Tambunan
Encyclopedia
Tambunan is a valley district located in the Interior Division
of the state of Sabah
. The district covers an area of 1,347 km2.. Its population was estimated to be around 27,852 in 2000, based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia.. Almost the entire population are Dusun
, while the rest are Malay, Chinese and other Sabahan ethnic groups. It is located 80 kilometers east of Kota Kinabalu
, 48 kilometers south of Ranau
and 48 kilometers north of Keningau
. At an average altitude of 750 meters, this valley, which is part of the Crocker Range
, experience mild tropical climate all year long. The valley is peppered by terraced padi
fields and 70 picturesque villages. The dense forests of bamboo
around Tambunan are a legacy of the British colonial period, during which time an edict stated that 20 bamboo sprouts had to be planted for every bamboo cut.
Tambunan is connected to Kota Kinabalu via the Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan-Keningau Highway.
East of Tambunan is Sabah's second highest mountain, Trus Madi (2642 meters).
The Mat Salleh Memorial, located in the middle of paddy fields at Kampung Tibabar, is a concrete structure erected in memory of Datu Paduka Mat Salleh. Better known as Mat Salleh, he led a rebellion against the British North Borneo Company
in the late 19th century. The rebellion against British rule was due to the locals' dissatisfaction on alleged exploitation by the Company. He was killed in a gun battle with the British police on 1 February 1900. In recognition of Mat Salleh as one of Sabah's earliest freedom fighters, the State Government of Sabah built the memorial fort at the exact site of where he was killed.
Near the Mat Salleh's fort is the Tun Datu Mustapha Memorial
the famous Sabah
statesman.
Tambunan is noted for the quality of its Lihing and Tapai, or rice wine
.
Outside of Tambunan is the Rafflesia Forest Reserve, devoted to the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia
.
The road north of Tambunan to Ranau is considered one of the worst in Sabah, with numerous patches broken gravel, fallen roads and precarious water-filled ledges. The conditions have deteriorated due to increasing numbers of sinkholes and landslides and the slow rate of repair.
Interior Division
Interior Division is an administrative division of Sabah, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It occupies the southwest portion of Sabah, bordering on Sarawak...
of the state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
. The district covers an area of 1,347 km2.. Its population was estimated to be around 27,852 in 2000, based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia.. Almost the entire population are Dusun
Dusun
Dusun is the collective name of a tribe or ethnic and linguistic group in the Malaysian state of Sabah of North Borneo. Due to similarities in culture and language with the Kadazan ethnic group, a new unified term called "Kadazan-Dusun" was created. Collectively, they form the largest ethnic group...
, while the rest are Malay, Chinese and other Sabahan ethnic groups. It is located 80 kilometers east of Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
, 48 kilometers south of Ranau
Ranau
Ranau is a district as well as a town in the East Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo and it is situated in the West Coast Division of Sabah...
and 48 kilometers north of Keningau
Keningau
Keningau is a sprawling timber and agricultural town and district located in the Interior Division of Sabah, east Malaysia on the island of Borneo...
. At an average altitude of 750 meters, this valley, which is part of the Crocker Range
Crocker Range
Crocker Range , is a mountain range on the island of Borneo. Politically, it is within the boundary of the Malaysian state of Sabah, located in the northern half of Borneo. The mountain range separates the east coast and west coast of Sabah. At an average height of 1800m, it is the highest mountain...
, experience mild tropical climate all year long. The valley is peppered by terraced padi
Paddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
fields and 70 picturesque villages. The dense forests of bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
around Tambunan are a legacy of the British colonial period, during which time an edict stated that 20 bamboo sprouts had to be planted for every bamboo cut.
East of Tambunan is Sabah's second highest mountain, Trus Madi (2642 meters).
The Mat Salleh Memorial, located in the middle of paddy fields at Kampung Tibabar, is a concrete structure erected in memory of Datu Paduka Mat Salleh. Better known as Mat Salleh, he led a rebellion against the British North Borneo Company
British North Borneo Company
The North Borneo Chartered Company or British North Borneo Company was a chartered company assigned to administer North Borneo in August 1881. North Borneo became a protectorate of the British Empire with internal affairs administered by the company until 1946 when it became the colony of British...
in the late 19th century. The rebellion against British rule was due to the locals' dissatisfaction on alleged exploitation by the Company. He was killed in a gun battle with the British police on 1 February 1900. In recognition of Mat Salleh as one of Sabah's earliest freedom fighters, the State Government of Sabah built the memorial fort at the exact site of where he was killed.
Near the Mat Salleh's fort is the Tun Datu Mustapha Memorial
Tun Datu Mustapha Memorial
Tun Datu Mustapha Memorial is the Sabah's state memorial. The memorial was built near the Mat Salleh's fort in Tambunan, Malaysia. It was erected by Sabah state government on 1999....
the famous Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
statesman.
Tambunan is noted for the quality of its Lihing and Tapai, or rice wine
Rice wine
Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage made from rice. Unlike wine, which is made by fermentation of naturally sweet grapes and other fruit, rice "wine" results from the fermentation of rice starch converted to sugars...
.
Outside of Tambunan is the Rafflesia Forest Reserve, devoted to the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia
Rafflesia
Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It contains approximately 28 species , all found in southeastern Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and the Philippines.Rafflesia was found in the Indonesian rain forest by an Indonesian guide working for Dr...
.
The road north of Tambunan to Ranau is considered one of the worst in Sabah, with numerous patches broken gravel, fallen roads and precarious water-filled ledges. The conditions have deteriorated due to increasing numbers of sinkholes and landslides and the slow rate of repair.