Marudi is a town in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and is a part of the division of Miri. It is the seat of Marudi District, and is located on the banks of Baram River, about upstream from the river mouth. Marudi was the administrative centre of the northern region of Sarawak before Miri was established. Marudi is considered as the cultural heart of the

Orang Ulu Orang Ulu ("people of the interior" in Malay) is an ethnic designation politically coined to group together roughly 27 very small but ethnically diverse tribal groups in northeastern Sarawak, Malaysia with populations ranging from less than 300 p ...

, the highland tribes of Sarawak. It is also a transit gateway to Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

Charles Brooke succeeded James Brooke as the new Rajah of Sarawak in 1868. By 1883, the

sultan of Brunei The sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state of Brunei and head of government in his capacity as prime minister of Brunei. Since independence from the British in 1984, only one sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates bac ...

( Abdul Momin) ceded the Baram region (including Miri) to Charles Brooke. The fourth division of Sarawak was immediately created with the installation of Mamerto George Gueritz as the first Resident of the Division. A fort was built in at Marudi, 43 km to the east of Miri in 1883: it was named Claudetown in honour of Claude Champion de Crespigny, Resident of the Third Division when he died in 1884, and it became the administrative centre of the division. The administration was helped by two junior officers, 30 rangers, and a few native police. Charles Hose became Resident of Baram District in 1891 and the fort in Marudi was renamed Fort Hose. In 1895 and 1896, the Brooke administration organized an expedition to

Usun Apau Plieran Usun Apau Plieran is a remote abandoned Kenyah Jamuk, Badeng and Lepu Aga' village settled in 1860, Belaga district. To be exact, Usun Apau Plieran is located at the upstream of Sungai Plieran and Sungai Tiyut. The highest peak that close to thi ...

to punish the Kenyah people (including the Badeng people, a sub-tribe of Kenyahs) living there, who were alleged to have been responsible for the deaths of a Malay, a Chinese trader, and several Iban people. In October 1896, Saba Irang, the headman of the Badeng people, came to Claudetown to seek refuge and make peace with the Brooke administration. Hose decided to organize a peace conference at his fort in April 1899 to “encourage the Madang (Badeng) to be loyal subjects and to ensure a friendly recognition by them by the Baram people". The conference was attended by 6,000 people. This peace conference also led to creation of the Baram Regatta, a long boat race competition among the natives that continues to be held in the present day. The Resident Office moved from Marudi to Miri in 1912 after oil was discovered in Miri.

Administration

The town is the administrative centre of Marudi District, a district in the Miri Division of Sarawak.

Transportation

Air

Marudi is served by

Marudi Airport Marudi Airport is an airport in Marudi, Miri Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. It has a 10/28 runway and its aircraft parking bay can handle three to four de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter at the same time. Airlines and destinations Incidents ...

(MUR) which is in the town. Twin Otters fly to Miri up to nine times daily and serve Bario, Long Banga,

Long Lellang Long Lellang (also known as Long Lelang) is a small village in the Kelabit people, Kelabit highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia. It lies approximately east-north-east of the state capital Kuching. The village is predominantly populated by the Kelabit p ...

Long Akah Long Akah (also known as Long Aka) is an old settlement in the interior of the Telang Usan district of Sarawak, Malaysia, on the upper reaches of the Baram river. It lies approximately east-north-east of the state capital Kuching. The village ...

and Long Seridan. The airport is a 10-minute (1 km) walk east from the centre. Marudi view from sky

Water

Express boats between Marudi and Kuala Baram used to operate regularly in the morning and early afternoon until the road connecting Miri to Marudi was paved. The express boats service stopped operating June 1, 2015.

Geography

Climate

Marudi has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.

Economy

Tourism

The main tourist attraction in the town is Fort Hose, a wooden fort built during the Brooke administration. The fort was named after Hose. The fort was later converted into a museum that houses some ethnographic photographs, local textiles, handicrafts, and ceremonial items. Marudi Landmark (Baram Regatta Statue)

References

{{Authority control Marudi District Towns in Sarawak