Sabah, the Malaysian Borneo Situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, Sabah is one of the thirteen states which

Malaysia is made of. Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesian Kalimantan. Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds. We have it all, from the worlds largest flower - the Rafflesia, one o f the highest mountains is South East Asia - Mount Kinabalu, to one of the worlds top dive sites - Sipadan Island. Not only will you be amazed by the places to see and things to do here, you will also be treated with unique Sabahan hospitality. Explore the unique culture and tradition of Sabah and get ready to experience sweet memories to last a lifetime!

North Borneo Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of the Maritime Southeast Asia. This island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesians refer to the Borneo Island as Kalimantan. Nevertheless, for people outside of Indonesia, Kalimantan refers to the area which is occupied by Indonesia on the island of Borneo. Malaysias region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island, being the wealthiest of the rest. Once known as North Borneo, Sabah was under the British colony during the late 19th century till the early 20th century. Sabah gained its independence through Malaysia on September 16, 1963. At 76, 115 square kilometers large, Sabah is the second biggest state in Malaysia after Sarawak.

People, Language and Common Customs

The people of Sabah are known as Sabahans. Sabah is the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor; it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country. There are currently 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah 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, compared to other states in the country; Sabah has relatively very small population of Indians and South Asians.

Apart from the Sabahans very own diverse mother tongues, Bahasa Malaysia (national language) and English is widely spoken; Mandarin and some Chinese dialects are also widely spoken. In Sabah, we greet people by saying selamat datang (welcome) and/or terima kasih (thank you) with a smile. Due to religious reasons, some may prefer not to have physical contact with others. However, a handshake is generally acceptable as a way of introducing oneself. Its customary to remove shoes before entering a mosque as well as homes. In places of worship, visitors are required to dress modestly. Nude sunbathing is not allowed and is very frowned upon. Avoid pointing your index finger at others, as this is considered rude in the local custom.

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 South East Asia . 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.[13] 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 Rajang 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.[14]

The northern tip of Borneo at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau. Other important wildlife regions in Sabah include Maliau Basin, Danum Valley, Tabin, Imbak Canyon 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 towns and urban centres have sprouted along the coasts of Sabah. The interior region remains sparsely popula ie a number of islands and coral reefs, including the largest island in Malaysia, Pulau Banggi. Other large islands include, Pulau Jambongan, Pulau Balambangan, Pulau Timbun Mata, Pulau Bumbun, and Pulau Sebatik. Other popular islands mainly for tourism are, Pulau Sipadan, Pulau Selingan, Pulau Gaya, Pulau Tiga, and Pulau Layang-Layangted with only villages, and the occasional small towns or townships.

Beyond the coasts of Sabah l

International Delights Pamper your tastebuds with flavours from all four corners of the world here in Sabah. From the scrumptious pasta and to spicy masala to the delightful sushi and sashimi, there is absolutely something to allure each adventurous gastronome! read more

Local Sabah Favorites The local Sabahan people are natural born connoisseurs. Just mention local Sabah favourites and you'll be introduced to a myriad of diverse dishes ranging from Chinese, Malay and traditional Kadazandusun specialties. Try out popular picks such as ngiu chap, rojak, soto and hinava-guaranteed to make it into your favourite food list! read more

Modern & Fine Dining Whether you're looking for a special place for a once-in-a-lifetime occassion or just simply someone with a refined taste for exclusive dining,

prepare to be swept away by Sabah's fine dining experience!

Sabah Seafood Try lip-smacking lat zi hai (crab prepared in hot & spicy sauce) , rich and crispy butter prawns, kam heong la la (stir-fried fragrant clams) and crunchy sayur manis (local ferns, or as locally known, "Sabah vegetable") cooked with belacan (prawn paste). If you want to enjoy the original taste of seafood, get the chef to simply steam them - crabs, garoupa, snapper or pomfret, prawns and shells such as tung fung lo are particularly good - then eat them the local way with fresh cili padi (small chillies) and lime dipping sauce. read more

Sabah Snacks Sabahans love to snack - especially on kuih or local cakes, buns and pastries! From pisang goreng (banana fritters) to curry puffs to Chinese steamed buns to kuih pinjaram, these local favourites are perfect as a mid-morning or teatime snack, and they can be found at almost every street corner around the city.

Song and Dance If Sabah has thirty-two different ethnic races, fifty-five different languages and about one hundred dialects, what about her music and dances? Each group has their own cultures, traditions and custom. They each have their own way of expressing and interpreting their lives though music and dance. The result is a rich multi culture diversity of rituals, song and exhibition. Some of these dances are similar in movements, other have similar music. Some emerge from life styles, others from religions. Some are rituals, others performed for entertainment. All in all a hundred and thirty culture dances have been officially recorded.

DANSA

Dansa is the dance of the Cocos Islanders from the Lahad Datu district on the east coast of Sabah. This dance is usually performed by three couples during weddings and often-festive occasions. There is much feet stomping, making it a very lively dance. Music is provided by a couple of

violins called biola. The tops of the costumes for boat the male and female dancers resemble the Scottish Highlanders with their frilled shirts and scarves. The women wear these over batik sarongs. Then men a songkok and also sarong batik putih with heavy shoes to produce the lively beat of the dance.
KUDA PASU

A dance originally performed by skilled horsemen , Kuda Pasu is a Bajau dance now performed by male and female dancers to welcome or accompany the entourage of a bridegroom to the brides residence. They dance to the beat of the bertitik music called tigad-tigad. The male dancers are met by the female dancers who hold a red handkerchief tied to their fingers. This symbolizes the welcoming of the bridegroom and his party.
LIMBAI

Limbai is the dance of the Bajau people of the Kota Belud area on the west coast of Sabah. Three to four couples or more dressed in the traditional Bajau costumes with the women wearing the gold ornate sarimpak headpiece, circle about each other with the women coming to rest in a seated position with the men standing behind them. This dance is characterized by the graceful rotating wrist movements of the dancers. The music accompanying the Limbai is called bertitik. The instruments usually consist of a kulintangan which is a set of nine small kettle gongs and three hanging gongs and two double-headed drums called gandang. Limbai is performed during weddings and other social occasions.

LILIPUT

Liliput is a Bisaya dance from the district of Beaufort. Liliput means `go-round`. It is mainly danced to cast away the evil spirit from a possessed` person and then to return the persons spirit. The dancing will continue until the persons spirit returns.

ANGALANG

Angalang is a dance of the Murut. In olden days, this dance was performed in celebration of a successful headhunting party. Nowadays it is performed during wedding and other such occasions. The performance consists of a solo male dancer doing the mahihialang, while a accompanied by a group of female dancers performing the angalang. The male dancer is dressed as a warrior wearing the Murut bark jacket and loin cloth, wielding a sword known as a gayang, while the female dancers wear costumes known as limpur which is usually elaborately beaded and embroidered. On their heads is an ornate headpiece made of long beads in front and strands of smaller beads at the back. The man wears the feathered headpiece. This dance is normally accompanied by music played on six large gongs, twenty-five tagunggak or bamboo idiophones, and a drum called tambor.

MENANGKUK PIRING

Menangkuk piring is performed by the Kadazan Dusun of the Kota Marudu district in the north of Sabah. It is normally performed at wedding and other social occasions. Dancers perform with plates held in the palms of their hands. Graceful twists and turns of their wristsensure that these plates never fall down. A fallen plate is a badomen, especially if performed during a wedding celebration. Sometimes. Lighted candles are placed in the centre of the plates, making the dance even more interesting.

MAGUNATIP

Magunatip is a dance performed by the indigenous peoples of the interiors of Sabah, including the Kadazan Dusun of Tambunan, the Kwijau Dusun of Keningau and many of the Murut groups. Magunatip is derived from the word atip meaning to press between two surfaces. Magunatip dancers need great skill and agility to dance among the bamboo poles, which are hit together to produce the rhythm of the dance. It is a dance of happiness performed at social occasions and the honour distinguished guests.