Bukit besi: Bukit Besi, now known as a historical heritage destination in the district, was once a key economic driver for Terengganu and the country, as its iron ore mining industry expanded rapidly after the country gained independence in 1957.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Historical Society (PSM) Dungun branch honorary secretary Wan Mohd Rosli Wan Ngah stated that the industry's heyday was reflected in the nearly RM12 million in export tax revenue from Bukit Besi iron ore contributed to Terengganu in 1962, with the mine's output accounting for one-third of the state's gross domestic product (GDP). He emphasized the significant contribution of the iron ore mining industry to the state's economic growth and development at the time.
'Bukit Besi was not merely a mining town, but was once a key economic driver for the state and also played an important role in the economic development of the Federation of Malaya,' he told Bernama. Large-scale mining activities in Bukit Besi began in 1930 under the Japanese company Nippon Mining Company, before the operation was taken over by British company Eastern Mining and Metal Company (EMMCO) in 1950 after World War II.
Wan Mohd Rosli explained that the takeover saw Bukit Besi develop rapidly into a modern and well-planned mining town, complete with basic amenities and infrastructure despite being located in a rural area. Bukit Besi reached its peak during the independence era and continued to flourish throughout the 1960s as the iron ore mining industry expanded rapidly. 'Mining iron ore in Bukit Besi not only drove the local economy but also became one of the country's key export commodities after tin and rubber, contributing to the development of the newly independent Federation of Malaya's economy,' he said.
Meanwhile, former Bukit Besi iron ore processing plant worker Embong Othman, 90, shared his experiences of working at the plant. He started as a teenager in 1955, earning RM3.50 a day, with his final daily wage reaching RM4.75 before the mine closed on October 1, 1970. Embong recalled the mine attracting both local residents and people from outside Terengganu seeking employment.
He described celebrating the first National Day in Bukit Besi on August 31, 1957, as one of the most memorable moments of his life in the area, which was also known as the 'Gem of the Earth'. The eve of Merdeka was celebrated with fireworks and entertainment, witnessed by local residents in an atmosphere filled with joy and patriotic spirit. 'For the first time, 'Merdeka!' rang out across Bukit Besi, while the Jalur Gemilang was raised as we celebrated the country's independence on August 31, 1957,' said Embong, who has a large family with seven children, 15 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Kampung Bukit Besi Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) chairman Abd Wahad Ab Ghani, 59, noted that iron ore mining activities had resumed in Bukit Besi more than 10 years ago. There are currently four companies, including foreign-owned firms, carrying out iron ore mining operations in the area. 'According to previous studies, the iron ore deposits in Bukit Besi are of high quality, and mining activities in the area have the potential to continue for another 20 years,' he said, adding that the resumption of iron ore mining had created employment opportunities for local residents and helped stimulate the local economy.