Sabah (Malaysia) - Island Studies Journal · PDF fileSabah (Malaysia) Overview: Sabah is a ......

Sabah(Malaysia)

Overview:SabahisaMalaysianstatelocatedonthenorthernportionoftheislandofBorneo.ItisthesecondlargeststateinMalaysiaafterSarawak,whichitborderswithonitssouth-west.ItalsosharesaborderwiththeprovinceofEastKalimantanofIndonesiainthesouth.Sabahisknownas"theLandBelowtheWind"becausegeographicallyitissituatedbelowthetyphoonandmonsoonbelt.

Territory:Sabah'sterrainisrugged,withMt.Kinabalu,at4,101metres,dominatingthesurroundinglandscape.Ithasawidediversityoffloraandfauna,aswellasoneoftheworld'slargestrainforests.Itoccupiesabout10%oftheislandofBorneowithalandareaof74,000sq.km(excludingtheislandofLabuan).

Location:SabahislocatedatthenortheastcornerofBorneo.

LatitudeandLongitude:5.15North117.0East

TimeZone:GMT+8

TotalLandArea:73711

EEZ:

Climate:Sabahhasanequatorialclimate.Temperaturesrarelyriseabove32°C(90°F)exceptonexceptionallyhotdays,andalongthecoastalareasrarelydropbelow20°C(68°F)atnight.Althoughintheinteriorandathigheraltitudesitcangetquitecoldatnight.Relativehumidityisusually85-95percent.Rainfalliscommonthroughouttheyear,andvariesfromabout150cm(60inches)toover450cm(180inches)peryear.InmostpartsofSabahthewetterperiod(orrainyseason)occursduringtheNorthEastMonsoonfromOctobertoFebruaryandthedrierseasonduringtheSouthWestMonsoonfromMarchtoSeptember,butoftenthereisnoreallysharpdivisionbetweenthetwo.Itissufficienttosaythatonthewhole,sunnyblueskiesarethenormbutwhenitrains,theheavensopen.

NaturalResources:Sabah'seconomywasheavilydependentontimberexport,butwiththedepletionofthisnaturalresourceandpoliciestosavetherainforestinordertoexploititonasustainablebasispalmoilhasbecomeamajorplayerinSabaheconomy,nexttotourism.Otheragrarianproductsincluderubberandcacao.

ECONOMY:

TotalGDP:2000 12,099,000.00USD

PerCapitaGDP:1990 2,808.00USD

%ofGDPperSector: Primary Secondary Tertiary2002 43.7% % %

%ofPopulationEmployedbySector Primary Secondary Tertiary1991 246416% 49900% 268448%

ExternalAid/Remittances:FromtheSeptember2007MalaysianFederalBudget,underRegionalDevelopment:80.TheGovernmentwillcontinuetointensifyeffortstofurtherdevelopSabahandSarawak.AsumofRM4billionisallocatedtoimplementseveralprojectstoimprovethequalityoflifeinSabah.AmongthemajorprojectsaretheconstructionofJalanKotaMarudu-Ranau,SandakanNorthernRingRoad,upgradingofJalanKotaBelud-Langkon,provisionofruralhealthservices,hospitalfacilities,low-costhousing,electricityandwatersupply,aswellasupgradingofroadsandrailway.

Growth:

LabourForce:1991 619,000

UnemploymentYear: UnemploymentRate(%ofpop.)

1990 8.9%2000 5.6%

Industry:PalmOil,rubber,cocoa

NicheIndustry:

Tourism:TheSabahNinthMalaysiaPlan(2006-2010)identifiedtourismasanimportanteconomicgrowthsector,gearedtowardsmakingSabahadevelopedstateinMalaysiabyyear2015.Currently,tourismisthesecondlargestcontributortotheeconomy.In2006,2milliontouristsvisitedSabah.

ImportsandExports:TakenfromtheStatebudget,November2007:FortheeconomyofSabah,theexternalsectorwillcontinuetobethemaindriver.Exportsgrewby10percentinthefirstquarterofthisyearandthisgrowthmomentumisexpectedtocontinuein2008asworldtradeisforecasttopickupby7.9percentfrom7.1percentthisyear.WiththeworldÂ’stwofastestgrowingnationsnamelyChinaandIndiaastheStateÂ’slargestexportdestinations,theStateÂ’sexportsgrowthwillremainrobustinthenextfewyears.China,beingtheStateÂ’slargestexportdestinationconsumedabout20percentofthestateÂ’stotalexportsofRM6.7billioninthesecondquarterof2007,whileIndiaabsorbedabout11percent(RM1.63billion).Inthesecondquarterof2007,thestateÂ’stradesurplushasalreadyreachedaboutRM2.4billion.ExportsofpalmoilaloneamountedtoRM5.0billionrepresenting34.6percentoftotalexportsofRM14.4billioninthesecondquarterof2007.ExportsofpalmoilalonerosetoRM8.1billion,anincreaseof14.1percentfromtheyearbeforebuoyedbyrisingpalmoilprices.ThesecondhighestitemexportedwascrudepetroleumvaluedatRM7.6billionor20percentofthestateÂ’stotalexports.Thiswasfollowedbyexportsofprimarytimberproducts,hotbriquettediron,methanol,rubberandcocoabeans.

Tot.ValueofImports 0.00()FromEu:ImportPartners(EU:)PartnersOutsideEU:ImportPartners:Tot.ValueofExports ()ToEu:ExportPartners:PartnersOutsideEU:: China,IndiaExportPartners:

MainImports: Mainlyconsumptiongoodsincludingfood,beverages,tobaccoandvegetableoil

MainExports: Palmoil(RM8.1B),crudepetroleum(RM7.6B),primarytimberproducts,hotbriquettediron,methanol,rubberandcocoabeans.

TRANSPORTATION/ACCESS

External:

NumberofAirports:5Therearecurrently6airlinesflyingdirectlyinKotaKinabalu,thecapitalcity.

NumberofMainPorts:8Forseafarersandsailors,therearemarinasavailablearoundSabah.ThemostprestigiousistheSuteraHarbourMarina,locatedintheSuteraHarbourResortcomplexinthesouthofthecity.OtherplacestoberthatKotaKinabaluincludetheTanjungAruMarina,locatedattheShangri-laTanjungAruResort,andtheKotaKinabaluYachtClub.ManysailorsjustberthinfrontofthecityneartheWaterfrontEsplanade.MoremarinasaroundSabah:Sandakan:SandakanYachtClub;Tawau:TawauYachtClub;Kudat:KudatMarina&GolfClub.LabuanIslandhasanotherworldclassmarinaattheLabuanWaterfrontHotel.LabuanIslandisalsoaccessiblebyferryfromKotaKinabalucityandfromMenumboktownnearKualaPenyuandtheKliasregion.FromKotaKinabalu,therearetwoferrydeparturestoLabuandaily.Thejourneytakes3hrsandcostsaroundUS$10forareturntrip.

Internal:

AirMostmajortownsinSabahhaveairportsfordomestictravel.Heli-charterisavailablefromSabahAirinKotaKinabalutosomedestinationsontheislands,andalsotoKundasangatthefootofMtKinabalu.TheLayang-LayangIslandisonlyaccessiblebyair.

Road:Trafficdrivesontheleft.

Sea:

OtherFormsofTransportation:GettingaroundinSabahiseasy.Dependingonthedestinationsthatyouwishtovisit,differentmodesoftransportareavailablesuchas:-Carrentals,publictransport,railway,boatsandferries,marinas,andair.ThereisonerailwaywhichconnectsKotaKinabaluwithTenomonthewestcoastofSabah.

EconomicZones:

EnergyPolicy:Malasiaisservedbythreeelectricityutilities,oneofwhichistheSabahElectricitySdn.Board,inadditiontovariousindependentproducers.(2001)487.7MWcapacityusingacombinationofgas,oil,hydroanddiesel.

Type Sector

YearTotalEnergyProduction(Mwh)

Thermic(Mwh)

Geothermic(Mwh)

Other(Mwh)

TotalEnergyConsumption(Mwh)

Domestic(Mwh)

Commercial(Mwh)

PublicService(Mwh)

Industry(Mwh)

PublicLighting(Mwh)

2001 4,870 0 0 0 1,912 0 0 0 0 0

OfficialCurrency:MalaysianRinggit(RM)

BankingandInsurance:NumberofBanksandCreditUnions:NumberofAgriculturalCreditUnions:NumberofInsuranceCompanies:

FinancialServices:

Communications/E-Commerce:

PublicOwnership:TakenfromtheStatebudget,November2007:Fromtheaspectsofeconomicdevelopment,creditshouldbegiventotheruralwomenfortheirwillingnesstotakeupthechallengeinmakingthemicrocreditschemeasuccess.ThisschemeismanagedbyYayasanUsahaMajuwiththeobjectivetoovercomepovertyintheruralareas.Thewomenhavetakenfulladvantageofthefinancialfacilitiesprovidedtoupliftthestatusandqualityoflifeoftheirfamilies,andhavebeenabletorepaytheloansgivenwithagoodperformanceofupto96percent.OurcongratulationstoSabahwomenespeciallytothosewhohaveparticipatedinthemicrocreditscheme.ThecumulativeloanswhichhavebeengivenoutuptoendofSeptember2007amountedtoRM15.69millioninvolving3,825borrowers,ofwhich,1,547ofthemarefromthepoorandhardcorepoorgroups.

LandUse:InSabah,thelawrecognisesthatindigenouspeopleshavenativecustomaryrightsoverthelandstheyhavebeenoccupyingandcultivating.Althoughsuchrightsdonotamounttoownership,theyformthebasisforaflexiblearrangementthatgivesadegreeofcontroltoindigenouspeoplesovertheirlands.

Agriculture/Forestry:Sabah'seconomywastraditionallyheavilylumberdependent,basedonexportoftropicaltimber,buttheincreasingdepletionofthenaturalforestsandecologicaleffortstosaveremainingnaturalrainforestareashasgreatlydecreasedthiseconomicactivity.Palmoilhasemergedasamoresustainableresource.OtheragriculturalproductsimportantintheSabaheconomyincluderubberandcacao.

MarineActivity:

Fishing:MalaysiaÂ’sriversandnaturalandmanmakelakesarehometoover300speciesoffreshwaterfishofwhicharound40speciescanbecaughtonrodandline.TheprimefreshwatersportfishincludetheferociousGiantSnakehead,thefastrunningMalaysianJunglePerch,theGiantFeatherback,themassivefreshwaterCatfishandtheelusivebutpowerfulMalaysianMahseer.TheseasofMalaysiaofferawidediversityofdepth,terrainandfishspecies.ThewestcoastofPeninsulaMalaysiaisprimarilyabottomfishingare.Depthsrarelyexceed100metersandqualitytablesuchasgrouper,snapperandthreadfinarethemainquarry.SailfishandNarrowbarredMackerelarefoundseasonallywhileGiantTrevallyandBarracudaarequitecommoncatches.Incontrast,theeastcoastofPeninsulaMalaysia,offthedistantIslandofAur,PemanggilandTiomanishometobiggamefish,theBlackMarlinbeingthemostfamous.OthergamefishincludeSailfish,GiantTrevally,Dolphinfish(Mahi-Mahi),Cobia,MackerelandBarracuda.TheMarlinofMalaysiaÂ’seastcoastaveragebetween50kgto150kg.TheBorneocoastoftheSouthChinaSeaalsoofferalsoofferexcellentbiggamefishingwiththeislandofLabuanbeingcentrallylocatedtotheseprimefishingareas.TheeastcoastofSabahborderingtheSuluandSulawesiseas,withwaterover2000metresindepth,boastbothexcellentbottomfishingaroundreefareasandtopclassgamefishingwithMarlin,Sailfish,Yellowfin,BigeyeandDogtoothTuna.

MarineLife:

CriticalIssues:

JURISDICTIONALRESOURCES

Capital:KotaKinabalu

PoliticalSystem:Sabahadoptsademocraticsystemofpolitics,whereageneralelectionforStateandFederallevelisheldeveryfiveyears.ThepresentelectedStateandFederalGovernmentisheldbyBarisanNasional,acoalitionofmajorethnicpartiesofSabahwithmajorpartiessuchasUMNO,SAPP,UPKO,AKAR&PBRSandPBS.AuniquefeatureofSabah'spoliticsisthatsince1994,theChiefMinister'spostisrotatedamongthecoalitionpartiesevery2years,thusgivinganequalamountoftimeforeachethnicgrouptoruletheState.ThepresentChiefMinisterofSabahisYABDatukSeriHajiMusaHajiAmanwhichwaselectedtopowerin2002withhistermexpiringintheyear2004.TheFederalGovernmentisalsoheldbyBarisanNasional,headedbyMalaysia'sPrimeMinisterYABDatukSeriAbdullahAhmadBadawi.Overthepasttwodecades,undertheadministrationofTunDrMahathir,Malaysia'spreviousprimeminister,Malaysiahasachievedtremendousdevelopmentandsuccess.TunDrMahathirrelinquishedthehelmtoDatukAbdullah

BadawiinOctober2003.

PoliticalParties:LiberalDemocraticParty(Malaysia);PartiBersatuRakyatSabah;PartiBersatuSabah;SabahProgressiveParty

ImportantLegislation:20Pointagreement:The20-pointagreement,orthe20-pointmemorandum,isanagreementmadebetweenthestateofSabah(thenNorthBorneo)withwhatwouldbethefederalgovernmentofMalaysiapriortotheformationofMalaysiainSeptember16,1963.Theagreementwaswrittenforthemainpurposeofsafeguardingtheinterests,rights,andtheautonomyofthepeopleofSabahuponenteringthefederationofMalaysia.ItwasoriginallyenvisagedthatSabahbeoneofthefourentitiesinthefederation,theothersbeingMalaya,Singapore,andSarawak.Howeverastimespassed,SabahandSarawakhasendedupbeingmerelyoneofthe13statesinthefederation.

PrincipalTaxes:Thetaxraterangesfrom0-29%basedonincomeranges.RM2,500=1%,RM5,000=3%,RM10,000=5%,RM20,000-35,000=9%,RM35,000-50,000=15%,RM50,000-70,000=20%,RM70,000-100,000=25%,RM100,000-150,000=28%,RM150,000+=29%

AssociatedPower:

Citizenship:Malasian

Paradiplomacy:

HUMANRESOURCES

Sabah'spopulationisheterogeneousandculturallydiverse,withmorethan30differentethnicracesandover80localdialectsspoken.TheKadazandusun-ThisisthelargestethniccategoryinSabahandispredominantlywetriceandhillricecultivators.TheRungus-Othersstillfollowtheirtraditionallifestyle,buttheonlyKadazandusuntribewhichcontinuestoliveincommunaldwellingsorlonghousesistheRungus,whosehomeisthenorthwestofSabah.TheMurut-BeingoneofthelargestindigenousgroupsinSabah,MurutcompriseofsubgroupssuchasBaukan,Gana',Kalabakan,Okolod,Paluan,Sulangai,Serudung,Tagal,TimugonandtheBeaufortandKeningauMurut.Literally"Murut"means"hillpeople".TheyinhibittheinteriorandsouthwesternpartsofSabahandtheterritorystraddlingtheKalimantanandSarawakborders.Theyaremostlyshiftingcultivatorsandhunterswithsomeriverinefishing.ThoseofMurutoriginspeak15languagesand21dialects.ThelanguagecommonlyusedandunderstoodbythelargemajorityisTanggal.TheirlanguageisalsorelatedtotheKadazandusunlanguages.TheMuslimBisaya-AnotherDusunicgroup,theMuslimBisaya,liveontheKliasPeninsulasouthofKotaKinabalu,andalongthelowerreachesofthePadasandKliasRivers.TheBisayaarebestknownforharvestingthesagopalmswhichgrowinswampyground;theyfellthepalms,raspthepithofthetrunkandextractthestarchwhichwasonceeatenasastaple.TheOrangSungei-Paitanic-speakingpeople,mostofthemlivinginthenorthandcenterofSabah,livemainlyalongriversandcallthemselvesOrangSungei(literally“peopleoftheriver”).AnothergroupbelongingtothesamefamilyistheIda’an,wholivealongtheeastcoastandconvertedtoIslamasfarbackasthe15thcentury.TheBajau-TheBajau,originallyfromthePhilippines,sailedacrosstheSuluSeatosettlealongthecoastsofSabah.Onthewest,theBajauofKotaBeludarefamousfortheircolourfulcostumes,andtheirskillsashorsemen.

2005

Island Area(kmsq.) Population %ofTotalPopulation

Populationdensity=39.62/KM

Population:Year ResidentPopulation

AgeofPopulation: 0-14 15-24 25-49 50-64 65andup2005 1025800 1,823,500 0 0 82,800

Migration:Illigalimmigrationishigh.Foreignworkersmakeupabout90%oftheagriculturalemployees.1997:Sabah.TheMalaysianstatesofSabahandSarawakareonthenorthernpartoftheislandofBorneoandhaveautonomyinimmigrationpolicy.OnMarch1,1997,Sabahannouncedasix-monthlegalizationprogramandasofMay31,1997,some140,028illegalimmigrantswithoutemployers---27,463Indonesiansand112,565Filipinos--hadregistered.Inaddition,3,123employersregistered12,411illegalforeignworkersandanother2,197employersregistered2,281housemaids.TheregularizationprogramwasscheduledtorununtilAugust31,1997,withthepromiseof"all-outaction"againstillegalsinSeptember.SinceMarch1,1997,some1,777illegalmigrantsreturnedhome,including1,080Indians,624Pakistanis,39Chineseand19Filipinos.AsforeignerstakejobsinSabah,SabahyouthsmigratetopeninsularMalaysiaforjobs,despiteassurancesthattherearejobsinSabah.TheMalaysianManpowerdepartmentsaidthatsinceJanuary1997,1,025SabahanshavegonetoworkinpeninsularMalaysiathroughaseriesofjointrecruitmentexercisesbetweenhisdepartmentandpeninsular-basedcompanies.Lastyear2,349leftSabahforjobsonthepeninsula.Anestimated20,000youthsfromSabahareworkinginpeninsularMalaysia.TheMalaysianTradesUnionCongressclaimsthatsomeworkersinmanufacturingandserviceindustriesinSabaharebeingpaidlowerwages.TheMTUCsaysthatminimummonthlywageforaSabahanworker,giventhehighercostoflivingcomparedtopeninsularMalaysia,shouldbenolessthanRM650.SomeworkersareearningfromRM6.50toRM185permonth.ThegovernmentsofthestateofSabahandthePhilippineshaveagreedonajointefforttoregulateborder-crossingbetweenTawi-TawiinMindanaoandSabahinMalaysiainordertoslowtheillegalflowofpeopleandgoodsbetweentheseareas.Undertheagreement,citizensofbothcountriesmustsecurecross-borderpermitsintheirowncountrypriortocrossingtheborder.ThisplanwasfirstimplementedJuly1,1997,butMalaysiabackedoffsayingthegovernmentdidnothaveallthenecessarymeasuresinplace,includingcross-borderstations.

CrudeBirthRate:2005 14.9%

LifeExpedctancy:2005:male=71years,female=76years

CrudeDeathRate:

2005 2.1%

Ethnicity:ThepeopleofSabaharedividedinto32officiallyrecognizedethnicgroups:Kadazan-Dusun,Malay,Kwijau,Murut,Bajau,Illanun,Lotud,Rungus,Tambanuo,Dumpas,Mangka'ak,Suluk/Tausug,Ilocano,OrangSungai,Brunei,Kedayan,BisayaBeaufort,Tidong,Maragang,OrangCocos,Paitan,Ida'an,Minokok,Rumanau,Yakan,Chineseofmixedbumiputraparentage,Filipino,Sarawakindigenousgroups,Serani,Chabacano

ClassDivision:

Languages:BahasaMalaysiaistheNationallanguage.Englishiswidelyspokenandunderstood.OtherlanguagesareMandarinChinese,Hakka,CantonisandKadazan.

Religion:In1973,IslamwasmadetheofficialSabahstatereligion(theofficialreligionofSabahwasoriginallyChristianity,aspermittedbytheagreementsignedbeforethemerger).TheConstitutionofMalaysiaprovidesforlimitedfreedomofreligion.

Literacy:1998:87%

EducationSystem:Classesusuallybeginat7amandendat5pm.PRESCHOOL:Pre-schoolispartofthenationaleducationsystemundertheEducationAct,1996.Theaimofpre-schooleducationistoprovideafirmfoundationforformaleducation.Pre-schoolsarerunbygovernmentagencies,nongovernmentalorganisations(NGO's)aswellasprivateinstitutions.Themajorgovernmentagenciesthatareresponsibleforpre-schooleducationaretheMinistryofEducation,theMinistryofRuralDevelopment,andtheMinistryofNationalUnityandcommunityDevelopment.Childrenenrollbetweentheagesof4and6.Allpre-schoolshavetoabidebythecurriculumguidelinessetbytheMinistryofEducation.Thecurriculumenablespre-schoolchildrentoacquiresufficientbasiccommunication,socialandotherpositiveskillsinpreparationforprimaryschooling.PRIMARYSCHOOL:Educationatthislevelaimstoprovidethechildwithafirmfoundationinthebasicskillsofreading,writingandarithmetic,aswellasemphasisingthinkingskillsandvalueacrossthecurriculum.Whileeducationatthislevelisnotcompulsory,morethan99percentofthisagegroupareenrolledinprimaryschoolsthroughoutthecountry.Thesearetwotypesofschoolsattheprimarylevel,thatare,thenationalschoolsandthenationaltypeschools.Inthenationalschools,themediumoftheinstructionistheMalayLanguage.ThemediumofinstructioninthenationaltypeschoolsiseitherChineseLanguageorTamilLanguage.Inbothtypesofschools,theMalayLanguageisacompulsorysubject.Englishistaughtasasecondlanguageinallschools.Chinese,TamilandIndigenouslanguagesarealsotaughtassubjectsinnationalschools.PromotionfromYear1toYearVIisautomaticaspupilsaregivencontinuousschool-basedassessmenttomonitortheirprogressinthemasteryofthebasicskills.TheEducationActof1996providestheprimaryeducationcoursedesignedforadurationofsixyears,whichmaybecompletedwithinfivetosevenyears.Toidentifypupilswhoareabletocompletetheirprimaryeducationwithinfiveyears,theLevelOneAssessment(PTS)wasintroduced.PTSisatestingprocedureadministeredjointlybytheExaminationsSyndicateandtheschoolattheendofYearIIIofprimaryschool.ThePTSisnotcompulsoryasstudentscanoptnottositforit.ThosewithhighscoreswhoareselectedfordoublepromotioncanstilloptnottoproceedtoYearV.AttheendofYearVI,pupilssitforacommonpublicexamination,thePrimarySchoolAchievementTest(UPSR).ThesubjectstestedareMalayLanguage,EnglishLanguage,MathematicsandChineseLanguageorTamilLanguage(forpupilsofNationalTypePrimarySchools).Asof1997,SciencewillalsobetestedinUPSR.AnewelementintheUPSRassessmentistheintroductionofPenilaianAgamaFarduAin(PAFA),aschool-basedassessmentwhichfocusesonthepracticalaspectsofIslamicEducationtoensurethatMuslimstudentsunderstandandpracticecorrectlymattersonFarduAin.SECONDARYSCHOOL:Secondaryeducationaimstopromotethegeneraldevelopmentofstudentsbyhelpingthemtoacquireknowledge,insightandskillsincludingtheinculcationofvaluesontheNationalPhilosphyofEducation.Theultimategoalistodevelopastrongfoundationforlife-longeducation.Besidesreceivinggeneraleducation,studentsareintroducedtothebeginningsofspecialisation.Educationatthislevelisprovidedinnationalsecondaryschools.ThemediumofinstructionintheseschoolsistheMalayLanguage.Asisthecaseinprimaryschools,EnglishLanguageistaughtasasecondlanguageinallschools.Chinese,Tamilandindigenouslanguagearealsoofferedasadditionalsubjects.UndertheEducationAct1996foreignlanguagessuchasArabic,Japanese,French,Germanareintroducedinsecondaryschools.ThecurriculumprescribedforsecondaryschoolsistheintegratedCurriculumforSecondarySchool(ICSS).LowerSecondaryLevel(FormItoFormIII)Thislevelcoversaperiodofthreeyears(FormItoFormIII).PupilsfromthenationalprimaryschoolsenterFormIwhereaspupilsfromChineseandTamilmediumschoolsproceedtoatransitionyear(RemoveClass)beforeenteringFormI.ThisRemoveClassisforpupilstoacquiresufficientproficiencyintheMalayLanguage,whichisthemediumofinstructioninsecondaryschools.However,pupilswhohaveperformedwellintheUPSRareallowedtoproceeddirectlytoformI.Inthelinewiththeemphasisonscienceandtechnologyinnationaldevelopment,studentsaregivenanearlyexposuretovocationaleducationthroughtheintegratedLivingSkillssubject.ThecorecomponentsofthissubjectareManipulativeSkills,CommerceandEntrepreneurship,andFamilyLifeEducation.Oncompletingthreeyearsatthislevel,pupilssitforacommonpubliclowersecondaryschoolexamination,theLowerSecondaryAssessment(PMR),whichisacombinationofcentralizedandschool-basedassessment.Theschool-basedassessmentfollowsguidelinessetbytheExaminationSyndicate.Intandemwiththepolicyofprovidingfiveyearsofsecondaryeducationforall,thePMRisnolongeraterminalexamination,ratheritismoreadiagnosticevaluation.Asaconsequenceuniversaleducationhasbeenextendedfromninetoelevenyears.UpperSecondaryLevel(FormIVtoFormV)Educationattheuppersecondarylevelcoversaperiodoftwoyears.Besidesfollowingthegeneraleducationprogramme,itisatthisstagesthatpupilsbegintospecialiseineitherthearts,science,technical,vocationalorreligiousdisciplines.Specificschoolsaredesignatedforeachdiscipline.Theseschoolsareacademicschools,technicalschools,vocationalschoolsandreligiousschools.

TotalPre-schools:(2007) 186TotalPrimarySchools

FirstLevel:

SecondLevel:

ThirdLevel:

TotalSecondarySchools: 186TotalProfessionalSchoolsUniversities: 13

NumberofSchoolsperIsland: Pre-school Elementary High-school Prof. University

Pub Priv 1 2 3 Pub Priv Pub Priv

StudentsEnrolled:Year: Pre-School Elementary High-school Prof. University

Teachers

Year Pre-SchoolElementary

High-School Prof. University1 2 3

MedicalServices:Thereare22hospitalsinSabah,4ofwhichareprivate.Therearealso10polyclinics.

HISTORYANDCULTURE

History:TheislandofBorneo,thethirdlargestintheworldafterGreenlandandPapaNewGuinea,hasbeendiscoveredbyChineseExplorersevenbeforethefirstCenturyADbutnoattemptshavebeenmadetoconquerit.Therewas,however,apowerfulBruneiSultanatewhichruledovermostofBorneo.In1521,Magellan'sfleetvisitedBruneithusestablishingthefirstrecordedcontactbetweenWesternersandthepeopleofBorneo.Between1521and1764,changesintheSultanateofBruneieventuallylettothehandoverofNorthBorneo(firstEnglishnameforSabah)totheBritishEastIndiaCompanyin1764.In1881,theDentbrothersofLondonsignedallrightstoacompanywhichwasgrantedaroyalcharter.KudatbecamethefirstcapitalofBritishNorthBorneo.TheBritishNorthBorneoCharteredCompanywasofficiallyformedin1882andSandakanbecamethefirstcapitalofBritishNorthBorneo.Jesselton(nowSabah'scapitalKotaKinabalu)wasfoundedinconjunctionwiththeconstreuctionoftheTransBorneorailroad,anddevelopedintoaflourishingtradingpostuntiltheJapaneseoccupiedthewholeofBorneoduringtheSecondWorldWar.JesseltonandSandakanwere,likemanytowns,destroyedinAlliedairraidstargetedattheJapanese.AftertheSecondWorldWartheBritishCharteredCompanywasnotabletorebuildthewardevastatedcountryandcededittotheBritishCrown,andSabahbecameacolony.In1963,NorthBorneobecameindependentandrevertedtoitspre-colonialname,Sabah,onbecomingthe13thstateoftheFederationofMalaysia.In1967,Jesselton,originallynamedafteradirectoroftheNorthBorneoCompany,wasrenamedKotaKinabalu.

Referenda:

RecentSignificantEvents:ThestatusoftheterritoryofSabah,previouslyknownasNorthBorneo,iscurrentlydisputedbetweenMalaysiaandthePhilippines.Presently,SabahisoneofthestatesthatformedMalaysiain1963.Despitethat,thePhilippinesandtheheirsoftheSultanateofSuluhavemadeclaimstotheterritorythoughtheclaimiscurrentlydormant.

Music,Dance,HandicraftandPatrimony:DANSADansaisthedanceoftheCocosIslandersfromtheLahadDatudistrictontheeastcoastofSabah.Thisdanceisusuallyperformedbythreecouplesduringweddingsandoften-festiveoccasions.Thereismuchfeetstomping,makingitaverylivelydance.Musicisprovidedbyacoupleofviolinscalledbiola.ThetopsofthecostumesforboatthemaleandfemaledancersresembletheScottishHighlanderswiththeirfrilledshirtsandscarves.Thewomenweartheseoverbatiksarongs.Thenmenasongkokandalsosarongbatikputihwithheavyshoestoproducethelivelybeatofthedance.LILIPUTLiliputisaBisayadancefromthedistrictofBeaufort.Liliputmeans`go-round`.Itismainlydancedtocastawaytheevilspiritfroma‘possessed`personandthento‘return’theperson’sspirit.Thedancingwillcontinueuntiltheperson’sspirit‘returns’.ANGALANGAngalangisadanceoftheMurut.Inoldendays,thisdancewasperformedincelebrationofasuccessfulheadhuntingparty.Nowadaysitisperformedduringweddingandothersuchoccasions.Theperformanceconsistsofasolomaledancerdoingthemahihialang,whileaaccompaniedbyagroupoffemaledancersperformingtheangalang.ThemaledancerisdressedasawarriorwearingtheMurutbarkjacketandloincloth,wieldingaswordknownasagayang,whilethefemaledancerswearcostumesknownaslimpurwhichisusuallyelaboratelybeadedandembroidered.Ontheirheadsisanornateheadpiecemadeoflongbeadsinfrontandstrandsofsmallerbeadsattheback.Themanwearsthefeatheredheadpiece.Thisdanceisnormallyaccompaniedbymusicplayedonsixlargegongs,twenty-fivetagunggakorbambooidiophones,andadrumcalledtambor.KUDAPASUAdanceoriginallyperformedbyskilledhorsemen,KudaPasuisaBajaudancenowperformedbymaleandfemaledancerstowelcomeoraccompanytheentourageofabridegroomtothebride’sresidence.Theydancetothebeatofthebertitikmusiccalledtigad-tigad.Themaledancersaremetbythefemaledancerswhoholdaredhandkerchieftiedtotheirfingers.Thissymbolizesthewelcomingofthebridegroomandhisparty.LIMBAILimbaiisthedanceoftheBajaupeopleoftheKotaBeludareaonthewestcoastofSabah.ThreetofourcouplesormoredressedinthetraditionalBajaucostumeswiththewomenwearingthegoldornatesarimpakheadpiece,circleabouteachotherwiththewomencomingtorestinaseatedpositionwiththemenstandingbehindthem.Thisdanceischaracterizedbythegracefulrotatingwristmovementsofthedancers.ThemusicaccompanyingtheLimbaiiscalledbertitik.Theinstrumentsusuallyconsistofakulintanganwhichisasetofninesmallkettlegongsandthreehanginggongsandtwodouble-headeddrumscalledgandang.Limbaiisperformedduringweddingsandothersocialoccasions.MENANGKUKPIRINGMenangkukpiringisperformedbytheKadazanDusunoftheKotaMarududistrictinthenorthofSabah.Itisnormallyperformedatweddingandothersocialoccasions.Dancersperformwithplatesheldinthepalmsoftheirhands.Gracefultwistsandturnsoftheirwristsensurethattheseplatesneverfalldown.Afallenplateisabadomen,especiallyifperformedduringaweddingcelebration.Sometimes.Lightedcandlesareplacedinthecentreoftheplates,makingthedanceevenmoreinteresting.MAGUNATIPMagunatipisadanceperformedbytheindigenouspeoplesoftheinteriorsofSabah,includingtheKadazanDusunofTambunan,theKwijauDusunofKeningauandmanyoftheMurutgroups.Magunatipisderivedfromthewordatipmeaning‘topressbetweentwosurfaces’.Magunatipdancersneedgreatskillandagilitytodanceamongthebamboopoles,whicharehittogethertoproducetherhythmofthedance.Itisadanceofhappinessperformedatsocialoccasionsandthehonourdistinguishedguests.MONGIGOLSUMUNDAIMongigolSumundaiisadancefromtheKudatandPitasdistricts,performedbytheRungus.Itisperformedboatasanentertainmentduringfestivitiesaswellasaritualdance.Threetoeightfemaledancersareledbyamaledancer.Thewomenkeeptheirarmsclosetotheirsidesthroughoutthedance,movingonlytheirwrists,stepsarealsoslowandgentle.ThecostumeswornbythefemaledancersisthetraditionalRungusdress–anelaboratelyweavedtopcalledBanatwithaknee-lengthsarungcalledtapi,withascarf-likepieceattachedtothebodiceinthecentreinfrontandthroughoverthebackandcrossedoverwithmanystandsofbeads.Sometimestheywearsaringorbrassarmbanglesandalsobrasslegcoils.Themusicaccompanimentisproducedbyfourgongsandadrumcalledtontog.PAINAThePainaisadanceoftheKadazanDusunfromtheMembakutaresonthewestcoastofSabah.Itisperformedduringthanksgivingcelebrationstothericespiritfollowingthericeharvest.Itisnormallyperformedbyagroupofmenandwomen.Acharacteristicofthemen’sdancingincludesarmsraisedinfrontwithhandsturningfromthewrists,whilethewomendancewithalternateheeltoheel,toetotoefootmovements.ThewomenmaywearthetypicalblackcostumeoftheMembakutKadazanwhichisdecoratedwithshiningbuttons,whilethemenwearthesigarheadclothandasandaihangingfromtheneck.TARIRAIThisisaBajaudancefromtheSempornadistrictontheEastCoastThedanceevolvedfromamythaboutsomepeoplewhowenttolookforseashells.TheyencounteredastrangeanimalandtheactionsoftheTariraidepicttheevasiveactiontheylook.SUMAYAU(MONGIGOLTUARAN)Sumayau(MongigolTuaran)isaritualdanceoftheLotudDusunfronTuaran.

ItsiperformedduringtheRumahawhichisaceremonyforhonouringthespiritsofskulls,ortheMangahauritualsforthespiritsofsacredjars.TheSumayauisperformedbyuptoeightcoupleswhoaredressedinelaborateblackritualcostumeswithlongsleevesandalongsasharoundtheneck.Thewomenwearaceremonialheadpiecewithredfeathers,whilethemenwearthesigar.Thefemaledancersmovethefeetslowly,heeltoheel,toetotoe,whileamaledancerstandsandshakesthegirringorsmallhandbellssownontocloth,keepingintimewiththemusicwhichisplacedongongsandadrum.SUMAZAUPAPARSumazauPaparisadancefromthedistrictofPaparinthewestcoastofSabah.Itisperformedbybothmaleandfemaledancers.Theuniquemovementsofthefeetofthewomenheelmeetingheel,toemeetingtoe-makesthisdancesadelighttowatch.Themendancewiththeirarmsoutstretchedinfrontofthem,turningtheirwristsabout.Thewomenwearthetraditionalknee-lengthPaparcostumesadornedwithbrassbuttonsandgoldtrimmingsontheblouse,withaconicalshapedhatcalledseraungplacedoveraheadclothcalledsenaundung.Themaledancersweartheheadpiececalledasigaraswellasascarforsandaiovertheircostumes.ADAI-ADAIAdai-AdaiisadanceevolvedfromasongsungbyfishermenwhooriginatedfromtheSipitangandMembakutdistrictsintheSouthWeastofSabah.Performedbybothmaleandfemaledancers,thisdancedescribestheactivitiesofthefishermenandalsothefarmersoftheseareas.ThedancersweartraditionalBruneiclothes,andtheaccompanyingmusicfortheAdai-AdaiisnormallyplayedonthegambuswhichisaluteofArabicoriginandpopularamongcoastalMuslims,andthekompang,aframedrum.Thisdanceisusuallyperformedduringimportantvillagefestivalsandalsoatweddingcelebrations.BOLAK-BOLAKBolak-BolakisatraditionaldanceoftheBajaufromtheSempornadistrictontheEastCoast,whichhasbeenhandeddownthroughgenerations.TheBolak-Bolaksignifiesthesoundmadewhencastanetsheldbyadancerisconstantlyclappedtogether,producingtherhythmofthemusicforthedance.Thisdanceistraditionallyperformedduringthepresentationofbrideswealthbythegroomtothebride’sfamilyaspartofaweddingceremony.Themusicaccompanimentisplayedonthekulintanganensembleinadditiontogongsanddrums.SUMAZAUPENAMPANGSumazauPenampangisthetraditionaldanceoftheKadazanDusun.Itisperformedduringbothritualandsocialoccasions.Thedancersperforminpairswiththemanleadingtheway.Bothmaleandfemaledancersstartoffwitharrhythmicmovementonslightlybentkneesandarmsswingingbythesides.Withaloudcrypangkis,themaledancerwilllifthisarmslikewingsoutstretchedandchangehissteptothealternatingsoleandtoemovementwiththewomenfollowingsuit,althoughinamuchgentlermanner.Thedancerswearthetraditionalblackcostumeswithgoldtrimmings.Thewomenwillhavethreerowsofsmallbrassringsstrungonrattancalledtangkong,andthetinggotwhichisabeltofoldsilvercoins.Themenwearacolourfulembroideredheadgearknownassigar.Theaccompanyingmusicisplayedbythesompogogunganensembleconsistingofsixhanginggongsandadrum.DALING-DALINGDaling-DalingisperformedbytheSulukpeoplewhohavesettledontheeastcoastofSabah.ThenameissaidtohavebeenderivedfromtheEnglishword‘Darling’.Maleandfemaledancersdanceinpairsandthisdanceischaracterizedbythebackward-wavefingersmovementsofthewomenwearinglongspikedbrassfingercapscalledjanggai.Theyalsowearthekantiutrousersandthemalkotaheadpiece.Thedancersperformtomusicplayedonawoodenkeepedxylophoneknownasgabang,andabiola,andaccompaniedbysinging,eitherbyasoloistorachorusoffourormore.TITIKASTitikasisatraditionaldanceoftheOrangSungaifromtheKinabatangandistrictinSandakan.Itisperformedasawelcomedanceduringofficialfunctions,aswellasfestiveoccasionsinthevillages.ThehandsmovementsofthedancerscopythegameofIngki-Ingki,whereapersonplacespalm,fromtoptobottomandviceversa.TheinstrumentsusedforthemusicisknownastheTitikasensemble,consistingofanine-keyedgabangorxylophoneandtwolargekantungverticalhardwoodslitgongsthatstandaboutametertall.

Sources:

http://www.sabah.gov.my/info/budget/nationalbudget/NationalBudget08.pdf

http://www.sabahtourism.com/

http://jknsabah.moh.gov.my/modules/xt_conteudo/print.php?id=46

http://www.moe.gov.my/tayang.php?laman=utama&unit=utama&bhs=en

http://www.cogen3.net/doc/policyreview/NationalEnergyPolicyReviewMalaysia.pdf

http://www.sabah.gov.my/info/budget/StateBudgetSpeech2008.htm

http://www.iczm.sabah.gov.my/Tools/Spatial%20Planning/Manual/mst-MODULE-3.html

http://www.sabah.gov.my/Default.asp?culture=br

http://migration.ucdavis.edu/MN/more.php?id=1294_0_3_0

http://www.sabahtravelguide.com/features/default.asp?page=sabahfacts

http://www.sabah.gov.my/didr/new/all_links/Service/Continue.html

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