Indonesian Ferry Carrying 200 Sinks off Sumatra; Rescue Operation Ongoing Nov 22, 2009
Twenty-one people died when an overcrowded riverboat sank on the Indonesian side of Borneo island in August. There were 114 survivors. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
* Malaysian Catholic, Indian papers in license furor Nov 16, 2009
The Heralds editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, said government officials in a meeting on Friday said the papers license would be approved, but rejected its request to publish a supplement in a language used by an Aboriginal group on Borneo island. They have asked us to ignore the September letter which says the license is not approved and stick to an earlier letter in August stating a new license will be given, there is no more confusion, Andrew said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Free flights for plane baby Oct 26, 2009
AirAsia said 31-year-old passenger Liew Siaw Hsia went into labour on Wednesday's flight from the northern island of Penang to Kuching on Borneo island. The aircraft made an emergency diversion to the Malaysian capital but the baby arrived just before landing, delivered by a doctor who was on board and who was assisted by the airline's flight attendants. (iAfrica.com)
Malaysian native leader detained over anti-logging Oct 25, 2009
Ondie Jugah, 55, from the Iban indigenous group, was among a group of 10 people who have mounted a blockade since early this week in the interior of eastern Sarawak state, on Borneo island. Police said Ondie was detained late Friday after he refused to remove the blockade, following complaints filed by the logging company. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Humanitarian aid to Padang will continue: DPM Oct 7, 2009
but we must be on the alert, he said when commenting on a report that a group calling itself Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) would attack Malaysia on Thursday through Borneo island. Muhyiddin said the Government had sent Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss the matter. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Heart of Borneo project beginning to take shape Oct 5, 2009
The three nations are now discussing possible common positions as they propose to take another step forward towards institutionalising protection and conservation arrangements in the 220 sq km area that covers nearly a third of Borneo island. Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said there was a need for officials of the three nations to revise possible approaches and mechanisms. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Arizona parents sue over kids' bath pictures Sep 18, 2009
Indigenous tribal girls have been sexually abused by loggers in remote jungles on Borneo island, a Malaysian government report said, in the first official verification of rape accusations involving timber companies. The report made public this week bolsters claims by the Penan tribal community of mistreatment by the timber industry, which activists say has encroached on the customary rights of ancient tribes over forests and destroyed their ancestral lands. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Malaysian government report says loggers raped Borneo girls Sep 10, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Indigenous tribal girls have been sexually abused by loggers in remote jungles on Borneo island, a Malaysian government report said, in the first official verification of rape accusations involving timber companies. The report made public this week bolsters assertions by the Penan tribal community of mistreatment by the timber industry, which activists say has encroached on the customary rights of ancient tribes over forests and destroyed their ancestral lands. (Boston Globe)
5 Dead, 18 Missing After Ferry Sinks In Indonesia Aug 29, 2009
Overcrowded Ferry Sinks Off Indonesia's Borneo Island; 5 Dead, At Least 18 Missing ... The ship, Sari Mulia, capsized Friday night while traveling from Negara to Banjarmasin on Indonesia's part of Borneo island, police Sgt. Edy said. (CBS News -- World)
Malaysia's Penan tribe ups anti-logging campaign Aug 23, 2009
After clearing much of the valuable timber from Sarawak, a vast state which lies on Malaysia's half of Borneo island, some of these companies are now converting their logging concessions into palm oil and acacia plantations. "They told us earlier this month they were coming to plant palm oil, and I said if you do we will blockade," said Alah Beling. (Yahoo! Asia News)
IJM sees higher palm oil output in 2010 Aug 21, 2009
Tan was reported to have said that so far, the company had met nearly 70% of its 40,000ha acquisition target on the Indonesian side of Borneo island, located near its existing plantations in Sabah. Asked on the matter, Tan said: We hope to conclude the acquisition by end of this year but it all depends on how fast the processes involved such as getting the title of the land can be completed. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Doctor: Truck accident kills 25 Indonesian workers Aug 19, 2009
Dr. Ratna Yuniarti said Wednesday that at least 26 others were admitted to a hospital for treatment after the accident in Kalimantan, the Indonesian side of Borneo island. The doctor said the hospital in the central town of Sampit in central Kalimantan was "overwhelmed with the victims.". (OregonLive, OR -- News)
IJM Plantations to finish buying spree by year-end Jul 31, 2009
Chief executive Velayuthan Tan told Reuters the company had so far met nearly 70% of its 40,000ha acquisition target on the Indonesian side of Borneo island, located near its existing 30,000ha of plantations in Sabah. The firm set its sights on acquiring 40,000ha since last year when palm prices hit record highs although costly land prices and bureaucratic red tape in taking over land in Indonesia slowed the shopping spree. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Need for more environmental activitism Jul 28, 2009
He said the state of Sabah in the Borneo island had been subjected to excessive logging for many years, leaving only pockets of pristine rainforests in conservation areas such as the Danum Valley and the Maliau Basin. Noting that large tracts of forested areas had been converted to tree plantations, Dr Salleh said there was still insufficient research on the impact of such large scale conversions on the environment. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Singaporean tanker catches fire at Malaysian port Jul 19, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): A maritime official says a Singaporean oil tanker caught fire while docking at Borneo island in Malaysia. One crew member from Indonesia was injured. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
INTERVIEW-Uganda likely to lose all forest cover in 50 yrs Jul 10, 2009
Within a vast deforested area on Borneo island, Australia and Indonesia hope to. . (AlertNet)
Global food supply far from secure-farming expert Jul 1, 2009
Within a vast deforested area on Borneo island, Australia and Indonesia hope to. URL: http://www. (AlertNet)
Indonesia, Malaysia seek to ease border tensions Jun 30, 2009
" International borders in the area off Borneo island have yet to be determined, with each country claiming the area as its own. Malaysia's claims are based on a 1979 maritime chart, while Indonesia uses the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states the area belongs to Jakarta. "It's about the perception of who started it, provoked or violated. But actually that issue has to be avoided," Ahmad said. "I have told our officials and soldiers that in whatever situation we have to be... (Channelnewsasia.com)
Common cause Jun 30, 2009
WITHIN a vast deforested area on Borneo island, Australia and Indonesia hope to turn an ecological disaster into a global lesson on how to help local communities save tropical forests and fight climate change ... Within a vast deforested area on Borneo island, Australia and Indonesia hope to turn an ecological disaster into a global lesson on how to help local communities save tropical forests and fight climate change. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Petronas Profit Falls 14%, First Decline in Seven Years, on Demand, Costs Jun 25, 2009
Petronas has been stepping up drillings in areas off Malaysias Borneo Island in the past few years to reverse a decline in production ... 3 million tons of liquefied natural gas from its Bintulu plant on Borneo Island, and 1. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
* FEATURE : Project aims to yield lessons on saving forests Jun 20, 2009
Within a vast deforested area on Borneo island, Australia and Indonesia hope to turn an ecological disaster into a global lesson on how to help local communities save tropical forests and fight climate change. Borneo, like the Amazon, is at the center of efforts to fight deforestation that is a major contributor to global warming and many governments are trying to build on a UN-backed scheme that aims to reward developing nations for preserving their forests. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
* FEATURE : Island sanctuary for orangutans upsets activists Jun 1, 2009
Experts say there are about 50,000 to 60,000 orangutans left in the wild, 80 percent of them in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysias eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island. FAR FROM HOME. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Malaysian orangutan hospital sparks controversy May 31, 2009
Experts say there are about 50,000 to 60,000 orangutans left in the wild, 80 per cent of them in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia's eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island. But Orangutan Island is situated in the north of peninsular Malaysia, far from the jungles of Borneo where the orangutan's natural habitat is being lost to logging and palm oil plantations. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
YTL unit buys stake in Borneo Island May 28, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Corp Bhds wholly-owned subsidiary YTL Hotels rties Sdn Bhd has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Vun Vui Heung and Melinda Voon Ching Mee to acquire 80% of the issued and paid-up capital of Borneo Island Villas Sdn Bhd for RM77 ... Upon completion of the proposed acquisition, Borneo Island will become an 80% owned subsidiary of YTL Hotels rties and indirect subsidiary of YTL Corp, it said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday ... Borneo Island has not... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Orangutan habitat wiped out in Indonesia May 18, 2009
JAKARTA: Part of a national park on Borneo island home to hundreds of endangered orangutans has been turned into a development zone complete with an airport and brothels, Indonesian activists said on Monday ... Part of a national park on Borneo island home to hundreds of endangered orangutans has been turned into a development zone complete with an airport and brothels, Indonesian activists said. (India Times, India)
* Malaysian court backs land rights of indigenous peoples May 11, 2009
But the tribes, who mostly live in poor settlements in the jungles on Borneo island, argue that the land is theirs because they have lived on it for generations. In 2007 the Federal Court ruled that a family of the Kedayan group in Sarawak state on Borneo had rights over land they used and that they should be compensated. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Report: Malaysia to Supply Brunei With Power May 11, 2009
The deal is part of an initiative to set up a wider power grid on Borneo island, where both Sarawak and Brunei are located. The Sunday report said power cables are expected to be operational by 2012. (ABC News -- Wire)
Indonesia's illegal orangutan trade on the rise Apr 16, 2009
A new population of up to 2,000 orangutans was recently discovered in the Indonesian part of Borneo island, but TRAFFIC's Shepherd said this community was also in great danger from poachers, who tend to kill female orangutans and steal their babies. "It would be surprising if traders didn't know it was there already," he said. (Scientific American)
Conservationists find orangutan hideout Apr 14, 2009
A team surveying forests nestled between jagged, limestone cliffs on the eastern edge of Borneo island counted 219 orangutan nests, indicating a "substantial" number of the animals, said Erik Meijaard, a senior ecologist at the Arlington, Va. -based Nature Conservancy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
New orangutan population found in Indonesia Apr 13, 2009
A team surveying forests nestled between jagged, limestone cliffs on the eastern edge of Borneo island counted 219 orangutan nests, indicating a "substantial" number of the animals, said Erik Meijaard, a senior ecologist at the U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy. "We can't say for sure how many," he said, but even the most cautious estimate would indicate "several hundred at least, maybe 1,000 or 2,000 even.". (AZCentral -- News)
Malaysia's PM names leaner new Cabinet Apr 10, 2009
" onclick="Next();" src="/images/butt_next. I have been asked by the prime minister to focus on the party and I accept the challenge," he told AFP. Analysts said the line-up would help Najib realise his reform ambitions, unlike his predecessor, Abdullah, who never managed to put his own stamp on the Cabinet and was criticised for failing to carry out his pledges. "The key portfolios are held by people close to (Najib) and loyal to him," said Yang Razali Kassim from the S. Rajaratnam School of... (Channelnewsasia.com)
* New Malaysian prime minister unveils Cabinet Apr 10, 2009
Foreign Minister Rais Yatin was shifted to the newly created ministry of information, communications, arts and culture, and replaced by Anifah Aman, a backbencher from Sabah state on Borneo island. Several figures seen as loyal to former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who Najib took over from last week, were dropped including Rural Affairs minister Muhammad Muhammad Taib and Home minister Syed Hamid Albar. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Malaysia's opposition hails election wins Apr 9, 2009
" Anwar said the results of the polls showed that support for the opposition alliance had increased since the 2008 elections, when the opposition won five of Malaysia's 13 states and a third of seats in parliament. The Barisan Nasional lost two of three by-elections held Tuesday, including a high-profile ballot in northern Perak state for a seat in the national parliament, which the opposition won in a landslide. The opposition also won a hotly contested vote for a seat in the state parliament... (Channelnewsasia.com)
* Poll results show discontent with PM, Anwar says Apr 9, 2009
It lost in the race for a rural state seat in Sarawak on Borneo island, but Anwar said the opposition suspected foul play because vote-counting was not done in the polling booths but at another center in at least 14 areas. The polls were to fill vacancies caused by two deaths and one resignation. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
By-election loss for Malaysian PM Apr 8, 2009
Mr Najib's ruling coalition, led by the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), won a seat in the state parliament of Sarawak on Borneo Island. But it lost a state parliament seat in Kedah, while in Perak the opposition scored won another seat in the national parliament in a landslide win. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Malaysia's new PM Najib dealt mixed polls verdict Apr 8, 2009
" onclick="Next();" src="/images/butt_next. " He said the winds of change were "still blowing" after landmark general elections a year ago in which the opposition gained unprecedented ground, including five of Malaysia's 13 states and a third of seats in parliament. Najib, who was sworn into power last week, has announced an ambitious agenda to reform the ruling party UMNO, which represents majority Muslim Malays, and repair ties with the nation's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. His... (Channelnewsasia.com)
Malaysia's new leader dealt rebuke in polls Apr 8, 2009
" onclick="Next();" src="/images/butt_next. Maybe the feel good factor of the leadership of (Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak) has yet to sink in on the voters. (Channelnewsasia.com)
Brunei, Malaysia settle 6-year oil territory spat Mar 16, 2009
Brunei and Malaysia sealed a pact Monday to settle a maritime territorial dispute that has blocked the exploration of rich offshore oil reserves off Borneo island for six years ... Oil and natural gas-rich zones lie off the coasts of Brunei and Malaysia's states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Malaysia and Brunei settle 6-year oil territory spat Mar 16, 2009
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei: Malaysia and Brunei sealed a pact Monday to settle a maritime territorial dispute that has blocked the exploration of rich offshore oil reserves off Borneo island for six years ... Oil and natural gas-rich zones lie off the coasts of Brunei and Malaysia's states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Busted! 1,382 cans of beer seized from boat Feb 26, 2009
It did not identify the neighboring country, but Brunei shares borders with two Malaysian states on Borneo island. Customs authorities foiled the escape after a high-speed chase, making their biggest seizure of alcohol this year, the report added. (MSNBC -- International)
