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 Sabah,
the second largest state in Malaysia, is situated at
the northern part of the island of Borneo, the third
largest island in the world. It covers an area of
72,500 sq. kilometres with a coastline of 1,440
kilometres long washed by the South China Sea in the
West, the Sulu Sea in the Northeast and the Celebes
Sea in the East.
Known to the world as "THE LAND BELOW THE WIND",
Sabah is rich not only in natural beauty and
resources, but also in the cultural heritage of its
people.
Flora
and Fauna
Sabah is a botanical paradise. The world's largest
flower, Rafflesia whose huge red bloom can grow up
to a metre in diameter, is found in Sabah. Many
species of orchids, pitcher plants and rhododendrons
are endemic to Sabah.
Sabah is also a rugged country. The mountainous
terrain are intersected by many rivers which flow
through valleys across fertile plains. The jungles
and forests are interlaced with numerous caves and
there is the majestic Kinabalu, the highest mountain
in Southeast Asia towering 4,101 metres.
The lush greenery provides home for wildlife such as
the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Orang-Utan, Elephant,
Mousedeer, Monkey, Flying Squirrel, Barking deer and
birds.
Sabah's People and History
Sabah is also endowed with a heterogenous
population. The indigenous population are made up of
some 30 groups using more than 50 indigenous
languages and not less than 80 dialects.
The main ethnic groups are: the Dusun/Kadazan - the
largest group who make up nearly one third of the
population, the Murut, the Paitan and the Bajau.
Other indigenous groups include the Bonggi, the
Iranun, the Ida'an and the Brunei. In addition, the
Chinese make up the main nonindigenous group.
Therefore, the people of Sabah are varied in their
respective cultural backgrounds.
Based on archaeological findings, Sabah was
inhabited by people from as early as 28,000 years
ago. Islam came to Sabah towards the end of the 15
and 16 centuries Ihrough the Arab and Indian traders
and also as a result of the expansion of the Brunei
Malay Sultanate.
It was another two centuries more before the
Europeans came to Sabah. In 1775, the British
East-India Company opened a trading base in
Balembangan Island. However, it was the British
North Borneo Chartered Company who effectively ruled
Sabah from 1881 until 1942 when the Japanese
occupied the state. After the devastation of the
War, Sabah became a British Crown Colony until 31
August 1963 when it obtained self-government from
the British. On 16 September 1963, Sabah together
with Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya joined the
Federation of Malaysia.
Economy
Sabah
is the second largest State in Malaysia with a total
land area of 73,610 sq. km. Sabah is rich with
natural resources from forest, mineral, fauna, flora
to marine life. About 60 percent of its land is
under forest cover while agriculture occupies about
30 percent. Forest resources and agriculture produce
have always been the main sources of income for the
State. Mineral and non-mineral deposits such as oil,
copper, gold, limestone and quarry are also found in
the State.
Sabah's economy is dependent on exports of its major
primary commodities such as palm oil, cocoa, rubber,
crude petroleum, sawn timber and plywood. Its export
sector alone constitute about 70 per cent of its
total output. Presently, the State is the major
producer of palm oil and cocoa in the whole of
Malaysia. Apart from timber and the agriculture
sectors, the manufacturing and the tourism sectors
in the State are fast developing and gaining
increasing importance to the State's economy.
Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to
Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota
Kinabalu, 1992. |
