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Dungun is a
coastal district of the Malaysian state of Terengganu. Kuala Dungun is the
capital of the district.
Kuala Dungun town used to be an iron mining town in the 1940s. Iron ores
were actually mined in a small town inland called Bukit Besi located to
the west, while Kuala Dungun served as the port where the ore was
transferred onto ships. Kuala Dungun and Bukit Besi were then connected
with a railway line that not only served the mining industry but also
served as public transportation for inland villagers, the Dungun township
and its businesses.
This "golden" era ended in the late 70s and early 80s. When the mines were
gradually closed down, the rail service stopped and the company left the
area. Bukit Besi is now a Government-financed plantation estate; the
rolling hills and old British architecture are now long gone, replaced by
Felda Estate housing and palm oil trees. Kuala Dungun is now just another
town on the coast of Terengganu, sorely bereft of cultural activities,
with no cinemas, and only comes alive every Thursday when the weekly night
market opens up for business. It is well known as the biggest night market
in Terengganu and features second-hand clothing (imported from Japan and
the United States) and also food of all sorts. People from the outskirts
flow into town for the cheap goods. The night market is situated right in
the middle of town, taking over a portion of the old railway line.
Nowadays, it is not a busy small town anymore. There are still pockets of
fishing and farming families and some people involved in small businesses,
while a large part of the population are involved with the petroleum
industry concentrated in another township to the south, Kerteh.
Tanjung Jara Resort with its beautiful stretch of beaches, situated on the
other side of the river mouth is still popular with foreigners and West
Coast tourists. For those who look for eco-tourism spot, D'Pengkalan Eco
Resort offer 3 natures spot at cool location in Dungun district.
Dungun was
the recreational place for British employees of the mining company of the
day. It was where they relaxed and pursued extracurricular activities.
There were music halls, record stores, cricket fields, etc., that made
Dungun different from other townships in Terengganu at the time.
Sources: Wikipedia
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