93-578: Kuching ( / ˈ k uː tʃ ɪ ŋ / KOO -ching , Malay: ['kutʃɪŋ] ) officially the City of Kuching , is the capital and the most populous city in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia . It is also the capital of Kuching Division . The city is on the Sarawak River at the southwestern tip of Sarawak on the island of Borneo and covers an area of 431 km (166 sq mi) with
186-564: A "pauper's bequest" because of the large scope of the matters listed in the Ninth Schedule. The courts themselves have generally favoured a broad interpretation of the language of the Ninth Schedule, thus limiting the number of possible subjects not covered. The Ninth Schedule specifically lists the following matters as those that can only be legislated on by the states: land tenure, the Islamic religion, and local government. Nine of
279-598: A counteroffer from the Federal Government. Singapore was a Malaysian state from the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 until it was expelled from the Federation on 9 August 1965. During its time as a state of Malaysia , Singapore had autonomy in the areas of education and labour and was the smallest state in Malaysia by land area, but the largest by population. Brunei was invited to join
372-600: A former British soldier who would become in 1841 the first " White Rajah " of Sarawak , purchased her in 1836 with money he had inherited from his father. Brooke intended to use it for an expedition to the East Indies in the course of a circumnavigation of the globe, in preparation for which he cruised in the Mediterranean in 1837. As a vessel of the Royal Yacht Squadron it was permitted to fly
465-523: A higher degree of autonomy as part of the bargain which were included in the 20-point agreement and 18-point agreement respectively. While both states arguably joined the federation as equals to Malaya, the Malayan government and constitution became the Malaysian government and constitution . The constitutional amendment codifying the enlarged federation initially listed Sabah and Sarawak separately to
558-404: A medium of instruction (primarily for wealthy and/or expatriate children), among other foreign language courses which can be found through the city. Kuching is one of the main industrial and commercial centres for Sarawak. Many state-level, national-level, and international commercial banks, as well as some insurance companies, maintain their headquarters and corporate offices here. The economy
651-731: A population about 165,642 in the Kuching North administrative region and 159,490 in the Kuching South administrative region—a total of 325,132 people. Kuching was the third capital of Sarawak in 1827 during the administration of the Bruneian Empire . In 1841, Kuching became the capital of the Kingdom of Sarawak after the territory in the area was ceded to James Brooke for helping the Bruneian Empire in crushing
744-567: A rebellion particularly by the interior Borneo-dwelling Land Dayak people who later became his loyal followers after most of them were pardoned by him and joined his side. The town continued to receive attention and development during the rule of Charles Brooke such as the construction of a sanitation system, hospital, prison, fort, and a bazaar. In 1941, the Brooke administration had a Centenary Celebration in Kuching. During World War II , Kuching
837-517: A state-owned subsidiary, ICATS focuses on producing human capital for the hi-tech sector, especially for the development of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy . The Sarawak State Library is the major information resource centre and provides information services for the public and private sectors. The library serves Kuching and its outskirts as the main depository of public records. In addition, it administers, monitors, and facilitates
930-472: A thousand people of other groups (1,022). The Chinese are made up of Hokkien , mainly in the urban areas and in the suburbs. Other Chinese subgroups consist of Foochow , Hainanese , Teochew , Cantonese , Hakka and Henghua . The Bidayuh, Dayak, Iban and Orang Ulu are mainly Christians (with some practising Animism ), while the Chinese practise either Buddhism , Taoism or Christianity ; most of
1023-560: A unique residency status. Passports are required even for Peninsular Malaysians for travelling between either state and Peninsular Malaysia, or between the two states, however those who are on social/business visits up to three months are allowed to produce a MyKad or birth certificate and obtain a special printout form in lieu of a passport. Each state has a unicameral legislature called Dewan Undangan Negeri ( DUN , State Assembly). Members of DUN are elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on population. The state leader of
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#17327804871071116-756: Is a business hub and cultural centre for the Malay populace. The dialect of Malay spoken in Kuching is known as Bahasa Sarawak ( Sarawakian Malay Language), a subset of the Malay language . The local dialect in Kuching is different from that spoken or heard in Miri . Since the second-largest population in Kuching is made up of Han Chinese , the Chinese language is also commonly spoken, particularly Hokkien and Mandarin . Almost all residents are able to speak English. A number of specialty and private schools provide English as
1209-419: Is administered by a mayor for Kuching South and a commissioner for Kuching North. The current commissioner for Kuching North is Datu Junaidi Reduan, who took over from Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai on 31 August 2019 while Datuk Wee Hong Seng became the new mayor for the Kuching South in 2019, succeeding Dato' James Chan Khay Syn . The city obtained a city status on 1 August 1988, and since that it
1302-695: Is administered by the Putrajaya Corporation ( Perbadanan Putrajaya ) and Labuan by the Labuan Corporation ( Perbadanan Labuan ); each corporation is headed by a chairman. The states of Sabah and Sarawak merged with the existing states of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement in 1963 to form the independent state of Malaysia. Representatives from Sabah and Sarawak demanded
1395-526: Is dominated by the primary sector , and currently by the tertiary-based industry , as the state government envisioned Sarawak being transformed into a more developed state by 2020. There are three main industrial areas in Kuching— Pending Industrial Estate (mixed and light industries), Demak Laut Industrial Park (mixed, light, and medium industries) and Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone (hi-tech, computer and electronics industries). This
1488-734: Is intended to boost the city's commercial and industrial activity, making it a major point of growth in East Malaysia , as well for the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area). Kuching has hosted numerous national, regional and international conferences , congresses and trade fairs , such as the Malaysia Global Business Forum, Tomorrow's Leaders Summit, International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress, ASEAN Tourism Forum , and Routes Asia Conference. Furthermore, Kuching
1581-725: Is known as Kuching's oldest and most historical building, which exhibits collections of the indigenous races in Sarawak. Directly opposite the Sarawak Museum is the Borneo Cultures Museum which replaced the Tun Abdul Razak Hall. The Borneo Cultures Museum (opened on 9 March 2022) is a modern five-storey building with a distinctive architectural design that reflects Sarawak's unique traditional crafts and rich cultural heritage. While located right behind
1674-509: Is located about 65 km from Kuching. Kuching has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen climate classification Af), moderately hot but very humid at times and receives substantial rainfall. The average annual rainfall is approximately 4,200 mm (170 in). Kuching is the wettest populated area (on average) in Malaysia with an average of 247 rainy days per year. Kuching receives only 5 hours of sunshine per day on average and an average of only 3.7 hours of sunshine per day in
1767-413: Is located in a suburb, Petra Jaya . There are 5 Members of Parliament (MPs) representing the five parliamentary constituencies and twelve state legislative assemblymen in the state legislature representing the twelve state constituencies in Kuching district. Kuching is the only city in Malaysia to be administered by two mayors; the city is divided into Kuching North and Kuching South. Each of these
1860-611: Is said to have been sold early in 1844. It appears that Royalist retained her name and ended up trading, after some time in the Sandwich Islands trade, in Auckland , New Zealand, before being wrecked at Kawhia on 11 December 1854, when she was carrying a cargo of timber and wheat. In modern Sarawak, there are several references to this well known ship, such as The Royalist Pub in Kuching . This article about
1953-488: Is the Old Kuching Bus Terminal, which is only operating as some bus companies and drivers reportedly have been unwilling to use Kuching Sentral's newer facilities, due to undisclosed or unknown reasons. Other minibuses and carpool van services are also available in the city. Kuching, like most towns in Sarawak, has connections to other urban centres and settlements by water transport. Between the banks of
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#17327804871072046-696: Is the national capital, Putrajaya is the administrative centre of the federal government, and Labuan serves as an offshore financial centre . Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya were carved out of Selangor, while Labuan was ceded by Sabah. The territories fall under the purview of the Ministry of the Federal Territories , and the Parliament of Malaysia legislates on all matters concerning the territories. Each federal territory elects representatives from single-member constituencies drawn based on population to
2139-636: The Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) of the Parliament. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints senators to represent the territories in the Dewan Negara; Kuala Lumpur has two senators, while Putrajaya and Labuan each has one. The local governments for the territories varies: Kuala Lumpur is administered by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall ( Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur ), headed by an appointed mayor ( Datuk Bandar ), while Putrajaya
2232-586: The Batu Lintang camp , for POWs and civilian internees, 5 km (3.1 mi) outside Kuching. After the end of World War II, the town survived and was wholly undamaged. The third and last Rajah, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke later ceded Sarawak to the British Crown on 1 July 1946. During the Crown Colony period, the government worked to develop and improve the infrastructure on Sarawak. Kuching
2325-467: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) reported that Kuching had a total population of 402,738. The metro city population (North Kuching, South Kuching, and Padawan ) consists primarily of Malays (146,067), Chinese (138,620), Iban (82,743), Bidayuh (20,065), non-Malaysian citizens (5,048), other Sarawak Bumiputras ( Orang Ulu ) (4,076), Melanau (1,840) and Indian (3,257), with around
2418-471: The Malay Peninsula , collectively called Peninsular Malaysia ( Semenanjung Malaysia ) or West Malaysia . Two states are on the island of Borneo , and the remaining federal territory consists of islands offshore of Borneo; they are collectively referred to as East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. Out of the 13 states in Malaysia, 9 are monarchies. The governance of the states is divided between
2511-551: The Sarawak State Museum . However, another source reported that Kuching was previously known as "Sarawak" before Brooke arrived. The settlement was renamed to "Sarawak Proper" during the kingdom's expansion. It was only in 1872 that Charles Brooke renamed the settlement to "Kuching". There was one unlikely theory based on a story of miscommunication. According to the story, James Brooke arrived in Kuching on his schooner Royalist . He then asked his local guide about
2604-558: The Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus , the only branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology outside Australia; Executive College ; and UCSI University, Sarawak Campus which houses the Faculty of Hospitality and Management. A polytechnic and community college, both known as Politeknik Kuching Sarawak and Kolej Komuniti Kuching are also located in the city. Other private colleges can be found through
2697-546: The Tua Pek Kong Temple . In the 1950s, the river became very shallow because of silt deposits in the river. The river was later filled to make way for roads. There is another theory that Kuching actually means "Ku" (古)- Old and "Ching" (井) - Well or "old well" (古井) in Chinese. During the Brooke administration , there was no water supply and water-borne diseases were common. In 1888, an epidemic broke out which later
2790-569: The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences building situated next to the Sarawak General Hospital. The Sarawak State Government moved the last remaining public university campus ( Universiti Teknologi MARA ) from Kuching to Kota Samarahan in 1997 in a long-term initiative to transform Kota Samarahan into an education hub. Kuching is home to three private universities:
2883-674: The White Ensign and be accorded the same rights as ships of the Royal Navy. When armed, with "6 six-pounders, a number of swivels, and small arms in abundance," Royalist was effectively a private warship. Royalist played an instrumental role in establishing Brooke's foothold in Sarawak, from his first visit in 1839 until he became the first White Rajah of Sarawak in 1841. Royalist was recorded in Brunei in September 1843, and
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2976-617: The White Rajahs and currently the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak ), and Fort Margherita. States and federal territories of Malaysia [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Race and politics The states and federal territories of Malaysia are the principal administrative divisions of Malaysia . Malaysia is a federation of 13 states ( Negeri ) and 3 federal territories ( Wilayah Persekutuan ). Eleven states and two federal territories are located on
3069-569: The "Special Cabinet Committee To Review the Malaysia Agreement" and directed a Special Task Force Team (Taskforce MA63) to prepare a final report on the 1963 agreement before 31 August 2019. Two years after the failed attempt, on 16 September 2021, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob pledged to look into issues relating to Sabah and Sarawak via the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963, with negotiations being chaired by
3162-487: The 19th century, stated that the name was derived from a stream of the same name, called "Sungai Kuching" or Cat River in English. On page 64 of Bampfylde and Baring-Gould's 1909 'A History of Sarawak under its Two White Rajahs', it says: "Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is so called from a small stream that runs through the town into the main river...." The stream was situated at the foot of Bukit Mata Kuching and in front of
3255-694: The 2019 proposed amendments by the then Pakatan Harapan government, being tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Parliament) Wan Junaidi . Discussions on restoring Sabahans and Sarawakians' rights will continue in the meantime. The same meeting also saw the council agree to empower both the Sabah and Sarawah governments to issue deep fishing licences as opposed to the federal government currently. The amendments were tabled on 3 November 2021, consisting of four changes, being restoring Sabah and Sarawak as "partners", defining Malaysia Day as
3348-747: The Borneo Cultures Museum is the Islamic Heritage Museum . Other museums in Kuching include the Chinese History Museum , Kuching Cat Museum , Sarawak Timber Museum and Textile Museum Sarawak . Kuching is also home to the first ever planetarium in Malaysia, the Sultan Iskandar Planetarium which is adjacent to the Kuching Civic Centre . Interesting historical landmarks and sites of Kuching include The Astana (the former palace of
3441-667: The Chinese have contributed heavily to the city's economy since their migration during the Brunei Sultanate period, after the discovery of antimony ore , and also during the Charles Vyner Brooke administration (who encouraged the immigration of the Chinese for planting black pepper ). Kuching's roads, thoroughfares and motorways are overseen by one of the two local councils, the DBKU ( Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara ) and MBKS ( Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan ), or
3534-622: The Federation but decided not to in the end due to several issues, such as the status of the Sultan within Malaysia, division of Bruneian oil royalties , and pressure from opposition groups which amounted to the Brunei Revolt . Administrative divisions: Royalist (schooner) The Royalist was a 142-ton topsail schooner . She was probably built in Cowes in 1834 as a gentleman's yacht for Rev T.L. Lane. James Brooke , at that point
3627-540: The Hindoo shops you can buy silks from India , sarongs from Java , tea from China and tiles and porcelain from all parts of the world, laid out in picturesque confusion, and overflowing into the street. The Astana (Palace), which is now the official residence of the governor of Sarawak, was constructed next to Brooke's first residence. He had it built in 1869 as a wedding gift to his wife. Kuching continued to prosper under Charles Vyner Brooke , who succeeded his father as
3720-468: The Institute of Dynamic Management, Sarawak (conducting franchised programmes from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak ). The International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak or ICATS is an institution created as the state government's initiative to enhance technical and vocational training education among school leavers. The college was established from the former INTI College Sarawak facilities. Operated by
3813-682: The Kota Samarahan Municipal Council is known as Greater Kuching. Kuching is located on the banks of the Sarawak River in the northwestern part of the island of Borneo . The limits of the City of Kuching include all that area in Kuching District containing an area approximately 431.01 km (166.41 sq mi) bounded from Gunung Lasak (Mount Lasak) in Muara Tebas to Batu Buaya (Crocodile Rock) in
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3906-540: The Malays and Melanau are Muslim , and a number of Hindus and Sikhs , with a small number of secularists , also exist around the city. There is a size-able population of non-citizens, who mostly come from the bordering Indonesian region of Kalimantan , most of whom are migrant workers. Since the British period, a small population of South Asians —notably, Pakistanis —have lived in the city, their livelihoods primarily
3999-635: The Prime Minister, joined by the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as eight federal ministers. On 19 October 2021, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Maximus Ongkili announced a Bill to be tabled in the coming Parliament sitting after the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 agreed to Articles 1(2) and 160(2) of the Federal Constitution to restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners to Peninsular Malaysia. The proposed law differs from
4092-467: The Rajah and his officers, that it reminded me of a box of painted toys kept scrupulously clean by a child. The Bazaar runs for some distance along the banks of river, and this quarter of the town is inhabited almost entirely by Chinese traders, with the exception of one or two Hindoo shops....Groceries of exotic kinds are laid out on tables near the pavement, from which the purchasers make their choice. At
4185-751: The Santubong peninsula following a series of survey marks as stated in the First Schedule of the City of Kuching Ordinance, 1988 . As a simplification of the legal statute, the Kuching city limits extend from the Kuching International Airport in the south to the northern coast of the Santubong and Bako peninsulas; from the Kuching Wetlands National Park in the west to the Kuap River estuary in
4278-555: The Sarawak River, near the city centre, many 'tambang' (traditional roofed wooden sampan ) can be seen carrying passengers from one riverbank to another. For those staying along the river banks, it is a short way to getting to the city-proper. The wharf for express boats servicing transport to further areas such as Sibu and Bintulu , is located in the east of the city at the Sim Kheng Hong Port (formerly known as
4371-524: The Tanah Puteh Port) in Pending . Kuching International Airport (KCH) ( ICAO Code: WBGG) is the main gateway for air passengers. The airport's history dates back to the 1940s and today the airport has undergone and is still undergoing many major redevelopments. The airport terminal is listed as the fourth busiest airport in Malaysia according to total passenger movements in 2013. Since 2009,
4464-399: The Third Rajah of Sarawak. In 1941, Kuching was the site of the Brooke Government Centenary Celebration. A few months later, the Brooke administration came to a close when the Japanese occupied Sarawak . During the Second World War , six platoons of infantry from 2/15 Punjab Regiment were stationed at Kuching in April 1941. The Regiment defended Kuching and Bukit Stabar airfield from being
4557-401: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and an executive Chief Minister or Ketua Menteri . except for Sarawak whose head of government is styled 'Premier'. While the population of Malaysia is ethnically and religiously diverse, such diversity is spread throughout the country and not inherently reflected by the borders of the states. There is a significant distinction however between the peninsular states and
4650-459: The airport has grown rapidly with an increasing number of passengers and aircraft movement. It is the secondary hub for Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia while becoming the third hub for MASWings , which serves flights to smaller towns and rural areas in East Malaysia. The current court complex is located in Petra Jaya. It contains the High Court , Sessions Court, and the Magistrate Court. Another courts of Syariah and native were also located in
4743-453: The animal as a symbol of their city, and it features in statues as well as the municipal council's coat of arms - an example of heraldic canting . Some source also stated that it was derived from a fruit called "mata kucing" ( Euphoria malaiense ), a fruit that grows widely in Malaysia and Indonesia. There was also a hill in the city that was named after the fruit, which is called Bukit Mata Kuching. Harriette McDougall writing to her son in
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#17327804871074836-478: The app's services and coverage. Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak (DUN) - Pusat Hidupan Liar Semenggoh Orangutan 砂拉越州立法議會- 實蒙谷人猿猩猩野生動物中心 The main bus terminal is Kuching Sentral, opening in 2012, located in the south of the city—about 5 minutes' drive away from Kuching International Airport and 20 minutes from the city centre. The terminal serves as a starting point for long-distance trips to Brunei , Sabah , and West Kalimantan , Indonesia . Another bus terminal
4929-423: The centre of attention and development. Improvements included a sanitation system. By 1874, the city had completed several developments, including construction of a hospital, prison, Fort Margherita , and many other buildings. Charles Brooke's wife, in her memoir (My Life in Sarawak) , included this description of Kuching: The little town looked so neat and fresh and prosperous under the careful jurisdiction of
5022-529: The city with most of the colleges are subsidiaries from universities and university colleges established in West Malaysia , such as SEGi College, Sarawak, Sunway College Kuching, Limkokwing Borneo , PTPL Sarawak , Wawasan Open University , Open University Malaysia , and Twintech College Sarawak. There are private institutions conducting franchised programmes from full-fledged universities (apart from running their own courses) such as SATT College (conducting franchised programmes from Universiti Teknologi MARA ) and
5115-496: The city's traffic continues to rise. As Kuching is located near the equator , potholes have the tendency to develop on the roads during the monsoon season , usually at the end of the year, due to coinciding with winter in the Northern Hemisphere . Roads leading outside of the city to the more rural regions were of a slightly inferior quality, with regards to maintenance, but are now being upgraded. Highway routes from Kuching include: There are two types of taxis operating within
5208-429: The city, such as the main public hospitals , public health clinics , other type of health clinics, mobile clinic, flying doctor service, village clinics, and 1Malaysia clinic . The main hospital is the Sarawak General Hospital which is the oldest hospital since 1923. Another hospital is Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital. Hospital Sentosa (Sentosa Mental Hospital), opened in 1958, provides psychiatric services for
5301-407: The city. The Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters is located in Badruddin Street. There is only one district headquarters in the city, which is the Kuching District police headquarters located in Simpang Tiga Road. Kuching Prison Complex is located in Puncak Borneo Street. Temporary lock-ups or prison cells are found in most police stations around the city. There are many types of health services in
5394-415: The city: the standard taxis are the red-and-yellow painted automobiles. A slightly larger taxi, painted in blue, is available as well; these are more comfortable, but slightly more expensive (thus known as "executive taxis"). In 2014, a smartphone taxi-booking app called GrabTaxi was launched, making Kuching the fifth area (after Klang Valley , Cyberjaya , Putrajaya , and Johor Bahru ) to benefit from
5487-460: The day when Sabah and Sarawak joined and changes to the definition of the Federation, and defining who are natives of Sabah and Sarawak. On 14 December 2021, the proposed amendment was passed in the Parliament unanimously with 199 votes in favour, and 21 MPs absent from the 6-hour long debate. On 6 January 2022, Minister Ongkili announced the setting up of a joint technical committee to study Sabah's proposal for increased annual grants in addition to
5580-411: The destroyed by the Japanese. Defence was mainly concentrated on Kuching and Miri . However, on 24 December 1941, Kuching was conquered by the Japanese forces. Sarawak was ruled as part of the Japanese Empire for three years and eight months, until the official Japanese surrender on 11 September 1945. The official surrender was signed on HMAS Kapunda at Kuching. From March 1942, the Japanese operated
5673-484: The east. The Sarawak River generally splits the city into North and South. The highest point in the city is Mount Santubong on the Santubong peninsula, which is at 810.2 m (2,658 ft) above sea level, located 35 km north of the city centre. Rapid urbanisation has occurred in Greater Kuching and the urban sprawl extends to Penrissen, Kota Sentosa, Kota Padawan, Batu Kawah, Matang, Samariang, Siburan , Tarat, Kota Samarahan , Asajaya as well as Serian which
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#17327804871075766-424: The entire state and known as the second oldest hospital in Sarawak after the main hospital. Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Petra Jaya is the largest private hospital (with 130 beds) in Sarawak. In addition, three other large private health facilities are Borneo Medical Centre with (120 beds), Timberland Medical Centre with (100 beds), and KPJ Healthcare with (75 beds). Kuching Specialist Hospital located in BDC
5859-406: The existing states of the Federation of Malaya . However, through the process of the amendment, the bill failed to pass following the failure to reach two-thirds majority support (148 votes) in the Parliament with only 138 agreed with the move while 59 abstained from the voting. Nevertheless, the Malaysian federal government agreed to review the 1963 agreement to remedy breaches of the treaty with
5952-426: The federal government and the state governments, while the federal territories are directly administered by the federal government. The specific responsibilities of the federal and the state governments are listed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of Malaysia . Theoretically, any matter not set out in the Ninth Schedule can be legislated on by the individual states. However, legal scholars generally view this as
6045-518: The field of gastronomy . Kuching is also the main gateway for travellers visiting Sarawak and Borneo. Kuching Wetlands National Park is located about 30 km (19 mi) from the city and there are many other tourist attractions in and around Kuching such as Bako National Park , Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), state assembly building , The Astana , Fort Margherita , Kuching Cat Museum , and Sarawak State Museum / Borneo Cultures Museum. The city has become one of
6138-448: The formation of Malaysia in 1963, Kuching retained its status as state capital and was granted city status in 1988. Since then, Kuching is divided into two administrative regions managed by two separate local authorities Mohd Azri Bin Subohi. The administrative centre of the Sarawak State Government is located at Wisma Bapa Malaysia , Kuching. Kuching is a major food destination and is a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network under
6231-459: The major industrial and commercial centres in East Malaysia . The name "Kuching" was already in use for the city by the time Brooke arrived in 1839. There are many theories as to the derivation of the name "Kuching". It was perhaps derived from the Malay word for cat, "kucing", or from Cochin , an Indian trading port on the Malabar Coast and a generic term in China and British India for trading harbour. Some Hindu artefacts can be seen today at
6324-407: The majority party in DUN is usually appointed Chief Minister by the Ruler or Governor. The term of DUN members is five years unless the assembly is dissolved earlier by the Ruler or Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. Usually, DUN of the states in Peninsular Malaysia are dissolved in conjunction with the dissolution of the federal parliament , to have state elections running concurrently with
6417-490: The month of January (wettest month of the year). The wettest times are during the North-East Monsoon months of November to February and the city's driest months are June through August. The temperature in Kuching ranges from 19 °C (66 °F) to 36 °C (97 °F) but the average temperature is around 23 °C (73 °F) in the early hours of the morning and rises to around 33 °C (91 °F) during mid afternoon. This temperature stays almost constant throughout
6510-409: The name of the town. The local guide mistakenly thought that Brooke was pointing towards a cat, and so had said the word "Kuching". However, ethnic Malays in Sarawak have always used the term "pusak" for cats (cognate with Filipino pusa ), instead of the standard Malay word "kucing" (cognate with Filipino kuting which refers to kittens). Despite this etymological discrepancy, Sarawakians have adopted
6603-407: The operations of 36 village libraries in the state funded by the National Library of Malaysia . Other public libraries in Kuching include the DBKU City Library and village libraries such as in Bandar Baru Samariang, Kampung Samariang Lama, and Taman Sepakat Jaya. Kuching maintains several museums showcasing its culture and history. The Sarawak State Museum is one of the finest museums in Asia and
6696-460: The other states, however it was later amended again to list both these entities together with the other states, suggesting a status equal to the original states of Malaya. Sabah and Sarawak still retained a higher degree of autonomy than the peninsular states in areas such as immigration, state revenue, and legislative power over land and local government. However, federal influence over their politics increased over time, including direct interference in
6789-550: The other until 1840 when Pengiran Raja Muda Hashim , the Bruneian Prime Minister, offered to hand over the governorship of Sarawak to British adventurer James Brooke to acquire his help to defeat the rebel chiefs. Pengiran Raja Muda Hashim later ceded the territory to James Brooke as a reward for helping him to counter the rebellion. The rebellion was crushed in November 1840, and on 24 September 1841, Brooke
6882-536: The parliamentary election. However, Rulers and Governors hold discretionary powers in withholding consent to dissolve the DUN. Each state sends two senators elected by the DUN to the Dewan Negara (Senate), the upper house of the federal parliament. The Parliament of Malaysia is permitted to legislate on issues of land, Islamic religion and local government to provide for a uniform law between different states, or on
6975-434: The peninsular states, based on historical Malay kingdoms, are known as the Malay states . Each Malay state has a hereditary ruler as titular head of state and an executive Chief Minister or Menteri Besar as politically responsible head of government. The rulers of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu are styled Sultans . Negeri Sembilan's elective ruler holds the title of Yamtuan Besar , whereas
7068-569: The request of the state assembly concerned. The law in question must also be passed by the state assembly as well, except in the case of certain land law-related subjects. Non-Islamic issues that fall under the purview of the state may also be legislated on at the federal level for the purpose of conforming with Malaysian treaty obligations. Each state is further divided into districts , which are then divided into mukim . In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into "Divisions". The 3 federal territories were formed for different purposes: Kuala Lumpur
7161-525: The ruler of Perlis is titled Raja . The federal head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (commonly referred to as "King" in English), is elected (de facto rotated) among the nine rulers to serve a 5-year term. Former British settlements and crown colonies of Penang and Malacca (both peninsular), and Sabah and Sarawak (both on Borneo) each have a titular Governor (styled Yang di-Pertua Negeri ) appointed by
7254-494: The selling of clothing and spices . Other migrants who came during the British era included Bugis from the Dutch East Indies , and other peoples from neighbouring Dutch Borneo. Being a diverse, "melting-pot" city, interracial marriages (among those of different ethnic backgrounds) are common in Kuching, and the city itself is home to over 30 distinct ethnic groups. Besides being the capital city of Sarawak, Kuching
7347-575: The state assemblies. In conjunction with the celebration of Malaysia Day in 2018 under the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad promised to restore Sabah and Sarawak status in the Malaysian federation in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement , restoring "their status from merely a state to an equal partner of the Malayan states". Although the status of both entities were clearly defined in Article I, Malaysia Agreement 1963 as 'states' which shall be federated with
7440-661: The state's Public Works Department . Roads overseen by the latter department are generally state roads or federal roads . Most major internal roads are dual-carriageways . Kuching is linked by roads to other towns within Sarawak, mainly by federal roads. The city is also famous for a number of roundabouts , including the oldest and largest one, the Datuk Abang Kipali Bin Abang Akip Roundabout. The roundabouts are typically landscaped and are efficient for handling traffic congestion . However, traffic lights are more commonly used now as
7533-460: The two states of East Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak , which have significant indigenous populations. Both states have greater autonomy that those on the peninsula, including additional powers over their immigration controls as part of the 20-point agreement and 18-point agreement drawn up by the respective states when they, together with the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, formed Malaysia. They have separate immigration policies and controls and
7626-1127: The well-established and prestigious boarding schools in the city is Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuching, which is located at Batu Kawa and Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuching Utara, which is located at Matang Jaya. Other government secondary schools including some of the oldest and well known are SMK St. Joseph, SMK St. Thomas, SMK St. Teresa and SMK St. Mary as well as others like SMK Green Road, Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah, SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, SMK Batu Lintang , and SMK Padungan . Kuching has 4 out of 14 Chinese independent schools in Sarawak. These are Chung Hua Middle School No. 1 (古晋中华第一中学), Chung Hua Middle School No. 3 (古晋中华第三中学), Chung Hua Middle School No. 4 (古晋中华第四中学) and Batu Kawa Min Lit secondary school (石角民立中学). There are also three international schools in Kuching, namely Tunku Putra International School , Lodge International School and Borneo International School. Other private schools in Kuching are Sunny Hill School and St. Joseph's Private Schools. There are currently no public university campuses in Kuching, apart from
7719-440: The year if it is not affected by the heavy rain and strong winds during the early hours of the morning which can bring the temperature down to 19 °C (66 °F), but this is very rare. The term "Kuchingite" has been used to describe the people of Kuching, although it is not official. However, the simplest way to call the people of Kuching is only by "orang Kuching", which means "people of Kuching" in English. In early 2022,
7812-779: Was administered by Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Kuching South City Council (MBKS). The city is defined within the borders of what is the Kuching District . With an area of 1,868.83 km (721.56 sq mi), it is the most populous district in Sarawak. The area then subdivided into two sub-districts, namely Kuching Proper and Padawan. Kuching Proper included the city area and northern part of Padawan municipality (e.g. Batu Kawah , Matang Jaya ), while Padawan sub-district (southern part of Padawan municipality) included Kota Padawan, Teng Bukap and Borneo Highlands (Mambong). The combined area of Kuching North City Hall, Kuching South City Council, Padawan Municipal Council, and
7905-587: Was appointed as the Governor of Sarawak with the title of Rajah . It was not announced until 18 August 1842, following Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II 's ratifying the governorship, and requiring Brooke to pay an annual sum of $ 2,500 to the Sultan. Since that time, Kuching became the seat of the Brooke government. The administration was later continued by his nephew, Charles Brooke . As an administrative capital, it became
7998-670: Was chosen as a permanent host for the biennial ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA). These events are normally held at the Borneo Convention Centre . Kuching Port Authority (KPA), established in 1961, started its operations at Tanah Puteh Port (Sim Kheng Hong Port) in 1975 with an annual capacity of 350,000 tonnes. Its operations have since been shifted to Pending and Senari terminals, with an annual capacity of 2.9 million tonnes and 7 million tonnes, respectively. KPA also controls Biawak Oil Jetty, which handles petroleum products. Historically,
8091-506: Was declared as "City of Unity" by One Malaysia Foundation for racial harmony that existed in the city because of cross-racial marriages, multi-racial schools, fair scholarship distributions, and balanced workforce patterns. As a capital of Sarawak, Kuching plays an important role in the political and economic welfare of the population of the entire state as it is the seat of the state government where almost all of their ministries and agencies are based. The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
8184-456: Was in high demand in the market of nearby Singapore. A Dutch report mentioned that there lived about a hundred Malays and three houses of Chinese in the area shortly before the founding of Kuching. The arrival of Mahkota was not popular with the local Malay chiefs, whose autonomy was restricted by Mahkota's increasing tax and labour demands. The chiefs moved upriver, allied with Dayaks, and rebelled against Brunei. Neither side could gain an edge over
8277-528: Was known as "Great Cholera Epidemic". A well situated in the present day China Street in Main Bazaar helped to combat the disease by providing clean water supply. Due to increased demand for a water supply, the role of the well was later replaced by water treatment plant on the Bau Road. Sarawak was part of the Bruneian Empire since the reign of the first Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad Shah . Kuching
8370-406: Was occupied by Japanese forces from 1942 to 1945. The Japanese government set up a Batu Lintang camp near Kuching to hold prisoners of war and civilian internees . After the war, the town survived intact. However, the last Rajah of Sarawak, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke decided to cede Sarawak as part of British Crown Colony in 1946. Kuching remained as capital during the Crown Colony period. After
8463-466: Was revitalised as the capital of Sarawak under the British colonial government . When Sarawak, together with North Borneo, Singapore and the Federation of Malaya , formed the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, Kuching kept its status as the state capital and was granted a city status on 1 August 1988. Kuching experienced further development throughout the years as the state capital. On 29 July 2015, Kuching
8556-708: Was scheduled to open its operation to the public in 2020, with a 70-bed capacity. In the city, all schools under the National Education System (government education institution category), are managed by the Kuching Combined Education Office ( Pejabat Pelajaran Gabungan Kuching ). There are many government or state schools in and around the city. Like other Malaysian schools, schools in the city are divided into four levels of education — pre-school, primary, secondary (lower and upper) and post-secondary (excluding tertiary). Among
8649-430: Was the third capital of Sarawak, founded in 1827 by the representative of the Sultan of Brunei, Pengiran Indera Mahkota . Prior to the founding of Kuching, the two past capitals of Sarawak were Santubong, founded by Sultan Pengiran Tengah in 1599, and Lidah Tanah, founded by Datu Patinggi Ali in the early 1820s. The founding of Kuching was spurred by the discovery of antimony ore at the upper Sarawak river in 1924, which
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