125-450: Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital , commonly abbreviated as RIPAS Hospital , is the main and largest public hospital in Brunei . It is the primary referral hospital and teaching hospital for medical and nursing students mainly from Universiti Brunei Darussalam , the only university in the country providing such courses. The hospital is funded by the government and administered under
250-659: A British protected state (which continued until 1984). But, when the Raj of Sarawak annexed Brunei's Pandaruan District in 1890, the British did not take any action to stop it. They did not regard either Brunei or the Raj of Sarawak as 'foreign' (per the Treaty of Protection). This final annexation by Sarawak left Brunei with its current small land mass and separation into two parts. British residents were introduced in Brunei under
375-730: A civil war from 1660 to 1673. The British have intervened in the affairs of Brunei on several occasions. Britain attacked Brunei in July 1846 due to internal conflicts over who was the rightful Sultan. In the 1880s, the decline of the Bruneian Empire continued. The sultan granted land (now Sarawak) to James Brooke , who had helped him quell a rebellion, and allowed him to establish the Raj of Sarawak . Over time, Brooke and his nephews (who succeeded him) leased or annexed more land. Brunei lost much of its territory to him and his dynasty, known as
500-429: A geophysicist , who conducted a survey there. In 1927, gas seepages were reported in the area. Seria Well Number One (S-1) was drilled on 12 July 1928. Oil was struck at 297 metres (974 ft) on 5 April 1929. Seria Well Number 2 was drilled on 19 August 1929, and, as of 2009 , continues to produce oil. Oil production was increased considerably in the 1930s with the development of more oil fields. In 1940, oil production
625-557: A welfare state for its citizens, with free or significant subsidies in regards to housing, healthcare and education. It ranks "very high" on the Human Development Index (HDI)—the second-highest among Southeast Asian states after Singapore , which it maintains close relations with including a Currency Interchangeability Agreement . According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brunei
750-676: A former Secretary to the British Resident, Ernest Edgar Pengilly, was appointed chief administrative officer under the Japanese Governor. The Japanese had proposed that Pengilly retain his position under their administration, but he declined. Both he and other British nationals still in Brunei were interned by the Japanese at Batu Lintang camp in Sarawak. While the British officials were under Japanese guard, Ibrahim made
875-405: 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
1000-648: A new constitution was written declaring Brunei a self-governing state, while its foreign affairs, security, and defence remained the responsibility of the United Kingdom. A small rebellion erupted against the monarchy in 1962, which was suppressed with help of the UK. Known as the Brunei Revolt , the rebellion contributed to the Sultan's decision to opt out of joining the emerging state now called Malaysia under
1125-624: A point of personally shaking each one by the hand and wishing him well. The Sultan retained his throne and was given a pension and honours by the Japanese. During the later part of the occupation, he resided at Tantuya, Limbang and had little to do with the Japanese. Most of the Malay government officers were retained by the Japanese. Brunei's administration was reorganised into five prefectures, which included British North Borneo . The Prefectures included Baram , Labuan , Lawas , and Limbang . Ibrahim hid numerous significant government documents from
1250-519: 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
1375-678: A territorial conflict between Hindu Tondo and Muslim Manila in the Philippines by appointing the Bruneian descended Rajah Ache of Manila as admiral of the Bruneian navy in a rivalry against Tondo and as the enforcer of Bruneian interests in the Philippines. He subsequently encountered the Magellan expedition wherein Antonio Pigafetta noted that under orders from his grandfather the Sultan of Brunei, Ache had previously sacked
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#17327811793211500-474: 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
1625-870: Is ranked ninth in the world by gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity . Brunei is a member of the United Nations , the World Trade Organization , the East Asia Summit , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , the Non-Aligned Movement , the Commonwealth of Nations , and ASEAN . According to local historiography, Brunei was founded by Awang Alak Betatar, later to be Sultan Muhammad Shah , reigning around AD 1400. He moved from Garang in
1750-638: Is a country in Southeast Asia , situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo . Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea , it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak , with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang . Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between its multi-landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia . As of 2023 ,
1875-764: 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
2000-485: 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
2125-530: 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
2250-740: 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
2375-674: 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
2500-566: 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
2625-471: 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
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#17327811793212750-645: Is present in the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names geographical database, as well as the official ASEAN and Commonwealth listings. The earliest recorded documentation by the West about Brunei is by an Italian known as Ludovico di Varthema . On his documentation back to 1550; We arrived at the island of Bornei (Brunei or Borneo) , which is distant from the Maluch about two hundred miles [three hundred kilometres], and we found that it
2875-476: 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
3000-591: 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
3125-479: The Bruneian Empire 's peak during the reign of Sultan Bolkiah (1485–1528), the state is claimed to have had control over the most of Borneo , including modern-day Sarawak and Sabah , as well as the Sulu archipelago and the islands off the northwestern tip of Borneo. There are also claims to its historical control over Seludong , the site of the modern Philippine capital of Manila, but Southeast Asian scholars believe
3250-654: 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 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
3375-790: The Conspiracy of the Maharlikas , an attempt by Filipinos to link up with the Brunei Sultanate and Japanese Shogunate to expel the Spaniards from the Philippines. However, upon the Spanish suppression of the conspiracy, the Bruneian descended aristocracy of precolonial Manila were exiled to Guerrero, Mexico which consequently later became a center of the Mexican war of independence against Spain . The local Brunei accounts of
3500-467: 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
3625-646: The Kawaguchi Detachment from Cam Ranh Bay at Kuala Belait . After six days' fighting, they occupied the entire country. The only Allied troops in the area were the 2nd Battalion of the 15th Punjab Regiment based at Kuching , Sarawak. Once the Japanese occupied Brunei, they made an agreement with Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin over governing the country. Inche Ibrahim (known later as Pehin Datu Perdana Menteri Dato Laila Utama Awang Haji Ibrahim),
3750-605: The Ministry of Health . It was officially opened on 28 August 1984. The hospital accommodates 1260 beds and has 257 doctors. Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital is situated on a 17-hectare (42-acre) site located 0.8 kilometres (0.50 miles) from the City Centre of Bandar Seri Begawan , the capital of Brunei. The site is also located close to the bank of the Kedayan River , which provides water transport access to
3875-770: 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 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
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4000-554: 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
4125-558: 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
4250-597: The Temburong District to the Brunei River estuary, discovering Brunei. According to legend, upon landing he exclaimed, Baru nah (loosely translated as "that's it!" or "there"), from which the name "Brunei" was derived. He was the first Muslim ruler of Brunei. Before the rise of the Bruneian Empire under the Muslim Bolkiah dynasty, Brunei is believed to have been under Buddhist rulers. It
4375-547: 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
4500-570: 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:
4625-635: The White Rajah , and it ceded Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company . In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and was assigned a British resident as colonial manager in 1906. After the Japanese occupation during World War II , a new constitution was written in 1959. In 1962, a small armed rebellion against the monarchy which was indirectly related to the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
4750-547: The White Rajahs . Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin appealed to the British to stop further encroachment by the Brookes. The "Treaty of Protection" was negotiated by Sir Hugh Low and signed into effect on 17 September 1888. The treaty said that the sultan "could not cede or lease any territory to foreign powers without British consent"; it provided Britain effective control over Brunei's external affairs, making it
4875-489: 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
5000-748: 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
5125-592: The Buddhist city of Loue in Southwest Borneo for being faithful to the old religion and rebelling against the authority of Sultanate. However, European influence gradually brought an end to Brunei's regional power , as Brunei entered a period of decline compounded by internal strife over royal succession. In the face of these invasions by European Christian powers, the Ottoman Caliphate aided
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5250-515: The Castilian War differ greatly from the generally accepted view of events. What was called the Castilian War was seen as a heroic episode, with the Spaniards being driven out by Bendahara Sakam , purportedly a brother of the ruling sultan, and a thousand native warriors. Most historians consider this to be a folk-hero account, which probably developed decades or centuries after. Brunei eventually descended into anarchy. The country suffered
5375-634: The Chinese admiral Zheng He visited the Brunei in the early 15th century, he founded a major trading port which included Chinese people who were actively trading with China. During the 15th century, Boni had seceded from Majapahit and then converted to Islam. Thus transforming into the independent Sultanate of Brunei. Brunei became a Hashemite state when she allowed the Arab Emir of Mecca, Sharif Ali , to become her third sultan. As customary for close affiliation and alliances in Southeast Asia,
5500-601: 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
5625-433: The Constitution Agreement was signed in Brunei Town . The agreement was signed by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Sir Robert Scott, the Commissioner-General for Southeast Asia. It included the following provisions: Five councils were established: A series of National Development Plans was initiated by the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III . The first was introduced in 1953. A total sum of B$ 100 million
5750-491: 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
5875-413: 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
6000-410: The Japanese and remained until July 1946. After World War II , a new government was formed in Brunei under the British Military Administration (BMA). It consisted mainly of Australian officers and servicemen. The administration of Brunei was passed to the Civil Administration on 6 July 1945. The Brunei State Council was also revived that year. The BMA was tasked to revive the Bruneian economy, which
6125-414: The Japanese during the occupation. Pengiran Yusuf (later YAM Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusuf ), along with other Bruneians, was sent to Japan for training. Although in the area the day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima , Yusuf survived. The British had anticipated a Japanese attack, but lacked the resources to defend the area because of their engagement in the war in Europe. The troops from
6250-420: 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
6375-434: 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
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#17327811793216500-488: The Philippine kingdoms of Butuan , Sulu , Ma-i (Mindoro), Malilu 麻裏蘆 ( Manila ), Shahuchong 沙胡重 (Siocon or Zamboanga ), Yachen 啞陳 Oton , and 文杜陵 Wenduling ( Mindanao ), which would regain their independence at a later date. In the 14th century, the Javanese manuscript Nagarakretagama , written by Prapanca in 1365, mentioned Barune as the constituent state of Hindu Majapahit , which had to make an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor . In 1369, Sulu which
6625-426: The Punjab Regiment filled in the Seria oilfield oilwells with concrete in September 1941 to deny the Japanese their use. The remaining equipment and installations were destroyed when the Japanese invaded Malaya . By the end of the war, 16 wells at Miri and Seria had been restarted, with production reaching about half the pre-war level. Coal production at Muara was also recommenced, but with little success. During
6750-415: 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
6875-405: 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
7000-541: The Spanish captured the capital on 16 April 1578, with the help of Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran Seri Ratna. The Sultan Saiful Rijal and Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Abdul Kahar were forced to flee to Meragang then to Jerudong . In Jerudong, they made plans to chase the conquering army away from Brunei. Suffering high fatalities due to a cholera or dysentery outbreak, the Spanish decided to abandon Brunei and returned to Manila on 26 June 1578, after 72 days. Pengiran Seri Lela died in August or September 1578, probably from
7125-438: The Sultan, Resident and High Commissioner met to discuss the findings of the committee. They agreed to authorise the drafting of a constitution. In March 1959, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III led a delegation to London to discuss the proposed Constitution. The British delegation was led by Sir Alan Lennox-Boyd , Secretary of State for the Colonies. The British Government later accepted the draft constitution. On 29 September 1959,
7250-413: The Supplementary Protectorate Agreement in 1906. The residents were to advise the sultan on all matters of administration. Over time, the resident assumed more executive control than the sultan. The residential system ended in 1959. Petroleum was discovered in 1929 after several fruitless attempts. Two men, F. F. Marriot and T. G. Cochrane, smelled oil near the Seria river in late 1926. They informed
7375-407: 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,
7500-403: 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
7625-465: 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
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#17327811793217750-456: 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
7875-482: 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
8000-436: The banks of 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
8125-508: The beleaguered Southeast Asian Sultanates by making Aceh a protectorate and sending expeditions to reinforce, train and equip the local mujahideen . Turks were routinely migrating to Brunei as evidenced by the complaints of Manila Oidor Melchor Davalos who in his 1585 report, say that Turks were coming to Sumatra, Borneo and Ternate every year, including defeated veterans from the Battle of Lepanto . Spain declared war in 1578, planning to attack and capture Kota Batu , Brunei's capital at
8250-426: 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
8375-529: 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
8500-497: 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
8625-431: 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
8750-413: 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
8875-416: 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
9000-535: The country had a population of 455,858, of whom approximately 180,000 resided in the capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan . Its official language is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country, although other religions are nominally tolerated . The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan , and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam , including sharia . At
9125-553: The country's unicameral legislature , the Legislative Council , is simply consultative and are all appointed by the Sultan. The country's wealth derives from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields. Economic growth during the 1990s and 2000s has transformed Brunei into an industrialised country, with its GDP increasing 56% between 1999 and 2008. Political stability is maintained by the House of Bolkiah by providing
9250-480: 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
9375-608: 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
9500-537: 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
9625-578: 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
9750-561: 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
9875-654: The name of the location in question is actually in reference to Mount Selurong, in Indonesia. The maritime state of Brunei was visited by the surviving crew of the Magellan Expedition in 1521, and in 1578 it fought against Spain in the Castilian War . During the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline. The Sultanate ceded Sarawak ( Kuching ) to James Brooke and installed him as
10000-410: 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
10125-439: The occupation, the Japanese had their language taught in schools, and Government officers were required to learn Japanese. The local currency was replaced by what was to become known as duit pisang (banana money) . From 1943 hyper-inflation destroyed the currency's value and, at the end of the war, this currency was worthless. Allied attacks on shipping eventually caused trade to cease. Food and medicine fell into short supply, and
10250-667: 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
10375-552: 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
10500-633: The plan. The deepwater port at Muara was also constructed during this period. Power requirements were met, and studies were made to provide electricity to rural areas. Efforts were made to eradicate malaria , an endemic disease in the region, with the help of the World Health Organization . Malaria cases were reduced from 300 cases in 1953 to only 66 cases in 1959. The death rate was reduced from 20 per thousand in 1947 to 11.3 per thousand in 1953. Infectious disease has been prevented by public sanitation and improvement of drainage, and
10625-605: The populaces of Kampong Ayer on the Brunei River . Four medical officers with Western model training and five experts make up the psychiatry section of the RIPAS Hospital. Since its founding in October 2002, the Clinical Psychology Unit has supported many medical disciplines in addition to psychiatry. Its psychotherapy focuses mostly on behavior therapy and cognitive-behavioral treatment. Even though
10750-538: The population suffered from famine and disease. The airport runway was constructed by the Japanese during the occupation, and in 1943 Japanese naval units were based in Brunei Bay and Labuan. The naval base was destroyed by Allied bombing, but the airport runway survived. The facility was developed as a public airport. In 1944 the Allies began a bombing campaign against the occupying Japanese, which destroyed much of
10875-578: The provision of piped pure water to the population. On 14 November 1971, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah left for London to discuss matters regarding the amendments to the 1959 constitution. A new agreement was signed on 23 November 1971 with the British representative being Anthony Royle . Under this agreement, the following terms were agreed upon: This agreement also caused Gurkha units to be deployed in Brunei, where they remain up to this day. Kuching Kuching ( / ˈ k uː tʃ ɪ ŋ / KOO -ching , Malay: ['kutʃɪŋ] ) officially
11000-458: The psychiatry department has been around since 1985, psychotherapy hasn't advanced much since medical treatment has been prioritised above psychological methods. This article about a building or structure in Brunei is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Brunei in the ASEAN (dark grey) – [ Legend ] Brunei , officially Brunei Darussalam ,
11125-526: The royal family of Luzon intermarried with the ruling houses of the Sultanate of Brunei . Intermarriage was a common strategy for Southeast Asian states to extend their influence. However, Islamic Brunei's power was not uncontested in Borneo since it had a Hindu rival in a state founded by Indians called Kutai in the south which they overpowered but didn't destroy. Nevertheless, by the 16th century, Islam
11250-459: 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 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,
11375-422: The same illness suffered by his Spanish allies. There was suspicion that the legitimist sultan could have been poisoned by the ruling sultan. Seri Lela's daughter, a Bruneian princess, "Putri", had left with the Spanish, she abandoned her claim to the crown and then she married a Christian Tagalog , named Agustín de Legazpi de Tondo. Agustin de Legaspi along with his family and associates were soon implicated in
11500-498: 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
11625-664: 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
11750-526: The throne usurped by his brother, Saiful Rijal. The Spanish agreed that if they succeeded in conquering Brunei, Pengiran Seri Lela would be appointed as the sultan, while Pengiran Seri Ratna would be the new Bendahara . In March 1578, a fresh Spanish fleet had arrived from Mexico and settled at the Philippines. They were led by De Sande , acting as Capitán-General . He organized an expedition from Manila for Brunei, consisting of 400 Spaniards and Mexicans, 1,500 Filipino natives, and 300 Borneans. The campaign
11875-548: The time. This was based in part on the assistance of two Bruneian noblemen , Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran Seri Ratna. The former had travelled to Manila , then the centre of the Spanish colony. Manila itself was captured from Brunei, Christianised and made a territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain which was centered in Mexico City. Pengiran Seri Lela came to offer Brunei as a tributary to Spain for help to recover
12000-681: The town and Kuala Belait, but missed Kampong Ayer . On 10 June 1945, the Australian 9th Division landed at Muara under Operation Oboe Six to recapture Borneo from the Japanese. They were supported by American air and naval units. Brunei town was bombed extensively and recaptured after three days of heavy fighting. Many buildings were destroyed, including the Mosque. The Japanese forces in Brunei, Borneo, and Sarawak, under Lieutenant-General Masao Baba, formally surrendered at Labuan on 10 September 1945. The British Military Administration took over from
12125-549: 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 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
12250-428: The umbrella of North Borneo Federation . Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984. The official National Day, which celebrates the country's independence, is held by tradition on 23 February. In July 1953, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III formed a seven-member committee named Tujuh Serangkai , to determine the citizens' views regarding a written constitution for Brunei. In May 1954,
12375-1134: 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
12500-442: 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,
12625-480: Was a vassal-state to the Buddhist Srivijaya empire and was thought to be located in Borneo's Northwest which flourished in the 7th Century. Vijayapura itself upon earlier in its history, was a rump state of the fallen multi-ethnic: Austronesian, Austroasiatic and Indian, Funan Civilization ; previously located in what is now Cambodia. This alternative Srivijaya known as Vijayapura referring to Brunei,
12750-782: 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
12875-505: Was also equally racially diverse. In addition to the native Malay warriors, the Ottomans had repeatedly sent military expeditions to nearby Aceh . The expeditions were composed mainly of Turks , Egyptians , Swahilis , Somalis , Sindhis , Gujaratis and Malabars . These expeditionary forces had also spread to other nearby Sultanates such as Brunei and had taught new fighting tactics and techniques on how to forge cannons. Eventually,
13000-547: Was also formerly part of Majapahit, had successfully rebelled and then attacked Boni, and had invaded the Northeast Coast of Borneo and afterwards had looted the capital of its treasure and gold including sacking two sacred pearls. A fleet from Majapahit succeeded in driving away the Sulus, but Boni was left weaker after the attack. A Chinese report from 1371 described Boni as poor and totally controlled by Majapahit. When
13125-537: 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
13250-826: Was approved by the Brunei State Council for the plan. E.R. Bevington, from the Colonial Office in Fiji , was appointed to implement it. A US$ 14 million Gas Plant was built under the plan. In 1954, survey and exploration work were undertaken by the Brunei Shell Petroleum on both offshore and onshore fields. By 1956, production reached 114,700 bpd . The plan also aided the development of public education. By 1958, expenditure on education totalled at $ 4 million. Communications were improved, as new roads were built and reconstruction at Berakas Airport
13375-519: Was at more than six million barrels. The British Malayan Petroleum Company (now Brunei Shell Petroleum Company) was formed on 22 July 1922. The first offshore well was drilled in 1957. Oil and natural gas have been the basis of Brunei's development and wealth since the late 20th century. The Japanese invaded Brunei on 16 December 1941, eight days after their attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States Navy. They landed 10,000 troops of
13500-674: 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,
13625-403: Was completed in 1954. The second National Development Plan was launched in 1962. A major oil and gas field was discovered in 1963. Developments in the oil and gas sector have continued, and oil production has steadily increased since then. The plan also promoted the production of meat and eggs for consumption by citizens. The fishing industry increased its output by 25% throughout the course of
13750-508: 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
13875-470: Was ended with British assistance and led to the ban of the pro-independent Brunei People's Party . The revolt had also influenced the Sultan's decision not to join the Malaysian Federation while it was being formed . Britain's protectorate over Brunei would eventually end on 1 January 1984, becoming a fully sovereign state . Brunei has been led by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah since 1967, and
14000-608: Was extensively damaged by the Japanese during their occupation. They also had to put out the fires on the wells of Seria, which had been set by the Japanese prior to their defeat. Before 1941, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, based in Singapore, was responsible for the duties of British High Commissioner for Brunei, Sarawak , and North Borneo (now Sabah ). The first British High Commissioner for Brunei
14125-514: Was firmly rooted in Brunei, and the country had built one of its biggest mosques. In 1578, Alonso Beltrán, a Spanish traveller, described it as being five stories tall and built on the water. Brunei briefly rose to prominence in Southeast Asia when the Portuguese occupied Malacca and thereby forced the wealthy and powerful but displaced Muslim refugees there to relocate to nearby Sultanates such as Brunei. The Bruneian Sultan then intervened in
14250-670: Was great wealth in the kingdom. Marco Polo suggested in his memoirs that the Great Khan or the ruler of the Mongol Empire, attempted and failed many times in invading "Great Java" which was the European name for Bruneian controlled Borneo. According to Wang Zhenping, in the 1300s, the Yuan Dade nanhai zhi or "Yuan dynasty Dade period southern sea records" reported that Brunei or administered Sarawak and Sabah as well as
14375-458: 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
14500-530: 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
14625-453: Was known to Arabic sources as "Sribuza". One of the earliest Chinese records of an independent kingdom in Borneo is the 977 AD letter to the Chinese emperor from the ruler of Boni, which some scholars believe to refer to Borneo. The Bruneians regained their independence from Srivijaya due to the onset of a Javanese-Sumatran war. In 1225, the Chinese official Zhao Rukuo reported that Boni had 100 warships to protect its trade, and that there
14750-527: Was one of many, which also included action in Mindanao and Sulu . The racial make-up of the Christian side was diverse since it were usually made up of Mestizos , Mulattoes and Amerindians ( Aztecs , Mayans and Incans ) who were gathered and sent from Mexico and were led by Spanish officers who had worked together with native Filipinos in military campaigns across the Southeast Asia. The Muslim side
14875-546: Was renamed "Barunai" in the 14th century, possibly influenced by the Sanskrit word " varuṇ " ( वरुण ), meaning "seafarers". The word " Borneo " is of the same origin. In the country's full name, Negara Brunei Darussalam , darussalam ( Arabic : دار السلام ) means "abode of peace", while negara means "country" in Malay . A shortened version of the Malay official name, "Brunei Darussalam", has also entered common usage, particularly in official contexts, and
15000-587: 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
15125-708: 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
15250-516: Was somewhat larger than the aforesaid and much lower. The people are pagans and are men of goodwill. Their colour is whiter than that of the other sort ... in this island justice is well administered ... Areas comprising what is now Brunei participated in the Maritime Jade Road , as ascertained by archeological research. The trading network existed for 3,000 years, between 2000 BC to 1000 AD. The settlement known as Vijayapura
15375-498: Was the Governor of Sarawak, Sir Charles Ardon Clarke. The Barisan Pemuda ("Youth Front"; abbreviated as BARIP) was the first political party to be formed in Brunei, on 12 April 1946. The party intended to "preserve the sovereignty of the Sultan and the country, and to defend the rights of the Malays ". BARIP also contributed to the composition of the country's national anthem. The party was dissolved in 1948 due to inactivity. In 1959,
15500-552: 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 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
15625-432: 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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