Tenom

Tenom
District and Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese 丹南

Tenom town centre.

Seal
Tenom
Coordinates: 5°08′0″N 115°57′0″E / 5.13333°N 115.95000°E / 5.13333; 115.95000
Country  Malaysia
State  Sabah
Division Interior
Area
 • Total 2,238 km2 (864 sq mi)
Population (2010)
 • Total 55,553
 • Density 25/km2 (64/sq mi)
Website www.sabah.gov.my/md.tnm www.sabah.gov.my/pd.tnm

Tenom is a town located within the eponymous district in Interior Division, Sabah, Malaysia. In the early days of British colonial rule in Malaysia, the town was called Fort Birch. The town is considered the unofficial capital of the Murut community, whose most important festival, the annual Pesta Kalimaran (Kalimaran Festival), is held in the town. It is also the main gateway to other areas within the Murut heartland.

Demographics

Statue of Ontoros Antanom.

In 2010, the population of Tenom was estimated to be around 55,553.[1] The principal ethnic groups are the Murut (60%), Chinese (20%), Kadazan-Dusun (8%), and Lun Bawang/Lun Dayeh (5%).

Tenom is one of the oldest Chinese settlements in Sabah. The majority of Chinese residents in the town are Hakka Chinese, many of whom are descended from settlers who migrated from Longchuan in Guangdong, China. These settlers, who were mostly agriculturalists, were drawn to Tenom due to its rich soil.

In the centre of Tenom is a statue to Ontoros Antonom (1885–1915), who in 1915 led the Muruts against British colonists in the Rundum village of Tenom. The incident is now known as the Rundum Revolt.

Economy

Agriculture

See also: Tenom coffee

The fertile land in Tenom and its surrounding area has made it primarily an agricultural area. The main agriculture sources in the area are rubber while soy beans, maize, vegetables, cocoa and coffee became the second contributor to the Tenom economy.[2]

Tourism

Among the primary tourist attractions in the district are the Sabah Agricultural Park (Lagud Seberang Agriculture Research Station), the Tenom Orchid Centre and the Murut Cultural Centre. The town is also known in the tourism industry for whitewater rafting on the Padas River and the coffee factory.

Tenom is the final stop on the North Borneo Railway, which originates in Kota Kinabalu.

References

  1. ↑ "Total population by ethnic group, administrative district and state, Malaysia, 2010" (PDF). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Background (Agriculture)". Tenom District Council. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.

Coordinates: 5°08′N 115°57′E / 5.133°N 115.950°E / 5.133; 115.950

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