Saturday, May 28, 2016

Abang Galau and a road to his name

Me and Friends  at the road junction of Abang Galau road in 1975.
Note the typical wooden Malay houses prevalent at that time built along the road as seen in the background  and take note too of the tall palm trees in the background .
View of Jalan Abang Galau or Abang Galau Road from the middle portion ( in front of OKMS i.e. Orang Kaya Mohammed School) ) towards the town center.
Photo credits : Tuah, Adi B., Abon R., Daha S., Buding B., Ahip P. & Ritchie,  J. (  ) Dari Kampung Nelayan ke Industriopolis, Pejabat Pentadbiran Bahagian Bintulu, Bintulu.



There is a road that runs parallel to Jalan Mesjid or Mosque Road in Bintulu that was named after a local chieftan named Abang Galau. The  Abang Galau  Road is slightly less than one kilometer in length.  It starts from the Bintulu town centre traffic light junction ( Kepppel Road/ Pedada Road traffic lights junction) and ends close to the Sebiew River.

Abang Galau prominence as a local chieftan  during the days of the Brunei Sultanate's rule over Bintulu was well received by the Brooke's administration (Charles Brooke)  which subsequently endorsed him as the local dignitary to represent the natives community of Bintulu when the Sultan of Brunei ceded the Bintulu region  to the Brookes in 1861.  According to some reports, he is a descendant from the Punan or Orang Ulu  bloodline from the marriage of Pengiran Panji and Kendoh.

View of Jalan Abang Galau taken on 27 May,2016.
Note the hotel and shophouses at  the left of the picture. These new buildings were built under Phase Two of Kampung Dagang Commercial Centre project developed by Hock Peng Realty Sdn Bhd.  The first phase of the re-development of the Malay/Melanau villages along the Abang Galau Road  was undertaken by Bintulu Realty Estate Sdn Bhd. covering an area of 1.44 hectares involving  36 landowners. 

Jalan Abang Galau, taken on 27 May'16.
Note:  For more information on the development of the Kampung Dagang Commercial Centre, please follow this link...>>>http://bintulub4now.blogspot.my/2014/01/jalan-mesjid-at-kampung-dagang-in-1979.html
Abang Galau Road of the 60's.
 This is the section of the road that ends close to the Sebiew River.
In the 60's it was the sight of rubber and fruit tree gardens and Malay/Melanau kampungs or villages.
|The above picture shows Malay/ Melanau men wearing the Malay headress ("Songkok") when attending a wedding reception at a Muslim Melanau's  house beside the Abang Galau Road.