Mukim Labi

Not to be confused with Mukim Labu.

Mukim Labi is a mukim in the interior of Belait District, Brunei.^[4] It has an area of 361.8 square kilometres (139.7 sq mi);^[2] the population was 1,216 in 2016.^[3]

Mukim Labi
Mukim
Luagan Lalak Forest Recreational Park
Labi is in blue.
Coordinates: 4°25′18″N 114°27′48″E / 4.42167°N 114.46333°E / 4.42167; 114.46333
Country	Brunei
District	Belait
Government
• Penghulu	Hanapi Mohd Siput^[1]
Area ^[2]
• Total	361.8 km^2 (139.7 sq mi)
Population  (2016)^[3]
• Total	1,216
• Density	3.4/km^2 (8.7/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (BNT)
Postcode	KExx37

Geography

The mukim is located in the central and south-western part of the district, bordering Mukim Liang to the north, Mukim Bukit Sawat to the north-east, Mukim Sukang to the east, the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the south and west and Mukim Kuala Balai and Mukim Seria to the north-west.^{[citation needed]} It is regarded as part of Ulu Belait ("Belait Interior"). The mukim is named after Kampong Labi, one of the villages it encompasses.There are also many local fruit orchards such as durian in these two areas which can be an addition to their sources of sustenance in addition to gardening and farming.^[5]

Name

Folklore holds that some 70 years ago, a Chinese resident named Ah Lam came across a freshwater turtle in the area and gave it the name Labi.^[6]

Demography

As of 2016 census,^[3] the population was 1,216 with 54.7% males and 45.3% females. The mukim had 343 households occupying 325 dwellings. The entire population lived in rural areas. The residents of these two villages consist of various races and tribes such as Belait, Kedayan, Dusun, Iban and Chinese and adhere to various religions including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and others.^[5]

History

The first known well for oil exploration in Brunei was drilled not far from the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, in 1899. Six firms, including Royal Dutch Shell, which began operations in 1913 following the discovery of the Miri field in Sarawak, Malaysia, were involved in the oil search. In 1924, Royal Dutch Shell continued to investigate and discovered some deposit of oil and gas in Labi, all other businesses had left by 1918. A total of 18 oil wells were investigated during that time, but the discovery was too tiny to be exploited, so Royal Dutch Shell abandoned it and the area was then turned into a settlement.^[7] Oil exploration started in 1911 at Labi and Bukit Puan, moved to Tutong District in 1923, and finally relocated to Seria, where oil was discovered in 1929.^[8]

The Iban tribe established its first settlement in Labi during the 1940s. In Teraja along the river, they constructed the first outlying longhouse, and the inhabitants subsisted off the land. In the past, the area was a major producer of rubber, rice, beeswax, and jelutong, a soft wood that is perfect for carving and pattern-making.^[6]

Administration

As of 2016, the mukim comprised the following census villages:^[3]

Village	Population (2016)
Kampong Bukit Puan	182
Kampong Gatas	73
Kampong Kenapol	84
Kampong Labi	28
Kampong Labi Lama	11
Kampong Mendaram Kecil	114
Kampong Rampayoh	183
Kampong Ratan	91
Kampong Sungai Petai	93
Kampong Tanajor	142
Kampong Tapang Lupak	33
Kampong Teraja	35
Kampong Terawan	74
Kampong Terunan	73
Total	1,216

For administrative purposes the villages above are overseen by two village heads (ketua kampung):^[9]

Village head area	Area (km^2)	Total villages	Villages
Kampong Labi I	136.9	10	Kampong Bukit Puan, Kampong Gatas, Kampong Kenapol, Kampong Melayan Atas,^[a] Kampong Ratan, Kampong Sungai Petai, Kampong Tanajor, Kampong Tapang Lupak, Kampong Terunan, Kampong Tesilin^[a]
Kampong Labi II	224.9	5	Kampong Mendaram Besar,^[a] Kampong Mendaram Kecil, Kampong Rampayoh, Kampong Teraja, Kampong Terawan
Total	361.8	15^[b]	-

Villages

Kampong Teraja

The head of the Teraja MPK Women's Bureau, Embong Anak Munah, claims that Kampong Teraja has a number of unique wasai (waterfall) fruits in the village's forest that frequently draw visitors and tourists from both domestic and international nations. Wasai Teraja (Teraja Waterfall) is one of the waterfall that is frequently visited. Visitors must register at Rumah Panjang Teraja (Teraja Longhouse) and pay a fee of BND3 for adults and BND1 for children under the age of 12 in order to visit waterfall or any other wasai located in the hamlet. The group will be required to pay BND60 for those who want to hire a villagers-only guide.^[10]

In addition to the waterfall, Kampong Teraja is well recognized for the handicrafts made by the locals. Visitors to the Teraja Longhouse who are interested in the art of weaving have been won over by the unique designs and weaving baskets of all sizes and forms. They actively participate in expos and bazaars both domestically and overseas. Teraja Longhouse also has a homestay business to an equal extent. For BND15 per person, guests can opt to spend the night in the Teraja Longhouse's outside "Ruai," or they can pay BND20 per person in the living room. Visitors will have the chance to see cultural events while they are there, including ngajat dance performances, Iban wedding demonstrations, handicraft and weaving displays, and gulingtangan performances. Visitors may go jungle hiking to view the stunning flora and fauna in the Teraja region if they're looking for more strenuous activities.^[10]

Economy

Among the products worked on by the residents of Labi Mukim through the Mukim Consultative Council/Village Consultative Council (MPM/MPK) by making handicrafts and woven goods as 1K1P products and also rosella juice. Mukim Labi is also famous for its fertile soil where there are vegetable and fruit gardens. The residents here also partially keep livestock, such as cows, buffaloes and goats, in addition to farming freshwater fish.^[11]

 

A Labi drilling team as seen in 1926

Oil and gas

Oil exploration is now possible thanks to current, advanced technology like 3D seismic, aeromagnetic, and 2D seismic methods. The likelihood of finding oil in the region that Royal Dutch Shell abandoned will bear. Brunei Shell Petroleum has given the Australian oil company TAP Energy (Borneo) permission to explore for oil at Block M, which covers a 3,100 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) region primarily in the remote area of Labi and the southern part of the Tutong District.^[7]

As of 2009, BGP, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), has been given the responsibility of carrying out the seismic acquisition project in Block M. Even for seasoned BGPs, the topographic elements of Tap Oil-operated Block M's hills and jungles present a significant obstacle. To complete the seismic acquisition task on time, BGP has engaged hundreds of Indonesian workers.^[12] The construction works and rig-up preparation for the drilling operations on its first exploratory well are nearly finished in 2010, thanks in part to the efforts of Polyard Petroleum International Group and its subsidiaries, China Sino Oil. With its main goal being the delineation and evaluation of oil reservoirs close to proven discoveries in the Belait Anticline, the Mawar-1 will be an exploration well in Block M.^[13]

The Mawar-1 onshore exploratory well in Block M has spudded, according to a report from Tap Oil in August 2010, and it should take about 28 days to drill and analyze it without incident. It is the first well to be drilled in Block M since 1988 and the first well for the Brunei National Petroleum Corporation (PetroleumBRUNEI) to be drilled by the Block M Joint Venture.^[14]

Agriculture

The mukim is home to Lot Sengkuang, one of the important rice cultivation area in the country. It was established in 1962, initially on a 20-hectare (49-acre) land.^[2] A total of 300 hectares (740 acres) has been dedicated for the purpose of increasing local rice cultivation output.^[15] The mukim is also home to the first commercial coffee plantation; the first coffee trees were planted in 2012 and has since grown to about 10,000 trees on a 10-hectare (25-acre) land.^[16] Most of the villagers in this area still grow rice which is a normal activity done by the people in this village because rice has been their main food since ages. Rice farming activities are usually done once a year depending on the type of rice planted.^[5]

In 2003, it was estimated that Labi produced 607 metric tonnes of vegetables, nearly 1,700 metric tonnes of fruits and 170 metric tonnes of paddy.^[2]

Infrastructure

Primary and secondary schools, mosques, police stations, fire stations, community halls, water supply and electricity supply, flats and barracks for government staff and officials and resorts.^[5] Facilities in the mukim include:^[2]

• Labi Primary School — a government primary school established in 1959
• Chung Hwa School, Labi — a private Chinese primary school established in 1946
• Labi Health Clinic — a community health centre opened in 2002 and has since provided residents with mainly outpatient and dental
• Labi Police Station — established in 1967
• Labi Post Office — established in 1966

Religion

Kampong Labi Mosque is the sole mosque in the mukim. It is located about 74 kilometres (46 mi) from the district town Kuala Belait and was inaugurated on 22 June 1979; it can accommodate 200 worshippers.^[17]

Tourism and recreation

 

Tropical Biodiversity Centre

Tourist attractions and recreation parks in the mukim include:^[18]

• Tropical Biodiversity Centre — a public learning hub about the country's biodiversity^[6]
• Luagan Lalak Recreation Park — a recreation park built around and on a pond^[19]
• Teraja Longhouse — a longhouse in Kampong Teraja^[20]
• Rampayoh Longhouse — a longhouse in Kampong Rampayoh^[5]
• Mendaram Besar Longhouse — a longhouse in Kampong Mendaram Besar^[21]
• Belulok Waterfall — a waterfall in Labi^[22]
• Teraja Waterfall — a waterfall from Teraja River^[23]
• Wong Kadir Waterfall Resort Park — a popular picnic spot with its waterfall with jungle trekking and camping.^[11]
• Bukit Labi Forest Reserve — a 270 hectares park covered with marshland and fresh water. During the rainy season, the lake will be filled with water and during the dry season it will dry up.^[11]

Notable people

• Shari Ahmad, a military officer^[24]

Notes

1. Not included in the latest census
2. There is discrepancy of the total villages between what is stated in the latest census and the news article in mention.

References

1. "Penghulu, ketua kampung di Belait terima sijil lantikan » Media Permata Online". Penghulu, ketua kampung di Belait terima sijil lantikan. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
2. . Brudirect.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
3. "Population and Housing Census Update Final Report 2016" (PDF). www.deps.gov.bn. Statistics Department. December 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
4. "Belait District" (PDF). www.information.gov.bn. 2011. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
5. KOMPILASI RENCANA KNK 2015 (PDF) (in Malay). Kenali Negera Kitani. 2015. pp. 165–170.
6. "Map of Labi" (PDF). Brunei Tourism. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
7. Srmalek (16 May 2008). "Brunei everyday: OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN LABI". Brunei everyday. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
8. Hays, Jeffrey. "HISTORY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS IN BRUNEI | Facts and Details". factsanddetails.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
9. Pg. Hajah Fatimah Pg. Haji Md. Noor (8 September 2018). "KNK-Daya tarikan alami Mukim Labi". Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Jabatan Penerangan. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
10. KOMPILASI RENCANA KNK 2018 (PDF) (in Malay). Kenali Negera Kitani. 2018. pp. 56–60.
11. KOMPILASI RENCANA KNK 2018 (PDF) (in Malay). Kenali Negera Kitani. 2018. pp. 72–76.
12. "Polyard Petroleum International Group Limited". www.ppig.com.hk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
13. "Polyard Petroleum International Group Limited". www.ppig.com.hk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
14. "Tap Oil kicks off drilling at Mawar-1 oil well in Brunei". Proactiveinvestors UK. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
15. "Official Ceremony For Construction Of Permanent Groundwater Well". Brudirect.com. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
16. Darussalam Enterprise (9 September 2017). "CAEXPO perkenalkan syarikat tempatan". Pelita Brunei Online (in Malay). Jabatan Penerangan. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
17. "SenaraiMasjid - Masjid Kampong Labi". www.kheu.gov.bn (in Malay). Retrieved 7 October 2021.
18. "Map of Mukim Labi" (PDF). bruneitourism.com. 2019.
19. "Department of Fisheries - Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park". www.fisheries.gov.bn. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
20. activ8bn. "Teraja Longhouse". Brunei Tourism. Retrieved 9 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
21. activ8bn. "Mendaram Longhouses". Brunei Tourism. Retrieved 9 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
22. "Belulok Waterfall stream of Labi, Brunei Darussalam, 96 L – Biotope Aquarium". Retrieved 9 July 2022.
23. activ8bn. "Teraja Waterfalls". Brunei Tourism. Retrieved 9 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
24. "Pegawai2 Kadet Dari Brunei Tamat Berlateh Di-Victoria" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 28 December 1966. p. 3.