# Asajaya District

Asajaya is a small rural town located in Samarahan Division, Sarawak, Malaysia.

## History

Asajaya was formerly known as "Nonok". It was created as a sub-district under Kuching District on 1 October 1970. In 1993, Asajaya was put under the administration of the newly formed Samarahan Division. At the same time, the sub-district changed its name to "Asajaya". Asajaya was later upgraded into a district on 31 December 1999.

## Geography and climate

There are two sub-districts in the Asajaya district, Asajaya sub-district (389.52 km$^2$) and Sadong Jaya sub-district (332.48km$^2$), totaling 722.0 km$^2$. There are 19 villages in the district. Amongst them are Sambir, Serpan, Asajaya, Sebandi, Moyan, and Semera villages.
Asajaya district's primary forest coverage reduced from 96.1% in 2010 to 68.9% in 2022.
Asajaya has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.
Climate data for Asajaya :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.8 (85.6) | 30.0 (86.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.6 (88.9) | 31.3 (88.3) | 30.6 (87.1) | 31.4 (88.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.4 (81.3) | 27.8 (82.0) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.4 (81.3) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.1 (80.8) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.6 (79.9) | 27.0 (80.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.9 (73.2) | 23.2 (73.8) | 22.9 (73.2) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.7 (72.9) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.7 (72.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 555 (21.9) | 421 (16.6) | 304 (12.0) | 269 (10.6) | 242 (9.5) | 191 (7.5) | 186 (7.3) | 243 (9.6) | 263 (10.4) | 309 (12.2) | 344 (13.5) | 471 (18.5) | 3,798 (149.6) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Ethnic composition of Asajaya District (2020) :
| Ethnicities / Nationality | Ethnicities / Nationality | Percentage | Percentage |
| Malays | Malays | 80.68% | 80.68% |
| Iban | Iban | 11.52% | 11.52% |
| Bidayuh | Bidayuh | 1.45% | 1.45% |
| Melanau | Melanau | 0.16% | 0.16% |
| Other Bumiputeras | Other Bumiputeras | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Chinese | Chinese | 5.07% | 5.07% |
| Indians | Indians | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Others | Others | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Non-Malaysian | Non-Malaysian | 0.98% | 0.98% |
| Ethnicity | 2020 | 2020 |
| Ethnicity | Pop. | % |
| Malays | 26018 | 80.68% |
| Iban | 3714 | 11.52% |
| Bidayuh | 467 | 1.45% |
| Melanau | 50 | 0.16% |
| Other Bumiputeras | 31 | 0.1% |
| Chinese | 1635 | 5.07% |
| Indians | 7 | 0.02% |
| Others | 10 | 0.03% |
| Malaysian total | 31932 | 99.02% |
| Non-Malaysian | 315 | 0.98% |
| Total | 32247 | 100.00% |
According to the last census in 2020, the population of the district is estimated to be around 32,447 inhabitants. The district of Asajaya is predominantly Malay/Muslims (almost 80%), thus making this district as one of the Sarawakian district with a predominantly Malay/Muslim population; the rest of the population consists of some local Chinese, Ibans and other indigenous groups.

## Infrastructure
### Road accessibility

Before roads were built, the Asajaya district was only connected to other parts of Sarawak via the sea. Asajaya is now connected to Kota Samarahan and other areas of Sarawak, such as Simunjan District, through the Coastal Road Network.
A new road expressway will be built to connecting between Kota Samarahan and Tanjung Embang, Asajaya. This road expressway project is in line with the comprehensive constructions of a new international airport complex along with a new deep sea port, which is both planned to build at a new modern artificial island nearby Tanjung Embang area.

### Local bus

| Route no. | Operating route | Operator |
| K12 | Kuching-Kota Samarahan-Asajaya-Sadong Jaya | CPL |

## Economy

Asajaya Drainage Scheme is a long-term project spanning over 20 years, covering 18,143 hectares in the Asajaya district for agriculture development. Among the crops planted are coconuts, paddy, cocoa, palm oil, fruits, and vegetables.
In 2021, Agrobank and RHB bank started a mobile ATM service in Asajaya and Sadong Jaya.
Sarawak has planned to build a new international airport complex, which is located at a new 2,870 acres (11.64 km$^2$) artificial island nearby Tanjung Embang, Asajaya. It is because the new international airport location is exactly not too far from Kuching District area, and very closer to Samarahan District including Asajaya. This exactly great access to boosting Sarawak economic sector, promoting Sarawak culture and tourism activities, and also as the great modern infrastructure for all community, especially from Kuching, Bau, Samarahan, and Serian.