Rojak #79: Hackers, Austronesian Supremacists, and How to Hide a Site

A real mixed salad of news stories for the May edition of the Rojak

Welcome to the Rojak! Normally it refers to an exotic salad found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and it can be used as both a noun and a verb for a mix. Every week I research news stories to put in the Southeast Asian Archaeology newsletter, and sometimes I come across stories that are interesting, but don’t quite make the cut. This strange and exotic mix of news stories is the result, a collection that is not about Southeast Asia or archaeology, but somehow are.

This month’s collection has a really wide range, from cross-dressing tourists, lesser-known museums, indigenous land rights, as well as cyberattacks around the South China Sea, academic papers on data transparency and obfuscation, and Austronesian identity.

The Rojak is a bonus monthly newsletter available only to my supporters. Wanna be a supporter? Buy me a coffee - supporters get access to bonus posts and the full archive of newsletters. No websites were hacked (by me) during the construction of this newsletter - although I have to say I have been dealing with more than the usual number of cyberattacks in the last six months (coincidence?) so I’m really grateful that the support I’ve received thus far has allowed me to invest in security measures to keep these disruptions to a minimum.

• Klang’s hidden treasures: Klang is the royal capital of the Selangor, offering hidden treasures like the Alam Shah Palace and Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery. New walking tours explore Klang’s heritage, revealing the sultanate's origins, its resistance against European invaders, and the development of Kuala Lumpur. Nearby attractions include the Instagram-famous Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam and the historical Jugra Palace.

• The inaugural Mahkota Sungai Pahang Expedition: Sungai Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia's longest river, has historically served as a vital transportation route and source of livelihood for local communities. The recent Mahkota Sungai Pahang Expedition, led by Crown Prince Tengku Hassanal, retraced the journeys of past rulers, emphasizing the river's significance in connecting people and sustaining communities. The expedition included stops at various riverine villages, fostering community engagement and documenting history.