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SABAH
Sabah is rich with lush, tropical vegetation. Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world with a radius of 3 metres long, is found here. Numerous orchid species, pitcher plants and rhododendrons are also found in Sabah. The Land below the Wind is a vast area of mountainous terrain broken by rivers flowing between rich, alluvial valleys. Numerous caves are also found in Sabah. Mount Kinabalu one of the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, is 4,101 metres above sea level. The rich rainforest is home to many species of wildlife such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, orang utan, elephant, mouse deer, monkey, flying squirrel, deer and birds.
SABAH FORESTRY
The forestry sector in Sabah have gone through several stages of development. It began with minimal cultivation and consumption to the stage where forest products are used as revenue generator. At this moment, the management of the forest resources are done with extra care, putting the emphasis on future interest. Sabah Forestry Department is the body responsible to manage the forest resources in Sabah.
SABAH CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT
Sabah is situated in the northern part of the island of Borneo. It covers an area of 73,619 square km and is the second largest state in Malaysia. It is bounded by Sarawak to the south-west and Indonesian Kalimantan to the south. It has a coastline of over 1440 km in length, with the South China Sea to the north-west, the Sulu Sea to the north-east and the Sulawesi Sea to the south-east. In addition, Sabah has over 40 islands, including Malaysia's only oceanic island, Pulau Sipadan.
The State has cultivated coastal plains followed, further inland, by rugged forested hill and mountain ranges. Sabah, is, in fact, well characterised as a land of rugged topography. The State also features an enormous swampy, forest covered flood plain along the its longest river, the Kinabatangan, which is dotted with ox-bow lakes and limestone outcrops and perhaps contains the richest natural freshwater fisheries in Malaysia.
This variety of habitats is rich in wildlife including orang utan, proboscis monkey, hornbill and marine turtle, as well as plant life such as the Rafflesia, pitcher plant and a unique array of wild orchid.
Because of this rich natural heritage, the State Government has established many conservation areas so that the natural habitats of these species of plants and animals may be protected by law. The largest of these areas include the Crocker Range Park, Kinabalu Park, Danum Valley Protection Forest Reserve, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Conservation Area, Kulamba Wildlife Reserve and Tawau Hills Park. There are also a number of smaller protected forest areas that are important such as Sepilok, Gomantong and the Ulu Dusun forest near Sandakan. In addition, various island parks vital for marine conservation have also been established. These include Pulau Tiga Park, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and Turtle Islands Park.
WWF In Sabah
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia began conservation work in Sabah almost as soon as the Fund was established in 1972. As in the rest of Malaysia, WWF Malaysia's initial work in Sabah focused on the preservation of species and the conservation of habitats. WWF Malaysia's first ever project in Sabah and its first marine project in Malaysia involved studying coral reefs, when the Fund assisted the National Parks Board (now Sabah Parks) with a survey of Pulau Gaya, off Kota Kinabalu. The island is now part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park that was established in 1974.
This led to a number of other joint surveys and expeditions by the two organisations in areas such as the Klias Peninsula, Danum Valley, Balambangan Island and the Semporna Islands.
In 1979, WWF Malaysia assisted the Game Branch of the Forest Department in conducting a two-year faunal survey of Sabah, so as to collect the necessary information required for the development of wildlife conservation plans in the State. This was subsequently complemented by projects on specific species found in Sabah such as the crocodiles, rhinoceros, orang utan and water birds. The surveys studying orang utan, for example, involved estimating populations by counting nests from a helicopter.
These projects did not just study the biology of the animals but also the threats facing them and the steps needed for their conservation. Together, the various surveys with the Game Branch identified Tabin, Kulamba and Kinabatangan as key wildlife areas in Sabah. In addition, recommendations were made so as to allow the State to benefit from conservation efforts in ways such as tourism and education.
By now, in addition to habitat and species conservation, more emphasis was being placed on studying ways of sustainably using our natural resources. For example, the survey and collection of wild and cultivated citrus fruits of Sabah in 1985 helped to demonstrate the value of nontimber products from the forest.
Work by WWF Malaysia and the relevant State agencies continued on identifying protected areas in Sabah and formulating management plans for them. Additional surveys were done in Kulamba and Tabin Wildlife Reserves. For example, an aerial survey flown by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) assessed fire damage in Kulamba Wildlife Reserve.
In 1988, the Sabah Foundation in collaboration with WWF Malaysia organised a scientific expedition to survey the unexplored Maliau Basin in central Sabah. The RMAF flew over 40 scientists and staff out to this remote area by helicopter.
Towards the end of the 1980s, work had already begun on broader studies for the development of conservation areas in Sabah which focused more on land-use planning and conservation policy development.
Sabah Conservation Strategy
In 1990, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Development in Sabah commissioned WWF Malaysia to prepare the Sabah Conservation Strategy. This document was submitted to the Sabah State Government and was accepted in principle in 1992.
Focusing on wise land-use as the key to conservation and development in Sabah in the 1990s, the Strategy calls for the establishment of a variety of protected areas, as well as improved management of resources on a regional basis.
"Conservation and development are interdependent," says WWF Malaysia Project Director (Sabah) Dr Junaidi Payne. "To support the long tenn needs of all the sectors in the State, a conservation strategy for Sabah needs to be based on careful allocation of its two primary natural resources: land and forests."
The Strategy therefore proposes various actions covering land-use, land revenue, multiple use management, water catchment areas, community forests, timber production, damaged forests, illegal logging, plantation forestry, biodiversity, mining, ecotourism, land applications, Environmental Impact Assessments, coastal development and others.
For example, the Strategy calls for the preparation of a series of maps to assist in environmentally-friendly land-use planning. "Environmentally sensitive" areas also need to be identified and reserved.
"Directly and indirectly, we continue to assist the State Government and its agencies in identifying and addressing key conservation issues," says Dr Payne. "We hope that, in this way, we can play a catalytic role in helping the State meet both its development and conservation needs."
From WWF Malaysia's own perspective, this project is a continuation of the conservation strategies we have already developed for nine other State Governments in Malaysia.
The preparation and implementation of these Strategies greatly supports conservation efforts covering the entire country both at State and National levels.
Wild cats and civets may contribute to Sabah's ecological balance
WWF Malaysia aims to continue working with the relevant authorities in Sabah on species conservation but these efforts increasingly incorporate management and socio-economic aspects. For example, WWF Malaysia funded the building of a permanent research lodge for researchers in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in eastern Sabah. The Reserve is managed jointly by the Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), which has prepared a management plan for the Reserve and views the area as a longterm research site. The existence of the lodge will help support the SWD's efforts in promoting long term wildlife research and management in Tabin, an area essential for forest protection and the conservation of biological diversity in Sabah. A project conducted from 1993-1996 in and around the Reserve investigated the ecology of civets and wild cats and its application to forest management.
"The terrestrial carnivores in Borneo are a poorly known group of animals," says WWF Senior Scientific Officer Rajanathan Rajaratuam. "They are an integral part of the natural biodiversity in tropical forests and often have unique needs. There is a lack of basic information on their ecology and behavior which had hindered the formulation of sound and effective management policies for their conservation and the habitats that they reside in.
"An understanding of the structure and dynamics of these carnivore communities within the forest is important for the management of the Reserve. The study also investigated the influence of land use, such as logging and adjacent agriculture, on the ecology of these species and evaluate the influence of habitat modification."
Some tropical forest carnivores like the civets are potential seed dispersers. They may, therefore, play an important role in forest regeneration after disturbance. The study found evidence that forests represent important refuges and breeding grounds for a variety of predators that feed on rat pests in oil palm plantations.
The finding challenges the traditional idea that forest represent sources of pests on plantations. The project also provided training to the SWD personnel and a Sabahan WWF trainee Scientific Officer in wildlife research and management techniques," adds Rajan. Trainee Scientific Officer, Lim Sheh Ping was initially employed on wildlife research in Tabin but subsequently went on to conduct wildlife surveys of Bukau River in the Klias Peninsula in western Sabah. He also carried out a study of the diet of orang utans in logged forests in the Kinabatangan region.
Education and Scientific Training
WWF Malaysia regards education as a key foundation for long-term conservation. WWF Malaysia assisted the Sabah Foundation in studying the feasibility of establishing a schools' nature club scheme in Sabah. The scheme was subsequently launched in 1988 and the Sabah Nature Club now the largest non-government organisation in Malaysia, with a membership of 28,000 and active clubs in 70 schools.
From this early achievement in focusing on the importance of education in conservation, another environmental education project i currently being undertaken.
WWF Malaysia is presently working as the consultant to the Sabah Wildlife Department to compile a Development and Management Plan for K.K City Bird Sanctuary (24 ha) and Likas Lagoon (26 ha). The main aims of the project are to protect these two habitats from further urban development, and to promote wetland awareness by creating an example of a well managed urban wetland sanctuary (the sites are approximately 4 km from the centre of Kota Kinabalu). It is hoped that these sites will be able to link up with other environmentally sensitive wetland areas in Sabah, such as the Kinabatangan Floodplain.
In a recent survey nearly 80 different species of birds were seen in the K.K City Bird Sanctuary/ Likas Lagoon. The mangroves provide an important breeding ground for night herons a egrets and support a diverse aquati life. The lagoon environment also provides a resource and refuge for many bird species. Some are found in great numbers e.g. moorhens, although there are also rare resident species such as purple herons and occasionally rare visitors e.g migrating ducks.
The main focus of the K.K City Bird Sanctuary will be an environmental education centre linked to a boardwalk circuit and birdwatching hides. The boardwalk circuit will enable visitors to gain a closer view of the unique mangrove habitat and its wildlife. Due to its size (only 26 ha) and linear shape, developments at Likas Lagoon will be limited to the creation of two birdwatching areas with adjacent carparking. The vegetation at both K.K City Bird Sanctuary and Likas Lagoon will be rehabilitated with special emphasis on the former site, which has recently suffered from the activities of a squatter colony.
When the environmental education centre is established it is proposed to initiate education, tourism and research programmes from the facility. These programmes will be developed and refined by the sanctuary staff as an ongoing process.
National Ecotourism Plan
The National Ecotourism Plan is a plan prepared for the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism (MOCAT) by WWF Malaysia. Its objective is to assist the Government of Malaysia at Federal and State level in the development of Malaysia's ecotourism potential, while using it as an effective tool for conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the country. MOCAT and WWF Malaysia are working on extracting the tourism guidelines from this plan to produce booklets for wide distribution in both English and Malay. The lower Kinabatangan region in eastern Sabah was identified as a key ecotourism 'hot-spot' in this Plan. Malaysia's largest river floodplain, speckled with oxbow lakes, it is home to various animal species such as the Proboscis Monkey, Orang Utan, hornbills and rare birds such as the Oriental Darter.
Sabah Biodiversity Conservation Project
The Sabah Biodiversity Conservation Project is being undertaken to help in the conservation of plants, animals and their habitats in response to rapid changes in land use in Sabah. WWF Malaysia is providing technical assistance to the authorities in identifying potential protected areas. WWF Malaysia ia also currently assisting in other activities such as botanical surveys and environmental education, especially in the Lower Kinabatangan area.
Sabah Education and Rural Development Programme
The Sabah Education and Rural Development Programme was established by WWF Malaysia with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Development (MTED) to assist various agencies involved in education, natural resource management and rural community development During the programme from 1993 to 1996, WWF Malaysia was engaged various activities such as environmental education in school developing education resources an holding forums with local communities.
An output of this program is the production of the book "The Kinabatangan Floodplain - An Introduction" ,which is basically an information guide to the environment history, culture and natural attractions of the Kinabatangan floodplain, including tips on environmentally sensitive travel to the area.
Source : Sabah And WWF, Dr. Junaidi Payne, WWF Malaysia (Sabah), 1997.
SABAH WILDLIFE CENTRES Sabah Wildlife Centres Introduction The State Government has aslo designated tracts of land to preserve wildlife to maintain a balanced ecosystem. Wildlife centres have therefore been set up for the purpose of wildlife conservation, education and research. These centres include the following: Danum Valley Conservation Area :: Maliau Basin :: Sepilok :: Tabin Wildlife Reserve :: Sipadan Island The Danum Valley Field Centre was established in 1985 by Yayasan Sabah to provide facilities for forest research, nature education and wilderness recreation in one of Sabah's largest protected area of lowland rainforest - the 438 sq. km. Danum Valley Conservation Area. This conservation area which is world renowned is sited besides the Segama River, 85 km. west of of Lahad Datu. It lies within the Yayasan Sabah timber concession area of 9,782 sq. km. as a designated area for conservation under the Yayasan Sabah Forest Management Plan. This project is managed jointly by Yayasan Sabah, the Sabah Forest Department and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Sabah Campus) in a Danum Valley Management Committee which includes eight other agencies with interests in conservation and forest research. The Conservation Area contains a tremendous variety of plants and the full range of Sabah's lowland fauna, including such rare and endangered species as the Sumatran rhino, banteng (tembadau), elephant, clouded leopard, orang utan, probocis monkey and sun bear. These flora and fauna depend on one another for food, for pollination of flowers, dispersal of seeds, or in other ways. Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992. The Maliau Basin is one of the most spectacular and pristine natural features in Malaysia, and indeed, Southeast Asia. The Maliau Basin is almost unvisited and completely uninhabited by man. It is located in south-central Sabah, about 40 km. north of the Indonesian border at between 116° 40' - 117° 2' and 4° 40' 4° 50' N. While all of this region is rugged, remote and forested, the Maliau Basin is distinguished by its steep slope up to 1,500m. in height, making it insurmountable on foot from most directions. The size of the enclosed Basin is 390 sq. km. with a maximum diameter of 25 km. The highest point is Mt. Lotung, on the north rim which is about 1,900 m elevation. It is drained by a set of radiating tributaries of the Maliau River, one of which descends a series of waterfalls, known as the Maliau Falls. The river drains through a gorge into the Kuamut River which in turn feeds into the Kinabatangan River, the longest river in Sabah. The basin is a faunal haven for lowland animals such as wild pigs, barking deer, probocis monkey, clouded leopard, pythons and many species of birds including the rare Bulwer's Pheasant, the Crimsonheaded Partridge and the Peregine Falcon have been sighted here. Since 1970, the area has formed part of a large timber concession assigned to Yayasan Sabah. Since 1981, however, the Maliau Basin and another large area, the Danum Valley, have been designated Conservation Areas within the Foundation's long-term Forest Management Plan, to remain unlogged for purposes of wildlife conservation, education and research. Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992. The Sepilok Forest Reserve, is situated on the east coast of Sabah, about 24 km. from Sandakan town. The Reserve covers over 4,000 ha. of tropical rainforest. Within Sepilok can be found a vast array of plants and animals native to primal jungle: over 217 species of birds, about 70 species of mammals and at least 400 species of trees. Sepilok is classed as a virgin jungle reserve. Hunting and logging are not allowed. Sepilok has been set aside for scientific reserach, forestry training, conservation and puMic education and recreation. Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre is operated by the Department of Wildlife. The orang-utan rehabilitation programme is to return orangutans that have been kept illegally as pets to a natural life. The young orang-utans that are brought to Sepilok are given a second chance to lead a natural life and visitors to the centre have a good chance of watching these rare apes in their natural habitat. Other protected wild animals such as the gibbons, macaques, Malay sun bear, wild cats and even crocodiles have found freedom through this centre. Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992. The Tabin Wildlife Reserve, occupying an area of 1,205 sq. km. is situated approximately 50 km. to the northeast of Lahad Datu in the Dent Peninsula, on the east coast of Sabah. It is a conservation area of virgin tropical forest through which several rivers and streams flow into the Segama Bay. It supports a substantial population of threatened large mammal species, including the Sumatran rhino, elephants and the banteng. Other wildlife found in the area include several species of deer, bearded pigs, birds and others. The rivers act as a source of water for the wildlife as well as for a number of aquatic organisms especially fishes. Mud volcanoes and mineral water springs are also found in the area. Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992. Off Semporna, on the east coast of Sabah, is Sipadan Island. It is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising out 600 m. on a limestone pinnacle that "mushrooms" out near the surface. Sipadan is renowned the world over as probably the last frontier of diving. The underwater world of Sipadan offers the diver a breathtaking view of profuse marine life (barracudas, turtles, fish, etc.) at its best. The ever changing myriad of colours, underwater ledges, crannies, overhangs, caverns, vertical funnels enveloped by infinite varieties of corals all await the the keen diver looking for the most exciting diving spot in the world. The island was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1933 and its pristine environment has been maintained ever since. Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992.
SABAH WILDLIFE ENDANGERED SPECIES
INTRODUCTION
Haze consists of tiny elements which occurs naturally or is a result of daily human activities. Smog produced by factories and automobiles as well as fire smoke are the main contributing factors of the existence of haze. When these tiny elements gather in large amounts, spread and then float in the air, it absorbs and prevents sunlight from penetrating the Earth’s surface. This situation in turn hinders one’s sight and lowers the distance of visibility.
At one time, haze was a complicated phenomenon. It not only brings negative effect to an individual, but to a nation as well. Haze frequently occurs in the city area. Factories and an increasing number of automobiles are the main causes of haze. Besides, the bad weather has worsened the situation whereby in 1997, our country was hit by the El-Nino Phenomenon which brought prolonged dry and hot climate. Precipitation decreased and the nation faced shortage and decreasing pressure of water. Kota Marudu, Kota Belud and Kudat were among the districts in Sabah who experienced these problems.
Nevertheless the worst haze that occurred last year was due to open burning carried out by neighbouring countries. Sabah was not spared from this phenomenon. Obvious open burning in Kalimantan brought woes when the fires could not be controlled and raged a large part of the jungle there. As Kalimantain shares the border with Sabah, the residents became anxious and preventative measureas had to be taken. Smoke from the fires covered the state of Sabah and made the situation worse. Sabah had to dispatch 80 firemen from the Fire Department to Kalimantan and Indonesia to help fight the fires. These fires not only affected our country, but also brought similar disaster to Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. The Sabah Meteorological Department increased their effort severalfold to provide the Air Pullution Index (API) for accurate air quality readings to all residents.
Cited from Borneo Post (23 Sept 1997) and Daily Express (5 February 1997)
The API is used to measure the quality of air. The more the tiny elements collect, the higher the API reading. In 1997, Sabah had achieved a reading of 148 which indicates unhealthy air. Visibility dropped to below 4 kilometres. The following is an API reading table :
API | Situation |
0-50 | Good |
51-100 | Fair |
101-200 | Unhealthy |
201-300 | Very Unhealthy |
>300 | Dangerous |
Cited from Borneo Post (23 Sept 1997) and Daily Express (1 Aug 1997)
Health
The components that make up haze are carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, dust and metals which may have negative effect on one’s health especially that of the children and the elderly. Also not excluded are those who have certain diseases such as asthma, allergy, pneumonia and lung disease. Smokers and workers woking in the open air have a high risk in their health.
Daily activities
Haze prevents one from carrying out his normal activities. Residents are also advised to abstain from outdoor activities. Sabahans who are farmers and fishermen have to find alternative ways to earn their income for the time being.
The economy sector
When the haze situation becomes more difficult, it can bring about a huge change. It could strain the nation’s income if Sabah’s economy sector is affected. For example, the tourism industry, which is the most potential source of income for Sabah, is badly hit because tourists fear for their safety.
Cited from New Straits Times (4 Aug 1997, 2 Sept 1997, 25 Sept 1997)
To prevent the haze phenomenon from recurring, the government and non-government organizations have prepared guidelines that should be abided not only by Sabahans but also by all Malaysian citizens.
Open burning ban
The government bans all kinds of open burning as smoke is the main source of haze. Open burning may also cause uncontrollable fires.
Cloud seeding
Due to the El-Nino Phenomenon, dry weather and drought have hit the country. This has worsened the haze, therefore cloud seeding must be done in order to achieve precipitation. Dry weather causes a temperature increase in the clouds which in turn causes light raindrops. Very light raindrops cannot fall to Earth as rain. Silver iodine or dry ice is seeded onto the clouds to lower their temperature. Ice crystals then form and gradually increase in size. Due to the gravitational pull, these ice crystals fall to the Earth and transform into drops of water when melted by Earth’s warmer temperature. The rain helps wash the haze down to the Earth.
Green Campaign
The government has also launched the Green Campaign and encourages tree planting at home, offices, schools andshopping areas. The green trees can help absorb carbon dioxide in the air.
FLOODS IN SABAH
Introduction
Floods occur when water overflows from a river to a plain, which is normally dry, and covers it. Floods frequently occur along river banks and the flat lands. The potential for disaster is only too real for those who live in such areas. Although floods normally cause little damage and difficulty, serious floods may also happen. Huge floods can result in the loss of life and damaged property. Floods usually occur during the rainy season, exacerbated by the human activities that can lead to unpredictable flash floods after a heavy downpour.
In Sabah, floods are not a common occurrence because the average annual precipitation in the state is only 2,030 mm and is not widespread. Northern Sabah receives an annual rainfall of 2,800 mm. Between 2,000 mm and 2,800 mm of rain falls at the foothills. Lahad Datu and the south east of Crocker Range receive the least rainfall of less than 2,000 mm. The West and East Coasts of Sabah receive the most rainfall. Floods usually occur after a downpour in the low plains. Affected areas include Beaufort, Penampang, Papar and Tuaran.
Several factors determine the occurrence of a flood. Among these factors are :
Continuous rainfall
Non-stop rainfall can cause floods. At the low lands, rain water flows to the river. A river full of rainwater then overflows onto the low lands, thus causing floods.
Urbanization
Many areas are modernized by urbanization. Earth from the hills is used to flatten the low lands. Many small river tributaries are covered with soil to turn them into bases for building construction.
Such activities are some of the major factors in floods. River tributaries and valleys which used to flow with water are now covered up with soil. When the rain falls, waters from the hills flow to the low-lying areas, causing them to accumulate. Gradually more waters accumulate, causing flash floods to occur.
River erosion
Two factors explain the erosion of a river, namely, natural river erosion and erosion as a result of unmanaged human wastes.
Erosion occurs naturally when, during rainfall, water in the river flows rapidly thereby eroding the river banks. Eventually the river banks collapse, forming a silt on the base of the river. Gradually the river becomes shallower. Unmanaged human and industrial wastes can also lead to shallower rivers and the restriction of riverflow. Shallow rivers caused by these two types of erosion cannot support waterfill, thereby resulting in floods.
Forest barriers
The forest is home to many species of animals and plants. It is also a stabilizer for the ecosystem that regulates the Earth’s temperature. Forests help absorb between 2% and 20% of the rain water. Waters that are absorbed are then channeled to the trees via the roots. Dew is released into the air by condensation, hence maintaining the natural moisture. Forest logging causes rain water to flow to the rivers without being absorbed and the rivers may not be able to support waterfill, thereby resulting in floods.
Unplanned drainage system
Floods in the town areas are due to the inadequate drainage system, which were too small and shallow to support a deluge during a heavy rainfall. Hence, flash floods occur.
Year 1996
Storm Greg resulted in a huge flood in Keningau at the northeastern part of Sabah resulting in the loss of many lives on 26 December 1996. Many of those who died were Indonesians working in that area. The Liawan, Pampang, Sinagang and Bayayo Rivers were flooded. Other affected areas included Tuaran, Papar, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tawau and Sandakan.
Year 1997
A flash flood hit the state capital and Penampang on 17 May 1997 after a heavy rain that began falling at around 3.00p.m. lasted till 8.00 pm in the same evening. This resulted in anxious moments and difficulties for many motorists as they were stuck in traffic jams in and around the town area. Many areas were exposed to the flood, including Putatan, Penampang, Luyang, Likas, Inanam and Menggatal. This flood occurred due to the imperfect drainage system in the district. Sandakan was also hit by flood as road construction had resulted in plugged drains. Many housing estates were affected and much property was damaged.
Year 1999
The worst ever flood to hit Sabah happened on 6th January 1999. More than 2,000 residents in seven districts were evacuated to temporary shelters. The heavy rain fell non-stop for ten hours resulting in a huge flood. Penampang was worst hit by the flood. According to reports, 57 areas in seven districts were affected, the Penampang district leading with 22 affected areas, followed by Kota Kinabalu with 12 areas, Papar 10, Kota Belud 7, Tuaran 5, Beaufort 3 and Keningau 3.
Floods can bring a negative impact, including the loss of life. Some of the negative effects of floods are :
Destruction of agricultural plantations
Crops die in the prolonged accumulation of flood waters in the plantation areas. Rubber, cocoa, palm oil and rice are among the agricultural crops which cannot survive in such conditions. Such damage is a loss for farmers.
Destruction of property
A torrential flood can sink and wash away homes as well as damage various other property such as electrical goods, vehicles and the like. This is a loss for residents.
Diseases
The worst effect of floods is on one’s health. Floods can cause the accumulation of human waste in the flood waters. These flood waters can spread to other areas, resulting in diseases such as cholera and malaria.
Deaths
Floods often result in a loss of life especially in low-lying areas and along river banks.
Loss to Government
Floods damage public property such as roads, buildings, and telephone and electrical infrastructures. Floods can also bring about many kinds of diseases. The responsibility of repairing the damages and subsidizing medical equipment must be borne by the government. All these involve high maintenance costs. The government must also supply basic necessities such as food, drinking water and medicine, and set up temporary shelters for flood victims.
Among the various methods used to prevent floods are :
Proper drainage system
Drains which have been shallowed due to silts must be cleaned constantly. Clean drains ensure proper water irrigation.
River deepening project
Most floods occur because of shallow rivers. Rivers which used to able to irrigate large amounts of water are now incapable of doing so. This is caused by silts and waste dumping. The solution to this problem is to deepen the rivers by removing all the mud and dirt in the river.
Preserving forests
Forest overlogging near the river banks can cause land erosion. This effect is similar to logging at the hillsides. Therefore, forests must be preserved to overcome floods. Forests are excellent natural barriers with which to absorb rain waters. They can also function as a sponge whereby they absorb the rain waters and then slowly release the waters to the rivers. They can filter earthly fluids into clean water. The forests can absorb 20% of the rain water. This water in turn is released into the atmosphere by condensation. This is the only way to reduce rain water.
Controlling human activities
Flash floods occur especially in town areas because of waste and industrial waste dumping into the rivers and drains. The society must be made aware of this negative act and stopped from continuing it by holding green campaigns. Certain statutory bodies should be made responsible for the cleanliness of the rivers and preventing them from becoming dumping areas.
Floods are unavoidable when it comes to rain. However, they are preventable and ways must carried out to ensure that floods do not become a serious problem. People should also be made aware of this natural disaster.
SITES FOR SIGHTS OF SABAH
There are many interesting places to go to in
One of the best places to go is of course the Kinabalu Parks and, of course. Mount Kinabalu. The sights here are awesome, especially when you view the mountain during a clear morning.
Kinabalu Parks is two hours drive away from Kota Kinabalu the State Capital. It covers 754 sq. km. It is blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna. I especially enjoy this place because I can walk leisurely along the trails and enjoy nature. The cool air here is also invigorating. But if you are an adventurous person who likes challenges, the mountain is there for you to climb all 13,455 meters of it.
The other place you should really go to is Simpang Mengayau in Kudat. This place is beautiful in a very opposite way to Kinabalu Parks. The beach there is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen, and believe me I have been to a few beaches in my lifetime. The blueness of the sea seemed to reach right up to the white sandy beach.
The waves that crash on the sand are white, just like pieces of pristine soft cloth, then they gently draw back, just to return for another caress.
The most beautiful part of that area is the beach. The crashing waves that caresses the sand are awesome. After the beach you will see the jutting mass of land, and that is Simpang Mengayau. Boulders and rocks surround this mass of land therefore creating a shallow area almost around it. The formations are interesting, with some looking like waffles while others were like beehives.
Right on the tip, you will be able to see a commemoration of an event held there recently, when it-was officially declared the Tip of Borneo. The globe stands proud near the Malaysian flag. The path down the hill towards the granite mass on the sea has been paved and now sports a stair. This is commendable, as people have been known to slip quite easily down when it was still just grass.
If you want to go to the East Coast of the State, and happen to go through Lahad Datu, you should check out Tabin Wildlife Conservation area. If you decide to take the plane, it will take you 45 minutes to the airport there and an hour drive into the reserve. If you opt to drive, which I usually do, it will take you six to seven hours from Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital.
If you want to stay there for a couple of days, you should check out the Tabin Wildlife Resort. It is located about 30 kilometres from Lahad Datu town. The road towards it undulates through oil palm plantations. I enjoy the sights of oil palm trees standing like sentinels along the dirt road, and the buzz of humanity in small hamlets along the way, but I cannot help thinking that the palm trees are like intruders into the ancient habitants.
It must be mentioned here that the reserve, 120,500 hectares of it, was declared a wildlife reserve because of the large numbers of wildlife and birds inhabiting its jungle. Many of them as believed be endemic to this area while others are endangered. There are some signs along the way of animal crossings, like the pygmy elephants, the Sumatran rhino and Tembadau, but during my visit there, I did not see any, although I heard and saw various types of birds and insects.
Be that as it may, the resort is a beautiful place. It is located on a scenic spot, nestled gigantic trees and a bubbling stream, which is called the
The Kinabatangan area, such as Sukau and Bilit are also the ideal place to visit if you want outdoorsy activities. There are lodges there for you to stay. The management will only be too happy to plan out activities for you. This include jungle treks, bird watch and night walk. If you are lucky you will see an elephant or two, hundreds of macaques and a few families of Proboscis Monkeys. You can either stay with the people who are participants of the Homestay programme or you can stay with lodges.
Southwest of
As for Kuala Penyu, the best time to visit this area is during their Sago Palm Festival. The festival is very interesting and informative. You will be able to sample various types of fruits and also foodstuff derived from Sago.
During the fruit season you should visit Sipitang. This is the time where you can sample the `King of Fruits' durian cheaply. When the durian season comes, it literally floods the market there. This could be a good time to pamper your tourists. There are durians being sold there at the moment, although not plenty, but you can still bring your tourists there to challenge their palate!
There are many things to see and do in Kota Kinabalu and
HISTORY OF SABAH
The Kingdom of Brunei
Before the 16 century, the area we now know as Sabah, Brunei and Sarawak centred around the kingdom of Brunei. In this region the kingdom of Brunei was also the centre of trade with China. This region was in tum controlled by two great empires of that period; first by the Sri Vijayan of Sumatra and then by the Majapahit of Java. However, early in the 15 century, the Malacca empire under Parameswara spread its influence and took over the trade of Brunei. Through its traders, Islam spread to Brunei by the end of the 15 century. Leadership of the Islamic faith passed to the Brunei Sultans after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese in 1511. Under Sultan Bolkiah, the kingdom of Brunei extended its influence as far north as Luzon and Sulu, and south and west of Borneo.
Except for the Europeans, other foreigners who have had dealings with Sabah or Borneo left no written records of their activities in the region. The indigenous peoples of Borneo have no written records except oral history and traditions.
The Chinese appeared to have had trade and diplomatic ties with Borneo as early as 600 A.D. The Brunei Annals recorded the existence of a Chinese province in the Kinabatangan area. Archaeological evidence from ceramics unearthed in Borneo revealed that for centuries the Chinese had barter-traded their ceramic wares for spices.
The Coming of the Europeans
1521: Pigafetta, chronicler of Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Brunei and was received with great pomp and royalty.
1526: The Portuguese under Menezes visited Brunei.
1577: The Spaniards conquered Philipines; also attacked Brunei; the Sultanate of Sulu was brought under the Spaniards.
1609: The Dutch set up a trading post in Southem Borneo. 1619 :The Dutch set up a trading post in Batavia (Jakarta) in Java.
1658 : Sultan of Sulu given the north east coast of Borneo by the Sultan of Brunei in retum for his help in settling a civil war dispute between the Sultan Abdul Mubin and Pengeran Bongsu. Intemal quarrelling in the Brunei Sultanate was one of the factors that led to the decline of the empire.
1665 : The first Englishman to visit Borneo - Captain Cowley.
Balembangan
In 1761, Alexander Dalrymple, an officer of the British East India Company at Madras, India concluded an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu which permitted him to set up a trading post in the North Borneo region. He chose Balembangan island, about twenty miles to the north of Kudat town. In 1763, Dalrymple hoisted the British flag on Balembangan and renamed the island 'Felicia'. Another of ficer, John Herbert was sent to build a settlement in Balembangan. The settlement was doomed to failure from the start. Maladministration and piracy brought the trading post to a fiery end in 1775. An attempt was made to revive it in 1803, this time by the Governor-General of India, Lord Arthur Wellesley through his appointed officer, Robert J. Farquhar, Resident at Amboina. This time the attempt was to tum Balembangan into a military station. Again, it was a failure and it was finally abandoned in November 1805.
British attention was then increasingly fumed towards other regions of the Malay Archipelago.
Labuan
British interest in North Borneo was revived 40 years later in Labuan, an island situated north west of Borneo. In 1844, James Brooke approached the Sultan of Brunei regarding the cession of Labuan island to be used by the British as a coaling base, to act against piracy and to increase trade.
On 18 December 1846, a treaty was signed in which the Sultan ceded in perpetuity Labuan and its islets to the British Crown. Brooke became the first Govemor of Labuan and her Majesty's Consul-General in Borneo. The Deputy Governor was William Napier, Hugh Low the Colonial Secretary and Spencer St. John, Brooke's private secretary. Labuan did not live up to expectations as a mini-Singapore or Penang as the founders had hoped. An enervating climate, a malaria prone region and lack of basic amenities were not conducive for growth. Its chequered history can be seen in its administration which changed hands several times. In 1890, Labuan came to be administered by the British North Borneo Chartered Company, in 1907 it was placed under the government of the Straits Settlements. After the War, Labuan became part of the colony of North Borneo and most recently, Labuan became part of the Federal Territory of Malaysia on 16 April 1984.
The American Trading Company and the British North Borneo Chartered Company
After the disappointment with Labuan, British interest in North Borneo waned until 1881, when a commercial enterprise, the British North Borneo Chartered Company (BNBCC), began administering the country. Their presence was however preceded briefly by American influence and interest.
In 1865, the American Consul of Brunei, Claude Lee Moses obtained a 10-year lease from the Sultan of Brunei on North Borneo. He then sold it to the American Trading Company owned by J.W. Torrey, T.B. Harris and some Chinese merchants. Torrey chose Kimanis, an area south west of North Borneo as his base, and began a settlement there, naming it 'Ellena'. Attempts to find financal backing for the settlement were futile and the settlement was thus abandoned.
With the imminent termination of the territorial lease at hand, Torrey managed to sell his rights to the Austrian Consul in Hong Kong, Baron Von Overbeck. Overbeck managed to get 10-year renewal of the lease from the Tumonggong (Temenggong) of Brunei. To finance his plan for North Borneo, Overbeck found financial backers in the Dent brothers (Alfred and Edward). Later he, together with Count Montgelas of the Austro-Hungarian Embassy in London and A.B. Mitford, a politician transferred their rights to Alfred Dent.
In 1881, Dent fommed the British North Borneo Provisional Association Ltd. On the 1 November, the British Crown officially granted a Royal Charter to the Association. In 1882, the British North Borneo Chartered Company was fommed. It took over all the rights of the Provisional Association. Sir Rutherford Alcock became the first President and Alfred Dent the Managing Director.
In 1888, North Borneo became a British protectorate, that is, British would defend it if it were attacked, making North Borneo a British sphere of influence.
The Company's rule in North Borneo had the greatest impact on the development of the region. A system of indirect rule was established in the administration of North Borneo. The rule was generally peaceful except for small pockets of resistance, the most serious being the Mat Salleh War from 1894-1900 and the Rundum resistance by the Muruts in 1915.
The BNBCC effectively ruled up to 1942, after more than 60 years in Sabah, when the Second World War rudely interrupted on peaceful North Borneo. Japanese forces landed in Labuan on 1 January and occupied Sabah until she was liberated by the Ninth Division Australian Imperial Forces (A.I.F) in 1945. After the Second World War, North Borneo was administered by the British Military Administration until civil govemment was restored on July 15, 1946.
Crown Colony
In 1946, Sabah was placed under the British Crown as the BNBCC could not afford to rebuild Sabah, after the devastation of the War. The destruction of the capital Sandakan by allied bombing was so complete that Jesselton was chosen as the altemative post-war capital - it has remained so to this day. The colonial system of administration after the War was not dissimilar to the Chartered Company era. The rule was generally peaceful. Reconstruction and development of the country were the main focus of the administrators.
Independence
The population was generally placid and it was not until the 1960s that political conciousness emerged. The winds of change - the tide of independence being experienced by other countries had arrived in Sabah. It began with an announcement in 1961 by the Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman, regarding the formation of the Federation of Malaysia which were to include Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Singapore. Malaysia was formally established, without Brunei, on 16 September 1963 and North Borneo's name was changed to Sabah. Preceding this, North Borneo obtained self-govemment from the British on 31 August 1963. However by 1965, Singapore was out of the Federation.
As a state within a Federation many changes occurred, administratively, politically, socially, etc. The pace of development was hastened and Sabah entered a new and challenging era when she became part of the Federation of Malaysia.
Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992.
THE PEOPLE OF SABAH
The people of Sabah are varied in their respective cultural background. The indigenous population is made up of some 30 groups using more than 50 indigenous languages and not less than 80 dialects.
Dusun/Kadazan
The largest ethnic group is the Dusun/Kadazan which comprise about one third of the population. They are traditionally farmers practising wet rice or hill rice cultivation with some hunting and riverine fishing. The various subgroups within the Dusun/Kadazan group which include the Kadazan of Penampang and Papar, the Lotud, the Rungus and other subgroups from the Tempasuk, Tambunan, Ranau and other districts, share a common belief system with variations in customs and practice. This ethnic group uses the Kadazandusun language as their mother tongue.
Murut
The Muruts inhabit the interior and south-eastern parts of Sabah and the territory straddling the Kalimantan and Sarawak border. They are mostly shifting cultivators, and hunters with some riverine fishing.
Bajau and Kindred groups
The Bajau and kindred groups have settled on Sabah's coasts for several hundred years and have been classified as part of the indigenous population. On the west coast, they are farmers as well as fishermen, and are well known for their expert horsemanship. On the east coast, they are traditionally fishermen.
Other
Other recently settled indigenous people in the state include the Suluks, various southern Filipino ethnic groups, the Lundayehs and Ibans from Sarawak and Kalimantan, and others of Malay racial stock from Indonesia. While some of these indigenous people still maintain their traditional way of life, many others have gone into public life as white and blue collar workers, businessmen, civil servants and politicians.
Non-Indigenous
The Chinese form the largest non-indigenous group in Sabah. They have settled in Sabah over the past century and rank the largest ethnic group after the Dusun/Kadazan.The ethnic groups are distinguished from each other by their respective customs and practices as well as their material culture especially costumes, styles and use of personal omaments.
Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992.
PAK MUSA HISTORY
Pak Musa Background/History
Kg. Bambangan
Membakut
One of Beaufort District most colorful historical personality is Pak Musa. According to history, Pak Musa originally from Paitan . After 7 years opposing the British, he surrendered and was ordered to move to another area . He decided to move to the southern interior by going through Kota Kinabalu from Paitan using a British ship. During his search for a place to settle down at the southern interior, Pak Musa stayed at a few places including Papar before settling down at Membakut in a place called Kuala Sungai Angitan. This place today is known Kg Bambangan Membakut, taking its name from a the bambangan tree.
Pak Musa's entourage included his wife, Mualas, Sulaiman, Musit Selair and Absar . Seven years later, he went back to Paitan to bring his other kin to Bambangan . Among those who followed Pak Musa back to Bambangan were Nailih Mandut, Tikon Mandut, Kuloi, Tutung, Majir Panjang, Amboi, Diah, Ower, Atong, Arat Maning and Salleh Tabatu . All of them settled down in Kg Bambangan, even today their descendants still live there. Pak Musa was believed to have an extraordinary power during the time opposing the British and Japanese . A story goes that Pak Musa could jump across a 200 feet wide river at Sungai Kanibungan, Sandakan . Another tale about Pak Musa in Membakut was that he once stopped a moving train. He had a child with a black tongue but the child passed away. Pak Musa was believed to have disappeared and until today no one knows where he is.
Pak Musa’s Hall (Dewan Pak Musa) in Beaufort was named after one of the town most famous resident. The suggestion to the hall was raised up by the late Orang Tua Udin, the village head of Kampung Bambangan and was agreed to by a vote from the committee.
Note : This history/background information including Pak Musa’s picture from KK Jabah bin Amat, the present Ketua Kampung Bambangan .
MAT SALLEH
MAT SALLEH
It has been mentioned often in reports of the Chartered Company that the Mat Salleh Rebellion was the major disturbance in its 60-year administration. It challenged the authority of the British rulers who had come in unannounced, taking charge of a people scattered over 75,000 sq. km (29,000 sq. miles) of land. Indeed it would seem that the North Borneo Company was for many years quietly implementing all that was good for the people when all of a sudden this rebel, Mat Salleh, went on a rampage and upset the peace and order of the land.
Sadly, records available on the causes of the rebellion were written mostly by the administrators of the time. Mat Salleh's side of the story were downgraded and efforts to analyse his behaviour had been few.
What we have now are records written by the people Mat Salleh fought against. For many years school children of Sabah had been taught to deplore Mat Salleh as a trouble maker.'
When nationalistic feelings in the Sabahan were aroused after Independence, emotions ran high, discrediting all that had been said about the "rebel". The Sabahan was called upon to revere this personality. Mat Salleh was no longer looked upon as a rebel but a hero. Revolutionary or freedom fighter, precious little evidence can be studied of Mat Salleh's thoughts, his fears and his reasons for killing and plundering in defiance of the British administration.
What is clear is that Mat Salleh was no ordinary man. He fought, he killed, and he was killed in the end.
During the first few years of Chartered Company rule Sabah was governed by keen and capable men. Men like W.H. Treacher and W. Pryer, M. Crocker, A.E. Davies and C.V. Creagh opened up the country and dealt with local administration anned only with dedication and zeal. Following the state's progress with equal earnestness were men like Alfred Dent and Sir Rutherford Alcock from the London Court of Directors.
In 1893 Sabah's financial position weakened. This resulted from overspending by the early administrators when the Company policy of stringent spending had not been enforced. Added to this was the general poor world economy.
In the following year W.C. Cowie, a Scottish adventurer, (who, prior to this was involved in gun-running activities for the Sulu authorities) was elected to the Court of Directors in London as the managing director. He decided to do away with the idea of just running an administration that was not going to yield any profits. In London a group of shareholders rallied behind him in -his ambition for dividends.
Dent, the founder, opposing Cowie's ideas, resigned. So did Alcock and Creagh. Cowie, within a short time had Leicester P. Beaufort (a lawyer with no experience of the east nor of administration) appointed as governor.'
Referring to Cowie and Beaufort K.G. Tregonning said,
"Between them the two nearly ruined North Borneo", . . . . . Beaufort the most incompetent Governor North Borneo ever acquired and who in the manner of nonentities, had a town named after him. . . . ."
Thinking he could expand the state's weakening economy Cowie launched two grand projects: a railway line from Brunei Bay to Cowie Harbour and a telegraphic line from Labuan to Sandakan. Both these projects cost the Chartered Company a great deal of money. To help pay for these two projects new taxes were imposed, among these was a new tax on rice, a staple food of many of the people. "The duty on rice added about 5% to its cost, and it produced a loud outcry from the Chinese, through their Advisory Council, and from the planters, through their Association. In 1898 they combined and with the native chiefs sent a strong petition to London, listing grievances, protesting at the increased charges, and particularly at the tax on rice. This was one of the irritants which undoubtedly influenced supporters of Mat Salleh, as rice was the staple food of everyone".' Poll-tax which had been collected earlier now caused unrest because of the manner of the native chiefs that Beaufort employed agents to collect this tax.
It was Cowie's belief, from the start of Mat Salleh's antigovernment activities, that the Bajau leader should be made to come to terms with the Chartered Company. He felt it illadvised to hunt down Mat Salleh for punishment. So strongly did Cowie think about this that he personally came to Sabah to negotiate with Mat Salleh in 1898.
After a personal meeting with Mat Salleh Cowie verbally agreed to grant a pardon for Mat Salleh and his followers on condition they stopped fighting and to make their homes in Tambunan. Tambunan at the time was not under Chartered Company control. The Tambunan people would therefore come under his authority. Cowie also promised him a present (an unspecified sum of money and help towards Mat Salleh's pilgrimage to Mecca) if he did not cause trouble in the next 12 months. Then he would also be allowed to return to the coast.
Although Cowie reasoned that these were fair terms of submission many of the Sabah administrators thought these concessions were outrageous.
Among those who resigned in protest were G. Hewett, the West Coast Resident, Captain T.M. Reddie, the Commandant of Police, G. Ormsby, the North Keppel District Officer, P. Wise and one or two other west coast officers.
Also, from his handling of the Mat Salleh negotiations, Cowie lost the support of the Court of Directors in London. They initially felt it absurd to settle the matter by negotion. Further, Cowie in Sabah had failed in communicating to London the exact lines taken by the government in pursuing Mat Salleh. His reports of Mat Salleh's exploits and the stands taken by the government were unclear.
On the other hand there were many in Sabah who felt, quite unwisely, that Cowie had succeeded in making Mat Salleh come to terms with the government. These people felt Mat Salleh had been let off too lightly. The British North Borneo Herald leader of May 2, 1898 ran:
"Both the Government and the shareholders of the British North Borneo Company may be congratulated upon the sub mission of Mat Salleh a general sense of relief that an initating source of worry has been done away with will be generally felt, even by those who would have dealt with him in a harsher manner. It will be noted that certain conditions he tried to make were peremptorily negatived and that the prestige of the Government has not suffered in the hands of Mr. Cowie or Goverrmor to the ex-rebel".
When the terms of submission were drawn up for Mat Salleh's signature however, the Bajau felt he had been double-crossed. The verbal agreement reached was that he and his followers were all to be pardoned. The written agreement stated that some of his followers who were escaped prisoners were not pardoned. For this he immediately started building a fort in Tambunan.
Cowie blamed Beaufort for this blunder. In return Beaufort criticised Cowie for the concession.
When the Chartered Company assumed control over Sabah certain areas still remained part of Brunei's jurisdiction. These included independent rivers like the Mengkabong, Menggatal, Gantisan and Api-Api. Eventually the Company tried to bring under control many of these areas in its efforts for expansion.
From neighbouring Sarawak Rajah Charles Brooke issued strong objections to this. He had entertained hopes of inheriting the then declining Brunei Sultanate. In addition Rajah Brooke felt the advent of the Chartered Company a threat to his kingdom.
With the development of Mat Salleh's agitation, Chartered Company officials felt it imperative to get control of these areas and police them.
Coupled with this and Cowie's wish to personally negotiate with Mat Salleh the two met for the first time on April 22, 1898. Menggatal came under the Chartered Company control on the same day.
Minimum spending of any kind by the Chartered Company authorities was the order of the day. This even extended to the police force. In 1882 there were only about 50 men in the force. The majority of these were Sikhs sent by Hugh Low from Perak to suppress the Padas Damit rebellion in 1888. Inspector De Fontaine, in 1883, found the force, "scattered around the east and west coast stations totally undisciplined, with arms of different types and six different uniforms……..
The "Dyaks" referred to in the police force elsewhere in this chapter were the natives of Sarawak during the Rajah Brooke days. They were later known as lbans. "Dyaks" was a term loosely used by the Sarawak Malays and the Europeans. The lbans in their customary ways of wanderlust found jobs in the Chartered Company service and soon the "native" police employed were the lbans.
According to Ian Black ., a historian, "The Court preferred that police be recruited locally, both for reasons of expense and to avoid any criticism that imported aliens were to be used to subdue a native population .......
However, none of the Sabahan natives seemed overly-keen to join the force.
At the time Governor W.H. Treacher sent the Commandant of the British North Borneo Constabulary, A.M. Harrington, to India to recruit for police persormel.' This was also the practice of the Federated Malay States. The London Court of Directors were incensed at this kind of unnecessary expenditure and ordered Harrington back to Sabah. However, he had already enlisted 100 Sikhs, Sepoys and Somalis from Singapore, Perak and Penang.
Only when Mat Salleh's activities intensified and the authorities were sent hither and thither trying to hunt him down did they realise how weak its force was. Consequently, Governor Beaufort appealed to the Straits Settlement Government for troops and arms. Sir Charles Mitchell, the governor there, refused as Cowie was not much admired by Straits Settlements authorities." His successor, Sir James Alexander Swettenham was equally critical of the Chartered Company's rule."
In April 1898 when Cowie offered Mat Salleh to live in the Tambunan Valley and the right to lead the people there the area at the time had not come under Chartered Company rule.
In June the same year Cowie opened a station in Tambunan. Mat Salleh was given the message that he should work side by side with F.W. Fraser, the Keningau District Officer.
Understandably Mat Salleh viewed this as a breach of faith. Once more he and his followers went about raiding and killing.
The Inanam river was another area which was still under the control of the Brunei authorities. In 1896 Beaufort went to Brunei to buy the rights on customs, taxation and police control from the Brunei Sultan." The Inanam Bajaus became resentful over what they felt unwanted control by the British. Thus when Mat Salleh was looking for supporters for the raid on Gaya Island in 1897 they went readily enough. Subsequently the Chartered Company sent a force and burnt down all the Inanam villages.
The supernatural powers possessed by Mat Salleh and his principal wife, Dayang Bandang, are legendary.
Mat Salleh was the son of Datu Balu, a Sulu chief who controlled part of the Labuk and Sugut area prior to the Chartered Company days. His mother was Bajau and he spent part of his childhood in Inanam and Gaya Island.
He married Dayang Bandang, a Sulu princess, from the Court of the Sultan of Sulu. Mat Salleh himself was a pangeran. It has been claimed that Dayang Bandang never set foot on ground but was carried everywhere in a litter. There were other claims too that she was a witch.
Interestingly, when Mat Salleh replied to Cowie's request for a meeting between the two he said I say truly I very much wish to meet Tuan Cowie but my wife, Dayang Bandang, is afraid of the police who are near Tambunan"."
Cowie in his opening negotiations with Mat Salleh wrote to the latter mentioning that Dayang Bandang's father was a great friend of his." Cowie also said that he had known Mat Salleh's wife when she was a child.
The first records of Mat Salleh were in 1894 when he became a trader on the Sugut river. He had a band of followers even then. The first clash that Mat Salleh had with the authorities was when two lbans were killed by Mat Salleh's men in the same year.
Mat Salleh has been described as a tall, slim and pockmarked man. His personality, by all accounts, was a commanding one. Mat Salleh had been rated with above-average intelligence, a military affairs genius and it has also been said that as a youth he had been able to throw a buffalo by its horns. Other tales of Mat Salleh say that his mouth produced flames, his parang a lighting flash and rice scattered by him became wasps.
The pangeran also had a taste for fine clothes.
In his diary describing his first meeting with Mat Salleh
Cowie wrote of the latter's striking appearance. He was dressed in gold cap, smart green embroidered tunic, and Sulu embroidered trousers with no waistband. He wore no arms. His manner and appearance made me aware that I was face to face with the Rob Roy of British North Borneo, the notorious Mat Salleh, whom I at once saluted with a 'tabek' ". "
Among his own people he commanded great respect. When he found it necessary to increase his forces he easily picked up supporters enroute to his points of attack. A belief was also held by the people that Mat Salleh had performed the kebal rite. For this, the person who wants to become kebal goes into the deep jungle in his war gear and fasts for three days and three nights. He prays to the spirits of his ancestors. If successful, on his third night, his ancestors will bestow him with special knowledge. The person will then become invulnerable to weapons.
Mat Salleh's plan of undermining British rule in Sabah consisted of raiding and retreating to a fort. If the fort did not prove safe enough he would slip into the jungle. This was a method commonly used by warring chiefs in Borneo. His geography of Sabah was astounding, looking at the many slips he gave the authorites. He would attack at one point, disappear and surface again at the other end of the country.
But Mat Salleh was no ordinary chief. His forts were huge solid affairs, his legion of supporters swelled to large numbers when necessary.
Below is a description of Mat Salleh's Ranau fort by G. Hewett the West Coast Resident who led the expedition in destroying it."
"The fort was a most extraordinary place and without the guns would have been absolutely impregnable. The buildings covered three sides of a square, the fourth side being closed by a stone wall. The whole square was 20m by 18 (22 yards by 20) and the fact that over 200 shells burst inside will give some idea of its strength, the enemy still remaining in possession. The walls of the building were of stone, 2.5m (8 feet) thick with numerous large bamboos built into them for loop holes. The whole fort was surrounded with three bamboo fences with the twigs left on and the ground between was simply covered with sudah (bamboo spikes). On the outer walls all the loopholes were slanted so as to bear directly on the outer bamboo fence, but there were also places between the big stones on the top of the walls for firing through. On the side of the square the loopholes were also very cunningly arranged to repel internal attack. There was neither exit nor entrance to the buildings and had an attacking force, no matter how strong, succeeded in reaching the middle of the square they would have been no nearer capturing the place than if they had stayed away, and they would have been shot down like sheep by an invisible foe without the possibility of returning the fire.
"The houses were originally built some 2m (7 feet) or so off the ground, the stone walls being supported on heavy timbers. Subsequently the lower part was walled in and the ground inside excavated to afford a refuge. Fortunately they had left a narrow slit about 15 cm (6 inches) wide between the upper and lower walls and the shells had penetrated through this, the only possible spot, into their underground refuges.
"The outer enclosure which was carried by assault on the13th December proved to be almost a circle some 72 or 82m (80 or 90 yards) in diameter and closely packed with houses which entirely shut out all view of the rear of the strong hold, making it impossible to shell it effectively and the object of the assault at the first attack was not the capture of the stronghold but to expose its rear by destroying all the houses in the enclosure. In this we were entirely successful and had the assault not taken place the fort would still be in the hands of Mat Salleh".
During the troubled years that the Chartered Company encountered with Mat Salleh's exploits numerous punitive expeditions were sent into the wilds of Sabah to pursue him.
One of these expeditions was led by Raffles Flint, who in 1890, was in involved in a bloody massacre, killing between 130 to 140 Muruts at the Pegan River in the interior.19 This was in retaliation to the alleged murder of Walter Flint, Raffles' brother, by the Muruts there.
Mat Salleh's death, it has been said, resulted from a fluke shot from a maxim bullet during the seige of his Tambunan fort.
On February 1, 1900 a Bajau woman, known only as Niuk, on trying to escape from the fort, when apprehended said that Mat Salleh had been killed the day before, at noon.
Niuk said Mat Salleh's corpse had been shrouded in white for burial in the fort. Mat Salleh's body was the only one accorded this treatment.
Five other bodies were dug up before Mat Salleh's corpse was found. Fraser, the Keningau District Officer, who had met Mat Salleh on many occasions identified his body. This was confirmed by a Murut chief, "Kansanat," several Tiawan chiefs and Tuaran Dusuns. Mat Salleh's death must have been instantaneous as he had been shot through the left temple, the bullet was carried to the back of his head.
From this fort 31 prisoners were taken. They included three of Mat Salleh's wives, a son and a daughter." Dayang Bandang was sent back to the Court of the Sultan of Sulu.
Source : Sabah - The First 100 Years by Cecilia Leong, Pencetakan Nan Yang Muda Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur1982
THE FUNK BROTHERS
THE FUNK BROTHERS
THE HEROES OF SANDAKAN
Among the Heroes of Sandakan were the three Funk Brothers, Johnny, Alexander and Paddy. They were members of the North Borneo Volunteer Force in pre-war Sandakan. The Funks' Family home was at Mile 7, which was near to the site of the Agriculture Experimental Station where the Allied Prisoners of War (POWs) were interned since July 1942.
The proximity of the two places allowed the brothers to establish secret contacts with the POWs which saw them providing help to the POWs and served as conduits between the POWs and the civilian hospital in Sandakan.
When their activities were betrayed to the Japanese in September 1943, the brothers were arrested and were severely punished by the Japanese Army, resulting in Alex being executed while Johnny and Paddy suffered great physical and psychological torture. This is their story.
The Funks were a well-known family in pre-War Sandakan. The family had been loyal servants of the Chartered Company Administration since their arrival in Sabah in the late 19th century.
The patriarch of the family, John S. Funk, was believed to have been a direct descendant of Hong Xiuquan (Hung Hsiu Chuan or Fung Siew Chuan) of the Taiping Rebellion in China, 1850-1864.
John S. Funk's father, Thomas Paul Funk had arrived in Kudat as a political fugitive. However, the family was able to make do and prospered. John S. Funk, the son, was educated in both Chinese and English.
He later joined the Chartered Company as a clerk before rising to the rank of a Deputy Assistant District Officer in the administration in 1924.
He was only the second Chinese to be appointed to the position which at that time, was considered the pinnacle of career for any non-European personnel.
Johnny and his brothers received their education from St. Mary's school in Sandakan. Upon the completion of his studies, Johnny went to work in the Public Works Department (PWD) as a supervisor. Paddy later also joined the Public Works Department as an overseer.
Although of Chinese origins, the younger Funks were very westernized. Being government servants, the brothers were also members of Sandakan's social circle.
Like many government servants of the day, they were also members of the North Borneo Volunteer Force.
The force was set up in 1938, and there was a unit of Company strength stationed in the Sandakan and responsible for the defense of east Coast.
According to Johnny Funk, the brothers first came into contact with the POWs in September 1942. Alex, who was the youngest of the three was the one who had made the initial contact with Captain Lionel Matthews, the POWs officer who was also the intelligence officer in the camp.
Matthews has requested assistance in the way of food, medicine and radio parts. With radio parts supplied by Johnny and others, a radio was constructed by the Australian POWs and was put into operation.
Apart from supplying radio parts, the Funk Brothers were also instrumental in establishing links between the POWs and Dr. V. Stookes.
Stookes was a World War I pilot who worked as an estate doctor on the Kinabatangan River. Stookes was also an accomplished flyer.
With Stookes' help, more medicine were made available to the POWs. It was Alex who took on the task of collecting the medicine from Stookes before passing over to the POWs.
Among those who were involved in helping the POWs was Wong Joo Ming.
Wong as an overseer at the airstrip which the POWs were building alongside the locals. One day in 1942, Wong Joo Ming came to Johnny confiding with him that he was harbouring a POWs escapee.
The POW was Sergeant W. Wallace. Johnny Fund decided to help and provided Wallace with food and money. Wallace later managed to escape to Tawi Tawi where he joined the Filipino guerrillas.
In January 1943, Johnny was approached by Ernesto Lagan, who was a police detective then working under the Japanese.
Lagan wanted to obtain a plan of the former quarters of the Europeans now in Japanese hands. Apparently, this was required in connection with a general escape was attempted.
On another occasion, Johnny and Alex went to the POWs Camp and met up with Corporal Abin of the North Borneo Constabulary. They were trying to smuggle a Lee Enfield .303 rifle into the camp. The rifle was earlier issued to Alex Funk by the Volunteer Force but Alex did not surrender it to the armoury after the Japanese had landed. Alex also supplied Captain Matthews with a .38 revolver. This was the main offence which eventually later resulted in Alex being executed by the Japanese.
Even as the contacts between the POWs and the locals (who were known in most literature as Underground) had increased, so was the Japanese surveillance.
For some time since early 1943 the Japanese had suspected the existence of a radio in the POWs camp.
They began to investigate. In April 1943, the Japanese arrested Dr. Snooke's wife for allegedly helping to spread news obtained from her husband. After undergoing interrogation and torture, she was released as they could find no evidence against her.
Johnny Funk was later arrested, accused for the same offence and for providing radio parts to the POWs. Johnny was tortured and interrogated for a week before being released.
After his release, Johnny Funk and his brothers, along with others decided to be more careful as they were clearly under suspicion.
In July 1943, Johnny, Alex and a friend, Felix Aczona went to work in a timber camp under Japanese command at Kemansi (near Beluran).
In August, they were all arrested and taken to the Kempeitai Headquarters to be interrogated.
Various methods were used to extract information from them, including torture. In his postwar statement, Johnny Funk recounted all the torturing he received which had severe effect upon him.
Among the torture methods was an effort to make him kneel on a plank specially carved like spikes, they then placed a heavy plank behind the knees and two Japanese got on each end of it and worked it like a 'see saw'. Johnny was subjected to this treatment for an hour which had badly lacerated his knees.
Together with Johnny and his brothers were 102 person being arrested by the Japanese over the issue of locals assisting the POWs. There were 55 civilians and 47 POWs. They were transferred to Kuching on 25 October 1943.
Even during imprisonment, locals like Johnny Funk were still risking their lives to help the POWs who were also being brought to Kuching.
They began to slip food and rinks to the POWs who were not getting anything.
After four months of continued interrogations and torturing, the trials finally took place and sentences were passed. Both Johnny and Paddy received four years of prison sentence while Alex was condemned to death along with eight others.
After being imprisoned for nine months, Johnny and Paddy were put to work outside the prison and this remained so until the War had ended.
Both returned to Sandakan after recuperating in Labuan. Both however, had suffered terribly in the hands of the Japanese interrogators. Johnny suffered a damaged jaw. Paddy also suffered physically and both were in need of long term treatment.
Since their departure from Sandakan in October 1943, the Funk brothers' parents and family members were not informed of their whereabouts or fate.
It was only after Johnny and Paddy Funk had returned to Sandakan that the family was informed of Alex's death.
When the Australian Government decided to reward the locals for their assistance to the POWs, Johnny and Paddy Funk turned down the financial reward.
Instead, they requested to be given proper medical treatment to correct the physical disability and damage caused by the tortures.
Both were sent to Singapore where they received treatment and returned to Sandakan.
After the war, Johnny and Alex returned to their old jobs. Both also played important roles in the Ex-Volunteer Force Association, with Paddy serving as the Secretary for several years.
Johnny was also active in getting a memorial erected at Kuching for those who were executed by the Japanese, which included his brother, Alex. In 1952, Johnny Funk and his family moved to Australia where he worked for the Australian Army. He passed away in 1997.
It is fortunate that the story of Johnny Funk and his brothers, Paddy and Alex are better known compared to many others who were involved with the Underground movement in assisting the POWs.
It is from their stories as well as from the accounts of the Australian POWs that bits and pieces of information relating to others are found.
It has been more than sixty years since the Funk Brothers were first involved with the POWs. It is important for their stories and that of their Underground colleagues to be retold so that the present generation will know that there were heroes who lived among us.
By : Dr. Danny Wong
Sabahan Associate Professor
Deparment of History, University of Malaya.
Taken from : Daily Express. 20th September 2004, pg 6.
SABAH PRESENT & FORMER CHIEF MINISTERS
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