THE UNIQUE FLOATING TOILET AT MUKAH

FLOATING TOILET IN MULU MUKAH





Floating toilets have been very common all over the Borneo Island . They are 

convenient to use and in many ways they help not only in ablution but in helping 

bathers to change discretely. 

Many city folks find it quite easy to bathe in the river, just jump into the water and swim 

a little. But when it comes to changing it is a bit difficult. So a little room is comforting . 

The floating pontoon or dou tau is a safe platform for kids to use as a jumping or 

diving platform. It is useful as a place to wash clothes. And most important of all a 

pontoon is the place where long boats can be tied to and passengers can get on and 

off boats.


It is usually the best place for fishermen to cast their lines and wait patiently for fish to 

bite.

can you believe that? until today, floating toilets still around, at least in Mukah River, 

somewhere near Mukah Town and Selangau Bazaar. Mukah River flows through the 

inland of central Sarawak, from the South China Sea toward Selangau, and further up-

river. and there are many kampungs near the river, where residents use floating 

toilets. not sure if modern toilet is in their homes already or not, most possibly they 

should have, especially where tape water is already available...

THE HISTORY OF MUKAH , SARAWAK

MUKAH IN THE BEGINNING..

LONG before the break of dawn when most of Borneo were still asleep, the people of TELLIAN, a small fishing village on the coast of Borneo, were already awake and hard at work.

The sound of young ladies giggling in a small outhouses called "sapan", followed by the flapping of woven mats called "idayhs" and water splashing broke the morning silence of this ancient village in Mukah.

They were processing the grated sago (metroxylon sagu) pith using the traditional method known as "menya". This scene, a common sight for many centuries is no longer existing. The foundation of the Melanau history and culture, however, are still very much linked to this past life.

The history of Mukah first began in small villages like that of Tellian. Its contact with the outside world (Chinese, Indian, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabs, English, Ducth and other people of Southeast Asia) were very much associated with its sago industry. But, how far back can we trace the Melanau history?

If there was ever an invention called the time machine then it would have been possible to trace the Melanau history and subsequently of Mukah to the very source of Borneo civilisation, the Niah Cave, to 40,000 years ago. As it is, the earlist document found that mentioned the place was a map published in Italy in 1595. On it a word Malano was written to identify the coast where rivers of Oya, Mukah and Balingian run.

When exactly the name Mukah came about, however, was not known. Many locals believed that it was named very much later, when the place had undergone its up and downs as part of the ancient Melanau empire. Some even believed that before Mukah there was always a place called Tellian. Even today some elders and older generations still refer to Melanau from Mukah as Tellian people.

Legend has it that Mukah is derived from the word "muka" - (face - in Malay). It was believed that the name was given by a group of Malay or Arab sailors who were seeking refuge at the old estuary of the river (the estuary of Mukah river had changed at least three times in the last 200 years). These sailors who were weak from thirst were helped by a pretty lady. She beckoned them to follow her. But could never get close enought to talk to her.

Once they reached a fresh water well, she disappeared. Since the only thing they could remember of her was her beautiful face, they named the place "Muka". As time passed the word Muka evolved to become "Mukah" to suit the local tongue.

The existence of artifacts and heirlooms kept by the Melanau also dispel the notion that Mukah history began with the arrival of James Brooke to Sarawak in 1839.

The history of this ancient town, in fact, can be divided into five eras; the pre-Brunei, the Brunei era, the Brooke era, the Crown Colony era and Malaysia.

THE MELANAU

 

THE  MELANAU 

The Melanau: at a glance Mukah is no different from any other rural fishing village in Malaysia. However, if one bothers to look into its soul then one can understand its mysterious charm.

Amoung its source of attraction are its poeple, their rich cultural heritage and historic past. The Melanau who are the ancient settlers of the area, have deep rooted cultural practice influencing their daily living, architecture, costume, food, games, art of self denfence and oral literature.

The flattening of baby's forehead known as "neja", the stratified social practice, the practice of secondary burial known as "nulang" and the building of "Jerunei" - burial pole, the tall swing called "tibou" and the traditional healing practice known as "bebayoh" are some examples.

Mukah's reputation as an important entr-port had made it a confluence of various cultures, the Chinese traders, the Indians, Eurasians, Indonesians and people from the interior like the Ibans (who came to settle in the upper part of Mukah in the 19th century). They have their own peculiarities and traditions that helped to enrich and gave the place its diverse cultural favour.

Most of the people in Mukah accept the Melanau language as its lingua franca. In fact, many have adopted the Melanau way of life and eventually became assimilated as Melanau. Generally it is also difficult to differentiate between one Melanau from another, between Melanau and Malay (many Melanau Christians use "bin" or "binti" whether they are Muslim, Christian or Liko (animist or pagen)).

The fusion of the Melanau is so perfect that "multi-religion" families are very common and are envy of other Malaysians.

SPECIAL PLACE AT MUKAH , SARAWAK

RAJANG RIVER

The Rajang River (Malay: Sungai Rajang or Batang Rajang) is a river inSarawak, Malaysia. The river is located in northwest of Borneo and it originates in the Iran Mountains. The river flows approximately 563 km into Kapit, and then to the South China Sea, making it the longest river in Malaysia.^[1]

Some of the important tributaries are the Balui River, Katibas River, Ngemah River, Iran River, Pila River, Balleh River, Bangkit River and the Kanowit River.^[1]

Malaysia's largest and tallest (160m) hydro electric project, Bakun Hydro Electric Dam Project, is located on narrow Bakun Fall of Balui River

      

    

BAKUN HYDRO ELECTRIC DAM

The Bakun Dam is an embankment dam located in Sarawak, Malaysia on the Balui River,^[1] a tributary or source of the Rajang River and some sixty kilometers west ofBelaga.^[2] As part of the project, the second tallest concrete-faced rockfill dam in the world would be built. It is planned to generate 2,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity once completed.

The purpose for the dam was to meet growing demand for electricity. However, most of this demand said to lie in Peninsular Malaysia and not East Malaysia, where the dam is located. Even in Peninsular Malaysia, however, there is an over-supply of electricity, with Tenaga Nasional Berhad being locked into unfavourable purchasing agreements with Independent Power Producers. The original idea was to have 30% of the generated capacity consumed in East Malaysia and the rest sent to Peninsular Malaysia. This plan envisioned 730 km of overhead HVDC transmission lines in East Malaysia, 670 km of undersea HVDC cable and 300 km of HVDC transmission line in Peninsular Malaysia.

Future plans for the dam include connecting it to an envisioned Trans-Borneo Power Grid Interconnection, which would be a grid to supply power to Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, andKalimantan (Indonesia). There have been mentions of this grid made within ASEANmeetings but no actions have been taken by any party. Bakun Dam came online on 6 August 2011..

     

         

Famous restaurant at Mukah - Dinner at Riverside Seafood Restaurant

Another very good restaurant in Mukah is the Riverside Seafood Restaurant. Located along the Mukah River, just 10 min from the town centre is this quaint little restaurant in a single-storey kampung house. The owners have made some attempts at decorating the place with local arts and craft - giving it a slightly exotic look.

JS Seafood and Riverside Seafood Restaurant are without a doubt the best seafood restaurants in Mukah. The taste and quality of their food can give restaurants in bigger towns a run for their money. Don't miss these if you are in Mukah.

 Variety food