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Introduction to Miri

Introduction

Miri is Sarawak’s second largest city and the gateway to the state’s fascinating northern region. A rapidly expanding business and commercial centre and the home of Sarawak’s oil industry, Miri is located in Northeast Sarawak close to the Brunei border.

In recent years Miri has become a major tourism gateway and the jumping-off point for some of Sarawak’s world-famous National

Parks, including Niah Caves, Gunung Mulu and Lambir Hills. Other interesting possibilities include the remote Bario Highlands and

the might Baram River, as well as a number or excellent offshore dive locations.

Miri’s original population was primarily Melanau, but since the development of the oil industry people have flocked here from all over

the state, and Miri’s 300,00 inhabitants reflects Sarawak’s diverse ethnic make-up. Chinese, Ibans, Malays, Melanaus, Bisayas,

Orang Ulus (mostly Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Lun Bawang), Bidayuhs, Indians and Eurasians all make their home here, along with

West Malaysians and a sizeable expatriate community.

The city is fast becoming an important tourism destination in its own right, in line with its official designation: “Miri - Resort City”.

Recent developments include the new Miri Waterfront, and the world-class Miri Marina. The city has an excellent range of hotels in

all price categories and a wide selection of food outlets. Combine this with vibrant night-life, bustling native markets and a number of

popular beaches nearby, and Miri makes an ideal base for exploring the National Parks, the offshore reefs and the other natural and

cultural attractions of Northeast’s Sarawak. It is also a great place to relax for few days after the rigours of jungle trekking.

A Brief History

The history of Miri is also the history of Sarawak’s oil industry. The area had long been known for the black oil that seeped from the

ground in various locations, as noted by the Resident of Baram, Claude Champion de Crespigny, in 1882. One of de Crespigny’s successors, Dr. Charles Hose, persuaded the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Company, a British subsidiary of Shell, to conduct exploratory

drilling in the area, and on August 10, 1910, the first oil was struck on a hill overlooking the small fishing village of Miri, at a depth of 123 metres. The well, subsequently christened the “Grand Old Lady”, continued to produce oil until 1972.

With the discovery of commercial quantities of oil, Miri was rapidly transformed from a sleepy fishing village to a booming oil town.

By the mid 1920s it had become the administrative centre of the Baram region, and continued to thrive until the onset of World War 2.

Shell staff did their best to sabotage the Miri oilfield, to prevent the invading Japanese forces from making use of it, bur resourceful

Japanese engineers soon had the field back to pre-war production levels.

During the late 1950s, the onshore oilfield began to decline as well after well dried up. Prospecting in the remote peat swamp forest

yielded poor results, so exploration gradually moved offshore with the development of mobile exploration rigs. By the early 1970s

offshore production had reached 95,000 barrels a day, but the onshore field was no in terminal decline, and was closed down on 1st October 1972.  At the same time, the support and administration facilities were moved to Lutong, just north of the town.  

The move offshore coincided with a boom in Sarawak’s timber industry, and Miri became a major timber processing and transhipment

hub, so the economy of the town continued to grow throughout the 1970s and 80s. It was during this period that the tourism sector also began to take off, fuelled initially by weekend visitors from nearby Brunei. Miri continued to prosper throughout the 1990s, and in recognition of its booming population and crucial contributions to Sarawak’s economy, was granted City status on 13th May 2005.