Bangar (BAHNG-gahr)[1] or officially known as Bandar Town (Malay: Pekan Bangar), is a town and administrative centre of Temburong District, Brunei, an isolated territorial exclave separated from the rest of the country by the Malaysianstate of Sarawak. The population of the town proper was 451 in 2021.[2] A number of tiny retail establishments may be found throughout the town, providing everything from clothing to handicrafts to basic needs.[3]
Etymology
The origin name of the town has not been fully established thus several possibilities were opened up. A document published by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, claimed that the town has a literal descriptive name where Bangar meant a place of smelly dryish deadwood swamp.[4] Meanwhile the Kampong Belingos Protection Council (Majlis Perundingan Kampung Belingos) claimed that the word Bangar is derived from a Murut tribe that means board (papan).[5]
The origin of this term may be traced back to a location where the Murut people formerly donated boards for the construction of homes, huts, and boats close to the Pekan Bangar creek. Thus, Bengar was given to the region. However, the Survey Department at the time altered the name to Bangar. Old Bangar Town and New Bangar Town were the original divisions of Bangar Town. But as of late, that name has been dropped and replaced with Pekan Bangar alone.[5]
Geography
One main road runs through the town, roughly east–west. Headed east of Bangar is Lawas, Sarawak (Malaysia) and to the west is the river crossing to Limbang, Sarawak (Malaysia). The road is the major route to the local quarry where boulders are collected, processed and shipped to stockyards in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, for construction companies. The town has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.
Driving and going through the Puni Immigration Control Post in order to pass the Malaysian state of Sarawak's border at Limbang. More projects to improve road infrastructures, including those in Temburong District, would be carried out through the National Development Plan 2007–2012. These projects include repairing earth slips at various locations, upgrading high density roads to residential areas, replacing existing wooden bridges, and rehabilitating Jalan Bangar–Puni–Labu.[3]
Water
The town sitting along the Temburong River in 2012.
The Pekan Bangar Boat Terminal construction project got under way on 19 June 2008, and it was finished on 19 December 2009. On 7 January 2010, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Abu Bakar, formally opened the terminal. The National Development Plan project that resulted in the construction of this port cost roughly $1.4 million. The route involves taking a boat to Bangar Town via Temburong River, which departs from a dock along the Brunei River. It should take 45 minutes to complete the route.[3]
All passenger services of the jetty permanently closed their operations after Radio Television Brunei (RTB) Temburong District took over the Bangar MPABD building as their new branch once renovation works were completed on 1 March 2022. The Passenger Jetty Terminal continues to exist but remains unused.[13]
Air
Commercial travellers would have to travel to either Bandar Seri Begawan or Miri to catch a commercial flight.[14] The Bangar Helipad is the sole aviation facility.[15]
Temburong Police Station is the only and primary police station in the district.[18]
Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam Hospital serves as the district's primary referral facility, cost about $9.9 million to construct. The citizens have access to more advanced services and a higher quality of health owing to the current medical and healthcare facilities that are available.[3]
The Government Department Building Complex was built in 1982. The building began to be used in 1984 and the Temburong District Department along with other Departments have moved to the new building until today.[19]
Bangar Camp (Perkhemahan Bangar) is a military base operated by the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF),[20] it has a surau named Surau Al-Quwwah.[21]
Belalong Community Hall (Dewan Kemasyarakatan Belalong) served as the town's community centre.
Tamu Aneka Temburong is a market to sample regional specialties, which are widely accessible at this dry market in the town across from the Youth Centre.[3]
Kedai Rakyat Jati is a market place with man-made giant colourful trees.[25]
Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque is the only mosque in town.[26] The first Pekan Bangar Mosque was built in 1935.[27]
Tugu Peringatan 1962 is a monument dedicated to the lives lost during the 1962 Brunei Revolt.[28][29] The monument was officially opened on 5 January 1964,[30] and is under the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act 1967.[31]
Old Temburong District Office is planned to be turned into a museum in addition to coming under the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act 1967.[28] The building was built in the early 1950s. When it was established, this building was used and shared with several other government agencies such as the telecom office, the post office, the customs and excise office and a court room and land transport office. Since this building is used together with other government departments, the building was named the Temburong District Government Office Building.[19]
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