The Padawan Sub-District at Teng (Tiang) Bukap

About 55 km North West from Kuching and 35 km from Serian town and 40 km from the border post of Tebedu lies the Kuching sub-district of Padawan nestled in the village known as Teng Bukap.

Teng Bukap in the local Bidayuh vernacular means a strong post. This serene and almost secluded village immediately gives one the impression of a perfect retreat away from the bustling city life with its verdant forest covering and hills and valleys criss-crossing each other.

As one approaches the administra-tive centre of Padawan sub-district by road, Teng Bukap suddenly opens up to reveal a cluster of buildings which houses several government offices amongst which is the Sub-District Office, the Agriculture Department, a Health Clinic and a Maternity & Child Health Clinic, and a mini Police Station. The Customs & Excise Department and the Immigration Department has a staff each and is located 17 km from Teng Bukap near the entrance to Kampung Anah Rais along the Puncak Borneo Highway.

History

Padawan is a sub-district of Kuching. Before 1986, Padawan was served by an Up-River Agent stationed at Teng Bukap with minimal facilities. These include a Primary School, a church which included a clinic, a football field and several shops.

In 1987, Padawan was elevated to a Sub-District covering an approximate area of 165 sq km. Teng Bukap became its administrative centre and the old building which was used to house the Up-River Agent has since been renovated to become the present R & D.O Office.

Government Offices

The Padawan District Office is a one-storey semi concrete bungalow which houses the Sub-District Office and a purpose-built Magistrate’s Court room for the deliberation and dispensing of justice to the locals who brought their disputes to the hands of the Officer of the District. The present Sarawak Administrative Officer of Padawan is En. Peter Frankie Anam Baie.

A quick walkabout around the other offices in the vicinity leads one to feel that Teng Bukap is a self-sufficient centre for the local populace to meet and exchange words and news. A sundry shop stands nearby with an adjoining café. Across the road stood a public telephone kiosk which is in working order.

People and Occupation

Padawan has a population which is slightly over 20,000 comprising mainly Bidayuh who makes up 95% of the total population. The rest are either Chinese, Malays and other indigenous races. The majority of the population are subsistence farmers who plant padi, cocoa and pepper. Animals reared include fowls and pigs for self-consumption.

According to Encik Frankie, most of the suitable areas for oil palm plantation are now developed on a commercial basis by FELCRA and this has brought considerable employment and income to the locals. Workers are paid between RM12.00 to RM15.00 per day. The villages involved in commercial oil palm planting are Belimbing, Subang, Gayu, Bisira Rayang and Semeru.

There are 51 villages in the Padawan sub-district of which thirty-three are accessible by roads and the rest are reachable by jungle tracks. Proposals are made for road projects for these villages in the 8th Malaysia Plan.

About half of the villages have access to electricity supply and almost all are connected to water supply either via treated piped water provided by JKR or gravity feed provided by the Health Department.

Besides working in the oil palm plantation, some of the locals are involved in small grocery trading to supplement their income. Jungle produce such as bamboo shoots or ‘rebong’, sweetcorn, ferns, brinjal, chillies and fruits like pineapples, bananas and jackfruit are brought down to the Sunday Market in Kuching.

Teng Bukap : Facts and figures

Area	165 sq kilometres
Population	20,128
Racial breakdown	Bidayuh 95% ; Malay 3% ; Chinese 1%; Others 1%
Number of villages	51 villages (46 villages with Ketua Kaum)
Main Economic activities	Farming and trading
Number of villages provided with electricity and water supply	22 villages
Other facilities included	Government Depts/ Services provided District Office; Agriculture; Klinik Kesihatan (3); Mini Police Station; Custom Office; Immigration Office; Libraries(6); Pusat Sumber ; KEMAS

Places To Visit In Teng (Tiang) Bukap

One wishing to see an authentic longhouse will find one in Teng Bukap. Kampung Anna Rais at Hulu Padawan is a perfect example of a traditional longhouse where life depicts a truly kampung athmos-phere. It is about 72 km from Kuching and is 17 km from Teng Bukap. There are four longhouses with a total of 62 doors. This kampung is accessible by road and even motorcycles can be used.

Other attractions include Baju Cave which is about five minutes on foot from Pasar Teng Bukap and Rambus Caves which is roughly 15 minutes on foot from the Borneo Heights Road.