Balingian

Etymology

Baligian got its name from a river crossing the town. The river was once used by the local residents to go to their hill paddy fields.

History

Government

The Balingian sub-district is administered by a Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) and three Penghulu (regional chief). Administrative areas of Balingian sub-district includes Balingian delta, Arip river, Bawan river, and Bawang Assan river, all under the administration of Dalat and Mukah District Council (MDDM).

Geography

Balingian is located inside the Balingian sub-district, about 60 km from Mukah town. The Balingian sub-district is measured as 3,032 km2. The town of Balingian is located between the Mukah town and the Bintulu town. It takes one hour to go to Mukah from Balingian and three hours to go to Sibu. Balingian can also be reached through the sea from Tatau and Bintulu. There is also a coastal road connecting Balingian to the mouth of the Balingian river and Tatau. Neighbouring settlements include:

• Lemai 26.2 km south
• Kuala Tatau 33.4 km northeast
• Penipah 35.4 km west
• Tatau 35.4 km east
• Kenyana 39.9 km west
• Penakub 42.8 km west
• Rumah Kelambu 44 km east
• Kampung Jebungan 44.5 km west
• Mukah 48.2 km west
• Rumah Nyawai 49.9 km south

Climate

Balingian has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.

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Demographics

According to the Balingian public health clinic estimation, Balingian town has a total population of 15,327 people in 2002. It consists of Iban people (68.3%) and Melanau people (29.49%). All the populations stay in six villages and 137 longhouses.

Economy

Majority of the residents here manage their own shophouses and individual stalls in bazaar. A bazaar is held every weekend selling daily necessities and agricultural produce. The establishment of Regional Growth Centre (RGC), Sarawak Oil-Palm Plantation (SOP), FELCRA Berhad allows the local people to involve in large scale oil palm plantations. Other economic activities in Balingian include: sago, rice, and coconut cultivation, fish and chicken domestication, and logging. Coal mining has been ongoing in the Balingian coal field. Balingian coal-fired power plant commenced operation since May 2019. It is the first plant in Malaysia to use circulating fluidized bed technology to handle various coal types.

Under Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE); an aluminium smelting plant located at about 25 km from Balingian was built. Offshore oil and gas is also a growth area for Balingian.

Transport

Road

Coastal road has improved Balingian link to other towns, especially those who went to Mukah and Bintulu (via Kuala Tatau).

Other utilities

Education

Amongst the schools available here are: SRK Parish (Parish primary school), SRB Chung Hua (Chung Hua primary school), Perpaduan kindergarten, Sedidik kindergarten and the upcoming SMK Balingian.

Healthcare

Balingian public health clinic was established in 1989. The clinic also has implemented a Teleprimary care (TPC) system. It is an audiovisual system where patients can be assessed and treated remotely without being sent to the nearby hospitals.

Culture and leisure

Balingian is known for its river shrimps and have become an attraction for anglers.

State constituency

Main article: Balingian (state constituency)

References

References

1. (September 2002). "Daerah Kecil Balingian (Balingian sub-district)". Rakan Sarawak (Friends of Sarawak).
2. "Klinik Kesihatan Balingian Sarawak (Sarawak Balingian public health clinic)". Balingian public health clinic.
3. (14 March 2012). "Geochemical and petrographical characteristics of low-rank Balingian coal from Sarawak, Malaysia: Its implications on depositional conditions and thermal maturity". International Journal of Coal Geology.
4. (1 December 2018). "Sarawak Energy’s Balingian coal-fired power plant records safety milestone". The Borneo Post.
5. (14 May 2019). "马来西亚巴林基安循环流化床燃煤机组项目1号机组投运 (Malaysian Balingian circulating fluidisized bed coal-powered generator unit 1 commenced operation)". 北极星电力网 (Bei Ji Xin Energy Grid).
6. (5 July 2019). "中国能建湖南火电承建马来西亚巴林基安项目2号机组商运 (China Energy Engineering Group Hunan Power Conctruction Co Ltd undertakes Malaysian Balingian generator unit 2 for commercial operation)". 北极星电力网 (Bei Ji Xin Energy Grid).
7. (19 July 2019). "Balingian – a fishing haven for anglers". New Sarawak Tribune.
8. Q'Eeugene Minjo Jozia. (18 November 2010). "redgoldarawana: Balingian - The energy Town of Mukah".
9. (9 August 2010). "Balingian, Malaysia". Geonames.
10. (5 July 2000). "Balingian Assessment Unit 37020102".