Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This district area is 3,978.10 square kilometres,[2] and population (year 2020 census) was 56,900. It is located on the banks of the Limbang River (Sungai Limbang in Malay), between the two halves of Brunei.
Etymology
A settlement along the Limbang River was previously known as "Pangkalan Tarap" where trade activities thrived. The name was derived from a well-known fruit in the Malay community. However, when the settlement was combined with Trusan district and Lawas district, "Pangkalan Tarap" changed its name to "Limbang", naming it after the river on which it is situated.[3]
History
Bruneian sultanate
In 1884, there was a rebellion by Limbang residents, protesting against the high tax rate imposed by the Bruneian Empire. William Hood Treacher, who held the dual position as the governor of North Borneo and British royal consul at Labuan, saw an opportunity to acquire more territories from the Bruneian empire. Treacher offered himself to mediate the taxation dispute between the local chiefs and the Bruneian empire. He sailed to Brunei on H.M.S Pegasus, backed by British navy. Treacher successfully arranged for peace in the Limbang region after Temenggong Hashim agreed not to impose any more arbitrary taxes. After the event, Treacher leased Padas River, Klias Peninsula, Bongawan, and Tawaran (now Tuaran) from the sultan of Brunei for $3000 payment per year.[4]
The Brooke government, threatened by Treacher's expansionist policy into northern Sarawak, sent F.O. Maxwell, a Resident of the First Division of Sarawak (today Kuching Division) to Brunei, demanding compensation for the killings of Sarawak subjects in Trusan area (near Lawas). Trusan area at that time was still under the control of the Brunei government. Maxwell also threatened to stop the cession money payment if he did not receive any compensation. Under pressure from Maxwell, Temenggong Hashim agreed to cede the Trusan area to Sarawak. However, the Sultan of Brunei (Sultan Mumin) did not consent to the cession of land. Both Charles Brooke and Temenggong maintained that Sultan's stamp was not required for the cession. Charles later occupied the Trusan area by force.[4] Brunei later agreed to cede Trusan in 1885 and Padas in 1887.[5] On 29 May 1885, Sultan Mumin died and Temenggong Hashim ascended to the Brunei throne to become Sultan Hashim.[4]
In 1886, Leys (former consul of Brunei) and Charles Brooke tried to persuade Sultan Hashim to cede Limbang but to no avail. Sultan Hashim's decision was in line with his pangerans (princes) that further cession of Bruneian territory will leave Sultan's authority in name only. Besides, Sultan Hashim did not wish to see his sultanate vanishing under his rule. Sir Frederick Weld, former governor of the Straits Settlement from 1880 to 1887, went to Labuan in May 1887. Weld then consulted the chiefs of the Limbang River. They firmly rejected Sultan's rule and were willing to accept a white man's rule. Weld tried to push an ultimatum that the Sultan either agreed on the cession of Limbang or to accept a Resident. Sultan Hashim hesitated. Crocker, the acting governor of North Borneo, advised the Sultan that if he did not accept a Resident in Limbang, James Brooke will be permitted to seize Limbang without any compensation to the Sultan. Sultan Hashim decided to accept a Resident after Crocker's advice.[4]
On 17 September 1888, Brunei signed an agreement with Great Britain which formally put Brunei under British protectorate. Sir Rutherford Alcock, managing director of North Borneo Company, Sir Robert Meader, assistant under-secretary of the colonial office, and Sir Federick Weld thought that making Brunei a protectorate will enable the final division of Brunei and stem further losses of Bruneian territories. However, British prime minister Lord Salisbury was eager for Brunei to vanish from the world map before the protectorate agreement was signed. He finally agreed to the protectorate treaty after he was assured by his officials that the protectorate status granted to Brunei will not stop its ultimate absorption into either Sarawak or North Borneo. Acting Consul Hamilton decided to go to Limbang in October 1889 to assess the people's sentiments there. The Limbang chiefs gave the same assertions that they will never submit to Sultan's rule.[4] On 17 March 1890, Rajah Charles Brooke annexed Limbang, subjected to the approval of the British government, claiming that the local chiefs of Limbang had been independent of Brunei's rule for five years and had hoisted a Sarawak flag.[4]
Sultan then sent an envoy to the governor of the Straits, Sir F. Dickson to protest against the Rajah's move of annexing Limbang. Sultan's envoy claimed that the people of Limbang had been paying tribute to Sultan since Weld's visit in May 1887 thus Brunei still have sovereignty over Limbang. Consul Trevenen then went to Limbang, and confirmed that 13 of the 15 chiefs in Limbang said that Sultan had not exercised any control over them for seven years. In August 1892, Sir Cecil Smith, the governor of the Straits Settlements, decided that Sarawak should possess Limbang and would pay a tribute of $6000 to Sultan of Brunei. However, Sultan of Brunei refused to accept the money or suggest his own terms of the cession.[4] In August 1895, the British colonial office considered the case closed despite no agreement being reached between the Sultan and the Brooke government.[4] Between 1899 and 1901, another rebellion occurred in Tutong District and Belait District. Sultan Hashim was again pressured by Charles Brooke and a new British Consul of Borneo Hewette, to cede both the districts, but he firmly refused, as the loss of both districts would make Brunei non-existent on the map of Borneo, resembling "a tree without branches".[5] However, Sultan Hashim persistently protested against the decision to cede Limbang until his death in 1906.[4] Sultan Hashim considered Limbang as a significant resource, supplying Brunei with food, forest produce, timber, and fisheries. Sultan Hashim also thought that "Brunei is Limbang and Limbang is Brunei". Before his death, Sultan Hashim signed a supplementary agreement (after the 1888 protectorate agreement) with the British government in 1906 to accept a Resident in Brunei to ensure the survival of the Brunei kingdom and stem further losses of the Bruneian territories.[5]
Federation of Malaysia
During the Brunei Revolt in 1962, Limbang was occupied by the North Borneo Liberation Army (Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara, TNKU). TNKU killed four members of the police and eleven European civilians including the Limbang district officer and his wife. Within five days, British and Australian forces from Singapore contained the rebellion.[6]
Subsequent Sultans of Brunei made the Limbang claims in 1951, 1963, and 1973.[7] Brunei-Malaysia maritime boundary was also in dispute since 1981 after Malaysia published its maps in 1979. Negotiations of maritime borders started in 1995. In 2003, Malaysia discovered huge oil reserves at Kikeh, off the coast of Sabah and Brunei. This oil reserve represented 21% of Malaysian total oil reserves at that time. Brunei disputed the Malaysian claim on the Kikeh oil reserve. The dispute ended in 2009 when both countries agreed on the final maritime boundaries. Malaysia also agreed that Brunei holds the rights to the Kikeh oil fields.[8] In return, Brunei allowed the establishment of Commercial Arrangement Areas (CAA) where both countries would share the oil and gas revenues from the disputed maritime areas. However, the quantum of revenue sharing was not disclosed. Brunei also agreed in principle that the final demarcation of the Malaysia-Brunei land border will be based upon five agreements signed between 1920 and 1939 while the remaining borders will be decided by using the watershed model of border demarcation. Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that such principles would essentially allow Limbang to be placed within Malaysian borders.[9][10] However, Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Lim Jock Seng denied that Brunei has dropped the claims on Limbang.[11] As of 2023, final demarcation of land boundaries between Malaysia and Brunei has not yet completed.[12][13]
Geography
Location of Limbang district in Sarawak
Climate
Limbang features an equatorial climate that is a tropical rainforest climate more subject to the Intertropical Convergence Zone than the trade winds and with no or rare cyclones. The climate is warm and wet. The city sees heavy precipitation throughout the course of the year. The Northeast Monsoon blows from December to March, while the Southeast Monsoon dominates from around June to October.
Limbang is part of the Limbang District, which is part of the Limbang Division, which is part of Sarawak, Malaysia.
Economy
Before the late 19th century, Limbang was the "rice bowl" for Brunei, producing cheap agricultural produce for Bruneian Empire.[15] Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) was established on 15 March 2018.[16] NRDA has been tasked to develop aquaculture, livestock, oil and gas as well as logistics industries in Limbang and Lawas districts to reap economic benefits from Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).[17]
Transport
Air
Limbang is served by Limbang Airport, which also serves the whole of Limbang District.
Road
Owing to its geographical location, Limbang is completely cut off from the rest of Sarawak's road network. However, it has good road links to both parts of Brunei, located to the east and west of the district. There is also a good local network of roads within the district. As the only road connection to outside the district is through Brunei, one must have a passport to travel into or out of Limbang.
Tedungan: This checkpoint corresponds to Brunei checkpoint is called Kuala Lurah.[19] It is located 43 km west of Limbang. It is the road crossing into the main part of Brunei from Limbang.
Pandaruan: This checkpoint enters Kampung Ujong Jalan, Temburong district, Brunei over the Pandaruan River,[20] located at 15 km east of Limbang.[citation needed] Previously, the crossing was only possible by using ferry services. Pandaruan Bridge was built on 8 December 2013 to facilitate river crossings.[20]
Malaysian passport exit stamp from Tedungan ICQS Checkpoint.
Entry stamp from Pandaruan ICQS Checkpoint.
Entry stamp from the Limbang Wharf ICQS Checkpoint, for boat arrivals from Brunei and Labuan.
Other utilities
Education
SJK (C) Chung Hwa Limbang
SJK (C) Yuk Hin
SK Limbang
SK Melayu Pusat
SK Kampung Pahlawan
SK St. Edmund
SK Menuang
SK Batu Danau
SK Pengkalan Jawa
SK Tedungan
SK Bukit Luba
SK Tanjong
SK Meritam
SK Ukong
SK Nanga Medamit
SK Long Napir
SK Kuala Mendalam
SK Nanga Merit
SK Kubong
SK RC Kubong
SK Gadong
SMK Seri Patiambun Limbang
SMK Medamit
SMK Limbang
SMK Kubong
SMK(A) Limbang
Healthcare
The old Limbang Hospital is located in Limbang which is now used as a Laboratory of Drugs and Drug Stores. It was established on 18 August 1961 with 16 nurses and 10 attendants with 54 beds.
In line with the increase in population and the development of Limbang Town, the new Limbang Hospital was officially opened on June 29, 1980, by the then-President of the State of Sarawak Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Hj MuhammadSalahuddin. The construction cost RM 4.912 million with an area of 7.8 hectares.
As of 2017, a staff strength of 279 people including 19 Medical Officers and 1 Gynecologist and 2 Radiologists.
As of 2023, it now has 2 Physicians, 1 General Surgeon, 1 Anaesthesiologist, 1 Obgyn specialist, 2 radiologists, 1 pediatrician, and 1 psychiatrist offering specialist services.
It is equipped with CT Scan, ICU, Operating Theater and an Endoscopy Room.
Taman Tasik Bukit Mas (literal translation: Gold Hill Lake Park) is a recreational park set in Limbang's iconic feature, Bukit Mas. Limbang residents do their recreational activities in the park in the evening. A children's playground, lake, barbecue site, suspension bridge and toilet are provided.
Limbang Plaza
Limbang Plaza is located in the town centre, and is often dubbed the definite centre of Limbang. This building mainly consists of three components: Purnama Hotel, a shopping mall and various government offices (located atop the mall). It's also used for other businesses and activities.
Currently the mall has about 50 shopping outlets, with a local supermarket chain, Queen, as the main tenant.
Pasar Tamu
"Pasar Tamu" is a local gathering where villagers come to the town of Limbang to sell their goods. Usually it is held every Friday, but preparations begin on Thursday.
The market has attracted not only local residents, but also Bruneians.
^Francis, Richard (March 2003). "The Raid on Limbang – 1962". Naval Historical Society of Australia. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
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