Bukit Damai – a small settlement in the western part of Sumbawa Island, in Maluk District
Bukit Damai is a settlement belonging to Kecamatan Maluk within the territory of Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat, which forms part of the West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat) Province and falls within the Bali and Lesser Sunda Islands macroregion. According to its geographic coordinates, the settlement is located in the western region of Sumbawa Island, at approximately -8.91° southern latitude and 116.76° eastern longitude. Sumbawa Barat Regency itself was established as an independent administrative unit on 18 December 2003, when it separated from the five westernmost districts of the former Sumbawa Regency. The regency has an area of 1,743.58 km², and its administrative seat is the city of Taliwang, where local administrative and commercial activities are concentrated.
General overview
Bukit Damai is a relatively little-known, locally-level settlement for which independent, published statistical or encyclopedic sources are not currently available. However, at the broader administrative level—namely at the Kecamatan Maluk and Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat levels—several data points are available. According to the 2010 census, the regency had 114,754 inhabitants, while by 2020 this figure had risen to 145,798 people; the official estimate for mid-2024 stands at 155,540, comprising 78,230 males and 77,300 females. This demographic growth indicates that the region as a whole is undergoing dynamic development, even though publicly available data on Bukit Damai's own population are lacking. Maluk District is situated in the western part of Sumbawa Barat and is generally known for its agricultural and fishing activities, as well as employment opportunities linked to mining operations in the vicinity. The area's topography—to which the name "Bukit Damai" (Indonesian for approximately "Peace Hill" or "Quiet Hill") may allude—is presumably varied, consistent with the hilly and mountainous terrain characteristic of Sumbawa Island.
Real estate and investment
Specific real estate market data for Bukit Damai and Maluk District are not available in public sources. At the broader level of Sumbawa Barat Regency, it can be noted that the region has shown gradual population growth over the past decade, which is generally accompanied by moderate increases in real estate market demand. Mining plays a significant role in the regency's economy—particularly copper and gold production tied to Newmont Nusa Tenggara at the Batu Hijau mine, which operates in an area near Maluk District—and this affects local labour mobility and consequently the demand for residential property. In Indonesia, foreign nationals cannot acquire direct land ownership (under Hak Milik title); however, other legal structures—such as Hak Pakai (usage rights) or property acquisition through PT PMA frameworks—make it possible for foreign investors to participate in the real estate market. These general regulations also apply to properties in Sumbawa Barat. Interested parties are advised to engage local legal experts before undertaking any property investment.
Safety and security
No settlement-level, publicly documented statistics on safety and security in Bukit Damai are available. West Nusa Tenggara Province and, within it, Sumbawa Barat Regency are generally counted among the smaller, relatively peaceful Indonesian regions, where daily security levels reflect the pattern typical of rural, non-tourist areas of the country. Regarding traffic safety—as in many rural areas throughout Indonesia—the level of infrastructure development and road or transportation conditions merit attention. In general, for smaller settlements, community oversight and neighbourhood cohesion traditionally play a strong role in maintaining local order, reflecting the social patterns characteristic of the region.
Tourist attractions
No information about specific, named tourist attractions in Bukit Damai itself is contained in available sources. At the broader regional level—that is, at Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat—it is worth noting that the regency's principal port, Poto Tano, is easily accessible by ferry from Lombok, which places the island within the Bali–Lombok–Sumbawa tourism route. The proximity of the Batu Hijau mining operation shapes the character of Maluk District as a whole, and the coastal environment is also characteristic of the district, since Sumbawa's western shoreline is nearby. The natural features accessible from here—hills, coastline, Sumbawan landscapes—could potentially appeal to nature enthusiasts; however, no documented fact concerning specific named attractions or tourism infrastructure is available from this source, and therefore the article contains no claims regarding these matters.
Summary
Bukit Damai, as part of Kecamatan Maluk, is located in the western region of Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat on Sumbawa Island and belongs to West Nusa Tenggara Province. The regency was established as an independent administrative unit in 2003 and has shown continuous population growth over the past two decades. Since no independent documented sources on the settlement are available, more detailed economic, tourist, or public security characteristics are possible only at the regency and district levels. The location of Maluk District near the Batu Hijau mining area provides the region's main economic context, while Sumbawa Barat as a whole is also connected to Lombok and other islands in the region through the Poto Tano–Lombok ferry link.
