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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.

Statistics of Sabah

Population and Housing Census 2000

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