# Kampong Menglait

Kampong Menglait (Malay: Kampung Menglait) is a village located in the Brunei–Muara District of Brunei. It also serves as a key neighbourhood and commercial area within Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the country. With a population of 3,311 in 2021, Menglait is part of Mukim Gadong 'B' and covers an area of approximately 83.15 hectares (205.5 acres).

## Etymology

Kampong Menglait was originally known as Gadong Estate, which was primarily filled with rubber plantations. In the past, the area was referred to as Sungai Asgar, believed to be where soldiers were raised and where they hid during the Second World War. Additionally, Kampong Menglait and its surrounding areas were known as Sungai Lubuk.

## History

The Menglait area, once part of Brunei's dense rainforests, underwent significant transformation during the British colonial period as part of efforts to modernise the nation and shift its economy to a land-based model. A resettlement programme aimed at dispersing the population of Kampong Ayer led to the rapid conversion of large forested areas, including Menglait, into rubber estates, reflecting broader economic and urban development strategies under British influence. Menglait's development began in 1918 with the construction of a bridle route to facilitate the establishment of a rubber estate. This was followed by the completion of a metalled road in 1930, connecting Menglait to Brunei Town (now Bandar Seri Begawan).
Menglait's transformation began with its early dominance by rubber plantations, reflecting its role in Brunei's initial land-based economic activities. As vehicles became more prominent after the post-World War II economic boom, car ownership surged, prompting the establishment of the Land Transport Department's headquarters in Brunei Town by 1962. Around the same time, a map marked a two-way, all-weather road linking Menglait to Brunei Town, alongside single-lane roads to Gadong, improving accessibility.
In 1968, the completion of the Jalan Gadong project under the first National Development Plan (RKN) created a vital modern transportation link, further shaping Menglait’s development. By 1969, the Land Transport Department had relocated to Jalan Gadong, cementing the area’s importance as a hub for automotive services. By 1972, the Menglait Commercial Area (MCA) had largely replaced the rubber plantations, leaving only a small 6-hectare patch near Kampong Gadong. Economic growth, driven by rising oil prices and government initiatives, spurred the construction of shophouses and infrastructure, establishing the MCA as the epicentre of Brunei's automotive culture for car parts, repairs, and purchases.
Between the 1970s and 1990s, during Brunei's economic boom, the MCA underwent significant expansion and development. The western section, near the flyover of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway, known locally as "bawah jambatan" or "below the bridge," saw the construction of new shophouses and workshops. With growing wealth, car ownership became increasingly common, and obtaining a driver's license was viewed as an important milestone for young people. Many employers began to favour candidates with driving licenses, making vehicles and driving essential to daily life.
In the 1980s, residential development remained limited. Issues within the village were directly addressed to the penghulu of Mukim Gadong until the establishment of the village head position in 2002. As of 2022, a high-density residential complex with luxury homes, condominiums, and commercial spaces is intended to replace the MCA, which is a part of the Gadong-Kiulap Commercial-Lifestyle region in the Bandar Seri Begawan Development Masterplan. This urban regeneration strategy runs the risk of uprooting those whose livelihoods depend on the area in order to draw in higher-end businesses and residents for economic growth.

## Geography

The MCA, which has a footprint of fewer than 25 hectares (62 acres) and extends 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the west, is a part of the broader Gadong commercial zone. Kedayan River, the principal river channel that empties into the Brunei River estuary in the city centre, borders it on the east. Menglait River, a stream that enters Kedayan River near the southeast corner of the MCA, defines the southern boundary. The Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway flyover delineates the western boundary. Jalan Gadong, a dual carriageway that connects the city centre and the MCA, splits the area in half. With 70% of the urban footprint, the southern portion of the MCA is the main and oldest. It extends 220–380 metres (720–1,250 ft) south to the banks of the Menglait River and 620 meters along Jalan Gadong. The northern portion is smaller, stretching more than 100 meters northward and 400 meters east to west.
On the northern side of the Menglait River, close to its junction with the main channel of the Kedayan River basin—which eventually empties into the Brunei River estuary in Bandar Seri Begawan, close to the ancient Kampong Ayer—is the MCA. The river valley where the MCA is situated has undergone substantial change in the last many decades of development. According to a 1969 soil investigation, the property is made up of alluvial, riverine soil, which is compatible with the physical environment of the valley. With mangroves along the banks and mixed wetlands farther inland along the riparian zone, the natural vegetation initially consisted of lowland dipterocarp forests and tropical swamps.
The year-round high humidity, steady rainfall, and high temperatures define Brunei's humid tropical climate. While December and January are significantly wetter, late February to early March is usually dryer, while there isn't a clear dry season. Occasional flooding is common in the area, and urbanisation has made it worse. The backdrop for human activities that have altered the landscape is the natural environment, which is prone to flooding. Although there is some elasticity in this environment to support development, when it exceeds its carrying capacity, environmental effects occur, delineating the boundaries of development.

## Transportation

The road and bridge connecting the road from the former Brunei Airport (Government Department Complex) area to Kampong Menglait cost B$8,473,341. It is used by the public for the smooth flow of traffic at the intersection of Jalan Kumbang Pasang and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway which is often congested. The bridge is also an alternative route to facilitate travel between the Gadong area and the Government Department Complex.

## Infrastructure

Like other villages in the country, Kampong Menglait is equipped with various facilities, including a secondary school, a post office, a sports complex, and a petrol station.

### Commerce

The history of Chinese migration and the growth of Brunei's automotive sector are strongly related to the development of the MCA. Because Jalan Gadong was constructed better for cars and was close to Brunei Town, Menglait was an ideal place for stores that catered to car owners. Chinese merchants and migrants who came to Brunei in search of better possibilities from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sarawak, Singapore, and other parts of the region opened many of these stores. At first, these migrants accepted any job that came up, but eventually they were able to acquire land or businesses to satisfy the local population's increasing needs, especially for bicycles and later cars. Businesses in Menglait changed to cater to the expanding vehicle market as oil and gas became essential to Brunei's economy and the global automobile industry developed. As a result, Menglait developed into a crucial center for automobile services, closely linked to the region's economic globalisation and the importance of Brunei's oil and gas sector.
Larger commercial blocks that stretch 320 meters north, almost enclosing the former Kampong Gadong residential neighborhood (now Kampong Menglait), have been created by more recent constructions in the western third of the northern MCA. The larger, more contemporary shophouses in the region have 12–16 units, while the earlier ones were smaller, with 4–6 units. These structures are grouped in a grid layout inside the business district and along the major thoroughfares.
After Brunei Town, the MCA is the country's oldest business district. Many stores have survived with little alteration, but some have had "façade lifts." The evolution of the neighborhood is also influenced by more recent constructions like Gadong commercial area. Salons, veterinary and medical services, tailoring, trading, and construction contractors are among the services offered by the remaining units. The offers in the northern portion of MCA are more varied because some automobile workshops also provide industrial support.

### Sports

The Menglait Sports Complex has two football fields, a sports hall (indoor sports court), an outdoor sports court, a martial arts hall and a dormitory. This complex also hosts prestigious sports events including the Southeast Asian Games in 1999 and the ASEAN School Games. Sports held include football, badminton, netball, sepak takraw, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and martial arts sports, namely karate, taekwondo, silat and judo.

### Places of interest

It is orally reported that a grave was discovered along Jalan Batu Bersurat, with some suggesting it belongs to the descendants of the Sharif family. The grave is situated on a hill near the current complex of shop buildings on Jalan Batu Bersurat. The original residents of Menglait are believed to have come from Kampong Pekan Lama, with many hailing from Kampong Sungai Kedayan and Kampong Ujong Tanjung.

## Gallery

* Ko-PPMB Menglait petrol station
* Subaru dealership in 2022
* A pedestrian overpass over Jalan Gadong
* Berakas Sports Complex
* Northern Menglait commercial area in 2023
* Southern Menglait commercial area in 2024