Kuala Belait
Encyclopedia
This article refers to the town of Kuala Belait. For the mukim of the same name, please refer to Kuala Belait, Belait
. For district, please see Belait
district.
Kuala Belait is a town located in South-West of Brunei
. It is the second largest town in the country, after Bandar Seri Begawan
, the capital of Brunei and functions as the administrative city for the Belait District
.
"Kuala Belait" literally means "the mouth of the Belait River". Its name comes from "Kuala" meaning either confluence of two rivers or the mouth of a river, and Belait, the name of the river and district. It is also known locally as "Belait". When needed to distinguish it from the district of the same name, it is known as "Belait town" in English
or "Pekan Belait" in Malay
.
at 114.18ºE longtitude and 4.59ºN latitude. The town center is bounded by the South China Sea
to the north, the Belait River to the west and south and the suburbs of Kampong Sungai Pandan and Kampong Mumong to the east and south-east respectively.
The historic administrative capital of the Belait district, Kuala Balai is located to the south and is linked to Kuala Belait by both road and river, and the oil town of Seria
is located about 10 miles (16km) east. Bandar Seri Begawan is about 120km to the north-east. The Malaysian city of Miri
is located about 40 km the south-west.
who were mainly fishermen. According to local customs, there was a falling out between two groups of the inhabitants and one of those groups moved to the west bank of the mouth of the Belait River to found the current day Kampong Sungai Teraban
.
The old historic administrative capital of the Belait district used to be Kuala Balai, further up the Belait River. However when oil
was discovered in Padang Berawa (modern day Seria), a new administrative center for the district was established at the mouth of the Belait River so as to be more accessible. Kuala Balai, then was too inaccessible as there were no roads linking it to the rest of the country.
The Kuala Belait Sanitary Board was established near the turn of the 1930s, and this marked the transition of Kuala Belait from a village to a town. The Kuala Belait Sanitary Board was the forerunner of the Kuala Belait/Seria Municipal Board, or Lembaga Bandaran Kuala Belait dan Seria in Malay. In Brunei towns are governed by a Municipal Board while each village is governed by a village council.
The town was overrun by the Japanese
during the Second World War but was restored to Brunei after the war.
Under the rule of His Majesty the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, the town blossomed as commercial buildings such as the current shophouses along Jalan Pretty and the local branch of the HSBC
were built.
After independence from Britain in 1984, a number of new government buildings were constructed to house the local services of the Brunei government.
At the turn of the millennium, a number of hotels were built in the center of town which drastically changed the skyline.
The "downtown" of Kuala Belait is further divided into the following kampongs.
Occasionally Sungai, or river, is also abbreviated "Sg." in the names of these villages. There was a ferry operating at the mouth of Belait river before the existence of the Rasau bridge.
has various facilities in town to support the oil and gas production facilities in the vicinity.
The Kuala Belait Bunkering Station (KBBS) is located near the mouth of the Belait River. It supplies domestic gas to the town and other bulk chemicals in support of the various activities. The Kuala Belait Wharf is the main point from which personnel to and from the offshore rigs off the Belait districts embark and disembark. The KB supply base is located to the south of the wharf, and is the main point for logistics for Shell. The Marine Construction Yard, commonly known as SCO, is where construction of marine structures are carried out prior to installation offshore.
The Rasau field is located to the southwest of Kuala Belait town. The main area for the field is located south of Kampong Sungai Teraban and most of the wells are located there. However there are also some oil/gas wells to the south and east of Kuala Belait town in Kg. Sg. Duhon and Kg. Sg. Pandan respectively.
Other tourist attractions in the vicinity include:
Further afield are the attractions of the historic village of Kuala Balai and the oil town of Seria
.
The weather is warm, humid and rainy all year.
Due to the geography of the town, Kuala Belait is connected by roads east towards Seria. The main highway from the Malaysian border west of Kuala Belait to Muara Town
passes south of the municipality, and there exists a link road towards the Kuala Belait Highway
from Kampong Mumong at Jalan Pandan Lima. The highway crosses the Belait river just south of the town via a toll bridge. It costs $3 for a normal passenger car to transit the bridge one way. A glimpse of the town, including the waterfront can be seen from the bridge. It is also possible to travel west towards Kg. Sg. Teraban (and from there to Miri) by taking a ferry
across the Belait River at the Kuala Belait Wharf (see Ferry below).
The taxi stand is at the north end of Jalan Pretty to the west and faces the local HSBC building. The bus station is across the road from the taxi stand. Taxis fares start from B$3.00. Tourists are advised to negotiate the price for the trip before hiring the taxis. There are three scheduled bus services from the bus station, these are:
(These are correct as of January 2006.)
To take public transportation to Bandar Seri Begawan
, one either has to hire a taxi, or take the bus to Seria town and from there, the connecting bus into the capital city.
It is possible to hire a "water taxi" at the public wharf close to the Kuala Belait market to go upriver towards Kuala Balai. There are also trips organised by the Kuala Belait Boat Club to sail out in the open sea to various nearby destinations.
The Port of Kuala Belait is one of the three ports of Brunei
. The other port in Brunei is at the other end of the country at Muara
. The part of the port near the mouth of the river is operated by Brunei Shell and public entry is restricted. The commercial port of Kuala Belait is located to the south of the municipality in Kg. Sungai Duhon and its environs further upriver from the mouth. Due to silting of the river mouth, the port can only take shallow draft vessels. Two breakwaters have been constructed at the mouth of the Belait River to reduce silting of the river mouth. However, regular dredging is required to keep the port in operation.
Schools outside the municipality of Kuala Belait:
Kuala Belait, Belait
Kuala Belait is a mukim of Brunei and is also the westernmost mukim in the Belait District and in Brunei. It is bounded by the South China Sea to the north, Mukim Seria to the east, Kuala Balai to the south-east and Sarawak to the south and west....
. For district, please see Belait
Belait
Belait can refer to either:* the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam.* Kuala Belait, the administrative town of the Belait District* the Belait River which flows through the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam....
district.
Kuala Belait is a town located in South-West of Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. It is the second largest town in the country, after Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
, the capital of Brunei and functions as the administrative city for the Belait District
Belait District
Belait is the largest district in Brunei, as well as the western-most. The word 'Belait' is taken from the name of the native inhabitants of Belait, the Belait People. The district is administered from the town of Kuala Belait, its capital. Belait is governed by an appointed District Officer. The...
.
"Kuala Belait" literally means "the mouth of the Belait River". Its name comes from "Kuala" meaning either confluence of two rivers or the mouth of a river, and Belait, the name of the river and district. It is also known locally as "Belait". When needed to distinguish it from the district of the same name, it is known as "Belait town" in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
or "Pekan Belait" in Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
.
Location
Kuala Belait is located close to the western border of Brunei with the Malaysian State of SarawakSarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
at 114.18ºE longtitude and 4.59ºN latitude. The town center is bounded by the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
to the north, the Belait River to the west and south and the suburbs of Kampong Sungai Pandan and Kampong Mumong to the east and south-east respectively.
The historic administrative capital of the Belait district, Kuala Balai is located to the south and is linked to Kuala Belait by both road and river, and the oil town of Seria
Seria
Seria is a town in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam. Its full name is Pekan Seria in full . Seria was originally known as Padang Berawa which is Wild Pigeon's Field in Malay. The name "Seria" comes from the river located very near where oil was first discovered in the area in 1929...
is located about 10 miles (16km) east. Bandar Seri Begawan is about 120km to the north-east. The Malaysian city of Miri
Miri
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
is located about 40 km the south-west.
History
Kuala Belait was a small fishing village at the turn of the 20th century. The natives were Belait MalaysMalay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
who were mainly fishermen. According to local customs, there was a falling out between two groups of the inhabitants and one of those groups moved to the west bank of the mouth of the Belait River to found the current day Kampong Sungai Teraban
Kampong Sungai Teraban
Kampong Sungai Teraban is a village in Brunei. It is located in the Belait district across the mouth of the Belait River from Kuala Belait and serves as a suburb of the latter. The current village has a population of 941.-Location:...
.
The old historic administrative capital of the Belait district used to be Kuala Balai, further up the Belait River. However when oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
was discovered in Padang Berawa (modern day Seria), a new administrative center for the district was established at the mouth of the Belait River so as to be more accessible. Kuala Balai, then was too inaccessible as there were no roads linking it to the rest of the country.
The Kuala Belait Sanitary Board was established near the turn of the 1930s, and this marked the transition of Kuala Belait from a village to a town. The Kuala Belait Sanitary Board was the forerunner of the Kuala Belait/Seria Municipal Board, or Lembaga Bandaran Kuala Belait dan Seria in Malay. In Brunei towns are governed by a Municipal Board while each village is governed by a village council.
The town was overrun by the Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
during the Second World War but was restored to Brunei after the war.
Under the rule of His Majesty the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, the town blossomed as commercial buildings such as the current shophouses along Jalan Pretty and the local branch of the HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
were built.
After independence from Britain in 1984, a number of new government buildings were constructed to house the local services of the Brunei government.
At the turn of the millennium, a number of hotels were built in the center of town which drastically changed the skyline.
Kampongs
The town of Kuala Belait is further subdivided into villages or kampongs (often abbreviated Kg.). These are listed below.Kampongs within the municipality of Kuala Belait
The municipality of Kuala Belait forms the downtown area and is bounded by the South China Sea to the north, the Belait River to the west and southwest, Jalan Setia DiRaja to the south and Jalan Setia Pahlawan to the east.The "downtown" of Kuala Belait is further divided into the following kampongs.
- Kampong Pekan Belait
- Kampong Melayu Asli - the Kuala Belait mosque is located in this Kampong
- Kampong Melayu Baru
- Kampong Cina - the Chinese school Chung Hua Middle School, Kuala Belait is located here
- Kampong Temenggong
- Kampong Lubok Palam
- Kampong Sungai Teraban
- Kampong Pandan
- Kampong Mumong
Suburbs of Kuala Belait
There are other kampongs outside the municipality of Kuala Belait. These kampongs serve as suburbs to the town. Some of the more important kampongs include:- Kampong Sungai Teraban - located just across the Belait River from Kuala Belait
- Kampong Pandan - this is the largest kampong immediately to the east of the municipality of Kuala Belait.
- Mumong- the Sports Complex for the town is located to the east of this village.
- Kampong Sungai Duhon - the commercial port of Kuala Belait is located here.
- Rasau|Kampong Rasau - a small village on the west back of the Belait River south of Kampong Sungai TerabanKampong Sungai TerabanKampong Sungai Teraban is a village in Brunei. It is located in the Belait district across the mouth of the Belait River from Kuala Belait and serves as a suburb of the latter. The current village has a population of 941.-Location:...
Occasionally Sungai, or river, is also abbreviated "Sg." in the names of these villages. There was a ferry operating at the mouth of Belait river before the existence of the Rasau bridge.
Oil and Gas
Kuala Belait is located in the vicinity of the onshore Rasau gas field. There are however, no wells in the municipality. However Brunei ShellRoyal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
has various facilities in town to support the oil and gas production facilities in the vicinity.
The Kuala Belait Bunkering Station (KBBS) is located near the mouth of the Belait River. It supplies domestic gas to the town and other bulk chemicals in support of the various activities. The Kuala Belait Wharf is the main point from which personnel to and from the offshore rigs off the Belait districts embark and disembark. The KB supply base is located to the south of the wharf, and is the main point for logistics for Shell. The Marine Construction Yard, commonly known as SCO, is where construction of marine structures are carried out prior to installation offshore.
The Rasau field is located to the southwest of Kuala Belait town. The main area for the field is located south of Kampong Sungai Teraban and most of the wells are located there. However there are also some oil/gas wells to the south and east of Kuala Belait town in Kg. Sg. Duhon and Kg. Sg. Pandan respectively.
Tourist attractions
Kuala Belait town itself has a number of tourist attractions. Some of these are:- The Silver Jubilee Park and beach along South China Sea. The park is situated beside Jalan Maulana, facing the South China SeaSouth China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. It was built to commemorate the Silver JubileeSilver JubileeA Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
of Sultan Hassanal BolkiahHassanal BolkiahGeneral Haji Sir Hassan al-Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG is the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the 29th Sultan of Brunei and the first Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam...
’s accession to the throne, as a gift from the people of Kuala Belait. Apart from the commemorative arch (or pintu gerbang in Malay) and the monument, there are exhibition huts, shelters, toilets and a children’s playground. - The monument, built to commemorate the Sultan Hassanal BolkiahHassanal BolkiahGeneral Haji Sir Hassan al-Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG is the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the 29th Sultan of Brunei and the first Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam...
's 50th Birthday, along the Belait River between SKBB building and the KBBC. (name and description required) - The Kuala Belait Boat Club (KBBC), located on the Belait River.
- The Tudong Saji market is just next to the KBBC. It is the place where people sell their produce at the weekend. There are some food stalls and restaurants serving local cuisine such as the ambuyat.
- The weekend evening market is located at the old wet market building next to the Custom building, selling hot and freshly made local fast food.
- There is a playground next to the new wet market.
Other tourist attractions in the vicinity include:
- The teapot (locally known as 'kiri') roundabout in Kg. Sg. Pandan, its construction sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum.
- Istana Mangelella - the residence of the Sultan of Brunei in the Belait district.
- Excapade Sushi - A very famous sushi restaurant located at Bangunan Pg Hj Md Jadid, Jalan Jaya Negara. It is one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in the country, currently with 8 branches throughout Brunei. Other than being popular among Bruneians, it is also a well known eatery for tourists, especially those from MiriMiriMiri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
, a city in SarawakSarawakSarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Malaysia.
Further afield are the attractions of the historic village of Kuala Balai and the oil town of Seria
Seria
Seria is a town in the Belait District of Brunei Darussalam. Its full name is Pekan Seria in full . Seria was originally known as Padang Berawa which is Wild Pigeon's Field in Malay. The name "Seria" comes from the river located very near where oil was first discovered in the area in 1929...
.
Climate
The climate of Kuala Belait is Tropical.The weather is warm, humid and rainy all year.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average High (°C) |
31 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
|
| Average Low (°C) |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
|
| Average Rainfall (mm) | 360 | 200 | 190 | 287 | 288 | 226 | 196 | 219 | 250 | 284 | 260 | 297 | |
Road
Most of the roads within the municipality are surfaced. However not all the roads are level to encourage effective drainage during a downpour. The main commercial street in town is Jalan Pretty and shops and other commercial buildings can also be found in the vicinity.Due to the geography of the town, Kuala Belait is connected by roads east towards Seria. The main highway from the Malaysian border west of Kuala Belait to Muara Town
Muara, Brunei
Muara is a town in the Brunei and Muara district, Brunei. It contains the country's only deep-water port. Muara is the Malay word for estuary.-Location:...
passes south of the municipality, and there exists a link road towards the Kuala Belait Highway
Kuala Belait Highway
Kuala Belait Highway, is a major highway in Belait District, Brunei. It bypasses the town centers of Seria and Kuala Belait, in addition to the Sungai Belait toll bridge, which is not present along the original route of the Pan Borneo Highway...
from Kampong Mumong at Jalan Pandan Lima. The highway crosses the Belait river just south of the town via a toll bridge. It costs $3 for a normal passenger car to transit the bridge one way. A glimpse of the town, including the waterfront can be seen from the bridge. It is also possible to travel west towards Kg. Sg. Teraban (and from there to Miri) by taking a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
across the Belait River at the Kuala Belait Wharf (see Ferry below).
The taxi stand is at the north end of Jalan Pretty to the west and faces the local HSBC building. The bus station is across the road from the taxi stand. Taxis fares start from B$3.00. Tourists are advised to negotiate the price for the trip before hiring the taxis. There are three scheduled bus services from the bus station, these are:
- twice daily to the immigration post at Sungai TujohSungai TujohSungai Tujoh, also abbreviated as Sg. Tujoh, is the westernmost point of Brunei. It is located in the Belait district . The name of the area is derived from two Bruneian Malay words - Sungai, which means river or stream, and Tujoh or the number seven...
(towards MiriMiriMiri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
) - daily to the immigration post at Kuala Lurah in the Brunei and Muara district (towards LimbangLimbangLimbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
) in Sarawak, Malaysia - thrice hourly to Seria town from about 7am to 6pm, with a one hour break during lunch time from 12pm to 1pm.
(These are correct as of January 2006.)
To take public transportation to Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
, one either has to hire a taxi, or take the bus to Seria town and from there, the connecting bus into the capital city.
Ferry and River, Ports
A ferry did connect Kuala Belait town to Kampong Sungai Teraban to the west. This service ceased operation in 2008.It is possible to hire a "water taxi" at the public wharf close to the Kuala Belait market to go upriver towards Kuala Balai. There are also trips organised by the Kuala Belait Boat Club to sail out in the open sea to various nearby destinations.
The Port of Kuala Belait is one of the three ports of Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. The other port in Brunei is at the other end of the country at Muara
Muara, Brunei
Muara is a town in the Brunei and Muara district, Brunei. It contains the country's only deep-water port. Muara is the Malay word for estuary.-Location:...
. The part of the port near the mouth of the river is operated by Brunei Shell and public entry is restricted. The commercial port of Kuala Belait is located to the south of the municipality in Kg. Sungai Duhon and its environs further upriver from the mouth. Due to silting of the river mouth, the port can only take shallow draft vessels. Two breakwaters have been constructed at the mouth of the Belait River to reduce silting of the river mouth. However, regular dredging is required to keep the port in operation.
Air
There are no airports in Kuala Belait. Commercial travellers would have to travel to either Bandar Seri Begawan or Miri to catch a commercial flight. There is a helipad at Suri Seri Begawan Hospital.Schools
Schools in the municipality of Kuala Belait include:- Sekolah Rendah Kuala Belait - the Kuala Belait Primary School (Public)
- Sekolah Rendah Ahmad Tajuddin - very near Sekolah Rendah Kuala Belait (Public)
- Sekolah Rendah Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Abdul Momin - The Kampong Pandan primary school (Public)
- St. James' Mission School (Private - Anglican)
- St. John's Mission School (Private - Catholic)
- Chung Hua Middle School, Kuala Belait(Private - Chinese)
- Sekolah Menengah Perdana Wazir - the Perdana Wazir Secondary School (Public)
- Jefri Bolkiah Technical College - Kuala Belait collage (public)
- Sekolah Agama Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin - the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Religious School
- International School Brunei, Kuala Belait (ISB) - this is a branch of the ISB in Berakas.
Schools outside the municipality of Kuala Belait:
- Sekolah Menengah PJN Pg. Hj. Abu BakarSekolah Menengah PJN Pg. Hj. Abu BakarSekolah Menengah Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar is known as one of the best government schools in Kuala Belait, Brunei....
formerly Sekolah Menengah Mumong - recognised as the best public school in Kuala Belait. - Sekolah Menengah Sayyidina AliSekolah Menengah Sayyidina AliSekolah Menengah Sayyidina Ali, or SMSA, is a co-ed school located in Kuala Belait, Brunei. In 2005, it had a student population of over 1000. The current principal is Awg Cheong Huat Joo.-History:...
- the first school outside the capital to offer sixth formSixth formIn the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
education. It is located in Kampung Sungai Pandan.