Sabah

The northern part of Borneo is the home turf of Sabah, one of the 13 states of Malaysia. About 10% of the state's 4 million people live in the capital Kota Kinabalu, which is located at the west coast.

The population is very diverse, both in terms of ethnicity and religion but there is a clear shift towards the Islam.

The economy is based on oil and gas exports, logging, agriculture and a growing eco-tourism industry.

Stone tools found in the Mansuli Valley indicate that early humans lived here 235.000 years ago and some 30.000 years ago first modern humans, possibly Negritos, arrived via a land bridge with Asia.

An Austronesian immigration wave occurred around 3000 BC, later followed by peoples from South China.

From the 14th century Sabah was part of the Bruneian Empire but in 1848 the Brits took over and made Sabah a British Crown Colony.

Japanese forces occupied the area in 1942 and committed grave atrocities, notably the Sandakan Death Marches.

In 1963 Sabah joined the newly formed Federation of Malaysia, much to the chagrin of Indonesia.

Sabah is gifted with a very diverse geology and sports mangroves, wetlands, mountain ranges and lush tropical forests. With 4000 meters Mount Kinabalu is the state's highest peak.

Wildlife like Orangutans at Sepilok, Proboscis Monkeys in the Kina Batangan area and the baby turtles at Pulau Seligaan attracts a growing number of eco-tourists.