The Transport Networks in Pre-colonial Northwest Borneo: A Historical Perspective

Rashid Md Mamunur (Jagannath University)
Samad Md Abdus (Jagannath University)

Paramita: Historical Studies Journal
Vol. 36 No. 2 (2026): Agricultural History

Abstract:  The transport networks of pre-colonial Northwest Borneo, here understood as the territories of present-day Brunei, Sarawak, and Sabah, are examined in terms of their general conditions. The region had a long history of political dynamics, a thriving economy, and active commercial ventures. Drawing on archival records, travelers’ accounts, and secondary literature through a qualitative historical method, the study analyzes the nature, capacity, form, and function of the transport systems that served this trade. Two systems operated in the pre-colonial period. Waterways were the primary means of communication because of the riverine and coastal landscape, while overland transport was used mainly where water transport was limited. Differences in the shape and functionality of both systems reflected the region’s geo-environmental conditions: swamps and dense forest restricted road development, whereas rivers, ports, and the South China Sea supported inland and maritime trade. The findings provide a foundation for understanding the later evolution of modern transportation in Northwest Borneo. Abstrak: Jaringan transportasi di Borneo Barat Laut pada masa pra-kolonial, yang di sini dipahami sebagai wilayah Brunei, Sarawak, dan Sabah masa kini, dikaji berdasarkan kondisi umumnya. Kawasan ini memiliki sejarah panjang dinamika politik, ekonomi yang berkembang, dan kegiatan perdagangan yang aktif. Dengan memanfaatkan arsip, catatan perjalanan, dan literatur sekunder melalui metode sejarah kualitatif, penelitian ini menganalisis sifat, kapasitas, bentuk, dan fungsi sistem transportasi yang melayani perdagangan tersebut. Dua sistem beroperasi pada masa pra-kolonial. Jalur air menjadi sarana komunikasi utama karena lanskap sungai dan pesisir, sedangkan transportasi darat digunakan terutama di tempat yang tidak terjangkau transportasi air. Perbedaan bentuk dan fungsi kedua sistem itu mencerminkan kondisi geo-lingkungan kawasan: rawa dan hutan lebat membatasi pembangunan jalan, sementara sungai, pelabuhan, dan Laut Cina Selatan menopang perdagangan pedalaman dan maritim. Temuan ini menjadi landasan untuk memahami perkembangan transportasi modern di Borneo Barat Laut.