Sabah 28678 225587166 2008-07-14T12:59:20Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes {{otheruses}} {{coor title dm|5|15|N|117|0|E}} {{Subdivisions of Malaysia |native_name=Sabah |conventional_long_name= |image_flag=Flag of Sabah.svg |image_coat=Coat of arms of Sabah.jpg |state_motto=''Sabah Maju Jaya'' |state_anthem=''[[Sabah Tanah Airku]]'' |image_map=Sabah state locator.PNG |common_name=Sabah |capital=[[Kota Kinabalu]] |royal_capital= |entryFederationdate=[[16 September]] [[1963]] |ruling_party=[[Barisan Nasional]] |leader_title1=[[Yang di-Pertua Negeri]] |leader_name1=Ahmadshah Abdullah |leader_title2=[[Chief Minister|Ketua Menteri (Chief Minister)]] |leader_name2=[[Musa Aman]] |sovereignty_type=History |established_event1=[[History of Brunei#Conversion to Islam and "Golden Age"|Brunei Sultanate]] |established_date1=16<sup>th</sup> century |established_event2=[[Sulu Sultanate]] |established_date2=1658 |established_event3=[[British North Borneo]] |established_date3=1882 |established_event4=[[Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak|Japanese occupation]] |established_date4=1941-1945 |established_event5=British control |established_date5=1946 |established_event6=Accession into Malaysia |established_date6=1963 |area=76,115 |population_estimate=3,387,880 |population_estimate_year=2007 |population_estimate_rank= |population_density=32.2 |population_density_rank= |HDI=0.729 |HDI_year=2000 |HDI_category= <font color="#fc0">medium</font> |national_calling_code=087<sup>a</sup></br>088<sup>b</sup> </br>089<sup>c</sup> |national_postal_code=88xxx to 91xxx |license_plate=SA<sup>1</sup> </br>SB<sup>2</sup> </br>SD<sup>3</sup> </br>SK<sup>4</sup> </br>SS<sup>5</sup> </br>ST<sup>6</sup> </br>SU<sup>7</sup> </br>SG<sup>8</sup> |website=http://www.sabah.gov.my |footnotes=<sup>a</sup> For Inner District </br><sup>b</sup> For [[Kota Kinabalu]] & [[Kudat]] </br><sup>c</sup> For [[Lahad Datu]], [[Sandakan]] & [[Tawau]] </br><sup>1</sup> [[Kota Kinabalu]] & [[Kota Belud]] </br><sup>2</sup> [[Beaufort, Sabah|Beaufort]] </br><sup>3</sup> [[Lahad Datu]] </br><sup>4</sup> [[Kudat]] </br><sup>5</sup> [[Sandakan]] </br><sup>6</sup> [[Tawau]] </br><sup>7</sup> [[Keningau]] </br><sup>8</sup> Sabah State Government vehicle }} '''Sabah''' is a [[Malaysia]] state located on the northern portion of the island of [[Borneo]]. It is the second largest state in Malaysia after [[Sarawak]], which it borders on its south-west. It also shares a border with the province of [[East Kalimantan]] of [[Indonesia]] in the south. In spite of its status as a Malaysian state, Sabah remains to be disputed territory, with the [[Sultanate of Sulu]] of the [[Philippines]], maintaining its dormant claim over the said territory. Its state capital is [[Kota Kinabalu]], formerly known as [[Jesselton]]. Sabah is known as ''Sabah, negeri di bawah bayu'', which means 'Sabah, land below the wind', because of its location being just south of the typhoon prone region around the [[Philippines]]. == History == ===1500s-1800s=== Sabah or [[North Borneo]] was part of the [[Brunei|Sultanate of Brunei]] around the early 16th century. This was during the period when the Sultanate's influence was at its peak. In 1658 the Sultanate of Brunei ceded the north-east portion of Borneo to the [[Sultan of Sulu]] in compensation for the latter's help in settling a [[civil war]] in the Brunei Sultanate. In 1761 an officer of the [[British East India Company]], [[Alexander Dalrymple]], concluded an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu to allow him to set up a trading post in the region. This together with other attempts to build a settlement and a military station centering around [[Pulau Balambangan]] proved to be a failure. There was minimal foreign interest in this region afterward and control over most parts of north Borneo seems to have remained under the Sultanate of Brunei. In 1865 the [[United States of America|American]] Consul of Brunei, [[Claude Lee Moses]], obtained a 10-year lease over North Borneo from the Sultan of Brunei. Ownership was then passed to an American trading company owned by J.W. Torrey, T.B. Harris and some Chinese merchants. They set up a base and settlement in [[Kimanis]] but this too failed due to financial reasons. The rights of the trading company were then sold to Baron Von Overbeck, the [[Austria]]n Consul in [[Hong Kong]], and he later obtained another 10-year renewal of the lease. The rights were subsequently transferred to [[Alfred Dent]], whom in 1881 formed the [[British North Borneo Provisional Association]] Ltd. In the following year, the [[British North Borneo Company]] was formed and [[Kudat]] was made its capital. In 1883 the capital was moved to [[Sandakan]] to capitalise on its potential of vast timber resources. In 1888 North Borneo became a [[protectorate]] of [[Great Britain]]. Administration and control over North Borneo remained in the hands of the Company despite being a protectorate and they effectively ruled until 1942. Their rule had been generally peaceful except for some rebellions, including one led by the Suluk-Bajau leader [[Mat Salleh]] from 1894 to 1900,<ref name="buckley">C.Buckley: A School History of Sabah, London, Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1968</ref> and another led by the [[Murut]]s which is known as the [[Rundum resistance]] in 1915.<ref name="multiple"/> ===Second World War and the road to independence=== From 1942 to 1945 during the [[Second World War]], [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] forces [[Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak|occupied North Borneo]]. The Japanese forces landed in [[Labuan]] on January 1, 1942 and continued to invade the rest of North Borneo. Bombings by the [[Allies of World War II|allied forces]] devastated of most towns including Sandakan, which was totally razed to the ground. Resistance against Japanese occupation were concentrated on the west and north coast of North Borneo. The resistance in Jesselton was led by [[Albert Kwok]] and Jules Stephens of the [[Kinabalu Guerillas]]. Another resistance was led by Panglima Alli from Sulug Island, off the coast of Jesselton. In [[Kudat]], there were also some resistance led by [[Tun Datu Mustapha]]. On [[October 10]], [[1943]], the Kinabalu Guerrilas together with followers of Panglima Alli staged a surprise attack on the Japanese. The attack however was foiled. The 324 local residents who participated in the attacks, including Albert Kwok and Panglima Alli, were detained in Petagas and later executed on [[January 21]], [[1944]].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Berita Harian|title=Panglima Alli tak takut dibunuh tentera Jepun|language=Malay|url=http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH/Sunday/Jejak/20071209022729/Article/|accessdate=2008-01-26}}</ref> The site of the execution is today known as the [[Petagas War Memorial]]. When Japan surrendered at the end of the war, North Borneo was administered by the [[British Military Administration]] and in 1946 it became a [[British Crown Colony]]. Jesselton was chosen to replace Sandakan as the capital. The Crown continued to rule North Borneo until 1963. On August 31, 1963 North Borneo attained self-government. There was a call for complete independence on that date by it was denied by the British Governor whom remained in power until [[Malaysia Day]].<ref name="pandisan"> Johan M. Padasian: Sabah History in pictures (1881-1981), Sabah State Government, 1981</ref> The intention had been to form Malaysia on August 31 but due to objection from the Philippines and Indonesia, the formation had to be postponed to September 16.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} On September 16, 1963, North Borneo together with [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]], [[Sarawak]] and [[Singapore]] formed the [[Federation of Malaysia]] and from then on, it became known as Sabah and declared independent from British sovereignty.<ref name="multiple">[http://www.sabah.org.my/bi/know_sabah/history.asp "Sabah's Heritage: A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History"], ''Muzium Sabah, Kota Kinabalu''. 1992</ref><ref > Ramlah binti Adam, Abdul Hakim bin Samuri, Muslimin bin Fadzil: "Sejarah Tingkatan 3, Buku teks", published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (2005)</ref> To safeguard the interest of North Borneo in the new federation, a [[20-point agreement (Sabah)|20-point agreement]] was entered between the federal and the state government. === Philippine claim === {{main|Sabah dispute}} The lease started it all. The [[Sultanate of Sulu]] was granted the territory as a prize for helping the Sultan of Brunei against his enemies and from then on that part of [[Borneo]] is recognized as part of the Sultan of Sulu's sovereignty. In 1878, [[Baron Von Overbeck]], an Austrian partner representing The [[British North Borneo Company]] and his partner British [[Alfred Dent]], leased the territory of Sabah. In return, the company will provide arms to the Sultan to resist the Spaniards and 5,000 Malayan dollars annual rental based on the Mexican dollars value at that time or its equivalent in gold. This lease have been continued until the independence and formation of the Malaysian federation in 1963 together with [[Singapore]], [[Sarawak]] and the states of [[Malaya]]. As of 2004, the Malaysian Embassy to the Philippines had been paying cession/rental money amounting to US$1,500 per year (about 6,300 Malaysian Ringgits) to the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} The contract was between Sri Paduka Maulana Al Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam - representing the sultanate as owner and sovereign of Sabah on one hand, and that of Gustavus Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent] representing the North Borneo Company, on the other as lessee of Sabah, was executed on January 22, 1878. The Lease prohibits the transfer of Sabah to any nation, company or individual without the consent of His Majesty’s Government (“Government of the Sultan of Sulu”).<ref>[http://www.royalsulu.com/issues.html], ''The Deed of Sabah Lease of 1878'' Accessed March 1, 2008.</ref>. Although it is mentioned to be a permanent lease, it is contrary to the international law, which states that the terms for a lease contract could only be for 99 years, as in the case of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] when these were leased to [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and [[Portugal]] respectively, by [[China]] and subsequently returned after the expiration of the lease.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} This would make the lease on Sabah overdue by 130 years.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} Less than a decade later, the Sultanate of Sulu came under the control of Spain and in 1885, Spain relinquished all of its claim to Borneo to the British in the [[Madrid Protocol of 1885]].<ref>Protocol of 1885. Sabah Law. Extracted June 3 2008</ref> In spite of that, in1906 and 1920 the [[United States]] formally reminded the [[Great Britain]] that Sabah did not belong to them and was still part of the Sultanate of Sulu but the British Government ignored and did not listen to the reminder and still annexed the territory of North Borneo as a Crown Colony on July 10, 1946. This is in spite of the fact that the British Government was aware of tile decision made by the High Court of North Borneo on December 19, 1939 that the successor in sovereignty of the Sultan in the territory of Sabah are the Government of the [[Philippine Islands]] and not the [[Great Britain]].<ref>[http://www.royalsulu.com/transfer.html], ''Instrument of Cession of the Territory of North Borneo to the Republic of the Philippines. (7th "whereas" clause)''. Accessed March 1, 2008.</ref> On September 12, 1962 during the Pres. [[Diosdado Macapagal]]'s administration (the father of the present Philippine president, [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]]), the territory of [[North Borneo]], and the full sovereignty, title and dominion over the territory were ceded by then reigning sultan of Sulu, HM Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I, to the [[Republic of the Philippines]].<ref>[http://www.royalsulu.com/transfer.html], ''Sabah Transfer of Sovereignty From the Sultanate of Sulu to the Republic of the Philippines''. Accessed March 1, 2008.</ref> The cession effectively gave the Philippine government the full authority to pursue their claim in international courts. The [[Philippines]] broke diplomatic relations with Malaysia after the federation have included Sabah on 1963. It was revoked on 1989 because succeeding Philippine administrations have placed the claim in the back burner in the interest of pursuing cordial economic and security relations with [[Kuala Lumpur]]. <ref>[http://www.asianjournal.com/cgi-bin/view_info.cgi?code=5867], ''Come clean on Sabah, Sulu sultan urge gov't''. Accessed March 1, 2008.</ref> To date, Malaysia continues to consistently reject Philippine calls to resolve the matter of Sabah's jurisdiction to the [[International Court of Justice]].<ref>[http://www.epilipinas.com/SabahClaim.htm], ''Philippine's Claim To Sabah''. Accessed February 28, 2008.</ref> == Geography == [[Image:MtKinabalu view from kundasan.jpg|right|thumb|[[Mount Kinabalu]], the highest mountain in Malaysia.]] The western part of Sabah is generally mountainous, containing the three highest mountains in Malaysia. The most prominent range is the [[Crocker Range]] which houses several mountains of varying height from about 1,000 metres to 4,000 metres. At the height of 4,095 metres, [[Mount Kinabalu]] is the highest mountain in Malaysia and the mountain is the fourth tallest in Southeast Asia behind [[Hkakabo Razi]] of [[Myanmar]] (5881 m), [[Puncak Jaya]] (4884 m) and Puncak Trikora (4750 m) of Papua, [[Indonesia]] . The jungles of Sabah are classified as [[rainforests]] and host a diverse array of plant and animal species. [[Kinabalu National Park]] was inscribed as a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000 because of its richness in plant diversity combined with its unique geological, topographical, and climatic conditions.<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1012 Kinabalu Park - Justification for inscription], ''UNESCO World Heritage Centre''. Accessed June 24, 2007.</ref> Lying nearby Mount Kinabalu is [[Mount Tambuyukon]]. At a height of 2,579 metres, it is the third highest peak in the country. Adjacent to the Crocker Range is the [[Trus Madi Range]] which houses the second highest peak in the country, [[Mount Trus Madi]], at a height of 2,642 metres. There are lower ranges of hills extending towards the western coasts, southern plains, and the interior or central part of Sabah. These mountains and hills are traversed by an extensive network of river valleys and are in most cases covered with dense [[rainforest]]. The central and eastern portion of Sabah are generally lower mountain ranges and plains with occasional hills. [[Kinabatangan River]] begins from the western ranges and snakes its way through the central region towards the east coast out into the [[Sulu Sea]]. It is the second longest river in Malaysia after [[Rejang River]] at a length of 560 kilometres. The forests surrounding the river valley also contains an array of wildlife habitats, and is the largest forest-covered floodplain in Malaysia.<ref>[http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/where/malaysia/wwf_malaysia_conservation/kinabatangan/index.cfm About the Kinabatangan area], ''WWF''. Accessed August 4, 2007.</ref> [[Image:Northern Tip Of Borneo.jpg|left|thumbnail|The northern tip of Borneo at [[Tanjung Simpang Mengayau]]]] Other important wildlife regions in Sabah include [[Maliau Basin]], [[Danum Valley]], [[Tabin]], and [[Sepilok]]. These places are either designated as national parks, wildlife reserves, virgin jungle reserves, or protection forest reserve. Over three quarters of the human population inhabit the coastal plains. Major [[town]]s and [[urban area|urban]] centers have sprouted along the coasts of Sabah. The interior region remains sparsely populated with only [[villages]], and the occasional small towns or [[townships]]. Beyond the coasts of Sabah lies a number of [[islands]] and [[coral reefs]], including the largest island in Malaysia, [[Pulau Banggi]]. Other larger islands include, [[Pulau Jambongan]], [[Pulau Balambangan]], [[Pulau Timbun Mata]], Pulau Bumbun, and [[Pulau Sebatik]]. Other popular island mainly for tourism are, [[Pulau Sipadan]], [[Selingan Island|Pulau Selingan]], [[Pulau Gaya]], [[Tiga Island|Pulau Tiga]], [[Pulau Layang-Layang]], and many more. == Government == ===State government structure=== [[Image:Sabahdiviziondistrik.PNG|right|thumb|300px|Administrative [[Divisions of Malaysia|divisions]] and [[Districts of Malaysia|districts]] of Sabah]] Sabah has a [[democratic]] [[political system]] with [[universal suffrage]]. The [[Yang di-Pertua Negeri]] sits at the top of the hierarchy followed by the State Legislative assembly and the State Cabinet. A [[general election]] for State and Federal level officials is held every five years. The state parliament or the state legislative assembly meets at the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. The state is divided into 25 parliamentary constituencies and 60 state assembly districts where each is represented by an elected Member of Parliament (MP) and Member of the State Legislative Assembly respectively. The present elected State and Federal Government posts are held by [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN), a [[coalition]] of parties which includes [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO), [[Sabah Progressive Party]] (SAPP), [[United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation]] (UPKO), [[Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah]] (PBRS), [[Parti Bersatu Sabah]] (PBS), [[Liberal Democratic Party (Malaysia)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP), and [[Malaysian Chinese Association]] (MCA).{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The last state election was in 2004 and as of 2006, the state legislature has 60 members. It comprises 59 BN State Legislature Members (Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri) and a single independent. Of this, 32 are from UMNO, 13 from PBS. 5 from UPKO, 4 from the SAPP, 3 from LDP, and one each from MCA and PBRS.<ref>[http://www.sabah.gov.my/dun/utama_files/Web_Page/adun/Senarai_ADUN.htm Senarai ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah], ''sabah.gov.my''. Accessed August 4, 2007.</ref> :''See also: [[State Seats Representatives, 12th Malaysian General Election#Sabah|Breakdown of state seats representatives in Sabah elected 2008]] ===The political climate=== Prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the then [[North Borneo]] interim government submitted a [[20-point agreement (Sabah)|20-point agreement]] to the Malayan government as conditions before Sabah would join the Federation. Sabah entered [[Malaysia]] as an [[Autonomous entity|autonomous]] state with a Christian [[Kadazan-Dusun]] chief minister, but soon succumbed to Kuala Lumpur's vision of a [[one-party]] unitary [[Islamic]] state dominated by the indigenous Muslim [[Bajau]] and Brunei [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] people. This has created considerable friction and even occasional calls for [[secession]]. These tensions are further inflamed by Kuala Lumpur's colonial mentality towards Sabah, wherein 95% of the profits from Sabah's immense natural resources are taken by the federal government, leaving the state government with only 5%. Aside from nominally separate immigration controls, little evidence remains of Sabah's theoretical autonomy. Until the [[Malaysian general election, 2008]], Sabah, along with the states of [[Kelantan]] and [[Terengganu]], are the only three states in Malaysia that had ever been ruled by opposition parties not part of the ruling BN coalition. Led by [[Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan]], PBS formed government after winning the 1985 elections and ruled Sabah until 1994. Due to certain internal troubles, BN took over the government in 1994 despite PBS winning the elections. PBS subsequently joined the BN coalition in 2002. A unique feature of Sabah politics was a policy initiated by the BN in 1994 whereby the Chief Minister's post is rotated among the coalition parties every 2 years regardless of the party in power at the time, thus theoretically giving an equal amount of time for each major ethnic group to rule the State. This extremely weakens the executive branch of the State government, which was formerly much at odds with the federal government in [[Kuala Lumpur]]. It also serves to give a disproportionate power to the indigenous Muslim [[Bajau]] ethnic group, at the expense of the mainly Christian indigenous [[Kadazan-Dusun]], the largest ethnic group. This practice has since stopped with power now held by majority in the state assembly by the UMNO party, which also holds a majority in the national Parliament. There has been conspiracy theory that the Chief Minister post rotation system was implemented to allow UMNO to control the post permanently by abolishing the whole system once it was UMNO's turn to hold the post. It has never been proven but it is considered impossible for UMNO to get a hold of the post through any other method. The conspiracy theory was brought up once again when a division from UMNO proposed to implement the same rotation system in Penang, one of the two states which is currently not controlled by UMNO but is under BN rule - the other state being [[Sarawak]]. The proposal was raised even though UMNO abolished the system in Sabah by declaring it a failure.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} UMNO had a quick rise to power since its entry into Sabah in 1991 where before that both eastern Malaysian states were not penetrated by the party, whose president is the de facto leader of the ruling coalition BN and automatically the Prime Minister of Malaysia. This has given rise to dissent as the Chief Minister rotation system was halted just as UMNO was holding the post. Thus the 2004 general elections saw widespread disillusionment, coupled with an ineffectual opposition. The state assembly is now dominated by the ruling party BN with only one seat held by an opposition politician who is an independent candidate. This was caused by a general sentiment where a number of voters were reluctant to cast votes for BN whose victory was almost assured but did not trust the opposition parties, most of which were not vigorously active before the election. Therefore many cast votes for independent candidates. Sabah politics, as are Malaysia's is very much based upon party lines. An effort by PBS, a component party of BN, to hatch a co-operation with the one opposition candidate within the state assembly, whom conversely was a former UMNO member competing independently because he was not nominated for the constituency by his party, in an unprecedented attempt at bipartisanship, was harshly criticized by UPKO, another component party of BN. ===Chief Ministers of Sabah=== {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Year !! Chief Minister!! Party |- ! 1963-1964 | [[Tun Fuad Stephens]] || United National Kadazan Organization (UNKO) - BN |- !1965-1967 | [[Peter Lo Sui Yin|Datuk Peter Lo Sui Yin]] || Sabah Chinese Association (SCA) - BN |- ! 1967-1975 | [[Tun Datu Mustapha|Tun Mustapha Datu Harun]] || United Sabah National Organization (USNO) - BN |- !1975-1976 | [[Tun Said Keruak]] || USNO - BN |- ! 1976 (44 days) | [[Tun Fuad Stephens]] || Berjaya - BN |- !1976-1985 | [[Harris Salleh|Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh]] || Berjaya - BN |- ! 1985-1994 | [[Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan]] || PBS - Opposition (In partnership with BN in 1986-1990) |- !1994-1995 | [[Sakaran Dandai|Tun Sakaran Dandai]] || UMNO - BN |- ! 1995-1996 | [[Datuk Salleh Mohd Said]] || UMNO - BN |- !1996-1998 | [[Yong Teck Lee|Datuk Yong Teck Lee]] || SAPP - BN |- !1998-1999 | [[Bernard Dompok|Tan Sri Bernard Dompok]] (now UPKO) || Parti Demokratik Sabah (PDS) - BN |- !1999-2001 | [[Osu Sukam|Datuk Seri Osu Haji Sukam]] || UMNO - BN |- !2001-2003 | [[Chong Kah Kiat|Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat]] || LDP - BN |- !2003-present | [[Musa Aman|Datuk Seri Musa Aman]] || UMNO - BN |} === Administrative divisions === Sabah consists of 5 administrative [[Divisions of Malaysia|divisions]], which are in turn divided into 24 [[Districts of Malaysia|districts]]. These administrative divisions for all purposes just for reference. During the British rule until the transition period when Malaysia was formed, a [[Resident (title)|Resident]] was appointed to govern each division and provided with a palace (''Istana''). This means that the British consider each of this division equivalent to a Malayan state. The post of the Resident was abolished in favour of district officers for each of the district. {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! !! [[Divisions of Malaysia|Division Name]]!! [[Districts of Malaysia|Districts]]!! [[Area]] ([[km²]])!! [[Population]] (2006)<ref name=stats07>"Monthly Statistical Bulletin, January 2007: Sabah", ''Department of Statistics Malaysia, Sabah''.</ref> |- ! 1 | [[West Coast Division]] ||[[Kota Belud]], [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Papar, Sabah|Papar]], [[Penampang]], [[Ranau]], [[Tuaran]] || 7,588 || 953,900 |- ! 2 | [[Interior Division]] ||[[Beaufort, Sabah|Beaufort]], [[Nabawan]], [[Keningau]], [[Kuala Penyu]], [[Sipitang]], [[Tambunan]], [[Tenom]]|| 18,298 || 420,800 |- ! 3 | [[Kudat Division]] ||[[Kota Marudu]], [[Kudat]], [[Pitas]]||4,623 || 189,500 |- ! 4 | [[Sandakan Division]] ||[[Beluran]], [[Kinabatangan]], [[Sandakan]], [[Tongod]] ||28,205 ||676,000 |- ! 5 | [[Tawau Division]] ||[[Kunak]], [[Lahad Datu]], [[Semporna]], [[Tawau]]||14,905 || 756,800 |- |} {{seealso|Politics of Malaysia}} == Demographics == The population of Sabah was 2,449,389 in 2000<ref>"Housing Census of Malaysia, 2000", ''[http://www.statistics.gov.my/index.php Department of Statistics, Malaysia]''</ref> and was the third most populous state in Malaysia after [[Selangor]] and [[Johor]]. It is estimated that Sabah's population has exceeded that of Johor with an estimated population of 3,400,000 in 2007.<ref>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1171734562&men=gadm&lng=en&des=gamelan&dat=32&geo=-152&srt=pnan&col=ohdq Malaysia: Administrative Divisions (population and area)], ''World Gazetteer''. Accessed August 4, 2007.</ref> Sabah indeed has one of the highest population growth rate in the country. * [[Kadazan-dusun]]: 17.8% * [[Bajau]]: 13.4% * [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]]: 11.5% * [[Murut people|Murut]]: 3.3% * Other [[bumiputra]]: 14.6% * [[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese]]: 9.6% * Other non-bumiputra: 4.8% * Non-Malaysian citizen: 25% The people of Sabah are divided into 32 officially recognized [[ethnic group]]s. The largest non-indigenous ethnic group is the [[Han Chinese|Chinese]]. Most Chinese people in Sabah are concentrated primarily at [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Sandakan]], and [[Tawau]]. Kota Kinabalu has the highest concentration of Chinese people in Sabah, followed by Sandakan (second highest) and Tawau (third highest). The largest indigenous ethnic group is [[Kadazan-Dusun]], followed by [[Bajau]], and [[Murut people|Murut]]. There is a very small number and proportion of [[Indian Malaysian|Indians]] and other [[South Asians]] in Sabah compared to other parts of Malaysia. Collectively, all persons coming from Sabah are known as ''Sabahans'', and also identify themselves as such. [[Malay language|Malay]] is the national language spoken across ethnicities, although the spoken Sabahan dialect of Malay differs much in inflection and intonation from the West Malaysian version, having more similarity in pronunciation to [[Bahasa Indonesia|Indonesian]]. [[English language|English]], Chinese [[Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin]] as well as the Chinese dialects of [[Hakka]] and [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]] are widely understood. In addition, [[Kadazan-Dusun]], [[Bajau]], [[Murut people|Murut]] and other minor races also have distinct ethnic languages. Sabah also have their own unique [[Sabahan-slangs]] for many words in Malay. The federal government of Malaysia officially recognizes 28 ethnic groups as being [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] or [[bumiputra]] in Sabah: {{col-begin|width="300px"}} {{col-1-of-2}} *[[Kadazan-Dusun]] *[[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] *[[Kwijau]] *[[Murut people|Murut]] *[[Bajau]] *[[Illanun]]<ref name = "EthnoSabah">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=MYS Languages of Malaysia (Sabah)]. [[Ethnologue]]. Retrieved on [[May 4]], [[2007]]</ref> *[[Lotud]] *[[Rungus]] *[[Tambanuo]] *[[Dumpas]] *[[Mangka'ak]] *Suluk *[[Orang Sungai]] *[[Brunei]] {{col-2-of-2}} *[[Kedayan]] *[[Bisaya (Borneo)|Bisaya Beaufort]] *[[Tidong]] *[[Maragang]] *[[Orang Cocos]] *[[Paitan]] *[[Ida'an]] *[[Minokok]] *[[Rumanau]] *[[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese]] of mixed bumiputra parentage Other inhabitants: *[[Filipino people|Filipino]] *[[Sarawak]] indigenous groups *[[Kristang people|Serani]] {{col-end}} {{seealso|Demographics of Malaysia}} == Economy == Sabah's economy was traditionally heavily [[lumber]] dependent, based on export of tropical [[Dipterocarp timber classification|timber]], but with increasing depletion of the natural forests and ecological efforts to save remaining natural [[rainforest]] areas, [[palm oil]] has emerged as a more sustainable resource. Other agricultural products important in the Sabah economy include [[rubber]] and [[cacao]]. [[Tourism]] is currently the second largest contributor to the economy. There are other exports; like seafood & vegetables. In 1970, Sabah ranked as one of the richest states in the federation, with a per capita GDP second only to Selangor (which then included Kuala Lumpur).<ref>[http://www.ids.org.my/publications/ResearchPaper/ReportCoordinated/Report2.htm "Outline Perspective of Sabah"], ''Institute for Development Studies (Sabah)''. URL accessed May 7, 2006</ref> However, despite its vast wealth of [[natural resources]], Sabah is currently the poorest of Malaysia's states. Average incomes are now among the lowest in Malaysia, and with a considerably higher [[cost of living]] than in West Malaysia. In 2000, Sabah had an [[unemployment rate]] of 5.6 per cent - the highest of any Malaysian state and almost twice the national average of 3.1 per cent. The state has the highest [[poverty level]] in the country at 16 per cent, more than three times the national average. Part of the problem is the inequitable [[distribution of wealth]] between the State and the Federal government, and large numbers of illegal immigrants from Indonesia, Philippines, even East Timor, whose population was estimated to be in the region of half a million people. In 2004, the poverty level worsened to 22 per cent<REF NAME="UNDP2004"/>. The recent tabling of [[Ninth Malaysia Plan]] has allocated RM16.908 billion for Sabah, the second highest state allocation after Sarawak's but it is still only 8% of the total national budget for a population of Sabah of more than 13%, and area of more than 25%. This is clearly discriminatory and had contributed to the state of Sabah having the largest number of people below poverty line in Malaysia, and lower than the Indonesian national poverty rate and in the same level as Aceh and Myanmar based on 2004 United Nations figures. <ref name="UNDP2004">[http://www.undp.org.my/uploads/files/SabahHumanDevp.pdf "UN Sabah Poverty Statistics, 2004"]. URL accessed Jan 13, 2008</ref>,<ref>[http://www.nscb.gov.ph/poverty/conference/papers/2_Indonesia.pdf "Indonesian Poverty Statistics, 2004"]. URL accessed Jan 13, 2008</ref>,<ref>[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/poverty/pdf/UN_Book%20FINAL%2030%20Dec%2005.pdf UN World Poverty Statistics 2005"]. URL accessed Jan 13, 2008</ref>,<ref>[http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_4a18e46e-cb73c03a-18e80a60-f2d6a7b1 "The Edge Daily"]. URL accessed Jan 13, 2008</ref>. The fund is pledged to improve the state's rural areas, improving the state's transportation and utilities infrastructures and boosting the economy of Sabah. The government has placed its focus on three major areas of the economy which have the potential to be Sabah's growth engine. These are agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. When this discriminatory budget against Sabah and Sarawak was pointed out, the allocation for Sabah was increased from the earlier figure of 15.7 billion RM while there is none for Sarawak. The reason given to Sarawak's Chief Minister, as reported by Borneo Post (11th Nov. 2007) is that it is not economical to develop Sarawak. Sarawak is to be the source of renewable resources for Malaya. This situation applies to Sabah as well except that Sarawak's renewable resources are not even meant for Sabah. The percentage of the total budget is still much less than Sabah's population and area burdens, and this is a classic example of too little and too late. ==Urban centers and ports== There are currently 7 ports in Sabah: Kota Kinabalu Port, Sepanggar Bay Container Port, Sandakan Port, Tawau Port, Kudat Port, Kunak Port, and Lahad Datu Port. These ports are operated and maintained by Sabah Ports Authority.<ref>[http://www.infosabah.com.my/spa/ Sabah Ports Authority]</ref> The major towns and city are: [[Image:Sandakan10.jpg|right|thumb|Sandakan town]] {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; margin-right:60px" !Rank !City !Population <ref>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1171193898&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&dat=32&geo=-152&srt=pnan&col=ohdq&pt=c&va=x Malaysia: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population], ''World Gazetteer''. August 4, 2007.</ref> |- |align=left|1 |align=left|[[Kota Kinabalu]] |532,129 |- |align=left|2 |align=left|[[Sandakan]] |448,074 |- |align=left|3 |align=left|[[Tawau]] |349,962 |- |align=left|4 |align=left|[[Lahad Datu]] |119,938 |- |align=left|5 |align=left|[[Keningau]] |97,152 |- |align=left|6 |align=left|[[Semporna]] |71,157 |- |align=left|7 |align=left|[[Kudat]] |34,481 |- |} ==Tourism== Tourism, particularly [[eco-tourism]], is a major contributor to the economy of Sabah. In 2006, 2 million tourists visited Sabah<ref>[http://www.sabahtourism.com/statistics/dec2006.htm Sabah : Visitors Arrival by Nationality 2006], ''Sabah Tourism Board''. Accessed August 4, 2007.</ref> and it is estimated that the number will continue to rise following rigorous promotional activities by the state and national tourism boards and also better stability and security in the region. Sabah currently has 6 national parks. One of these, the [[Kinabalu National Park]], was designated as a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000. It is the first of two sites in Malaysia to obtain the status, the other being the [[Gunung Mulu National Park]] in Sarawak. These parks are maintained and controlled by [[Sabah Parks]] as under the Parks Enactment 1984. [[Sabah Wildlife Department]] also has conservation, utilization, and management responsibility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sabah.gov.my/jhl/About.htm |title=About Sabah Wildlife Department |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> === National Parks === * [[Mount Kinabalu National Park]] - the second highest mountain in [[Southeast Asia]] with an altitude of 4,101 metres (13,455 ft). It is only lower than [[Puncak Jaya]] in [[Irian Jaya]] on the island of [[New Guinea]], [[Indonesia]] at 4,884 metres. * [[Turtle Islands Park]] - conservation efforts for endangered [[sea turtle]]s * [[Tunku Abdul Rahman Park]] - A National Park consisting of five islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu * [[Pulau Tiga National Park]] * [[Crocker Range National Park]] * [[Tawau Hills Park]] == Notable Sabahans == ===Politics and governance=== [[Mat Salleh]] was a Suluk-Bajau who led a rebellion against British North Borneo Company administration in North Borneo. Under his leadership, the rebellion which lasted from 1894 to 1900 razed the British Administration Centre on Pulau Gaya and exercised control over Menggatal, Inanam, Ranau and Tambunan. The rebellion was by Bajaus, Dusuns and Muruts.<ref name="buckley"/> Another notable Sabahan is [[Tun Fuad Stephens|Donald Stephens]] who helped form the state of Sabah under the UN appointed Cobbold commission. He was an initial opponent of Malaysia but was persuaded by [[Lee Kuan Yew]] with an offer of 8 University places for Sabahan students at the University of Malaya, Singapore{{Fact|date=January 2008}}. Donald Stephens was the first ''Huguan Siou'' or paramount leader of the [[Kadazan-dusun]] and [[Murut]] people. [[Tun Datu Mustapha]] was a Suluk-Kagayan Muslim political leader in Sabah through the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) party<ref name="pandisan"/>. He was a vocal supporter of Malaysia but fell out of favor with Malayan leaders despite forming [[United Malays National Organisation|UMNO]] branches in Saba and deregistering USNO was deregistered and efforts to reregister USNO had not been allowed, unlike UMNO that was allowed to be reregisered under the same name.<ref name="pillai"> [http://www.malaysia.net/lists/sangkancil/1999-03/msg00798.html "M.G.G. Pillai"]. URL last accessed on Jan 13, 2008</REF>{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Former Chief Minister, [[Joseph Pairin Kitingan]] is the current Huguan Siou and the President of [[Parti Bersatu Sabah]] (PBS). Pairin, the longest serving Chief Minister of the State and one of the first Kadazandusun lawyers, was known for his defiance to the federal government in the 1980s and 90s in promoting the rights of Sabah and speaking out against the illegal immigrant problems. Sabah was at the time one of only 2 states with opposition governments in power, the other being Kelantan. PBS has since rejoined BN and Datuk Pairin is currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah. The 8th and current [[Attorney General of Malaysia]], Abdul Gani Patail, comes from Sabah. In 2006, [[Penampang]] born Richard Malanjum was appointed Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak and became the first [[Kadazandusun]] to hold such a post. ===Arts=== Sabah has produced a fair number of well-known media figures. Noteworthy mentions include filmmaker Tony Francis Gitom, television presenter Daphne Iking, [[Guess (clothing)|Guess]] model [[Amber Chia]], JIAJA (Blast Off! Season 2 Champion; Band), actresses Fung Bo Bo, Chung Shuk Wai and musicians Roger Wang, Pete Teo, Jerome Kugan, Mia Palencia, Yan Qing, [[Gary Cao]] , Maryanne Raymond (a.k.a DJ Mary of TraxxFm),Constantine Anthony(a.k.a DJ Constantine of TraxxFm),[[Shahrizan Ferouz]](a.k.a DJ TheShaz of TraxxFm) John Paul Lee (a.k.a.DJ Johnboy Lee of Hitz.FM & Bigfish Radio), Nikki Palikat (Malaysian Idol finalist), Velvet Aduk, Richael Gimbang, Felix Agus, Lotter, Linda Nanuwil, Adam,candy,stacy,nora,ebi,farha (Akademi Fantasia), Ayu (Winner OIAM season 2),yanie (mentor),Farish Aziz (astro's Ronda 360 darjah & Fulus mania). ===Sports=== [[Matlan Marjan]] is a former player for [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]]. He scored two goals against [[England national football team|England]] in an international friendly on June 12, 1991. The English team included Stuart Pearce, David Batty, David Platt, Nigel Clough, Gary Lineker and captained by Bryan Robson while coached by Bobby Robson.<ref>[http://www.englandfc.com/MatchData/showmatchdetails.php?mid=666 EnglandFC Match Data<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> No other Malaysian player managed to achieve this.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} In 1995, he along with six other [[Sabah FA|Sabah]] players were arrested on suspicion for match-fixing. Although the charges were dropped, prevented from playing professional football and was [[exile|banished]] to another [[Districts of Malaysia|district]].<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=No charges against Sabah six | date=[[1995-07-14]] | url = | publisher =Bernama | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-14 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Four Sabah soccer players banished to remote area | date=[[1995-10-04]] | url = | publisher =Bernama | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-14 | language = }}</ref> He was punished under the [[Internal Security Act (Malaysia)|Internal Security Act]] (which allows for indefinite detention without any trial, and in this case despite being proven innocent, and even on non-security related issues).{{Fact|date=September 2007}} ===Business=== ==Arts and entertainment== Many Sabahans contestants have attained high-placing results on local shows such as ''Malaysian Idol'', ''Akademi Fantasia'', ''Gangstarz'' and ''Blast-Off''. Some notable contestants are [[Nicolette Palikat]], Adam AF2, Velvet, Marsha, Felix Agus, Norlinda Nanuwil, Nora AF4, Rich AF4, Lotter, Evoke, Alvin of Infinatez and the band Jiaja. Sabah's first homegrown film was ''Orang Kita'', starring Abu Bakar Ellah. Some films and TV shows filmed in Sabah include the first season of reality show ''[[Survivor: Pulau Tiga|Survivor]]'', ''[[The Amazing Race 4|The Amazing Race]]'', ''Eco-Challenge Borneo'', films ''[[Bat*21]]'', and ''Sacred Planet'', as well as a number of Hong Kong production films. Sabah was also featured in Sacred Planet, a documentary hosted by Robert Redford. Daling-daling is now the preferred dancing routines among Sabahan Suluks and Bajaus. In its original form, it is a dance which combines Arabic belly dancing and the Indian dances common in this region complete with long artificial finger nails and golden head gear accompanied by a Suluk song called Daling-daling which is a love story. Its main characteristic is the large hip and breast swings but nowadays it is danced with a faster tempo but less swings, called Igal-igal. Sabah's first established newspaper was the [[New Sabah Times]]. The newspaper was founded by [[Tun Fuad Stephens]], who later became the first [[Chief Minister]] of Sabah. American author [[Agnes Newton Keith]] lived in Sandakan between 1934-1952 and wrote several books about Sabah. In the Earl Mac Rauch novelization of ''[[Buckaroo Banzai]]'' (Pocket Books, 1984; repr. 2001), and in the DVD commentary, Buckaroo's archenemy Hanoi Xan is said to have his secret base in Sabah, in a "relic city of caves." ==References== * Gudgeon, L. W. W. 1913. ''British North Borneo''. Adam and Charles Black, London. * Chin, Ung-Ho. 1999. 'Kataks', Kadazan-Dusun Nationalism and Development: The 1999 Sabah State Election (Regime Change And Regime Maintenance In Asia And The Pacific Series No 24, Department Of Political And Social Change, Research School Of Pacific And Asian Studies, Australian National University) (ISBN 0-7315-2678-3) ===Footnotes=== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.sabah.gov.my/ Sabah Government] *[http://www.sabahlaw.com/ Laws of Sabah ] *[http://www.kinabaluweb.com/history.html History of Sabah]- Written by C. Buckley, 1968 *[http://www.sabahtourism.com Sabah Tourism Board] *[http://www.dailyexpress.com.my Daily Express, the local newspaper with the largest circulation in Sabah] *[http://www.panda.org/heart-of-borneo/ WWF Heart of Borneo conservation initiative] - Information about the Heart of Borneo - 220,000 km² of upland montane tropical rainforest, where endangered species such as the orang-utan, rhinoceros and pygmy elephant cling for survival. {{Sabah}} {{States and Federal Territories of Malaysia}} {{Philippine territorial disputes}} [[Category:Sabah]] <!-- interwiki --> [[ar:صباح (ماليزيا)]] [[ca:Sabah]] [[da:Sabah]] [[de:Sabah]] [[es:Sabah]] [[fa:صباح]] [[fr:Sabah]] [[id:Sabah]] [[it:Sabah]] [[mk:Сабах]] [[ms:Sabah]] [[nl:Sabah]] [[ja:サバ州]] [[pms:Sabah]] [[pl:Sabah]] [[ru:Сабах]] [[fi:Sabah]] [[sv:Sabah]] [[th:รัฐซาบาห์]] [[vi:Sabah]] [[tr:Sabah (Malezya)]] [[uk:Сабах]] [[zh:沙巴]]