single fold or two to three corner folds.

Spare change, anyone?

-The Kuchingite-

Source:Trigometric Auctions

25/05/2026

Why Did 🇲🇾Sarawak & 🇯🇵Japan Hit The Brakes On Hydrogen?

The H2ornbill Project in Bintulu, jointly developed by Sarawak’s SEDC Energy, Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp, and oil giant Eneos, initially aimed to utilize Sarawak's hydropower to produce 90,000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030 for export to Japan, but the plan has since been scaled back.

NO JAPANESE SUBSIDIES

The project is understood to be initially structured around Japanese government subsidies with attached conditions. A Nikkei report citing sources familiar with the matter revealed that the developers failed to secure vital subsidies from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, rendering the project financially unviable due to high transportation costs.

HIGH SHIPPING COSTS

In an April interview with Nikkei, SEDC Energy Chairman Abdul Aziz Husain noted that while Sarawak's cheap hydropower keeps hydrogen production under RM20 PER KG, the costly expenses of pressurizing, cooling and shipping the fuel inflated the final price in Japan to around RM50 PER KG.

RESTRUCTURED, NOT CANCELED

To address this, the Japanese partners are reportedly exploring alternative methods for transporting the hydrogen, such as converting it into ammonia or methanol.

In a separate Nikkei interview, Premier Abang Jo confirmed that the project is proceeding but has been scaled down to be more market-oriented. He noted that the accelerating global green transition has opened up new possibilities for selling hydrogen on the open market.

THE SARAWAK ‘GAMBLE’

As Sarawak embarks on this pioneering journey, challenges and setbacks are to be expected. The global hydrogen sector still struggles to evolve beyond isolated production experiments, often due to prohibitive costs, complex logistics, and the absence of a reliable, interconnected market demand.

Yet, rather than being deterred, Sarawak is stepping up as a crucial ecosystem builder for this nascent industry. The state is pairing its abundant renewable energy with clear policy frameworks in hopes of becoming a reliable supplier and exporter. At the same time, it is encouraging the local adoption of hydrogen technology, allowing policymakers and the public to interact with it on a daily basis, in hopes that practical, hands-on experience will help refine infrastructure and safety standards, and build the trust needed to establish the state as a credible leader.

Ultimately, this comprehensive approach positions Sarawak to reap the rewards should the global hydrogen economy ever fully realize its believed potential.

-The Kuchingite-

Source: NikkeiAsia: 'Malaysia-Japan hydrogen project scales back due to funding constraints'.

BorneoPost: 'Sarawak hydrogen projects scaled down on weak signals'.

13/05/2026

🛠️MIRI PROGRESS UPDATE: The RM30 million Piasau Nature Reserve Discovery Centre is set to become a new ecotourism focal point for Miri, featuring modern facilities and a new interpretation centre. Designed to provide an immersive educational experience integrating interactive displays with informative programs, the facility will showcase the area's rich biodiversity and natural heritage while highlighting critical marine conservation efforts.

Additionally, the facility will function as a centralized management hub by housing the administrative offices for the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park and the Luconia Shoals National Park. This consolidation is intended to streamline coordination and oversight for these significant marine protected areas, which are renowned for their vibrant coral reefs and unique underwater ecosystems.

The project, which is expected to be completed by August 2027, is just one of several initiatives by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and the state government to upgrade facilities and enhance the value of Sarawak’s parks and natural treasures.

Credit: Sarawak Forestry Corporation

-The Kuchingite-

11/05/2026

Highlights: A 100 Acre Heritage and Nature-inspired Destination in Bau. ⭐

The new Bau Tourism and Cultural Park is set to transform 100 acres of former gold mining land into a massive heritage hub, connecting important local landmarks like Gua Hantu, old gold mining ruins, and Bikajang Lake. Led by YB Henry Harry Jinep, this project will showcase the very best of our local history and nature in one destination.

Funding is already moving ahead, with RM7.5 million secured for Phase 1 by the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA). The committee is now reaching out for another RM12.5 million from The Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture to keep the momentum going for the next phases.

Among the highlights for the initial 4 phases of the proposed park:

- Phase 1: Children's Paradise
Kickstarting the development is the Children’s Paradise, a 4.85 acres playground designed as a family day-trip destination. This zone is all about active fun, featuring everything from creative play areas and a skate park to a refreshing Water Plaza. Kids can captain motorized miniature boats on the recreational lake while parents relax under shaded canopies.

Phase 2: Arrival, Event And Festival Precincts
Phase 2 turns Bau into an event hub across three massive precincts. The Arrival Precinct welcomes visitors with a traditional Long House Arrival Center complete with a coffee shop and souvenir stalls, while the Event and Festival Precincts are built for the big crowds. Imagine lakeside concerts for 2,000 people, massive festivals for up to 6,000, and a stunning 23-meter waterfall with a lift to take you straight to the hilltop for the best views of the area.

Phase 3 Cultural Precinct
Spanning 13.38 acres, the Cultural Precinct is a vibrant tribute to Bau’s diverse roots. This zone honors Bau's strong Bidayuh heritage, along with dedicated Malay, and Chinese dedicated cultural centers. A planned Hakka Village featuring traditional Tulou-style houses explores the community’s history and influence as settlers in Bau. History buffs can explore the Mining Relic Park, while animal lovers can enjoy the pet farm garden, making it a blend of education, tradition, and interactive fun for all ages.

Phase 4 Forests, Hills And Nature
For the adventurers and nature enthusiasts, Phase 4 focuses on preserving Bau’s lush biodiversity. You’ll be able to walk among the canopy on an 8-meter-high Tree Walk, enjoy panoramic views from various hilltop platforms, or take the lift up for a more relaxed ascent. If you’re not ready to leave, you can spend the night under the stars at the dedicated campsites, try out glamping, or even stay in a cozy tree house.

With many other developments fast-tracking Bau into an important recreation and entertainment node, is this a transformation you're looking forward to?

-The Kuchingite-

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