Page 40 - The Guide To Sarawak

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INTRODUCTION TO THE STATE OF SARAWAK
The coastal town of Mukah, located at the confluence of the Tellian and Mukah Rivers, is the administrative centre of Mukah Division, the fastest-growing region of Sarawak.
Malay and Chinese), the annual Kaul festival and the idyllic rural villages (Old Mukah, Oya, Dalat) also make it a fast-emerging tourism destination.
BINTULU DIVISION
(Pop. 230,000, Area 12,116.2 sq km)
Bintulu, comprising Bintulu and Tatau Districts, is Sarawak’s principal centre for heavy industry. 85%
of Sarawak’s natural gas reserves are located offshore, and thus the town of Bintulu (Pop. 198,800) is home to Malaysia’s deepest port, the world’s largest gas liquefaction plant (MLNG), the world’s first commercial gas-to-liquids plant (Shell MDS) and one of the largest urea plants in Asia (ABF).
Agriculture, fisheries, timber and downstream activities are also important; Bintulu is currently Sarawak’s largest palm oil producer. National Parks are situated at Samalaju and Bukit Tiban. Future growth is driven by renewable energy via SCORE; Bakun
population is majority Iban with many Orang Ulu in
the upriver areas, as well as Chinese, Malays and others.
Kapit’s main economic activities are timber related, coal mining and agriculture (oil palm, rubber, rice and pepper). Tourism is growing in importance, thanks to traditional Iban longhouses, the Kapit Regatta and the Balleh-Kapit Raft Safari. Kapit is also the main powerhouse for Sarawak’s industrial development, especially SCORE (see page 338); the 2,400 MW Bakun Hydro Dam, Southeast Asia’s largest, is located
in the Division and further dams are planned.
MUKAH DIVISION
(Pop. 122,300, Area 6,997.6 sq km)
Known as the Melanau Heartland, Mukah Division is centred on the historic town of Mukah and comprises the Districts of Dalat,
Matu, Daro and Mukah. Fisheries and aquaculture
are important, as well
as plantations, timber processing at Tanjung Manis and offshore natural gas at Balingian.
Mukah is Sarawak’s main sago-growing area, and other important crops include oil palm, rice and pineapples. It is also a regional education hub with a UITM Branch Campus and a Polytechnic. The deep- sea fishing port in Tanjung Manis is the focal point for the Halal Hub in SCORE (see page 342). The vibrant cultures of the diverse population (Melanau, Iban,
The booming industrial city and petrochemical port of Bintulu, at the mouth of the Kemena River, is the administrative centre of Bintulu Division.