Batang Rejang

Overview - Batang Rejang is the local name for the Rejang River, the longest river in Malaysia, running across central Sarawak on the island of Borneo. It is a major fluvial artery for transport, commerce and local communities.

What visitors find - River travel and timber-boat transport remain important; boat trips from towns such as Sibu provide access to riverside markets and longhouse communities. The river valley supports agriculture, fisheries and communities that depend on seasonal river navigation.

History - The Rejang basin has been inhabited for centuries by indigenous groups such as the Iban, and the river became central to trade and colonial-era logging and transport. Over the 19th and 20th centuries the river facilitated movement of goods and the development of towns along its banks.

Location - The river flows across central Sarawak from interior highlands toward the northwestern coast of Borneo, emptying into the South China Sea near Sibu. It runs through lowland and inland rainforest landscapes and links upriver interior towns with coastal ports.

• Length: Approximately 563 kilometres long, it is the longest river in Malaysia and a primary transport artery for central Sarawak.

What to See #

• Sibu: Sibu is the largest town on the river and serves as the main river port and commercial hub for the central Rejang basin.
• Kapit: Located upriver, this town is a traditional riverine centre and a staging point for upriver transport and access to inland communities.