Pakan, Sarawak

Pakan is a small town in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is located in Sarikei Division, 45 km (28 mi) from the town of Sarikei. The district population (as of the 2014 census) was 32,209.

For the state constituency represented in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, see Pakan (state constituency).

Pakan
Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese巴干
Replica of Buah Pakan at Pakan town
Pakan
Location in Borneo
Coordinates: 1°52′00″N 111°41′00″E
CountryMalaysia
StateSarawak
DivisionSarikei Division
DistrictPakan District
Time zoneUTC+08:00 (MST)
Postal code
96xxx
Websitewww.sarikei.sarawak.gov.my

Most of its inhabitants are ethnic Iban people (91% or 24,972) and a few minority Chinese (8.17% or 8,071) usually concentrated in its town area. A small minority of Muslim (1.15% or 966) work in a government sector, such as teachers, nurses, district officers, and police.

Etymology

The name Pakan was derived from a local fruit resembling durian, named Buah Pakan. It has yellowish skin and flesh.[1][note 1] The fruit has since become the symbol of the town with its replica built at the junction of Entabai road.[2]

History

In 1911, a man from Guangdong named Wen Ru Zhu (翁如珠) was the first Chinese to arrive in Sarikei. Four years later in 1915, he together with one of his family member, brought some daily necessities, climbed through the mountains and arrive in Pakan to trade with the Iban people living there for agricultural products. Apart from Iban longhouses and rubber plantations, there were no Chinese houses there. The Iban people welcomed the arrival of Wen as he brought the much needed daily necessities to them. The journey to and from Pakan took about ten days. Wen would build a small hut in Pakan to stay there for some days before going back to Sarikei. Later, he married to an Iban woman in Pakan and started a family. Later, more Chinese came here to build shophouses and to trade with Iban people.[1][note 2]

In 1937, Penghulu Asun staged a rebellion against the Brooke government in Pakan. In 1957, Min Jin primary school (民进小学) was built. In 1968, there was a flood in Pakan.[1][note 3]

Government
Meradong and Julau District Council, Pakan branch
The Pakan District Office.

Since creation of the Sarikei Division in 1973, the Pakan sub-district was put under the jurisdiction of Julau district. On 1 March 2002, the Pakan sub-district was upgraded into a district.[2] The Pakan District covers a total area of 924.6 km2 (357.0 sq mi),[3] administered by Pakan District Office located in the town of Pakan.[2]

Geography

Pakan is located 45 km (28 mi) from the town of Sarikei.[3]

Longhouses
  • Tr Rawing, Ulu Marau
  • Tr Saban Sungai Ipoh, Pakan
  • Tr Undi, Sg Pantak ( once niang Tr Taling )
  • Tr Sedau Ak Empali
  • Tr Nyambar, Ulu Kota, Pakan
  • Tr Bujang
  • Rumah Jilap Bt6 Jalan Entabai Pakan
  • Tr Matthew Nawong, Lubuk Pisang, Sg Genega
  • Tr Tukang, Nyalak Atas
  • Tr Andrew Ungon,Darau
  • Tr.George anak Chungut,Nanga Nansang
  • Tr. Ganda anak Saba, Manding, Sungai Lemujan
  • Tr. Attan anak Ana, Lubok Ubi, Sugai
  • Tr. Linggang anak Kaya, Merampu
  • Tr. Liman anak Lawo, Munggu Temedak
  • Tr. Kalong anak Asa
  • Tr. Janang anak Silang, Sg.Wong, Wak
  • Tr. Barang Sg Empang, Pakan
  • Tr. Empi Tanjung , Pakan.
  • Tr. Ladi Nasau , Pakan.
  • Tr. Empek Nasau , Pakan
  • Tr. Imban , Genting Kopi Pakan.
  • Tr. Jantan , Genting , Kopi Pakan.
  • Tr. Safri , Tubai Buah , Pakan.
  • Tr. Nyalong Nanga Segera , Pakan
  • Tr. Gandai ,Tubai Buah,Pakan.
  • Tr. Budom , Tubai Buah,Pakan
  • Tr. Menari , Ng Pedanum.
  • Tr. Ragai Sungai Jaong , Pakan
  • Tr. Japar Ulu Kemalih , Entabai

Demographics
St Francis Asisi Chapel.

In 2010, Pakan town had a total population of 14,570, where there were 14,023 Iban people, 402 Chinese, 80 Malays, and 65 from other tribes.[1][note 4]

Places of worship
  • St.Francis Assisi (RC ) Church
  • BEM (SIB) Nanga Pakan
  • Chapel St Joseph,Ulu Kota
  • Mosque (beside Klinik Pakan)
  • Surau Zulkarnain, Rumah Julin, Kg Amut ( Sponsored by Yayasan Amal Malaysia Cawangan Sarawak )

Economy
A black pepper plantation near the Pakan road.

In 2017, Pakan District had 2,000 hectares of pepper farms with 5,800 farmers working on them.[4]

Transport

Public transportation
  • Buses
  • Borneo Almagated Sdn. Bhd ( Limited trip per day)

Alternate road

New road alternative connecting user from Sibu to go directly to Ulu Budu in Saratok district by passing through Pakan provides a shorter time compared to the existing one which passes through T-junction to Sarikei. What used to be about 3 hours journey from Sibu to Saratok will take only about 2 hours. So users on a long journey to Kuching benefit a lot from this road.

Sibu -> Julau -> Bintangor -> Sarikei -> Pakan -> Wak -> Ulu Budu -> Saratok

Other utilities
Pakan public health clinic.
SK Nanga Pakan.
SMK Pakan.

Education
Primary schools
  • SK Nanga Pakan
  • SK Nanga Kara
  • SK Sungai Sugai
  • SK Nanga Wak
  • Sk Nanga Sembawang
  • Sk Ulu Manding
  • Sk Nanga Pedanum
  • Sk Nanga Kota
  • Sk Nanga Dayu
  • Sk Ulu Entabai
  • Sk Ulu Entaih
  • Sk Nanga Entaih
Secondary school
  • SMK Pakan
  • (extra information) SMK Meradong (Bintangor), SMK Bintangor (Bintangor), the nearest school most of the upper six students attended after they finishing their form 5.

Culture and leisure
Upper river of Sg Julau, Pakan-Ulu Kota road.

Pesta Pakan (Pakan festival) is a yearly festival held in the town of Pakan since 1988. It consisted of various activities such as sports, entertainment, culture, and arts.[5]

  • Kerangan Rantau Enjin, Ng Kelau
  • Lumbung Rentap at Bukit Sibau (Rentap's final resting place)
  • Wong Kuji waterfall
  • Bukit Uyu (the grave of the Rentap's follower , Uyu , Medan and two mores
  • Kembara Off-Road

Notes
  1. Yii, 2010. Page 285
  2. Yii, 2010. Page 285
  3. Yii, 2010. Page 287
  4. Yii, 2010. Page 285

References
  1. 余(Yii), 悦胜(Yuk Seng) (November 2010). 泗里街省華族史料集 (Collection of historical material on the chinese community in Sarikei Division) (First ed.). Sibu, Sarawak: 砂拉越华族文化协会(Sarawak Chinese Cultural Association). ISBN 978-983-9360-49-3.
  2. "Pengenalan Pejabat Daerah Pakan (Introduction to Pakan District Office)". Official Portal of Sarikei Divisional Administration. Sarikei Divisional Office. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  3. "Profail Daerah Pakan (Pakan District Profile)". The Official Portal of Sarikei Divisional Administration Office. Sarikei Divisional Administration Office. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  4. "Pepper farmers urged to up production to meet demand". The Borneo Post. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  5. "Pakan Festival". The official portal of Sarikei Divisional administrative office. Sarikei Divisional Administrative Office. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
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