Sabah

Sabah is a state in Malaysia.

It sits on the big island of Borneo.

The land has green rainforests. Many plants and animals live there.

You can also find very high mountains.

Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Malaysia. A big river flows through the land, too.

People have lived here for a long time. They even lived in caves many years ago.

It is a place full of life and wonder.

Sabah is a state in Malaysia.

It sits on the northern part of Borneo. It shares land borders with Sarawak and Indonesia. To the north and east, it meets the sea near the Philippines.

The land is very green. It has tropical rainforests with many plants and animals.

There are long mountain ranges in the west. The highest peak is Mount Kinabalu. It is the highest point in all of Malaysia. A large river called the Kinabatangan flows through the state.

People have lived in Sabah for a very long time. Some lived in caves 20,000 to 30,000 years ago.

The state capital is Kota Kinabalu. It is a busy center for business. Sabah also exports things like oil, gas, and palm oil. People use a traditional musical instrument called the sompoton. The state is often called the "Land Below the Wind." This is because it is not often hit by typhoons.

Sabah is a beautiful state in Malaysia.

It sits in northern Borneo. To its southwest, it borders the state of Sarawak. To the south, it meets Indonesia's North Kalimantan province. The sea lies to the north and east near the Philippines.

The island of Labuan sits just off the west coast. People often call Sabah the "Land Below the Wind." This is because it sits below the typhoon belt. This means it is not hit by typhoons very often.

The land in Sabah is very lush and green. It has a tropical climate with many rainforests.

These forests are full of many different plants and animals. The Kinabatangan River flows through the state. It is the second longest river in Malaysia. Long mountain ranges sit on the west side.

These mountains are part of the Crocker Range National Park. The highest point is Mount Kinabalu. This peak is the highest point in all of Malaysia.

Humans have lived in Sabah for a very long time. Some people lived in the Madai-Baturong caves 20,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Later, Sabah had ties to the Bruneian Empire. In the 14th century, it began trading with China.

Chinese traders brought spices, pearls, and bird nests. They even settled near the Kinabatangan River. Some traders brought new ways of burying the dead. They used wooden coffins in local caves. This shows how many different people visited the area.

History changed many times in Sabah. In the 19th century, the British North Borneo Chartered Company arrived. During World War II, the Japanese occupied the land for three years.

After the war, it became a British Crown Colony in 1946. On August 31, 1963, Sabah gained self-governance.

Shortly after, it became a founding member of Malaysia. This happened on September 16, 1963.

Today, Sabah is a busy and diverse place. The capital city is Kota Kinabalu. It is the center for the state government and business. Many people live there, with over 3.4 million in 2020. The state has many different cultures and languages. People use the sompoton, a traditional musical instrument.

The economy relies on things like oil, gas, and timber. It also grows palm oil and uses ecotourism to welcome visitors.

Sabah is a state located in northern Borneo within the region of East Malaysia.

It shares land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest. To the south, Sabah borders the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia. The state also has maritime borders with Vietnam to the west. To the north and east, it sits near the Philippines. The island of Labuan is a Federal Territory located just off the west coast. Many people call Sabah the "Land Below the Wind." This nickname refers to its location below the East Asian typhoon belt. Because of this, the state is not frequently hit by typhoons.

The geography of Sabah is defined by diverse ecosystems and impressive landmarks. It has an equatorial climate with vast tropical rainforests. These forests host an abundance of plant and animal species.

The Kinabatangan River flows through the state and is the second longest river in Malaysia. On the western side, long mountain ranges form part of the Crocker Range National Park. The highest peak in Sabah is Mount Kinabalu. This mountain is also the highest point in the entire country of Malaysia.

Human history in Sabah stretches back tens of thousands of years. The earliest known settlements occurred 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. These inhabitants lived near the Darvel Bay area in the Madai-Baturong caves.

Archaeologists have found stone tools and food remains from this era. In 2003, researchers discovered the Mansuli valley, which dates back 235,000 years. Another important site is Skull Hill in the Semporna District. This was the largest pottery making site in Neolithic Southeast Asia.

For centuries, various empires and traders influenced the region. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Bruneian Empire held influence over Sabah. During the 14th century, Sabah also began a trading relationship with China. Chinese traders brought goods like spices, pearls, and rattan to the Kinabatangan River.

Some traders even brought unique funeral traditions to the area. This is evidenced by the discovery of 2,000 wooden coffins in the Agop Batu Tulug Caves. The Sulu Sultanate also exerted influence over the eastern coasts of the state.

Political control of Sabah changed significantly during the 19th and 20th centuries. The British North Borneo Chartered Company acquired the territory in the 19th century. During World War II, the Japanese occupied North Borneo for three years.

Following the war, it became a British Crown Colony in 1946. On August 31, 1963, the British granted self-governance to the newly renamed Sabah.

Shortly after, on September 16, 1963, Sabah became a founding member of the Federation of Malaysia.

Today, Sabah is a modern state with a complex political and economic structure. The capital city is Kota Kinabalu, which serves as the economic and governmental center. The state government follows a system modeled on the Westminster parliamentary system. This includes a governor, known as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, and a chief minister. The state is divided into five administrative divisions and 27 districts. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,418,785 people. The economy is strongly export-oriented, focusing on oil, gas, timber, and palm oil.

Sabah is also a place of great cultural and natural significance. The state is known for its ethnic diversity in language and culture. One notable traditional musical instrument is the sompoton.

Beyond industry, the state relies heavily on agriculture and ecotourism. Visitors often come to see the unique wildlife and landscapes. The combination of ancient history, diverse people, and natural beauty makes Sabah a unique part of Malaysia.