Daniel Lim
Located along a road that sees constant flow of vehicles from Belait to Tutong, especially prior to the opening of the dual carriageway, Kampong Sungai Liang remains one of many villages in the Belait District to have seen its fair share of development at both community as well as national level over the years.
Among the eight mukims in the district, the 78.25-square-kilometre area that includes Kampong Sungai Liang of Mukim Liang represents one of the many villages able to take advantage of its surroundings to develop on an industrial scale.
The village is also home to more than 3,000 residents of various ethnicities, including Dusun, Kedayan, Malay, Chinese and Iban.
Acting Village Head of Kampong Sungai Liang Haji Mohd Ibrahim bin Datu Maharaja Setia Dian said the diverse area covers some of the smaller villages of Kampong Gana, Kampong Perumpong, Kampong Keluyoh, Kampong Andulau, Kampong Tuggulian, Kampong Lilas, Kampong Padang, and Kampong Liang Kecil.
He also shared a small tidbit of the history of Kampong Sungai Liang, specifically the origin of the name Liang.
“The name Sungai Liang originates from a phrase in the Puak Dusun dialect, bang liang, with the word bang that is short for bawang (river) while liang means the ‘flow of water’,” said Haji Mohd Ibrahim.
This, he said translates to a river that flows towards the South China Sea”.
Located near the seaside, with the South China Sea to the north, Kampong Sungai Liang is also in the vicinity of the other mukims – Mukim Bukit Sawat to the south, Mukim Telisai to the east, and Kampong Lumut 1 to the west; each connected to Kampong Sungai Liang via roadways used by many for daily commutes, especially to and from the Belait District to the rest of the Sultanate.
Meanwhile, residents of the village also make use of their time putting together various products as part of its One Kampong One Product including handicraft items such as Tekiding and Bakul and locally grown fruits and vegetables, the latter mainly sold at local stores and supermarkets.
The village also boasts a number of unique dishes lua durian kuning, lua durian puteh, lua cempedak and halwa rambutan prepared by the residents.
One of the major advancements in recent years is in the industrial sector; as a matter if fact Kampong Sungai Liang is home to a number of high-profile industry leaders such as Brunei Methanol Company Sdn Bhd (BMC), the Brunei Fertilizer Industries Sdn Bhd (BFI), and the Advanced Hydrogen Energy Chain Association for Technology Development (Ahead), said Haji Mohd Ibrahim.
In addition, various other companies from the private sector have also set up shops to further support the local economy.
At the heart of the village is the well-hidden Sungai Liang Forest Recreational Park, located near the Brunei Forestry Centre – a 14-hectare park comprising largely undisturbed lowland forests that provide facilities ranging from nature appreciation trails to access the various sightseeing spots of the park, to a mini lake complete with a floating hut flanked by shelters that is ideal for outdoor activities.
With the village continuing to develop in line with Brunei Vision 2035, Haji Mohd Ibrahim hopes the residents will not only be committed to realising the nation’s vision but to harmoniously living together as a united community.
