Calvin Jemarang
@tribalstories.substack.com
I’m a tribal storyteller from Borneo. "Tribal Stories" https://tribalstories.substack.com
Just heard something troubling: a friend in his final year of uni was denied entry to the US—and now has to take a whole gap year.
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
August 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Just heard something troubling: a friend in his final year of uni was denied entry to the US—and now has to take a whole gap year.
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
This might be the longest blackout of the year—power went out around 2.55am and still hasn't come back on as of now.
June 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
This might be the longest blackout of the year—power went out around 2.55am and still hasn't come back on as of now.
Bad news for our fridge. Govt’s hiking sales tax on imported produce. So farewell, sexy salmon. Goodbye, bougie avocado. And RIP to my sweet sweet Honey Murcot (yes, that’s a citrus, not a K-pop star). Already expensive, now entering “look but don’t touch” territory. Wallet says no. Mouth says WHY.
June 13, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Bad news for our fridge. Govt’s hiking sales tax on imported produce. So farewell, sexy salmon. Goodbye, bougie avocado. And RIP to my sweet sweet Honey Murcot (yes, that’s a citrus, not a K-pop star). Already expensive, now entering “look but don’t touch” territory. Wallet says no. Mouth says WHY.
A man failed to notice a gigantic container ship had run aground—mere metres from his house. Either he’s got noise-cancelling curtains, or he’s the chillest man alive.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2kc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2kc...
Man wakes up to find a container ship in his garden
YouTube video by Sky News
www.youtube.com
May 24, 2025 at 6:13 AM
A man failed to notice a gigantic container ship had run aground—mere metres from his house. Either he’s got noise-cancelling curtains, or he’s the chillest man alive.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2kc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2kc...
I wonder—what is life like in the US right now for Asians? Does the news coverage reflect the reality on the ground?
May 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I wonder—what is life like in the US right now for Asians? Does the news coverage reflect the reality on the ground?
Tried a few night shots with my budget Android phone—surprisingly, they turned out okay! Still figuring it out though. Anyone else messing around with night photography on a phone? Would love to hear your tips or see your shots.
April 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Tried a few night shots with my budget Android phone—surprisingly, they turned out okay! Still figuring it out though. Anyone else messing around with night photography on a phone? Would love to hear your tips or see your shots.
A fascinating cultural heritage site, located in front of The Shell Square in Miri, Sarawak.
April 2, 2025 at 12:58 AM
A fascinating cultural heritage site, located in front of The Shell Square in Miri, Sarawak.
I’m not sure why I’m sharing this story, but I trust its meaning will emerge in time—unless the unexpected intervenes. By now, Trump’s second term feels more like the rule of a king over the U.S. edition.cnn.com/2025/03/30/p...
Trump says ‘there are methods’ for seeking a third term, adding that he’s ‘not joking’ | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump on Sunday did not dismiss the idea of pursuing a third term in the White House, despite the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution prohibiting it, claiming that “there are methods” ...
edition.cnn.com
March 30, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I’m not sure why I’m sharing this story, but I trust its meaning will emerge in time—unless the unexpected intervenes. By now, Trump’s second term feels more like the rule of a king over the U.S. edition.cnn.com/2025/03/30/p...
History is not just written by the victors—it is erased by them.
In Sarawak, the past is not just a record of what happened. It is a battleground over who gets to be remembered.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-lost-h...
In Sarawak, the past is not just a record of what happened. It is a battleground over who gets to be remembered.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-lost-h...
The Lost History of the Punan Mountain Range: Myths, Wars, and Survival in Borneo
Uncovering the Ancient Stories of the Punan People, the Kayan Invasion, and the Hidden Past of Belaga
tribalstories.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
History is not just written by the victors—it is erased by them.
In Sarawak, the past is not just a record of what happened. It is a battleground over who gets to be remembered.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-lost-h...
In Sarawak, the past is not just a record of what happened. It is a battleground over who gets to be remembered.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-lost-h...
I can’t quite explain it, but this black-and-white photograph tugs at something deep inside me. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe it’s just my stomach growling at the sight of food.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/longhouse-...
tribalstories.substack.com/p/longhouse-...
Longhouse Memories: Traditional Kayan Food and Sustainable Living
A Nostalgic Look at Life in a Sarawak Longhouse and the Art of Leaf-Wrapped Meals
tribalstories.substack.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I can’t quite explain it, but this black-and-white photograph tugs at something deep inside me. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe it’s just my stomach growling at the sight of food.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/longhouse-...
tribalstories.substack.com/p/longhouse-...
Breaking Free from the Colonial Shackles
That is why it is heartening to see that Sarawak’s Premier, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, is listening. His acknowledgment of this historical wrong gives us hope.
That is why it is heartening to see that Sarawak’s Premier, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, is listening. His acknowledgment of this historical wrong gives us hope.
March 12, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Breaking Free from the Colonial Shackles
That is why it is heartening to see that Sarawak’s Premier, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, is listening. His acknowledgment of this historical wrong gives us hope.
That is why it is heartening to see that Sarawak’s Premier, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, is listening. His acknowledgment of this historical wrong gives us hope.
This is the White Rajah’s burden—the belief that Borneo’s indigenous people, particularly the Dayaks, were like children who needed firm hands to mold them into “useful” subjects.
But what did civilization mean under Brooke rule?
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-savage...
But what did civilization mean under Brooke rule?
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-savage...
The Savage Myth of Borneo’s Indigenous Peoples: Colonial Lies and Their Lasting Impact
How the White Rajahs Shaped the Colonial Narrative of Borneo’s Indigenous Peoples
tribalstories.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
This is the White Rajah’s burden—the belief that Borneo’s indigenous people, particularly the Dayaks, were like children who needed firm hands to mold them into “useful” subjects.
But what did civilization mean under Brooke rule?
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-savage...
But what did civilization mean under Brooke rule?
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-savage...
I came across some recent research on the Punan Batu, or Caves Punan, and found it fascinating. Here are four reasons why it caught my interest.
Why the Punan Batu Speak an Austronesian-Related Language Despite Their Pre-Austronesian Ancestry
As a Punan from Sarawak, Malaysia, I see deep linguistic and cultural ties between our communities. My insights on our shared heritage, language, and traditions.
tribalstories.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 5:43 AM
I came across some recent research on the Punan Batu, or Caves Punan, and found it fascinating. Here are four reasons why it caught my interest.
Ask anyone in Bintulu about its oldest village, and most will point to Kampung Jepak. But history tells a different story.
Which is Bintulu’s Oldest Village? The Untold History of Kampung Sinong & Jepak
Ask anyone in Bintulu about its oldest village, and most will point to Kampung Jepak.
tribalstories.substack.com
March 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Ask anyone in Bintulu about its oldest village, and most will point to Kampung Jepak. But history tells a different story.
The Overlooked History of Bintulu, Sarawak. History remembers some figures while forgetting others. In Bintulu’s case, names like Johari Sunam, Abang Galau, and Orang Kaya Mohamad are widely recognized as leaders who once shaped the region.
The Overlooked History of Bintulu, Sarawak
Pangeran Panji bin Pangeran Mustapha: A Forgotten Architect of Early Colonial Bintulu
open.substack.com
March 7, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Overlooked History of Bintulu, Sarawak. History remembers some figures while forgetting others. In Bintulu’s case, names like Johari Sunam, Abang Galau, and Orang Kaya Mohamad are widely recognized as leaders who once shaped the region.
Malaysia is generally not an LGBTQ+-friendly country. However, in some places, you might come across signs that suggest a different reality. This one, spotted in a shopping mall in Bintulu, Sarawak, is a rare sight in a nation where LGBTQ+ visibility is often restricted.
March 6, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Malaysia is generally not an LGBTQ+-friendly country. However, in some places, you might come across signs that suggest a different reality. This one, spotted in a shopping mall in Bintulu, Sarawak, is a rare sight in a nation where LGBTQ+ visibility is often restricted.
In the heart of Borneo, where dense rainforests stretch endlessly and rivers carve through ancient lands, there is a village called Naha Jale.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-story-...
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-story-...
The story of a man who defied relocation in Naha Jale, Belaga
And won Tun Abdullah Badawi, the Prime Minister’s promise to protect his home. He had secured his people’s future, not with protests or petitions, but with a quiet, unwavering belief in his land.
tribalstories.substack.com
March 3, 2025 at 6:01 AM
In the heart of Borneo, where dense rainforests stretch endlessly and rivers carve through ancient lands, there is a village called Naha Jale.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-story-...
tribalstories.substack.com/p/the-story-...
History isn’t just about what happened—it’s about who gets to tell it. For centuries, the Punan of Sarawak were mislabeled, mistaken, and overshadowed. A mix-up between “Punan” and “Penan” erased their distinct identity. Time to set the record straight.
February 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
History isn’t just about what happened—it’s about who gets to tell it. For centuries, the Punan of Sarawak were mislabeled, mistaken, and overshadowed. A mix-up between “Punan” and “Penan” erased their distinct identity. Time to set the record straight.
I’d never experienced a Facebook outage—until today. For a brief moment, chaos reigned.
#FacebookOutage
#FacebookOutage
February 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
I’d never experienced a Facebook outage—until today. For a brief moment, chaos reigned.
#FacebookOutage
#FacebookOutage
Identity is not just a name; it is a claim to existence, to history, and to agency. For the Punan, this claim has been repeatedly challenged—not by our own people, but by outsiders who impose definitions that reshape who we are.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/who-are-th...
tribalstories.substack.com/p/who-are-th...
Who are the Punan, and Who Decides
The Struggle for Self-Definition
tribalstories.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Identity is not just a name; it is a claim to existence, to history, and to agency. For the Punan, this claim has been repeatedly challenged—not by our own people, but by outsiders who impose definitions that reshape who we are.
tribalstories.substack.com/p/who-are-th...
tribalstories.substack.com/p/who-are-th...
1/ Is “Tatau” (or “Taytow”) really a distinct people from the Punan? Or is this division a colonial and political invention? The truth is more complex than the official narrative suggests. Let’s dig in. 🧵
February 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
1/ Is “Tatau” (or “Taytow”) really a distinct people from the Punan? Or is this division a colonial and political invention? The truth is more complex than the official narrative suggests. Let’s dig in. 🧵
A shopping mall in Kuching, Sarawak.
February 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
A shopping mall in Kuching, Sarawak.
RIP, little guy.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
February 2, 2025 at 2:05 AM
RIP, little guy.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
