KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA March 6, 2008
Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, a state in Malaysia, as well as the capital of the west coast division of Sabah. Located on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo facing the South China Sea with Mount Kinabalu in the background, the city has a population of 532,129 in the city and 700,000 in the urban area. It is the largest urban center in Sabah and the fastest growing and currently the sixth largest city in Malaysia.
Malaysia was founded in 1963 as a Moslem country with 14 states. Indeed their flag has 14 alternating red and white stripes similar to the USA flag. However on the blue field there is a crescent representing the country’s religious foundation.
Kota Kinabalu has a majority population of Christians and just recently was allowed to elect a non-Moslem to the position of governor. In addition the religious sectors in the population, there are many specific heritages stemming from the original native tribes on the island: Kadazans Hill Dusuns, seafaring Bajaus, Muruts. Chinese and Indians entered the country and were a moving force in the business of the state. The government gave special status to the indigenous peoples, the Bumiputras, and are an officially recognized racial group with special status. The Indians and Chinese are not allowed to own property. As a person observation with the various segments of religious, heritage, racial, country of origin, the country seems a very divided (even prejudice) community with little country unity.
On our tour of the city we initially noticed the mosques. The two pictured are extensive and beautiful structures that we are not allowed to go into.
We stopped at a Muzium Sabah which had a clear collection of the dress and customs of the various indigenous tribes. Adjacent to the museum was a Heritage Village with various stilt houses lived in by each of the different tribes. You can see a couple of pictures of Jim and Judy at these sites. Jim is in a pot, maybe reminiscent of the cannibals that use to roam the island of Borneo.
