Sabah

I

Introduction

Sabah, second-largest state of Malaysia, occupying the northernmost part of the island of Borneo. Sabah is bounded on the west and north by the South China Sea, on the north-east by the Sulu Sea, on the south-east by the Celebes Sea (also known as the Sulawesi Sea), on the south by Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), and on the south-west by Sarawak. The island of Labuan, formerly an integral part of Sabah, became a federal territory in 1984. Sabah has a total area (including Labuan) of 73,711 sq km (28,800 sq mi), and a coastline of about 1,450 km (900 mi), indented by several large bays and natural harbours. The state capital is the port of Kota Kinabalu on the western coast. Sabah and the neighbouring state of Sarawak make up East Malaysia, which is separated from the rest of the country by the South China Sea.

II

Land and Resources

Sabah is very mountainous; the Crocker, Terus Madi, and Witti mountain ranges occupy about half the state. Mount Kinabalu (4,101 m/13,455 ft), in the Crocker Range, is the highest peak in south-eastern Asia. The only lowlands of importance are confined to the coastal region, although a number of broad upland valleys traverse the interior ranges. Both the coastal belt and the mountain slopes are heavily forested. The coastal regions are low-lying and swampy, and many houses are built on high stilts to protect them from flooding. Because of the rugged terrain, Sabah's many rivers are swift flowing and often interrupted by rapids. Sabah's largest river, the Kinabatangan, is navigable by shallow-draught vessels for about 193 km (120 mi) inland from the Sulu Sea. The Labuk and Padas rivers are also important waterways. The climate is humid and tropical.

III

Population

Kota Kinabalu, formerly Jesselton, has a population of 354,153 (2000). Other important cities are Tawau (1990, 244,765) and Sandakan (1991, 125,841). Sabah has a total population of 2,593,400 (1997 estimate), giving an average density of about 24 people per sq km (62 per sq mi). Sabah has about 30 ethnic groups, most of them indigenous Dayaks. They include the Dunsun, Bahau, and Brunei (agricultural and fishing groups), Murut (hill dwellers), Suluk (mostly seafaring people), and Kadayan. The Kadayan, the largest ethnic group in Sabah, are an agricultural people who converted to Christianity in the 16th century. The Chinese are the largest non-indigenous group (16 per cent of the total population), and there are smaller groups of Malays, Indians, and Europeans. Since the 1970s there have been many migrants from the nearby Philippines and from Indonesia searching for employment. They are a significant minority group and their presence has caused political strains (see below). About one-quarter of Sabah's population is Christian, and there is also a large Muslim community. About 8 per cent of the population is Buddhist, and traditional religions are still practised by indigenous groups. The official language is Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) but around 54 Malayo-Polynesian languages (see Austronesian Languages) are spoken, the most significant being Banjar.

IV

Economy

Crude petroleum and timber are the main sources of state revenues. Much of the oil comes from the offshore Tembungo field, and Sabah is Malaysia's third-largest oil-producing state. Rubber, copra, hemp, tobacco, and rattan are also important exports. Sabah has extensive mineral deposits, including tin, antimony, gold, diamonds, iron, and sulphur, but exploitation is hampered by the state's difficult terrain and limited transport network. Agriculture provides the livelihood of the majority of the population, and fishing is also important; rice is the main food crop. Labuan is a major international offshore financial centre for the Asia-Pacific region. Tourism is of increasing importance to the whole of Sabah.