Kampong Sultan Lama (Malay: Kampung Sultan Lama) was a neighbourhood in Kampong Ayer, the riverine stilt settlement in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It was officially a village subdivision under Sungai Kedayan, a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei–Muara District.
Kampong Sultan Lama
Kampung Sultan Lama | |
|---|---|
 View of the stilt houses in Kampong Sultan Lama and the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque from the Brunei River in 1985 | |
  Location in Brunei | |
| Coordinates: 4°53′14″N 114°56′26″E / 4.8873517°N 114.9406563°E | |
| Country | Brunei |
| District | Brunei–Muara |
| Mukim | Sungai Kedayan |
| Planned | 1909 |
| First settled | 1910 |
| Ceased to exist | 1990s |
| Named for | Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (BNT) |
Etymology
editThe Kampong Sultan Lama, translated as Old Sultan's Village, was allegedly named in honour of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin, who ruled from 1890 to 1906.[1][2] He stayed in the village's Istana Kota.[3] The first dry-land palace was constructed in 1922 when Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II made the decision to construct a brand-new palace called Istana Majlis.[3][4][2]
History
editThe Brunei royalty played a pivotal role in the migration from Kampong Ayer to the mainland, recognising the opportunities presented by British Resident McArthur's focus on establishing an administrative capital on land. By relocating, the royal family not only positioned themselves to benefit from development initiatives but also ensured their involvement in shaping the new administrative landscape. In 1909, when McArthur introduced a residential scheme along Sungai Tekuyung, Sumbiling, and Kampong Sultan Lama, the royal family seized the opportunity to acquire land with permanent title deeds. This strategic move allowed them to secure prime locations while opening new areas for settlement and agriculture.[5]
The initiative to relocate Kampong Ayer residents to the mainland formally began in 1910, with McArthur initially suggesting a move to areas near the banks of the Brunei River, opposite Kampong Ayer. Later phases envisioned relocating residents to the outskirts to support agricultural development. Among the earliest migrants were members of the royal family, such as Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II and his family, who settled in Kampong Sultan Lama and Kampong Kianggeh. Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin and his family moved to Kampong Berangan, while the descendants of Sultan Hashim also established themselves in Kampong Sultan Lama.[5]
Initially, the relocation plan primarily attracted interest from Pengiran families within the Brunei royal family. However, the initiative gained significant momentum in 1922 when Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II relocated his palace from Kampong Sultan Lama to the mainland in Brunei Town. This landmark decision inspired many Kampong Ayer residents to embrace the resettlement effort. By the 1920s, the movement extended beyond the town centre to areas such as Tungkadeh and Kumbang Pasang, highlighting the growing interest among Kampong Ayer inhabitants in participating in this transformative scheme.[4]
By the 1970s, Kampong Sultan Lama was surrounded by neighbouring villages named after Wazirs, Cheterias, and other notable dignitaries who had once resided there. These included Kampong Bendahara Lama, Kampong Pemancha Lama, Kampong Pengiran Kerma Indera Lama, and Kampong Pengiran Tajudin Hitam. Kampong Sultan Lama itself was a sizeable settlement, stretching from the current Royal Wharf to the edge of Kampong Sungai Kedayan, roughly at the midpoint of the lagoon encircling the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.[6]
In the early 20th century, fishing was the primary livelihood for most of Kampong Ayer's residents, and traditional fishing equipment remained a common household feature well into the 1970s. However, following Brunei's independence in 1984, the expansion of the public sector reshaped employment patterns and brought increased attention to the deteriorating living conditions in Kampong Ayer, which included overcrowding, poor sanitation, pollution, and frequent fire hazards. Kampong Sultan Lama, like other parts of the water village, faced considerable challenges due to devastating fires, particularly in the 1970s and 1990s.[7] The village endured major fires in 1981 and 1990, followed by two more in September 1993, all of which caused extensive damage to its infrastructure and community.[8] In response to these repeated calamities, the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) was established in 1992 to support affected areas, including Kampong Sultan Lama and Kampong Sungai Kedayan. As part of its efforts, YSHHB launched a housing project to provide relief and enhance living conditions for those impacted.[9]
Eventually, Kampong Sultan Lama was demolished and levelled to make way for the YSHHB Building (Yayasan Complex). In the past, Kampong Sultan Lama and the other villages along the river's north bank occupied a much larger area. However, as part of efforts to revitalise the waterfront surrounding the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, many of these villages were cleared. The Yayasan Complex, now standing on the site of a former village, features plank paths leading westward, offering visitors access to other surviving water villages.[10] Many residents displaced by the redevelopment, including those from Kampong Sultan Lama, were relocated to Kampong Perpindahan Mata-Mata alongside communities from Kampong Sumbiling Lama, Sungai Kedayan, and Bunut.[a] Efforts were made to preserve the memory of Kampong Sultan Lama, such as renaming streets after the original villages, ensuring that future generations would remain connected to their heritage.[12]
Infrastructure
edit
Lukan Uking presided over the formal opening of Kampong Sultan Lama Malay School on Friday morning, 9 September 1966. The school, which is next to the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, was built by Kampong Sultan Lama locals with assistance from the Department of Education in a number of ways. The Kampong Sultan Lama Youth Association threw a Malam Aneka Ria (Evening of Entertainment) to commemorate the event. A colorful and unforgettable celebration for the community was created by the event's many activities, which included fashion competitions, costume contests, a drama called Menyahut Panggilan Ibu Pertiwi, singing, dancing, and comedy performances.[13]
The Pintu Gerbang, built to commemorate the coronation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on 1 August 1968, was presented by Yusof Husain.[14] Originally located in Kampong Sultan Lama, the gateway was later relocated slightly inward in October 1993 following the construction of the YSHHB Complex.[15]
Notable people
edit- Pengiran Ahmad Yusof (1932–2017), nobleman and civil servant[16]
- Omar Ali Saifuddien III (1914–1986), sultan of Brunei from 1950 to 1967[17][14]
Gallery
edit-
Kampong Sultan Lama and Brunei Town under Allied aerial bombardment in 1945 -
Kampong Sultan Lama (foreground) in 1950 -
Aerial view of the city centre and Kampong Sultan Lama (right) in the 1950s -
Kampong Sultan Lama (left) and the city centre in c. 1960 -
Yayasan Complex in 2023 -
The Pintu Gerbang in 2023
Notes
edit- ^ Kampong Sultan Lama residents were also relocated under a resettlement program in 1958, with many moving to the Kampong Pancha Delima area.[11]
References
editCitations
- ^ Haji Duraman 2009, p. 29.
- ^ a b Yunos 2019, p. 131.
- ^ a b Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri 2003, p. 29.
- ^ a b Asbol 2014, p. 63.
- ^ a b Ooi & King 2023.
- ^ Yunos 2019, p. 133–134.
- ^ Hassan & Y. V. Yong 2019, p. 195.
- ^ Bickersteth, Eliot & Miller 1994, p. 504.
- ^ Ali 2006, p. 89.
- ^ Richmond, Atkinson & Brown 2021.
- ^ Md. Zain 2015, p. 11.
- ^ Pg. Durahman 2015, p. 9.
- ^ "PEMBUKAAN RASMI SEKOLAH MELAYU KAMPONG SULTAN LAMA" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 14 September 1966. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ a b Yunos 2019, p. 135.
- ^ "Peristiwa dan Tempat Bersejarah". Pusat Sejarah Brunei (in Malay). Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ Pg. Dauddin 2017, p. 3.
- ^ Pengiran Haji Rosley 2007.
Bibliography
- Ooi, Keat Gin; King, Victor T. (2023). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei. Abingdon: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003020431. ISBN 978-0-367-81914-9.
- Richmond, Simon; Atkinson, Brett; Brown, Lindsay, eds. (2021). Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei (15th ed.). Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781788684415.
- Hassan, Noor Hasharina; Y. V. Yong, Gabriel (2019). Holzhacker, Ronald; Agussalim, Dafri (eds.). "SDGs and the New Urban Agenda, Cities, and Transport: A Vision in Which Every Family Has Basic Shelter". Sustainable Development Goals in Southeast Asia and ASEAN: National and Regional Approaches. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers: 190–209. ISBN 978-90-04-39194-9.
- Pg. Dauddin, Ak. Syi'aruddin (12 April 2017). "Kebawah DYMM berangkat ziarahi jenazah Allahyarham YAM Pengiran Seri Wijaya" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- Yunos, Rozan (October 2019). Brunei: The Origins. Bandar Seri Begawan: Qasrun Nafis Publishing House. ISBN 978-99917-992-3-0.
- Md. Zain, Norliah (26 December 2015). "Kenali Negara Ketani: Keharmonian Kampung Pancha Delima, Anggerek Desa" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- Pg. Durahman, Ak. Jefferi (13 June 2015). "Kenali Negara Kitani: Asal usul Kampung Perpindahan Mata-Mata" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- Asbol, Awang (2014). Hassan, Abdullah (ed.). Persejarahan Brunei: unsur dan faktor persejarahan Brunei (in Malay). Selangor: PTS Akedemia. ISBN 978-967-0444-30-7.
- Haji Duraman, Haji Sulaiman (2009). Kenali Negara Kitani. Bandar Seri Begawan: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei. ISBN 9789991706382.
- Abdul Latif, Adanan (2008). "Istana-Istana Di Brunei" (PDF). Brunei History Centre.
- Pengiran Haji Rosley, Dayangku Herney Zuraidh (2007). "Pemerintahan Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien III (1950–1967)" (PDF). Brunei History Centre (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- Ali, Abdul Halim (13–15 August 2006). Transformasi sosial masyarakat Perkotaan/Bandar Borneo-Kalimantan: Prosiding Konferensi Antaruniversiti di Borneo-Kalimantan ke 2 (in Indonesian). West Kalimantan: Universitas Tanjungpura Pontianak. ISBN 978-983-9257-70-0.
- Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang (2003). Adat istiadat Diraja Brunei (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara. ISBN 978-99917-34-22-4.
- Bickersteth, Jane; Eliot, Joshua; Miller, Jonathan, eds. (October 1994). Handbooks of the World: 1995 Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore Handbook (3rd ed.). Trade & Travel Handbooks. ISBN 978-0-8442-8976-2.