Do you know where the name Beribi comes from? It comes from a plant. The beribi-beribi plant once grew abundantly here.
Kampong Beribi is a village in Brunei-Muara District. It is also a neighborhood in Bandar Seri Begawan. As of 2023 Beribi has a population of 6490. Beribi is one of the villages within Mukim Gadong ‘B’. The postcode for Beribi is BE1118.
The beribi-beribi plant grew so well that it could be used as a bridge. What is unique about this plant? It only grew in the Beribi River and Sunda River. The plant is ribbed like a fragrant pandan leaf tree. It is thorny and has fruit with very hard roots. The tree could be crossed like a bridge. Kampong Beribi got its name from this tree.
Back in the 1980s residents cut these plants. There were too many beribi-beribi plants filling the river. The government paid people to weed the river. Today the plant no longer grows in any river here.
One area in Kampong Beribi is the Jiam Beach Area. It was believed to be a gathering place for refined people. Once there was a school here called Jiam Beribi Beach School. It closed in 1985. Interestingly the land has white beach sand. No trees or grass grow in the area. Older people say that noble people lived here with their families. Today residential buildings occupy the area.
In the 1930s villagers held meals together after threshing rice. Residents brought their own food. They shared it with the food brought by others. During the fasting month villagers gathered every Friday night. They ate porridge together like rice yam or bean porridge.
People sold goods in Sungai Menglait. Beribi residents sold fruit. It sold for one to two dollars in the early 1940s and 1950s. Villagers walked as early as 3.00 am to the selling place. Buyers waited for them.
Kampong Beribi has facilities like primary and secondary schools. There are also higher institutions. Telanai Primary School and Beribi Religious School are here. There is a surau and a mosque. You can find the Telanai flyover to the jungle here. Electricity water and telephone services are available. Beribi Mosque can hold 500 people. There is a fire station a Youth Institute and the Beribi Industrial Area. You can find hotels and apartments here too. The Consulate of Peru is also located in Beribi.
The main commercial activity is in the Beribi Industrial area. Darussalam Enterprise or DARE manages the area. DARE provides facilities for light industry and services. The Beribi Industrial Site and Complex are here. They provide land and building units.
Kemuda Institute’s main campus is in Beribi. It is a private institution providing vocational courses. Beribi Telanai Primary School provides primary education. Beribi Religious School provides Islamic religious primary education.
Kampong Beribi Mosque is the primary mosque for Muslim residents. It is mainly used for Friday prayers. The mosque can hold 500 people.
In 2005 Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah opened the PPNBD Headquarters and Scout Complex. It is located in Beribi. The five-story PPNBD Administration Center cost B22 million.
Kampong Beribi is more than just a place. It is a community with a rich history. It has evolved over time. It embraces both tradition and progress.