On 26 November 2015, it was announced that the 

Kuching Division district of Serian would become

Sarawak's 12th division and it had officiated by Adenan Satem at its formal creation on 11 April
2015.[99]
A division is divided into districts, each headed by a district officer, which are in turn divided into sub-
districts, each headed by a Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO). There is also one development
officer for each division and district to implement development projects. The state government
appoints a headman (known as ketua kampung or penghulu) for each village.[73][96] There are a total of
26 sub-districts in Sarawak all under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Ministry of Local Government
and Community Development.[100] The list of divisions, districts, sub-districts and their local authorities
is shown in the table below: [101]

Local
Division District Subdistrict
government

Kuching North City

Hall

Kuching Padawan Kuching South

City Council
Padawan
Kuching Municipal Council

Bau District
Bau
Council

Lundu District
Lundu Sematan
Council

Samarahan
Kota Samarahan
Sadong Municpal Council
Samaraha Asajaya
Jaya
n
Simunjan District
Simunjan Sebuyau
Council

Serian Siburan
Serian District
Serian [99]

Council
Tebedu

Lingga
Sri Aman District
Simanggang
Council
Pantu
Sri Aman
Lubok Antu District
Lubok Antu Engkilili
Council
 Spaoh
Betong
Betong District
Debak
Council
Betong Pusa Maludam

Saratok Nanga Budu

Saratok District
Council
Kabong Roban

Sarikei District
Sarikei
Council

Meradong
Sarikei
Maradong Julau
Julau
District Council
Pakan

Mukah Balingian
Dalat Mukah
District Council
Dalat Oya

Mukah Matu Igan

Matu Daro District
Daro
Council
Tanjung Manis

Sibu Sibu Municipal

Council

Selangau Sibu Rural District

Sibu Council

Kanowit District
Kanowit
Council

Kapit Nanga Merit

Song
Kapit District
Kapit
Council
Belaga Sungai Asap

Bukit Mabong

Bintulu Bintulu Bintulu

Development
Sebauh
 Tatau
Authority
Miri Bario
Miri City Council
Subis Niah-Suai

Marudi Mulu
Miri
Beluru Lapok
Marudi District
Council
Long Lama
Telang
Usan
Long Bedian

Nanga Limbang District

Limbang
Medamit Council
Limbang
Sundar
Lawas District
Lawas
Council
Trusan

Security[edit]
Military[edit]
The first paramilitary armed forces in Sarawak, a regiment formed by the Brooke regime in 1862,
were known as the Sarawak Rangers.[102] The regiment, renowned for its jungle tracking skills, served
in the campaign to end the intertribal wars in Sarawak. It also engaged in guerrilla warfare against
the Japanese, in the Malayan Emergency (in West Malaysia) and the Sarawak Communist
Insurgency against the communists. Following the formation of Malaysia, the regiment was absorbed
into the Malaysian military forces and is now known as the Royal Ranger Regiment.[103]
In 1888, Sarawak, together with neighbouring North Borneo, and Brunei, became British
protectorates, and the responsibility for foreign policy was handed over to the British in exchange for
military protection.[43] Since the formation of Malaysia, the Malaysian federal government has been
solely responsible for foreign policy and military forces in the country. [104][105]

Territorial disputes[edit]
See also: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea

Several border disputes between Malaysia and its neighbouring countries concern Sarawak. Land
and maritime disputes exist with Brunei. [106] In 2009, Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi claimed that in a meeting with Sultan of Brunei, Brunei agreed to drop its claim
over Limbang.[107] This was however denied by the second Foreign Minister of Brunei Lim Jock Seng,
stating the issue was never discussed during the meeting. [108] James Shoal (Betting Serupai) and
the Luconia Shoals (Betting Raja Jarum/Patinggi Ali), islands in the South China Sea, fall within
Sarawak's exclusive economic zone, but concerns have been raised about Chinese incursions. [109][110]
[111]
 There are also several Sarawak–Kalimantan border issues with Indonesia. [112]

Environment[edit]
Geography[edit]

Julan waterfall (located at Usun Apau Plieran) is the highest waterfall in Sarawak[113]

The total land area of Sarawak is nearly 124,450 square kilometres (48,050 sq mi),[7] making up 37.5
per cent of the total area of Malaysia, and lies between the northern latitudes 0° 50′ and 5° and
eastern longitudes 109° 36′ and 115° 40′ E.[114] Its 750 kilometres (470 mi) of coastline is interrupted
in the north by about 150 kilometres (93 mi) of Bruneian coast.[115] A total of its 45.5 kilometres
(28.3 mi) coastline have been eroding.[116] In 1961, Sarawak including neighbouring Sabah, which
had been included in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the participation of the
United Kingdom, became joint associate members of the IMO. [117] Sarawak is separated from
Kalimantan Borneo by ranges of high hills and mountains that are part of the central mountain range
of Borneo. These become loftier to the north, and are highest near the source of the Baram River at
the steep Mount Batu Lawi and Mount Mulu. Mount Murud is the highest point in Sarawak.[115]
Sarawak has a tropical geography with an equatorial climate and experiences
two monsoon seasons: a northeast monsoon and a southwest monsoon. The northeast monsoon
occurs between November and February, bringing heavy rainfall while the southwest monsoon,
which occurs between March and October, brings somewhat less rainfall. The climate is stable
throughout the year except for the two monsoons, with average daily temperature varying between
23 °C (73 °F) in the morning to 32 °C (90 °F) in the afternoon at coastal areas. Miri has the lowest
average temperatures in comparison to other major towns in Sarawak and has the longest daylight
hours (more than six hours a day), while other areas receive sunshine for five to six hours a day.
Humidity is usually high, exceeding 68 per cent, with annual rainfall varying between 330
centimetres (130 in) and 460 centimetres (180 in) for up to 220 days a year.[114] At highland areas, the
temperature can vary from 16 °C (61 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F) during the day and as low as 11 °C (52 °F)
during the night.[118]
Sarawak is divided into three ecoregions. The coastal region is rather low-lying and flat with large
areas of swamp and other wet environments. Beaches in Sarawak include Pasir Panjang [119] and
Damai beaches in Kuching,[120] Tanjung Batu beach in Bintulu,[121] and Tanjung Lobang[122] and Hawaii
beaches in Miri.[123] Hilly terrain accounts for much of the inhabited land and is where most of the
cities and towns are found. The ports of Kuching and Sibu are built some distance from the coast on
rivers while Bintulu and Miri are close to the coastline where the hills stretch right to the South China
Sea. The third region is the mountainous region along the Sarawak–Kalimantan border, where a
number of villages such as Bario, Ba'kelalan, and Usun Apau Plieran are located.[115] A number of
rivers flow through Sarawak, with the Sarawak River being the main river flowing through Kuching.
The Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia, measuring 563 kilometres (350 mi) including its
tributary, Balleh River. To the north, the Baram, Limbang and Trusan Rivers drain into the Brunei
Bay.[115]

The Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia

Sarawak can be divided into two geological zones: the Sunda Shield, which extends southwest from
the Batang Lupar River (near Sri Aman) and forms the southern tip of Sarawak, and
the geosyncline region, which extends northeast to the Batang Lupar River, forming the central and
northern regions of Sarawak. The oldest rock type in southern Sarawak is schist formed during
the Carboniferous and Lower Permian times, while the youngest igneous rock in this
region, andesite, can be found at Sematan. Geological formation of the central and northern regions
started during the late Cretaceous period. Other types of stone that can be found in central and
northern Sarawak are shale, sandstone, and chert.[114] The Miri Division in eastern Sarawak is the
region of Neogene strata containing organic rich rock formations which are the prolific oil and gas
reserves. The rocks enriched in organic components are mudstones in Lambir, Miri and Tukau
Formations of Middle Miocene-Lower Pliocene age.[124] Significant quantities of Sarawak soil
are lithosols, up to 60 per cent, and podsols, around 12 per cent, while abundant alluvial soil is found
in coastal and riverine regions. 12 per cent of Sarawak is covered with peat swamp forest.[114]
There are thirty national parks,[125] among which are Niah with its eponymous caves,[126] the highly
developed ecosystem around Lambir Hills,[127] and the World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu.[128][129] The
last contains Sarawak Chamber, one of the world's largest underground chambers, [130] Deer Cave,
the largest cave passage in the world,[131] and Clearwater Cave, the longest cave system
in Southeast Asia.[132][133]

 Landscapes of Sarawak
 

Pinnacles at Gunung Mulu National Park

 

The vegetations at the summit of Mount Murud

 

South China Sea view from Sarawak

 


 Parts of the Bako National Park

Biodiversity[edit]
See also: Fauna of Borneo, Deforestation in Borneo, and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre