Marudi, Sarawak

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Marudi
Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese 馬鲁帝
Nickname(s): Claude Town (Brooke Administration)
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  Malaysia
State  Sarawak
Government
 • District Officer Markus Sibong
(District Officer)
Area
 • Total 22,070.0 km2 (8,518 sq mi)
Population (2010[1])
 • Total 90,100
Demonym(s) Marudian
Time zone MST (UTC+8)
 • Summer (DST) Not observed (UTC)
Postal code 9805x
International dialling code prefix 085 (landline only)
Vehicle registration plate prefix QM (for all vehicles except taxis)
HQ (for taxis only)
Website www.marudidc.org

Marudi is a town on the Baram River in the north of Sarawak which borders the state of Sabah in Malaysia and the small country of Brunei. Marudi is a quiet town situated inland from Miri, similar in size to Kapit though nowhere near as busy. Its main attraction is another of the Brooke outposts, the beige wooden Fort House. It is the cultural heart of Sarawak's highland tribesfolk, collectively called Orang Ulu. Before Miri was founded, Marudi was the administrative centre of the northern region of Sarawak.

Marudi, a riverine town about 100 km upriver from Kuala Baram, is the largest town in the sparsely populated Baram district. It is the district administrative headquarters and has been since the days of the White Rajahs. Marudi used to be a stepping stone to the well-known tourist destination, Gunung Mulu National Park. Pioneer tourists would travel from Miri to Marudi first, and then from the river, tourists would have to use long boats cutting through few adventurous rapids upstream before reaching Mulu. With the completion of a small airport at Mulu, most tourists prefer to take Twin Otters operated by MASwings of Malaysia Airlines direct from Miri Airport.

Brooke administration

Charles Hose
Exterior view of the Fort Hose in 1896
Interior view of the Fort Hose in 1896
Peace conference of indigenous tribes in April 1899

Charles Brooke succeeded James Brooke as the new Rajah of Sarawak in 1868.

By 1883, Sultan of Brunei (Sultan Abdul Momin) ceded the Baram region (including Miri) to Charles Brooke.[2][3]

The fourth division of Sarawak was immediately created with the installation of Claude Champion de Crespigny as the first Resident of the Division.

A fort was built in Claude Town (present day Marudi, 43 km to the east of Miri)[4] in 1883.

Claude Town became the administrative centre of the division.

Mr Claude's administration was helped by two junior officers, 30 rangers, and a few native police.[5]

Charles Hose succeeded Mr Claude as the new Resident in 1891 and the fort in Marudi was renamed as "Fort Hose".

To restore peace among various ethnic tribes fighting in the Baram region, Charles Hose decided to organise a peace conference at his fort in April 1899.

This peace conference also led to the birth of first Baram Regatta, a long boat race competition among the natives which continued to be held until today.[6]

The Resident Office moved from Marudi to Miri in 1912 after rapid oil discovery activity development in Miri.

Transportation

Air

Marudi is served by Marudi Airport (MUR) which is in the town. Twin Otters fly to Miri up to nine times daily and serve Bario, Long Banga, Long Lellang, Long Akah and Long Seridan. The airport is a 10-minute (1 km) walk east of the centre. It contains Runway 10/28 that is 1 km long and its parking bay can handles 3 to 4 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter at the same time.

Marudi view from sky

Water

Express boats between Marudi and Kuala Baram used to operate regularly in the morning and early afternoon until the road connecting Miri to Marudi was paved. Since then there is only one boat operating and it leaves Miri early in the morning.

Taxis go from Kuala Baram to Miri.

Express boats service stop business since 1 Jun 2015.

Land

Marudi is now has a connection road to Miri which only need about 1.5 hours to reach Miri City. But there's still a ferry need to passby at Sungai Baram, Ridan. The ferry fee just reduced from RM15.00 to RM1.00 per one way after the Chief Minister of Sarawak announced at Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak in April 2015.

Tourism

Baram Regional Museum at Marudi (formerly known as Fort Hose).

The main tourist attraction in the town is "Fort Hose". Fort Hose was a wooden fort built during the Brooke administration. The fort was named after an ethnographer and a photographer Charles Hose. The fort was later converted into a museum which houses some ethnographic photographs, local textiles, handicrafts, and ceremonial items. The museum is accessible from Jalan Fort which is 10 minutes from the main bazaar.[7]

Marudi Landmark (Baram Regatta Statue)
Marudi Tua Pek Gong Temple

Foods in Marudi

Marudi Kueh Tiaw

The most famous food in Marudi is the Marudi Kueh Tiaw. It can be found in every Chinese Restaurant in Marudi Town area. Compared with other place's Kueh Tiaw in Malaysia, Marudi Kueh Tiaw is more thick and taste more unique. Marudi Handmade Bread is also one of a must-try food in Marudi, it can be found in Ah Pong Cafe which just located beside Marudi Town Square. Since Marudi is a riverside-town, so you can found out that there's lots different type river fishes here. The most famous river-food in Marudi are Belidah fish (fish ball/fish cake), Tapah Fish, Tutu Fish and also the famous Bighead Prawn (udang galah). You can taste these all the river-foods at some restaurants here. If you have problems with the location, do not feel hesitate to ask the local people, they're willing to guide you because small town people are always friendly.

Marudi government departments / emergency call

  • District Office 085-755211, 755770
  • Marudi District Council 085-755755
  • Police Station 085-755221, 755222, 755751
  • Marudi Hospital 085-755511 (24-hour hotline)
  • Fire Station 085-755189
  • Sesco (power station) 085-755231

Banks

Education

Kindergarten

  • Marudi Methodist
  • Yuk Ying

Primary school

  • SJK Chung Hua Primary School
  • SJK Sungai Jaong Primary School
  • SRB Qiao Nang Primary School
  • SRB Hua Nang Primary School
  • Good Shepherd Primary School
  • Dato Sharif Hamid Primary School

Secondary school

  • SMK Telang Usan
  • SMK Marudi

College and technic school

  • Technic College (vehicle)

References

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