By Yvonne T
BINTULU, Feb 22: In the quiet town of Balingian, at the edge of the Mukah district, the old bazaar is stirring with renewed energy as the newly completed waterfront breathes fresh life into the once sleepy settlement.
For decades, the town’s riverfront would stir to life only when the fishing boats returned heavy with catch, or when the prized udang galah (giant freshwater prawns) season arrived and the river shimmered with activity. The rest of the year, Balingian lingered in a kind of gentle slumber, its old bazaar watching patiently from the riverbank.
The more than a century old bazaar, a pair of weathered shop house rows facing the Batang Balingian, is seeing signs of renewal. Just steps away, the newly completed waterfront has begun drawing families, anglers and festival goers back to the river, infusing fresh energy into a town that once thrived on timber.
There was a time when Balingian was known not for prawns, but for logs. The timber industry powered its economy, bringing workers, merchants and steady commerce. When the major timber factories shut their doors, the pulse slowed. Businesses endured, but growth plateaued.
Through it all, the old bazaar withstood the test of time.
“This place is more than 100 years old,” said Ah Hiang, 57, owner of a kopitiam he inherited from his father at the old bazaar.
“About 40 years ago, we carried out repairs. Before that, it was very dilapidated,” he told the D’Drift team.
His father, once a penghulu in Balingian and a businessman in the bazaar, had negotiated major renovations for the two rows of shop houses decades ago. Back then, even basic infrastructure was lacking.
“There wasn’t even a proper road coming here before,” Ah Hiang recalled.
His father had arrived as a migrant, fleeing the Japanese occupation and eventually settling in Balingian.
Now, most of the owners of the shop houses along the old bazaar are Chinese, early settlers of this fishing town, like Ah Hiang’s father.
The recent completion of the waterfront, part of the RM5.5 million Batang Balingian Restoration Project funded by the State government, has changed the town’s tempo. The once modest riverbank now hosts festivals, water activities and community events, transforming it into a gathering space that feels both modern and traditional.
Having watched the slow turning of decades at the old bazaar, Ah Hiong said the transformation is unmistakable.
“With the new waterfront, there’s a lot of visitors coming here. A lot of them come here to fish, to paddleboat, speed boat and such. And there’s the Balingian Bederun Festival, with a lot of people coming to participate and witness the festival.”
Visitors arrive from Kuching, Miri and other parts of Sarawak. On an early weekend morning like today, families stroll along the promenade while anglers cast their lines in hopes of landing a catch or two.
At the kopitiams at the old bazaar, elders lean back in their chairs, cups of kopi O in hand, watching the river as they always have. Nearby, workers from the surrounding industrial zones seize the quiet hours to unwind, sharing breakfast and easy conversation before returning to their quarters as a new work week looms.
When fishing season peaks between April and July, the scene intensifies.
“When it’s fishing season, it’s even more lively. We can see in a day, there’ll be people coming in to get the catch of the day for udang galah of up to 200 kilogrammes and more,” Ah Hiang added.
The old bazaar’s timber beams may be aged and slightly tilted, but it remains very much alive with activity. – DayakDaily
