Miri Stories : First Padi Scheme, Pujut

The Miri Resident , Mr. Gilbert, in the post war period (1946-1949) mooted the idea of developing the Pujut area into a padi scheme with more than 100 Iban families. Many Ibans from Rumah Jimbun responded which caused the Resident to be rather positive about a good harvest in 1949.

Miri's Gilbert Estate

Furthermore he recruited these Ibans from Sibuti and even as far away as Simanggang (now Sri Aman). In those days, these Iban settlers were referred to as  Kampars, which in modern translation is "indentured servants" who had to pay for their own passage and food after a certain period of time. In fact a lorry load of them came with the leader. According to a piece of news, the leader tried to catch his hat that was blown away by the wind. He jumped from the moving vehicle and was killed instantly. Saddened by this death, the "kampars" were not sure whether they should settle in Pujut under the rice production scheme. but without any further persuasion, they surprised the Resident that they would stay on and plant padi.



View from Grand Old Lady - towards Pujut area and Kuala Baram


In this way Pujut area of Miri was settled by Ibans who came with government help and encouragement. The padi settlement scheme was a success.

How it became a beautiful up market multi-racial residential area is another story in  this blog!!