Sungai Kedayan B

Can you believe that this spot, right here where we stand, was once a lively village? It’s hard to imagine it now, with the sprawling Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas park, but Sungai Kedayan B was once a vibrant community. It was one of the oldest villages in the area, part of a larger settlement known as Kampong Ayer, a network of stilt houses built on the Brunei River. The village was a place of tradition and customs, its residents known for their expertise in Bruneian native copper companies. Even the name, Sungai Kedayan, reflects the river that flowed through the village, which was a lifeline for the community. The village was home to a vibrant mix of people, many of whom earned their living from fishing or trading. Its existence was threatened in the mid-2010s when the Brunei government launched a major urban regeneration project, the Sungai Kedayan Eco-Corridor Project. The project aimed to improve the area and develop it into a modern recreational space. The project meant the demolition of the village and the relocation of its residents. This was a significant loss for the community, but the government saw it as a way to modernize the area and improve the lives of the people who lived there. The project transformed the area surrounding Sungai Kedayan B into the sprawling Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, a public park opened in 2017. The park offers a serene setting for visitors with its lush greenery, walking paths, and even a performance space. The park is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Even though the village has been demolished, its legacy lives on in the stories that are told about it and in the memories of those who called it home. As we stand here today, surrounded by the beauty of the park, it’s hard to imagine that a bustling village once stood in its place. But the story of Sungai Kedayan B is a reminder of the importance of preserving history and culture, even as places evolve and change over time.