Kuala Penyu

Kuala Penyu
District and Town

Kuala Penyu town centre.
Kuala Penyu
Coordinates: 5°34′N 115°36′E / 5.567°N 115.600°E / 5.567; 115.600Coordinates: 5°34′N 115°36′E / 5.567°N 115.600°E / 5.567; 115.600
Country  Malaysia
State  Sabah
Division Interior
Population (2010)
 • Total 18,958
Website www.sabah.gov.my/pd.kp

Kuala Penyu is a town located in Interior Division, Sabah, Malaysia.

Its population was estimated to be around 18,958 in 2010,[1] with ethnic Dusun people of the Dusun Tatana subgroup forming the largest single ethnic group.

An history inscription of the origin of Kuala Penyu name near the Sitompok River.

History

Kuala Penyu was declared as full district in the year 1975 and established as focal point for administrative and business centre. This district call as Kuala Penyu - derived from a group stones forming types of "Turtle" or call penyu situated at river bank or Kuala (in Malay). In early 60's this area was popularly known as "sitompok" whereby it refers to a group of stones.

Geography

A geographic view of Kuala Penyu.

Kuala Penyu is located on the Klias Peninsula, which was once originally covered with mangrove swamp forests. Much of these mangrove swamps were destroyed by land developers that later realised that the soils were much too acidic to support palm oils. It is administratively divided into three parts namely, Sitompok, Bundu and Menumbok. The district shares a land border with Beaufort to the west and a maritime border with the Federal Territory of Labuan to the east.

Demographics

A mosque in Kuala Penyu.

According to general unrecorded consensus, most Kuala Penyuan are farmers with some younger generations are migrating to towns. It is widely diversified with unrecorded consensus has it that majority are embracing or practicing Christianity or Islam, while some are still sticking to animism. As a part of clarification on ethnic group in Kuala Penyu, it's fair enough to mention that every one of them specifically by percentage base on previous official record through consensus report year 2010 was stated 18,958 peoples, where the most races as follow; ethnic Dusun people of the Dusun Tatana and Bisaya sub-groups, Bruneian Malay, Kedayan, Bajau, Chinese, Indian and others.

Tourism

It is one of the gateways to Pulau Tiga National Park, where Survivor: Borneo was set. Kuala Penyu is also famous for its beaches, especially Tempurung beach, Sawangan beach and Sungai Labuan Waterfront. Sungai Labuan, as the name implies was taken from the name of a river flowing in the heart of Kuala Penyu.

"Pesta Rumbia" is a special celebration for "Sago" trees which are only planted widely in the district. This festive season targets to promote "sago" as traditional food and multi purpose product with full of nutrition.

In addition, Kuala Penyu district also hosts a minor seaport or jetty and a major gateway to the island destination of Labuan through the town of Menumbok where ro-ro ferries depart and arrive for the daily Labuan-Sabah ferry crossings.

References

  1. ↑ "Total population by ethnic group, administrative district and state, Malaysia, 2010" (PDF). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
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