PEOPLE OF TAWAU |  Bugis  |  Bajau   |  Chinese  |   Iban  |  Indian  |  Murut  |  Orang Cocos  | Philippino  | Tagahas  |  Tidong  |

|  The people of Sabah  |  The Culture of Malaysia  |

The people in and around Kinabalu are mainly the Kadazandusun, Sabah's largest ethnic community. Traditionally rice farmers, their 'kampungs' or villages are scattered all over the hills and mountain slopes. It is not unusual to see them scampering up and down the mountain seemingly without exhaustion! And that's exactly why most of them work as mountain guides and porters.  

The Kadazandusun people consider themselves the guardian of Mt Kinabalu. They believe this is sacred ground, a resting place for the spirits of their ancestors. Earlier attempts to climb the mountain had been forbidden, as to do so would have disturbed these spirits and incurred their wrath. In 1851 when Sir Hugh Low led the expedition up the mountain, a compromise was reached with the locals to offer sacrifice to appease the spirits.  

The people in and around Kinabalu are mainly the Kadazandusun, Sabah's largest ethnic community. Traditionally rice farmers, their 'kampungs' or villages are scattered all over the hills and mountain slopes. It is not unusual to see them scampering up and down the mountain seemingly without exhaustion! And that's exactly why most of them work as mountain guides and porters.

The Kadazandusun people consider themselves the guardian of Mt Kinabalu. They believe this is sacred ground, a resting place for the spirits of their ancestors. Earlier attempts to climb the mountain had been forbidden, as to do so would have disturbed these spirits and incurred their wrath. In 1851 when Sir Hugh Low led the expedition up the mountain, a compromise was reached with the locals to offer sacrifice to appease the spirits.  

The name ' Kinabalu' is derived from the Kadazandusun words 'Aki' Nabalu' where 'Aki' literally mean 'ancestor' and 'nabalu' is 'mountain'; the sacred resting place of the ancestral spirits. According to legends, supreme deities created the world and Mount Kinabalu, of mythical dragons guarding treasure troves of pearls. These myths take on a more surreal presence when you are up in the mountain, in the silence and mist of the swirling clouds or the sounds of howling winds. Climbers are advised to always behave respectfully and be on good behavior. Shouting, making loud noises, name callings, anger or even laughter are not advisable.

Tawau is a cultural pot for several cultures and the immigrant capital of Malaysia.

Immigrants from nearby countries made their homes in Tawau - Buginese, Bajaus (Philippines), Orang Cocos , Timorese, Indonesians, as well as grand parents of the Chinese and Malays.

Not all of these people are here legally, and Sabah government regularly deports large numbers through the port (Indonesia and the Philippines are just across the Sulu Sea from Tawau).

Despite regular crackdowns, Tawau remains a racially diverse cultural mongrel of a place.

|  Bugis  | 

Bajau   | 

Chinese  |  

Iban  | 

Indian  | 

Murut  | 

Orang Cocos  | 

Philippino  |

Tagahas  | 

Tidong  |

1) IDAHAN (IDA'AN)

2)  Timugon Murut