Sabah
Just below the wind
Sabah has a rich and natural charm, with much of its natural resources still maintained. Blessed with abundant natural resources, Sabah is a major contributor to Malaysia’s economy. It prospers from the plentiful bounty of the sea and its lush green forests, and is an attractive eco-tourist destination. Mount Kinabalu, is located in Sabah, and is the tallest peak in Borneo’s Crocker Range, and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site.
Geography
Sabah is situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, covering an area of 76,115 , and is the second biggest state in Malaysia after Sarawak. It shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesia Kalimantan.
It is rich with natural resources from the forest, as well as minerals, fauna, flora and marine life. About 60% of its land is under forest cover while agriculture occupies about 30%.
Sabah’s capital is Kota Kinabalu. It has 5 divisions, namely Kudat, West Coast, Interior, Sandakan and Tawau. Its districts are Banggi, Kudat, Matunggong, Pitas, Kota Merudu, Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Penampang, Putatan, Ranau, Tamparuli, Tuaran, Beaufort, Keningau, Kuala Penyu, Membakut, Menumbuk, Nabawan, Sipitang, Sook, Tambunan, Tenom, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Telupid, Tongod, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau.
The climate is generally hot and sunny all year round; visitors need to wear comfortable clothing to avoid heatstroke. The average temperature of the lowlands is 32 degrees Centigrade, while the highlands are at 21 degrees Centigrade.
Economy
Sabah’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 totalled RM29,827 million, representing 5.6%, and contributing the 6th highest amount to Malaysia’s GDP. Its GDP Per Capita Income is RM17,116, the 11th highest in the country after the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territory of Labuan, Melaka, Pahang, Johor and Terengganu.
Although services is the main contributor to the GDP at 48.71%, Sabah’s economy is primarily agricultural, contributing 26.18%, followed by mining (14.45%), manufacturing (8.76%) and construction (1.37%). In fact, Sabah is the highest contributor in the country for the agriculture sector (RM7,810 million) and 2nd highest contributor after Sarawak for the mining & quarrying sector (RM4,312 million).
Sabah recorded the second highest growth with 7.8% in 2008, which was driven by encouraging performance of crude oil production. Together with Sarawak, it is the highest contributor to Malaysia’s agricultural sector, with a combined share of 39.4% of the national value added in 2008. However, it registered a negative growth of 1.8 per cent due to the decline in forestry and logging sub-sectors.
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 constitutes 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.
In the 2011 Budget announcement, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said funding, such as the RM100mil for the palm oil industry cluster, RM220mil for aqua-culture development, RM110m for the Sabah Agriculture Industry Precinct and RM100m for an eco-tourism park at Karambunai augur well for the state’s economic growth.
People
Sabah has a population of 3.1 million people, and her people are known as Sabahans. As the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor, it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country.
Sabah has 32 officially recognized ethnic groups with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut.
Accessibility
Sabah is well-connected domestically and internationally through the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and the Low Cost Carrier Terminal. Airlines that travel there include Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Silk Air, Royal Brunei Airlines, Korean Air, Dragonair and Asiana. Sabah is accessible internationally from Brunei Darussalam, China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and South Korea.
There is a good network of rural air service which would connect Kota Kinabalu to the gateway towns of Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu. The smaller towns of Kudat and Semporna are equipped with airstrips.
Sabah is also accessible by sea, and it has ferry terminals and immigration checkpoints at Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. The Sutera Harbour Marina is the ideal place for foreign guests keen to berth their yachts to enjoy Sabah’s comforts.
The Trans Borneo Highway makes overland travel between Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Brunei Darussalam possible. Getting around Kota Kinabalu is easy with local buses and taxis available, though tour operators normally arrange most of the overland transfers. Alternatively, you can enjoy the scenery by taking the local train service that connects Tanjung Aru to Beaufort and Tenom.
Attractions
Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds. From the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower; Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia, to one of the world’s top dive sites - Sipadan Island, the wonders of nature are for us to behold!
The popular shopping spots in Kota Kinabalu are Kadaiku, KK Handicraft Centre, Wawasan Handicraft Centre, Gaya Street and Tamu Kota Belud.
Modern shopping malls are mainly centered in Kota Kinabalu. Among the malls are 1Borneo, KKTimes Square, Warisan Square, Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka, KK Plaza and Wawasan Plaza.
Education
Sabah has several institutions of higher learning, including Informatics College, Inti College, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Teknologi Mara.
Medical Centres
Government hospitals, clinics and dispensaries are available in all towns. The list of private medical practitioners and pharmacies are available in the local phone directory. However, those with specific medical needs are advised to have a good supply of medications.
Sabah has several hospitals, including Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu; Hospital Duchess of Kent; Sabah Medical Centre; Rafflesia Medical Centre; and Damai Specialist Centre.
Industrial Developments
The Sabah State Government has made the development of the manufacturing sector one of its priorities. In line with the Sabah Industrial Master Plan, they have created the following industrial parks: Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, Integrated Timber Complexes, Palm Oil Industrial Cluster, Kudat Industrial Park, Sipitang Industrial Park, and Sandakan New Growth Centre.
Residential Developments
In the vicinity of the state capital, there are several residential developments such as Bayview Heights, Taman Century, Taman Likas Jaya, and Taman Che Mei. New developments are coming up at Jalan Sulaman, such as the 1Sulaman condominiums.
Sabah has a rich and natural charm, with much of its natural resources still maintained. Blessed with abundant natural resources, Sabah is a major contributor to Malaysia’s economy. It prospers from the plentiful bounty of the sea and its lush green forests, and is an attractive eco-tourist destination. Mount Kinabalu, is located in Sabah, and is the tallest peak in Borneo’s Crocker Range, and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site.
Geography
Sabah is situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, covering an area of 76,115 , and is the second biggest state in Malaysia after Sarawak. It shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesia Kalimantan.
It is rich with natural resources from the forest, as well as minerals, fauna, flora and marine life. About 60% of its land is under forest cover while agriculture occupies about 30%.
Sabah’s capital is Kota Kinabalu. It has 5 divisions, namely Kudat, West Coast, Interior, Sandakan and Tawau. Its districts are Banggi, Kudat, Matunggong, Pitas, Kota Merudu, Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Penampang, Putatan, Ranau, Tamparuli, Tuaran, Beaufort, Keningau, Kuala Penyu, Membakut, Menumbuk, Nabawan, Sipitang, Sook, Tambunan, Tenom, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Telupid, Tongod, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau.
The climate is generally hot and sunny all year round; visitors need to wear comfortable clothing to avoid heatstroke. The average temperature of the lowlands is 32 degrees Centigrade, while the highlands are at 21 degrees Centigrade.
Economy
Sabah’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 totalled RM29,827 million, representing 5.6%, and contributing the 6th highest amount to Malaysia’s GDP. Its GDP Per Capita Income is RM17,116, the 11th highest in the country after the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territory of Labuan, Melaka, Pahang, Johor and Terengganu.
Although services is the main contributor to the GDP at 48.71%, Sabah’s economy is primarily agricultural, contributing 26.18%, followed by mining (14.45%), manufacturing (8.76%) and construction (1.37%). In fact, Sabah is the highest contributor in the country for the agriculture sector (RM7,810 million) and 2nd highest contributor after Sarawak for the mining & quarrying sector (RM4,312 million).
Sabah recorded the second highest growth with 7.8% in 2008, which was driven by encouraging performance of crude oil production. Together with Sarawak, it is the highest contributor to Malaysia’s agricultural sector, with a combined share of 39.4% of the national value added in 2008. However, it registered a negative growth of 1.8 per cent due to the decline in forestry and logging sub-sectors.
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 constitutes 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.
In the 2011 Budget announcement, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said funding, such as the RM100mil for the palm oil industry cluster, RM220mil for aqua-culture development, RM110m for the Sabah Agriculture Industry Precinct and RM100m for an eco-tourism park at Karambunai augur well for the state’s economic growth.
People
Sabah has a population of 3.1 million people, and her people are known as Sabahans. As the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor, it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country.
Sabah has 32 officially recognized ethnic groups with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut.
Accessibility
Sabah is well-connected domestically and internationally through the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and the Low Cost Carrier Terminal. Airlines that travel there include Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Silk Air, Royal Brunei Airlines, Korean Air, Dragonair and Asiana. Sabah is accessible internationally from Brunei Darussalam, China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and South Korea.
There is a good network of rural air service which would connect Kota Kinabalu to the gateway towns of Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu. The smaller towns of Kudat and Semporna are equipped with airstrips.
Sabah is also accessible by sea, and it has ferry terminals and immigration checkpoints at Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. The Sutera Harbour Marina is the ideal place for foreign guests keen to berth their yachts to enjoy Sabah’s comforts.
The Trans Borneo Highway makes overland travel between Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Brunei Darussalam possible. Getting around Kota Kinabalu is easy with local buses and taxis available, though tour operators normally arrange most of the overland transfers. Alternatively, you can enjoy the scenery by taking the local train service that connects Tanjung Aru to Beaufort and Tenom.
Attractions
Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds. From the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower; Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia, to one of the world’s top dive sites - Sipadan Island, the wonders of nature are for us to behold!
The popular shopping spots in Kota Kinabalu are Kadaiku, KK Handicraft Centre, Wawasan Handicraft Centre, Gaya Street and Tamu Kota Belud.
Modern shopping malls are mainly centered in Kota Kinabalu. Among the malls are 1Borneo, KKTimes Square, Warisan Square, Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka, KK Plaza and Wawasan Plaza.
Education
Sabah has several institutions of higher learning, including Informatics College, Inti College, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Teknologi Mara.
Medical Centres
Government hospitals, clinics and dispensaries are available in all towns. The list of private medical practitioners and pharmacies are available in the local phone directory. However, those with specific medical needs are advised to have a good supply of medications.
Sabah has several hospitals, including Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu; Hospital Duchess of Kent; Sabah Medical Centre; Rafflesia Medical Centre; and Damai Specialist Centre.
Industrial Developments
The Sabah State Government has made the development of the manufacturing sector one of its priorities. In line with the Sabah Industrial Master Plan, they have created the following industrial parks: Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, Integrated Timber Complexes, Palm Oil Industrial Cluster, Kudat Industrial Park, Sipitang Industrial Park, and Sandakan New Growth Centre.
Residential Developments
In the vicinity of the state capital, there are several residential developments such as Bayview Heights, Taman Century, Taman Likas Jaya, and Taman Che Mei. New developments are coming up at Jalan Sulaman, such as the 1Sulaman condominiums.