Kampong Kuala Tutong (Malay: Kampung Kuala Tutong), also simply known as Kuala Tutong, is a village in Tutong District, Brunei, within the mukim of Pekan Tutong.[2] The postcode for Kampong Kuala Tutong is TA3341.[3] It holds great historical importance due to its contribution to the country's socio-economic development in the past. Before World War II, a ferryjetty was constructed at the end of Jalan Kuala Tutong, approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Kampong Penabai. Since no bridges connected the Tutong and Belait districts at that time, the Brunei government introduced a ferry service in 1930, which operated from Kuala Sungai Tutong. This ferry became a crucial transportation link for vehicles traveling between Brunei Town, Tutong, Seria, and Kuala Belait. However, the service ceased in 1958 following the completion of bridges in Serambangun and Telamba, which made the ferry redundant.[4]
Etymology
The Malay word kuala refers to an estuary,[5] therefore its name would translate to the mouth of the Tutong River.[6]
Geography
Kuala Tutong is surrounded by two bodies of water both in the North, the South China Sea and South, the Tutong River. It has coconut palms,[7] a spit and a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) beach named Seri Kenangan Beach.[8][9] At Kuala Tutong and Kuala Belait, there are a few small mangrove areas, but they are only adequate for storing local supplies.[10]
History
In 1931, the British Malayan Petroleum Company took responsibility for maintaining the bridges and beach road from Kuala Tutong to Kuala Belait, as the route fell within their operational area. During World War II, the area became a battleground when the Australian Army's 20th Brigade and 2/8th Field Regiment fought against Japanese forces during the liberation of Brunei in August 1945.[11][12] The region also housed a Japanese cemetery, marking the period of Japanese occupation.[13] To maintain traffic flow between Brunei and Kuala Belait during the war, a pontoon car-ferry service was established at Kuala Tutong, with the 2/3rd Field Regiment managing ferry operations using a raft.[14]
Infrastructure
Ferry jetty
The ferry jetty at Kuala Sungai Tutong was built after the government introduced the ferry service in 1930, becoming a key facility for both government and civilian use. During the Japanese occupation of Brunei (1941–1945), the jetty played a crucial role in allowing Australian troops access to the Seria oil fields, but it was damaged during the war and became unsafe. In 1949, it was reconstructed with iron, concrete, wooden beams, and a reinforced deck for improved durability.[15] The ferry service itself initially operated with two modified boats, transporting two cars at a time across the Tutong River. The engine-powered ferry took about 30 minutes to reach the Danau ferry dock and over an hour and a half to return to Kuala Tutong. After crossing to Danau, vehicles heading to Seria and Kuala Belait had to take a 25 miles (40 km) coastal route that was only accessible during favorable weather and tide conditions.[16]
At that time, the Brunei government imposed a fee of $5.00 for each civilian vehicle using the Kuala Sungai Tutong ferry service. The daily revenue from the ferry service was collected by Customs Officers based in Tutong Town, approximately 7 miles (11 km) from the ferry jetty. In 1957, the government earned B$96,790.00 from this service. That year, a total of 17,855 buses and trucks, 7,840 Land Rovers and jeeps, and 751 motorcycles were recorded using the Kuala Sungai Tutong Ferry.[17]
By 1954, the old ferry jetty was replaced with a new platform to accommodate the V. F. Hinggins ferry,[18] a modern vessel capable of carrying six cars or up to 20 tonnes (20 long tons; 22 short tons) of cargo. As demand for the service grew, the larger V. F. Pemancha ferry began operating in mid-1956 to handle the increased traffic.[16] Both government officials and Shell Oil workers benefited from the improved ferry services, which facilitated easier vehicle crossings over the Tutong River. For a small fee, civilians could also use the public ferries or private boats, while government-operated ferries like the M. B. Awang Semaun and R. C. L. Fairmile helped meet the rising demand.[17] However, in 1958, the jetty ceased to be the main crossing point to Kuala Belait, as the government completed bridges over the Tutong and Telamba rivers, connecting Tutong Town to Telisai, a distance of approximately 9.5 miles (15.3 km). With the construction of these bridges, the ferry service at Kuala Sungai Tutong was discontinued.[18]
