Sabah

Self-governing state of the federation of Malaysia, occupying northeast Borneo, forming (with Sarawak) East Malaysia; area 73,613 sq km/28,415 sq mi; population (2000 est) 2,449,400. The capital is Kota Kinabalu. The state has considerable mineral wealth, including tin, antimony, diamonds, iron, and sulphur, but development has been hindered by the lack of an effective transport system. In many areas navigable rivers, such as the rivers Labuk, Padas, and Kinabatangan, offer the only means of transport. Of these the Kinabatangan, along which shallow-draft vessels are able to navigate 300 km/186 mi inland, is the most important. Since the early 20th century plantation agriculture has produced commercial crops of tobacco, coconuts, palm oil, and rubber. Industries include sawmilling and rubber processing.