Section 04: Overview of Bahau
Bahau In General- year 1963
Bahau District comprises an area of 522 square miles and it is under the administration of Kuala Pilah . The Bahau district is subdivided into five mukim, the mukim of Serting Ulu , Serting Ilir , Jempol, Rompin and Jelai . From the Diagram itself, it is clear that the land is hilly. In the North-West Region the land is extensively dissected by many small streams of tributaries flowing eastwards where they join as a langer tributary which flows directly north into the Sungai Pahang. In the south-west corner is the upper course of Muar River. It is believed that Sungai Jempol. Upper Muar and Sungai Jelai once flowed north-east into the sungai Setting. and as the relief was worn down by the heavy rainfall, the east flowing steam between Bahau and Sungai Palong eroded back so as to capture the Sungai Muar.
The Population of Bahau is about 50 thousands. The main races are. Chinese, Malays and Indians, The Malays are mostly paddy planters : some of the Malays come out from their kampungs and word together with the Chinese and Indians who are rubber tappers, whereas the non-Malays are shop-keepers, small holders and estate workers. Despite of their differences in race, they represent the epitome of racial harmony and peace. This shows that the people of Malaya are broad-minded and thus our country can exist not only in peace and harmony, but also in prosperity.
About half of the land has been cleared for utilization, the most important crop that grown is rubber, plantation of rubber are to be seen everywhere. Near the Bahau town, there is a famous Dunlop Estate which is known as the largest estate in Malaysia well as in the world, thousands of workers are employed here. In the estate a big rubber processing facility has been brought in yield. English is the backbone of that rubber estate. Oil-palm is another important crop that grown in Bahau. The oil- palm estate is about 6 miles south-east from the Bahau Town. Hundred of workers serve in the estate. When the nuts are ripped they are collected and sent to factory in the estate for extraction of oil. The growing of padi forms the chief occupation of Malay in the kampong. The padi fields are to be found on both sides of the road which stretch from Bahau Town to Batu Kikir.
Another half of the land is covered with dense forests nourished by the abundant sunshine and the heavy precipitation, was inhabited by Aborigines who are rarely seen in the towns. These forests produce a great deal of good timbers. Under the Five Year Plan operated by the government of Malaya, there are several land schemes worked out in Bahau. Same portions of the reserved forests have been cleared up and are planted with new species of rubber seedlings. There are the Ayer Hitam of 200 acres. Bayai of 1689 acres. Rompin of 1200 acres and Sungai Lui of 4500 acres. This magnificence done is due to the yearly increment of population and the advance development of the country.
There is no problem in communication. There are roads which are made of granite stones cemented with tar to connect with others. A new road has been constructed from Ayer Hitam to Kemayan which joins all the towns in the East Coast of Malaya. This is important because it forms the main route from the East Coast of Malaya to Singapore: so people who want to travel from the East coast to Singapore have to go to Bahau Town for fuel and take a short rest here. Railways form another means of communication which links between Singapore and Kota Bahru. It is reported that a 25 miles railway line will be built form Bahau Town to the newly-discovered spot which is rich in iron-ore deposits in the State of Pahang near Tasek Bera, this will make Bahau Town more prosperous in the future.