FREELITTLEBRAIN: Marudi - Cultural Heart of Sarawak’s Highland Tribes Folk

A quiet town situated inland from Miri, similar in size to Kapit, Marudi is a town on the Baram River in the north of Sarawak which borders Sabah and the small country of Brunei.

Marudi is the cultural heart of Sarawak’s highland tribes folk, collectively called Orang Ulu. A riverine town about 100 km upriver from Kuala Baram, Marudi is the largest town in the sparsely-populated Baram district. It is also the district administrative headquarters and has been since the days of the White Rajahs.

It has a riverfront, a couple of buildings riddled with small shops, restaurants, the occasional hair salon, hotels and at the top, a museum on Marudi.

Marudi town is, as usual, dominated by Chinese has Chinese association as follows:

Hokkien Association Baram
59, Jalan Kapitan Lim Ching Kiat, 98050, Marudi, baram, Sarawak
Tel : 085-755469
Fax: 085-755049

Baram Foo Chow Association
Lot 29, Jalan Kapitan Lim Ching Kiat, 98050 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak
Tel: 085-755717
Fax: 085-755333

Kwong Tung Community Association Baram
Lot 83, Jalan Kapitan Lim Ching Kiat, 98050 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak
Tel: 085-756678
Fax: 085-755415

Hakka Community Association Baram
Lot 44, Jalan Kapitan Lim Ching Kiat, 98050 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak
Tel: 085-756282
Fax: 085-755076

Like any other town in Sarawak, it is a common sight to see a Marudi Tua Pek Kong Temple situated nearby the Bram River.

The population of Marudi is approximately 83,900 as follows:

Malay        :   4, 800
Iban           : 29, 500
Chinese    :   5, 917
Kenyah     : 11, 031
Kayan       : 11, 387
Kelabit      :   2, 095
Penan       :   7, 724
Bidayuh    :       620
Melanau :       420

There are 3 ways to get to Marudi :

By Air

MASwings Twin Otter from Miri - RM100 return ticket. Maswings fly from Miri to Marudi daily. A mere 20 min flight time as compared with 4 hours by road or 3 hours by boat upriver. This may be a good choice for those with limited time.

By Boat

From Kuala Baram jetty in Miri, there are speedboats leaving daily with the first boat scheduled at 7.20 am and there could be as many as 4 trips per day, depending on demand and weather permitting. The express provide transport from Marudi to Kuala Baram, Long Lama, Totuh and Tinjar.

By Road

Going by 4WD trucks from Miri is a little tougher and a little sore by the end of the trip. The road is bumpy and the 4WD will be bouncing along an old logging road, it takes about 3 ½ hours – 4 hours.