Mukim Lamunin
Mukim Lamunin is a mukim in Tutong District, Brunei. The population was 4,298 in 2016.
Etymology
In Kampong Lamunin, there is a folk tale regarding the origin of Bukit Munin, located at Simpang 1603. The hill is above sea level and covers about. According to the former village head of Lamunin in 2010, Bukit Munin is the origin of the name Kampong Lamunin. This origin story is unique because the characters involved belong to three native Brunei ethnic groups: the Kedayan, Tutong, and Dusun. The combination of these three groups is also symbolic of the Tugu Tiga Gong, a monument built by the villagers in 1992 to celebrate the silver jubilee of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's reign. This monument, located in front of the Balai Raya Kampong Lamunin, has become a landmark of the village.The story of Bukit Munin dates back to a time when there was a neglected area of swampy land with a small stream and a hill. The land was overgrown with roots and vegetation, and the villagers called it "Lalak Akar." The village head decided to organise a communal work event to clear the land and transform it into a fruit orchard. One villager, Liau Gundah, from the Dusun ethnic group, was eager to participate. On his way home, Liau Gundah stopped by the "Lalak Akar" area to examine the overgrown land and recognised various types of roots like Akar Kaboh, Akar Kait, and others, which he thought could be useful for traditional medicine.
On the day of the event, Liau Gundah, with food prepared by his wife, joined the villagers in clearing the area. While others cut grass, trees, and gathered twigs, Liau Gundah worked at his own pace, occasionally resting. After some rest, he decided to climb the hill, despite warnings from his friends about the dangerous conditions. As he ascended, he swung his machete to clear the way and was startled when an animal appeared, causing him to shout "Munin! Munin!" and chase after it. The villagers tried to stop him, but Liau Gundah, in his startled state, continued chasing the animal up the hill. He eventually caught it and, still in his startled state, killed it. Once he recovered from the episode, he felt regret but was reassured by the villagers that his actions were due to his condition. The villagers then named the hill Bukit Munin, with "munin" meaning a type of civet in Dusun, and the name was later used to refer to the village as Kampong Lamunin. The word "La" was added simply to ease pronunciation.
Geography
The mukim is located in the east and centre of the Tutong District, bordering Mukim Kiudang to the north, the Limbang District in the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the east, Mukim Rambai to the south and south-west, Mukim Ukong to the west and Mukim Tanjong Maya to north-west.The mukim is named after Kampong Lamunin, one of the villages it encompasses.
Demographics
As of 2016 census, the population was 4,298 with males and females. The mukim had 770 households occupying 760 dwellings. The entire population lived in rural areas.Administration
As of 2021, the mukim comprised the following villages:| Settlements | Population | Ketua Kampong |
| Kampong Lamunin | 1,302 | Saini bin Haji Othman |
| Kampong Menengah | 143 | Muhammad Fitri Zulhilmi bin Haji Muhammad Shah Asnawi |
| Kampong Bukit Sulang | 295 | Muhammad Fitri Zulhilmi bin Haji Muhammad Shah Asnawi |
| Kampong Panchong | 398 | Muhammad Fitri Zulhilmi bin Haji Muhammad Shah Asnawi |
| Kampong Bintudoh | 300 | rowspan="3" |
| Kampong Bukit Barun | 201 | - |
| Kampong Kuala Abang | 329 | - |
| Kampong Layong | 237 | Mohammad Noh bin Haji Md Taib |
| Kampong Biong | 267 | rowspan="3" |
| Kampong Bukit Bang Dalam | 161 | - |
| Kampong Bukit Ladan Forest Reserve | 8 | - |
Villages
Kampong Lamunin
Kampong Lamunin is approximately from Tutong town and covers an area of. According to the 2018 population census, the village has 1,830 residents, with boundaries that include Kampong Piasan, Kampong Bang Nukat or Bintudoh, Kampong Pangkalan Tangsi, Kampong Lamunin Barat, Kampong Lamunin Sentral, part of Kampong Biong, Kampong Pangkalan Mau, and part of Kampong Padnunok, which is Sungai Beruang. The village has 337 houses. The majority of Kampong Lamunin's population consists of the Dusun, Tutong, and Kedayan ethnic groups, while the minority groups include the Iban, Chinese migrants from China, as well as foreign nationals from India, the Philippines, and Indonesia who work and run businesses in the village.The first inhabitants of Kamoung Lamunin were Awang Gundah, a Dusun man. After that, the Kedayan ethnic group, originally from Kampong Jerudong and Kampong Sengkurong, migrated to Kampong Lamunin. They initially moved there to plant rice as their daily source of income. However, over time, they settled there permanently as they found the area suitable for farming. In 1910, Chinese immigrants from China moved to Kampong Lamunin to seek a livelihood by opening retail shops for the convenience of the villagers. This migration increased the population of the village with people from various ethnic groups. Their presence also contributed significantly to the growth of the local economy and the development of the village. In the early 1940s, the Tutong ethnic group, originally from Kampong Tanjong Maya and Kampong Lubok Pulau, moved to Kampong Lamunin to plant rice. They also eventually made Kampong Lamunin their new home.
In the 1970s, Datu Laila Laju bin Orang Kaya Seri was appointed as the first penghulu of Kampong Lamunin. After his passing, the penghulu position was succeeded by Haji Abang bin Sa'at, followed by Haji Mohd. Yusof bin Mantok. In the past, the appointment of the village head was based on the selection of the villagers, typically choosing someone with strong leadership qualities and influence over their family, which was then extended to their role as village head. The first village head of Kampong Lamunin, elected by the villagers, was Kubu bin Usam. Later, the government officially appointed Hassan bin Tindas to the position, followed by his son, Sabtu bin Hassan. The position was subsequently held by Haji Matnoor bin Burut, followed by Captain Dato Paduka Haji Bahar bin Haji Tamat, and later by Major Haji Tahamid bin Haji Kula.
Kampong Menengah
Kampong Menengah spans an area of. This village, along with Kampong Bukit Sulang, is administered by a single ketua Kampong, as both are situated near each other. According to local oral history, the name "Kampong Menengah" originates from its location between two other villages, Kampong Bintudoh and Kampong Bukit Sulang. In the 1950s, the Kedayan people from Kampong Jerudong and Kampong Sengkurong settled in Kampong Menengah, attracted by the potential for rice farming, which was challenging in their previous locations due to unsuitable soil. Initially, they used Kampong Bukit Sulang for rice cultivation only but eventually relocated to make it a permanent settlement.Kampong Bukit Sulang
Kampong Bukit Sulang shares administrative oversight with Kampong Menengah. The village's name is derived from a local tree found on a hill within the village, known for its fruit, the "Buah Sulang." The fruit has yellow pulp that can be used as a natural colouring for cooking yellow rice and making a delicacy called Kelupis Sulang. In the 1950s, the Kedayan settlers initially tried farming in Kampong Tunggulian, Sungai Liang, but found the soil insufficiently fertile for rice cultivation. They then moved to Kampong Bukit Sulang, where they planted padi tugal on approximately six to seven acres of farmland. Over time, what began as a rice farming area grew into a settled community.In the past, the appointment of a village head for Kampong Bukit Sulang was determined by mutual agreement and consensus among the residents. Generally, the chosen leader was someone respected for their family management skills and strong influence within the community. In the 1950s, Luyak bin Majid became the first appointed village head of Kampong Bukit Sulang. In the 1960s, the position was taken up by Awang Haji Kula bin Hitam, followed by Awang Jabin bin Haji Kula in 1990. From 1 July 2015, Haji Roslee bin Haji Ahad has held the role of village head.
In the early days, before a road was constructed in the village, residents traveled on foot through the forest. Some also used river routes by boat to reach destinations such as Tutong town and Brunei Town. Oral history indicates that the journey on foot from Bukit Sulang to Kampong Jerudong would take between three and seven days. In the 1950s, a road was built in the village, significantly easing travel for its residents.