Sarawak, "The Land of the Hornbills", is the largest of Malaysia's thirteen states. Located in Borneo and covering an area of 124,450 square kilometres, it has a population of 1.5 million people. A living museum of various races and ethnic tribes who still observe ancient rites, it is a land endowed with an abundance of primeval jungle and rich in natural resources such as pepper, cocoa, oil palm, timber and petroleum.

Its history is one of heroic adventure and romance, piracy and rebellion. In particular it is about an English adventurer named James Brooke, who in 1839 arrived when Sarawak was rebelling against the Brunei Sultanate. As a reward for quelling the rebellion, the Pengiran Mahkota of Brunei made Brooke The Rajah of Sarawak in 1841. He in turn was succeeded by his descendants until Japanese forces occupied Sarawak in World War II. After the war, it was ceded to Britain and became a British Crown Colony, only to later join Malaysia in 1963.

A premier tourist destination, Sarawak reputedly offers the best museum in Southeast Asia - the Sarawak Museum, native celebrations like the Gawai Dayak, numerous National Parks and river safaris. It even boasts among its natural attractions the largest caves in the world - the Mulu and Niah Caves, exotic and rare wildlife at Bako National Park and a wonderland of underwater treasures off its coast.