Main Bazaar road towards the Kemena River in 1975

Main Bazaar Road in 1975

Seen are students from BGSS (Bintulu Government Secondary School) walking along Main Bazaar road as part of the activities in conjunction with Prophet's Mohammad's Birthday celebration in 1975.  In the background is partly seen the low-lying areas along the banks of the Kemena River with very few building structures. 

View of Main Bazaar road today, 9 April'17. The picture shows the road leading out of town.

The twin market building in the background houses the 'Pasar Utama' and in the far background is seen a similar building that houses the 'Tamu'.  Both have the architectural look of local Melanau sun-hat called the 'Terendak'.

The architecture of the market was inspired from the local Melanau sun-hat called the "Terendak". The Main Bazaar road now functions as a four-lane one way street with ample car parking spaces on both sides. Towards the left of the picture is partly seen a large open space for public activities, show, fairs and public assembly area.  

Main Bazaar Road in 1975

Main Bazaar Road in 1975
Note the large green space between the two-way street.  Seen are the students of BGSS (Bintulu Government Secondary School) during the Prophet Mohammad's Birthday parade around the town.
The wooden shophouses are made of belian posts, beams and roofing of belian shingles.
Overhead electric posts are gradually replaced with underground cabling.

Main Bazaar Road today, 23 December, 2013.
The road is now turned into a 3-lane one-way street.
Permanent reinforced  concrete four storey buildings replaced old wooden shophouses and ample car parking spaces are provided on the roadsides.  Parking are now charged at hourly rate of 50 sen per hour.

Just years prior to the first boom, there were very few cars in town.  Students who studied at BGSS (Bintulu  Government Secondary School) would either take the bus or ride bicycles to school.  Many Malay and Melanau kampungs dotted the areas immediately around the town.  It was customary for the  Muslim students to celebrate the Prophet Mohammad's Birthday by parading around town (as seen in the top pix). Today the Main Bazaar Road is the main thoroughfare around town.