MIRI

 

Overview

The second largest city in Sarawak, Miri was given the 'City' status in 2005 and covers an area of 997.43 sq km. It is located some 329km from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and 798km from Kuching, Sarawak's capital city.

Miri was founded by Royal Dutch Shell which drilled the first oil well. The oil field fuelled the development of Miri town and it quickly became the administrative centre of Sarawak's northern region by 1929. Miri is also the birthplace of the Malaysian petroleum industry.

It was presumably the oil field that attracted the Japanese during World War II. The troops landed in Miri town, despite the Brooke administration destroying the oil fields to sabotage their operations in Southeast Asia. Needless to say, it was to no avail. The petroleum industry maintained its status as a major player in the city's economy after the war and new inland oil fields were discovered in 1989 and 2011.

The other major industries in the city are timber, tourism and oil palm activities. Miri houses a few industrial areas including Kuala Baram Industrial Estate, Piasau Industrial Estate, Eastwood Industrial Estate, Senadin Industrial Area and Bekenu Light Industrial Area.

The timber exporting industry was one of the main income drives for Miri for about a decade in the 1970s. Shipbuilding companies also started up and set up major shipyards in the Kuala Baram industrial area, along the Baram river.

The oil palm plantation in Sarawak began in 1968 when the Sarawak Oil Palm Berhad allocated 5,000 hectare wide plantations near Miri. Reports say palm oil plantations between Miri and Bintulu constitutes 60% of Sarawak's total oil palm estates, in 2014.

The Miri Port Authority, used in handling petroleum, coal, timber products and building materials was established in 1981 and commenced operation in 1983. It is located near the mouth of Baram River.

Miri, named after the minority ethnic group Jatti Meirek – the earliest settlers in the region – is the main gateway to many national parks including the Gunung Mulu, Loagan Bunut, Lambir Hills, Niah and Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Parks.

Among the ethnic groups in Miri City include Iban, Malay, Melanau, Bidayuh and other indigenous tribes, Chinese, Indians and non-Malaysians make up smaller groups. A conscious effort has been mooted to promote usage of indigenous language among the younger generation after it was noted that they preferred to use English and Malay.

Tourism and education account for other income generators of Miri with the city being a popular shopping and eco-tourism destination. Curtin University Sarawak has also been a catalyst to bringing in foreign exchange through the foreign students at the university.

Accessibility and Transportation

Miri is connected to all Sarawak's major cities and towns, as well as Brunei's Bandar Seri Begawan through the Sungai Tujuh checkpoint, some 35km from Miri. The Asean Bridge is located along the Miri-Baram Highway and crosses the Baram River. It provides direct access into Brunei and Sarawak's towns of Limbang and Lawas.

The Miri Airport is 11km from Miri City and is the third busiest airport in the country due to its purpose as a hub for domestic, international and rural air services. It also serves flights to Sarawak's interior areas like Bario, Ba'kelalan, Mukah and Limbang through MASWings. Miri has two bus stations – local and long-distance. The former serves the city area, Bakam, Miri Airport and Brunei while buses to the Niah National Park, Lambir Hills National Park, Bintulu, Pontianak in Indonesia and Kuching is available at the long-distance bus station near Pujut Corner. Taxi services are available but do not use metres.

Amenities and Facilities

Healthcare is not ignored in Miri as the Miri General Hospital opened its doors in 1995, some 2.5km from the city. There are also two polyclinics in the city, and two private hospitals – Miri City Medical Centre and Columbia Asia Medical Centre.

As far as education is concerned, there are many national and vernacular schools in the city. Two out of Sarawak's 14 Chinese independent schools are in Miri and Tenby International School was the first international school in the city. There is a teachers' training institute and tertiary education institutes. The Cahaya Education and Training Academy has training courses on oil and gas subjects while Sarawak Skills Development Centre are among the few institutions that offer technical training for students.

Places of Attraction

Tourist attractions are many in Miri, including the month-long Miri May Fest that is celebrated with a variety of programmes, trade fairs, cultural activities, arts, sports and other social events. The annual Miri International Dance for Humanity is organised by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society's Miri Chapter in an effort to promote racial and cultural harmony and these are a few of the many cultural festivals held in the city.

Other attractions include the five national parks surrounding Miri, Tanjung Lobang Beach which is popular for its sunsets, Miri Bulatan Park and Miri Crocodile Farm.

There are several shopping malls in Miri including Bintang Megamall, The Imperial Mall and Miri Plaza. The Saberkas Weekend Market at Sarbekas Commercial Centre opens late evening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday selling vegetables, fruits, sea products, drinks, satay, grilled fish, BBQ chicken wings and other products such as local handicrafts and clothes.

Miri houses three music festivals – the Borneo Jazz Festival, Asia Music Festival (AMF) and Miri Country Music Fest (MCMF) – and attracts bands and attendees from all over the world.