Kampong Melabau (Malay: Kampung Melabau) is a neighbourhood in Brunei–Muara District, Brunei, as well as the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population was 288 in 2016.[3] It is one of the villages within Mukim Kianggeh. The postcode is BA2511.[4]

Kampong Melabau
Kampung Melabau
Clockwise from top left: Jalan Ong Sum Ping, Ash-Shaliheen Mosque, Dewan Majlis, Prime Minister's Office
Kampong Melabau is located in Brunei
Kampong Melabau
Location in Brunei
Coordinates: 4°54′50″N 114°56′07″E / 4.9139298°N 114.9353712°E / 4.9139298; 114.9353712
CountryBrunei
DistrictBrunei–Muara
MukimKianggeh
Government
 • Village headLawi Lamat[1]
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total
296
Time zoneUTC+8 (BNT)
Postcode
BA2511

Etymology

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"Melabau" comes from two different places. First, it is linked to the Melabau River, which runs between Brunei River and Tungkadeh River. Secondly, it is associated with a big tree species called the Mabau tree, which flourished along the riverside and eventually became known as "Melabau." Thus, these combined factors led to the creation of the term Melabau.[5]

The term "Orang Melabau" designates a revered group that has been passed down through the centuries and is renowned for its moral rectitude and religious dedication. In technical terms, "Melabau" means "ruler of the land." Additionally referred to as "Orang Kaya" (rich people), members of this group were well-known as powerful individuals in the palace, as shown by titles such as "Seri Laila Paduka Orang Kaya Besar." Tombstone inscriptions in Bukit Luba, Melabau, which frequently include words like "Ibnu" and "Al-Marhum," highlighting their aristocratic rank, reinforce this lineage.[6]

Infrastructure

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One 800,000 gallons service reservoir at Melabau was documented in 1964.[7] In 1965, site construction for four blocks (24 units) of teacher's apartments at Jalan Ong Sum Ping was underway, as was preparation for two blocks of Class C, E, and F apartments each on a site at Jalan Melabau.[8] The village is also home to the first Department of Town and Country Planning headquarters at Jalan Tapak Kuda.[9]

The Melabau area features several notable royal properties, including Qashr Al-Meezan, the private residence of the Crown Prince of Brunei.[10] This residence is complemented by Assaraa, a private compound that hosts several villas, guest houses and a banquet hall.[11][12][13]

Education

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Ong Sum Ping Campus

The Ong Sum Ping Condominium in Melabau hosts several key educational institutions, including the main campus of Brunei Polytechnic at its Ong Sum Ping Campus[14] and the JPMC College of Health Sciences,[15] both of which operate in converted blocks of the complex.

Government

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Melabau is home to a range of key government buildings that support Brunei's administrative and public services. This area includes multiple ministries such as the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Additionally, it houses essential departments including the Audit Department, Royal Customs and Excise Department, National Archive, Meteorological Department, Labour Department, Public Service Department and the Department of Immigration and National Registration. The Department of Economic Planning and Statistics,[16] Brunei Darussalam Food Authority,[17] Brunei Medical Board,[18] and Department of Schools[19] are all located in converted blocks of the Ong Sum Ping Condominium.

The new Dewan Majlis building, developed under Brunei's 8th National Development Plan and set on a 10.7 hectares (26 acres) site along Jalan Kebangsaan, aims to serve as a secure and independent facility symbolising Brunei's Melayu Islam Beraja philosophy, with its completion anticipated by 2007.[20]

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) building complex in Melabau,[21] completed in time for Brunei's 22nd ASEAN Summit in April 2013,[22] is a six-story, 92,000 square metres (990,000 sq ft) structure designed by Nizam Wahab,[23] featuring two symmetrical wings around a central dome with landscape fountains, funded by the 10th National Development Plan.[24]

Religion

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The Ash-Shaliheen Mosque, located beside PMO building complex, is a Moroccan-style mosque designed by Egyptian architect Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil, completed in June 2012 with a retractable glass roof and seating for up to 1,000 worshippers.[25][26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ BUKU DIREKTORI TELEFON PENGHULU-PENGHULU MUKIM DAN KETUA-KETUA KAMPUNG NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM (PDF) (in Malay). Vol. 4. Brunei: Bahagian Perancangan Daerah, Ministry of Home Affairs. April 2024. p. 15.
  2. ^ "Annex B" (PDF). DEPS.MoFE.gov.bn. Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economy. October 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Population and Housing Census Update Final Report 2016" (PDF). www.deps.gov.bn. Department of Statistics. December 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Buku Poskod Edisi Kedua (Kemaskini 26 Disember 2018)" (PDF). post.gov.bn (in Malay). Brunei Postal Services Department. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  5. ^ Haji Metali 2004, p. 2.
  6. ^ Haji Metali 2004, p. 1.
  7. ^ Great Britain Colonial Office (1966). State of Brunei Annual Report 1964. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 183.
  8. ^ Great Britain Colonial Office (1967). State of Brunei Annual Report 1965. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 201.
  9. ^ "Sejarah". Town and Country Planning Department (in Malay). Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Their Royal Highnesses' Audience Ceremony". Prime Minister's Office. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  11. ^ "URGENT ANTI-TERMITE TREATMENT AT VILLA 1,2,3, ASSARA AND RELATED BUILDING, JALAN KUMBANG PASANG, NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM". Ministry of Development. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Meeting with Cabinet Ministers of Brunei Darussalam". Radio Television Brunei. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Remarks by President Clinton and President Putin of Russia, Brunei". Office of the Press Secretary, White House. 15 November 2000. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  14. ^ "#ProudBruneian". Politeknik Brunei. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Contact". JPMC College of Health Sciences. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Contact Us". Department of Economic Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Contact Us". Brunei Darussalam Food Authority. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Brunei Medical Board". Ministry of Health. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Jabatan Sekolah-Sekolah". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  20. ^ Haji Ismail, Haji Ahat (10 August 2005). "BANGUNAN BARU DEWAN MAJLIS PUNYAI CIRI KEMELAYUAN DAN KEISLAMAN" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 1. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Home". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  22. ^ Fiona. "Prime Minister's Office Building, Brunei". Leadcom Seating. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Brunei Prime Minister Office". Soprema. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  24. ^ TENTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2012 – 2017) BRUNEI DARUSSALAM (PDF). Bandar Seri Begawan: Department of Economic Planning and Development. 12 August 2012. p. 127. ISBN 978-99917-918-7-6.
  25. ^ "Russian Embassy visits to Ash-Shaliheen Mosque". Russian Embassy in Brunei. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  26. ^ "Masjid Ash-Shaliheen". Ministry of Religious Affairs (in Malay). Retrieved 28 August 2024.