Balingian

{{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Balingian | translit_lang1 = Other | translit_lang1_type1 = Chinese | translit_lang1_info1 = 万年烟 | image_skyline = File:Balingian old bazaar.jpg | image_caption = Balingian old bazaar seen in February 2019 | image_flag = | image_shield = | image_map = | coordinates = {{coord|2.91667|112.53333|region:MY|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Borneo | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Malaysia}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Sarawak}} | elevation_m = 3 | website = {{URL|http://www.mukah.sarawak.gov.my/}} }}

'''Balingian''' also known as '''Kuala Balingian''' is a town in Sarawak, Malaysia.<ref name="Geonames"/> It lies approximately {{convert|286.1|km|mi|0}} east-north-east of the state capital Kuching.

==Etymology== Baligian got its name from a river crossing the town. The river was once used by the local residents to go to their hill paddy fields.<ref name="RakanSarawak 2002"/>

==History== {{Empty section|date=September 2018}}

==Government== The Balingian sub-district is administered by a Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) and three ''Penghulu'' (regional chief). Administrative areas of Balingian sub-district includes Balingian delta, Arip river, Bawan river, and Bawang Assan river, all under the administration of Dalat and Mukah District Council (MDDM).<ref name="KKBalingian"/>

==Geography== Balingian is located inside the Balingian sub-district,<ref name="RakanSarawak 2002">{{cite news |title=Daerah Kecil Balingian (Balingian sub-district) |url=http://www.myonestopsarawak.com.my/info/rakansarawak/092002/subdistrict/index.shtml |access-date=12 September 2018 |publisher=Rakan Sarawak (Friends of Sarawak) |date=September 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216143109/http://www.myonestopsarawak.com.my/info/rakansarawak/092002/subdistrict/index.shtml |archive-date=16 December 2017}}</ref> about 60 km from Mukah town.<ref name="B23997172"/> The Balingian sub-district is measured as 3,032 km<sup>2</sup>. The town of Balingian is located between the Mukah town and the Bintulu town. It takes one hour to go to Mukah from Balingian and three hours to go to Sibu. Balingian can also be reached through the sea from Tatau and Bintulu.<ref name="RakanSarawak 2002"/> There is also a coastal road connecting Balingian to the mouth of the Balingian river and Tatau.<ref name="KKBalingian">{{cite web |title=Klinik Kesihatan Balingian Sarawak (Sarawak Balingian public health clinic) |url=https://kkbalingian.wordpress.com/ |publisher=Balingian public health clinic |access-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913165425/https://kkbalingian.wordpress.com/ |archive-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> Neighbouring settlements include: *Lemai {{convert|26.2|km|mi|1}} south *Kuala Tatau {{convert|33.4|km|mi|1}} northeast *Penipah {{convert|35.4|km|mi|1}} west *Tatau {{convert|35.4|km|mi|1}} east *Kenyana {{convert|39.9|km|mi|1}} west *Penakub {{convert|42.8|km|mi|1}} west *Rumah Kelambu {{convert|44|km|mi|1}} east *Kampung Jebungan {{convert|44.5|km|mi|1}} west *Mukah {{convert|48.2|km|mi|1}} west *Rumah Nyawai {{convert|49.9|km|mi|1}} south

==Climate== Balingian has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round. {{Weather box |width = auto | location = Balingian | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan high C = 29.7 | Feb high C = 29.8 | Mar high C = 30.6 | Apr high C = 31.3 | May high C = 31.7 | Jun high C = 31.5 | Jul high C = 31.5 | Aug high C = 31.1 | Sep high C = 31.2 | Oct high C = 30.9 | Nov high C = 30.7 | Dec high C = 30.3

| Jan mean C = 26.0 | Feb mean C = 26.1 | Mar mean C = 26.6 | Apr mean C = 27.1 | May mean C = 27.4 | Jun mean C = 27.1 | Jul mean C = 27.0 | Aug mean C = 26.7 | Sep mean C = 26.9 | Oct mean C = 26.8 | Nov mean C = 26.7 | Dec mean C = 26.3 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 22.4 | Feb low C = 22.5 | Mar low C = 22.7 | Apr low C = 22.9 | May low C = 23.2 | Jun low C = 22.8 | Jul low C = 22.5 | Aug low C = 22.4 | Sep low C = 22.6 | Oct low C = 22.7 | Nov low C = 22.7 | Dec low C = 22.4 |rain colour=green |Jan rain mm=470 |Feb rain mm=356 |Mar rain mm=311 |Apr rain mm=226 |May rain mm=210 |Jun rain mm=230 |Jul rain mm=197 |Aug rain mm=260 |Sep rain mm=279 |Oct rain mm=316 |Nov rain mm=340 |Dec rain mm=469 |source 1 = Climate-Data.org<ref>{{cite web |url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/977179/ |title = Climate: Balingian |publisher=Climate-Data.org |access-date = 29 October 2020}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== According to the Balingian public health clinic estimation, Balingian town has a total population of 15,327 people in 2002. It consists of Iban people (68.3%) and Melanau people (29.49%). All the populations stay in six villages and 137 longhouses.<ref name="KKBalingian"/>

==Economy== Majority of the residents here manage their own shophouses and individual stalls in bazaar. A bazaar is held every weekend selling daily necessities and agricultural produce. The establishment of Regional Growth Centre (RGC), Sarawak Oil-Palm Plantation (SOP), FELCRA Berhad allows the local people to involve in large scale oil palm plantations. Other economic activities in Balingian include: sago, rice, and coconut cultivation, fish and chicken domestication, and logging.<ref name="RakanSarawak 2002"/> Coal mining has been ongoing in the Balingian coal field.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Say |first1=Gee Sia |last2=Wan Hasiah |first2=Abdullah |title=Geochemical and petrographical characteristics of low-rank Balingian coal from Sarawak, Malaysia: Its implications on depositional conditions and thermal maturity |journal=International Journal of Coal Geology |date=14 March 2012 |volume=96 |pages=22–38 |doi=10.1016/j.coal.2012.03.002 |url=http://repository.um.edu.my/20335/1/Sia%20%26%20Abdullah%202012%20IJCoalGeo%2096-97%20Geochemical%20%26%20petrogr%20Balingian%20coal.pdf |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916055741/http://repository.um.edu.my/20335/1/Sia%20%26%20Abdullah%202012%20IJCoalGeo%2096-97%20Geochemical%20%26%20petrogr%20Balingian%20coal.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Balingian coal-fired power plant commenced operation since May 2019. It is the first plant in Malaysia to use circulating fluidized bed technology to handle various coal types.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarawak Energy's Balingian coal-fired power plant records safety milestone |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2018/12/01/sarawak-energys-balingian-coal-fired-power-plant-records-safety-milestone/ |access-date=24 January 2020 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204190837/http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/12/01/sarawak-energys-balingian-coal-fired-power-plant-records-safety-milestone/ |archive-date=4 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=王 |first1=桀 |title=马来西亚巴林基安循环流化床燃煤机组项目1号机组投运 (Malaysian Balingian circulating fluidisized bed coal-powered generator unit 1 commenced operation) |url=http://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20190514/980151.shtml |access-date=24 January 2020 |publisher=北极星电力网 (Bei Ji Xin Energy Grid) |date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901005857/http://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20190514/980151.shtml |archive-date=1 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=蒋 |first1=武林 |title=中国能建湖南火电承建马来西亚巴林基安项目2号机组商运 (China Energy Engineering Group Hunan Power Conctruction Co Ltd undertakes Malaysian Balingian generator unit 2 for commercial operation) |url=http://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20190705/990728.shtml |access-date=24 January 2020 |publisher=北极星电力网 (Bei Ji Xin Energy Grid) |date=5 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901005857/http://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20190705/990728.shtml |archive-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

Under Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE); an aluminium smelting plant located at about 25 km from Balingian was built.<ref name="B23997172"/> Offshore oil and gas is also a growth area for Balingian.<ref name="Oil"/>

==Transport== ===Road=== Coastal road has improved Balingian link to other towns, especially those who went to Mukah and Bintulu (via Kuala Tatau).<ref name="B23997172"/>

==Other utilities== ===Education=== Amongst the schools available here are: SRK Parish (Parish primary school), SRB Chung Hua (Chung Hua primary school), Perpaduan kindergarten, Sedidik kindergarten and the upcoming SMK Balingian.<ref name="RakanSarawak 2002"/>

===Healthcare=== Balingian public health clinic was established in 1989. The clinic also has implemented a Teleprimary care (TPC) system. It is an audiovisual system where patients can be assessed and treated remotely without being sent to the nearby hospitals.<ref name="KKBalingian"/>

==Culture and leisure== Balingian is known for its river shrimps and have become an attraction for anglers.<ref name="RakanSarawak 2002"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Balingian – a fishing haven for anglers |url=https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/balingian-a-fishing-haven-for-anglers/ |access-date=24 January 2020 |publisher=New Sarawak Tribune |date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124120725/https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/balingian-a-fishing-haven-for-anglers/ |archive-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

==State constituency== {{main|Balingian (state constituency)}}

==References== <references> <ref name="B23997172">{{cite web|url=https://redgoldarawana.blogspot.com/2009/10/balingian-energy-town-of-mukah.html|title=redgoldarawana: Balingian - The energy Town of Mukah|date=18 November 2010|author=Q'Eeugene Minjo Jozia|access-date=1 January 2011}}</ref> <ref name="Geonames">{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/1735406|work=Geonames|title=Balingian, Malaysia|date=9 August 2010|access-date=27 December 2010}}</ref> <ref name=Oil>{{cite web|date=5 July 2000|url=https://energy.cr.usgs.gov/WEcont/regions/reg3/P3/tps/AU/au370212.pdf|title=Balingian Assessment Unit 37020102|access-date=27 December 2010}}</ref> </references>

Category:Towns in Sarawak