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Bintulu is
a coastal town, and the capital of Bintulu District (7,220.4 square
kilometers) in the Bintulu Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is about 650
kilometers from Kuching and about 215 kilometers from either
Sibu or Miri.
The town is geographically situated half way between Kuching and
Kota Kinabalu. Bintulu is a central gateway to tourist spots like Bakun Resort,
Niah Caves (Gua Niah in Malay), Mulu National Park, Loagan Bunut National
Park, Lambir National Park, Sibuti Wildlife Sanctuary, Rejang Pelagus,
Belaga and the Bario Highlands.
Bintulu is the fourth largest town in Sarawak, after Kuching,
Sibu and Miri.
Its current population stands at 209,800. The ethnic
composition is primarily Iban, Chinese, Melanau, Kayan, Kenyah, Punan and
Segaan who was the local native, and a large number of foreign workers
mainly from Norway, Britain, Australia, Italy and Indonesia with a
population of over 180,000 covering an area of about 12,500 square
kilometers.
Bintulu is home to one of Malaysia's public universities - the Universiti
Putra Malaysia, Bintulu Campus. The campus was reopened in November
2001 based on the third objective of UPM's 2001–2010 planning strategy,
which is to upgrade UPM's ability as an internationally acclaimed Centre
of Study, Agricultural and Biosource Services.
UPM Bintulu Sarawak Campus is situated 13 kilometers from Bintulu Town,
and is surrounded by a lush environment rich in flora and fauna, and this
natural abundance is fully utilized to affirm UPM's mission to further
explore the fields in agriculture and bio-source. This campus covers an
area of 715.16 hectares and will be able to accommodate up to 5000
students by the year 2010.
For primary and secondary education, just as any other towns in Malaysia,
Bintulu has 'Sekolah Kebangsaan' (SK) [National type schools], Sekolah
Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) [National Secondary School], Chinese Schools and
several International Schools.
There are other National Secondary School, i.e. SMK Bandar Bintulu, SMK
Kidurong, SMK Baru Bintulu, SMK Assyakirin, SMK Sebauh (Sebauh Division) &
SMK Tatau (Tatau Division). SM Kai Dee (Kai Dee School) is a private
Chinese school in Bintulu & located at Nyabau Road. Kidurong International
School is located in Kidurong.
A Technical School of the Education Department is found on a 20-hectare
site, about 15 kilometres from the Bintulu Town and near to the industrial
projects at Tanjung Kidurong. Built at a cost of RM15 million and
completed in 1982, the school has at present 527 students pursuing various
courses at the school. The school has a maximum capacity of 900 students
and an annual intake of 280 students.
Bintulu is also home of Sarawak first and only flying academy. Gulf Golden
International Flying Academy (GGIFA) is the one of only two of seven
flying academy in Malaysia which have college status. It currently has
more than 100 cadet pilots in the college.
Bintulu is a major industrial centre. Its port area in Kidurong, which is
located to the east of the main town hosts the Petronas Liquified Natural
Gas (LNG) Complex, currently the world’s largest liquefied natural gas
production facility on a single site, with an annual production of 23
million tonnes.
The role of the primary sector to the economy of Bintulu has greatly
diminished and has been replaced by the secondary and tertiary sector.
Bintulu is also equipped with several hotels that are able to cater to the
needs of the town's burgeoning business communities. Furthermore, a more
robust growth is anticipated in the future due to the Bintulu's position
as the main urban focus for the ambitious multi-billion dollar Sarawak
Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Sources:
Wikipedia
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