This talk, “Memories of the Confrontation In the Kelabit Highlands” by Datu Ose Murang,  drew mainly on reminiscences and  photographs taken by soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Gurkha regiments  stationed in the Kelabit highlands . The “Hearts and Minds” war strategy involved the people along the international border with Kalimantan Indonesia to counter Indonesian incursions into Sarawak. The photographs provide an initial documentation of the role played by the people in the Kelabit Highlands and local reminiscences and photographs touch on the role of the Border Scouts supporting the role of the allied forces. 

Datu Ose Murang retired in 2016 after serving seven  years as  Deputy State Secretary in the Sarawak Civil Service. After that he was Chairman of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, the owner and manager of the Curtin Malaysia University Campus in Miri. During the Confrontation, he was a primary school student at the schools near the Long Banga and Bario Army camps; and has fond childhood memories of the Confrontation. The link for the recording is here.

Ose Murang receives a token of appreciation from Jayl Langub (Photo credit: Mary Margaret)