102-647: Sandakan ( Malaysian: [ˈsandaˈkan] ) formerly known at various times as Elopura , is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah , Malaysia . It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu . It is located on the Sandakan Peninsula and east coast of the state in the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo . In 2010,
204-719: A successful northward expedition to break Tondo 's monopoly as a regional entrepôt of Chinese trade and established Maynila (Selurong) across the Pasig delta, ruled by his heirs as a satellite. Bruneian influence spread elsewhere around Manila Bay, present-day Batangas, and coastal Mindoro through closer trade and political relations, with a growing overseas Kapampangan-Tagalog population based in Brunei and beyond in Malacca in various professions as traders, sailors, shipbuilders, mercenaries, governors, and slaves. The rising power of
306-535: A British protectorate, which lasted until 1984, when Brunei gained independence. The sultanate was divided into three traditional land systems known as kerajaan (crown property), kuripan (official property) and tulin (hereditary private property). Arab travelers who explored the Malay Archipelago referred to Brunei as "Ka Selatanga," located to the east of Java and southwest of Luzon . Other Arab explorers called it "Zabaj" or "Zabaji," indicating
408-416: A city built on water, with a hot climate which experienced tidal changes twice a day. They noted the presence of peacocks , monkeys, and talking cockatoos , which sported feathers in white, red, and yellow. The region was rich in natural resources, producing camphor, gold, spices, nutmeg , and sandalwood. The Arab travelers also recognised Brunei as a significant kingdom within the Malay Archipelago, boasting
510-629: A distinct Sabahan creole . The Malay language in Sandakan are different from the Malay language in the west coast which resembles Brunei Malay . In Sandakan, this language has been influenced by many words from the Suluk language . As Sandakan had also been dominated by the Hakka and Cantonese Chinese, Hakka and Cantonese widely spoken, while today Mandarin, as well as a lesser extent Cantonese dominates as
612-639: A land known for producing camphor. Zabaj or Zabaji is said to be situated near the Thousand Islands in the Philippines. Ahmad ibn Majid , a notable Arab navigator who sailed through the Malay Archipelago, referred to Zabaj or Zabaji as "Barni," which corresponds to Brunei. Additionally, the South China Sea, which they navigated en route to China, was also named "Laut Barni" or "Brunei Sea." The Arab explorers described Brunei's capital as
714-481: A new court complex was built in mile 7. The new court complex was completed and started operating in 2003. It was then being launch in 2005. After the new court complex started operating, the old court was then being left completely abandoned. Another court for the Sharia law was also located in the town. The district police headquarters is located at Lebuh Empat, along with the town police station located not far from
816-666: A plan, later known as the "Colonial Office Reconstruction and Development Plan for North Borneo: 1948–1955”. This plan established the Sandakan Fisheries Department in April 1948. As a first step towards the development of Sandakan's fishing industry, the Crown Colony devised the "Young Working Plan" through the "Colonial Development and Welfare Scheme". Through this plan, the British administration were given
918-780: A retinue of 150 family members. After two months in China, he fell ill and died at the age of 28 in October 1408, with his remains interred on the slopes of a hill named Shih-tzu Kang in Nanking . To fulfill Sultan Abdul Majid's wishes, the Chinese emperor appointed Hsia-wang, the Sultan's son, as the King of Brunei. After spending a year in China, Hsia-wang returned to Brunei, escorted by Chinese officials led by Chong Chien. During Hsia-wang’s absence,
1020-470: A strong military presence. Its naval bases were strategically located at crucial river estuaries, commanded by a Pengiran and his followers, who were responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the people and the state. Most of Brunei's population resided around Brunei Bay, engaging in various occupations such as fishing and farming, while others became skilled sailors, brave warriors, and successful traders. According to Arab explorers, Brunei's port
1122-588: A subject of Java . The Javanese manuscript Nagarakretagama , written by Prapanca in 1365, mentioned Barune as the vassal state of Majapahit , which had to make an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor . After Majapahit invaded Brunei, its subject kingdoms in the Philippines which were formally under its control, rebelled against Brunei, chief of which was the former kingdom of Sulu which besieged and pillaged it. Its (Brunei's) own empire gone, it would appear to have shrunk to its heartland by Brunei bay. It now paid an annual tribute of 40 kati of camphor to
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#17327866816491224-672: Is Henry Idol, who took over from Benedict Asmat in February 2023. The area under the jurisdiction of the Sandakan District covers the town area (46 square miles), half-town area (56 square miles), rural areas and islands (773 square miles) with all the total area are 875 square miles. Sandakan is one of the six districts that is involved in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), a dusk to dawn sea curfew which had been enforced since 19 July 2014 by
1326-574: Is a crocodile farm which houses about 1,000 crocodiles of various sizes. The main shopping area in Sandakan is the Harbour Mall. Launched in 2003, it is located in Sandakan's new central business district and built on a bay of reclaimed land . It is part of the Sandakan Harbour Square and considered as the first modern shopping mall in the town. In 2014, a new mall project with 341 units of store has been launched and will become
1428-646: Is also present in the town called the Yu Yuan Secondary School. Several cultural venues are located in Sandakan. The Sandakan Heritage Museum , situated at the Lebuh Empat Road, is the main museum of Sandakan. The museum is located on the right-hand side of the ground and on the first floor of the Wisma Warisan Building which is next to the municipal building. Besides that, a cultural festival known as Sandakan Festival
1530-942: Is celebrated once a year in the town, after having been introduced in 2000 by the Sandakan Municipal Council. Another museum in Sandakan is the Agnes Keith House which is located on top of the hill along Istana Street. The house is known as the former home to Harry Keith and his wife Agnes Newton Keith . Other historical attractions include the Chartered Company Memorial , Chong Tain Vun Memorial, Japanese Bunker, Malaysia Fountain, Marian Hill, Mill Hill Dam, North Borneo Scout Movement Memorial, Sandakan Japanese Cemetery , Sandakan Liberation Monument, Sandakan Massacre Memorial , Sandakan Memorial Park , Sandakan War Memorial and
1632-594: Is demonstrated by the fact that it was referred to by names like P'oli and P'oni during the Liang , Sui , Tang , Song , and Ming dynasties . In the Temburong District in particular, the term P'oni is still used today. In addition, the family of Awang Alak Betatar is thought to have established the old monarchy in Garang before moving to Kota Batu in 1397 AD. In the 14th century, Brunei seems to have been
1734-437: Is first mentioned in Chinese historical records around 518 AD , situated on an island southeast of Canton , with a maritime journey from Canton to Brunei taking approximately 60 days. According to these records, Brunei was a Hindu - Buddhist kingdom at the time, governing 136 regions. In 518 AD, the King of Brunei sent envoys to China to strengthen diplomatic relations, bringing gifts like gold mats and other local products for
1836-701: Is known for its eco-tourism centres, such as the orangutan rehabilitation station in Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre, the Turtle Islands Park, the Kinabatangan River and the Gomantong Caves which are famous for their edible bird's nest . Due to Sandakan geographical proximity to Southern Philippines, there is also a barter trade connection and Sandakan is considered as a transit point for food entering
1938-626: Is located along North Street (Jalan Utara), is the main and second largest public hospital in Sabah after the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with 400 beds. Built in 1951, it is also become the first modern and one of the important hospital in Sabah. In 2008, a private hospital was proposed to be built at the North Street. The Fook Kuin Medical Centre would be the largest private hospital in Sabah with 276 beds surpassing
2040-521: Is one of only four orangutan sanctuaries in the world. Other conservation areas are the Malaysian Turtle Islands where many turtles lay their eggs on the islands. They cover an area of 1,740 hectares which includes the surrounding reefs and seas. The islands are also ideal for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is also another wildlife conservation and research centre here and it aims to improve
2142-711: The Aceh region in Sumatra , is claimed by local authorities to refer to Brunei as well. A renegade group from the kingdom of Funan in Cambodia found themselves in Borneo after escaping the Khmer invasion, which is where Brunei's historical roots lie. In honor of its ruler, Raja Kamrun, the early Arab explorers called this new country Kamrun. This name changed throughout time to become Muja, Zabaj, and finally Brunei. The history of
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#17327866816492244-599: The Brunei Empire , was a Malay sultanate, centered around Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Brunei became a sovereign state around the 15th century, when it substantially expanded after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese , extending throughout coastal areas of Borneo and the Philippines, before it declined in the 17th and 18th centuries. It became a British protectorate in
2346-557: The Chinese Emperor . Five years later, in 523 AD, the King sent another delegation with additional gifts, including seashells, perfumes, and other local goods. Around 669 AD, the King of Brunei once again dispatched envoys to China, this time alongside Siamese representatives. During this period, Brunei was referred to in Chinese history as P'olo. The records also note that P'oli or P'olo is equivalent to P'oni (Brunei), located on an island southwest of Chuan-chou . The travel time
2448-729: The Dutch East Indies . Only six Australian soldiers survived from this camp, all after escaping. Sandakan was completely destroyed both by bombing from Allied forces and by the Japanese occupation. At the end of the war, the British North Borneo Company returned to administer the town but were unable to finance the costs of reconstruction. They gave control of North Borneo to the British Crown on 15 July 1946. The new colonial government chose to move
2550-575: The German Empire , Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy were unsuccessful, he went into business with Alfred Dent in 1877. In 1877 the Sultan of Brunei agreed to lease land to Overbeck, and in 1878 the Sultanate of Sulu similarly ceded their rights to land in north-eastern Borneo. Dent succeeded in obtaining British government backing for his North Borneo Company in 1881. Sandakan became
2652-470: The Government of Malaysia has launched a major crackdown on illegal immigrants. All the internal roads linking different parts of the town are generally state roads constructed and maintained by the state's Public Works Department , while the local council (Sandakan Municipal Council) oversees the housing estates roads. Currently, most roads in Sandakan are undergoing major upgrades due to issues like
2754-783: The Kapuas River delta in West Kalimantan . The Malay Sultanate of Sambas in West Kalimantan and the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines in particular developed dynastic relations with the royal house of Brunei. Even the Muslim Rajahs of Manila, Rajah Matanda , for example had family-links with the Brunei Sultanate. The Malay sultans of Pontianak , Samarinda and Banjarmasin , treated
2856-468: The Köppen climate classification . The climate is relatively hot and wet with average shade temperature about 32 °C, with around 32 °C at noon falling to around 27 °C at night. The town sees precipitation throughout the year, with a tendency for October to February to be the wettest months, while April is the driest month. Its mean rainfall varies from 2184 mm to 3988 mm. According to
2958-639: The Pan Borneo Highway ) Regular bus services with minivans and taxis also can be found. There are three bus terminals operating in the town such as the Buses to Sepilok, Local Bus Terminal and the Long Distance Bus Terminal. The long-distance bus terminal is located about 4 km north of the town while the local bus connects with the centre of the town. Sandakan Airport (SA) (ICAO Code : WBKS) provides flights linking
3060-560: The Sabah State Legislative Assembly , including elections. The town is usually referred as "Sandakan" nowadays instead of "Elopura" or "Little Hong Kong". However, efforts have been made to develop Sandakan so that the town is fitting to have the name of "Little Hong Kong" again. Like most of Borneo, this area was once under the control of the Bruneian Empire in the 15th century before being ceded to
3162-700: The Sultanate of Sulu between the 17th and 18th centuries as a gift for helping the Bruneian forces during the Brunei Civil War . Since the 18th century, Sandakan start to be ruled by the Sultanate of Sulu. In 1855, when Spanish power began to expand in the Philippine archipelago, they began to restrict the trade of foreign nations with Sulu by establishing a port in Zamboanga and issuing a ruling which declared that ships wanting to engage in trade with
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3264-711: The Sulu Archipelago must first visit the Spanish port. In 1860, the Sultanate of Sulu became important to the British as their archipelago could allow the British to dominate trade routes from Singapore to Mainland China . But in 1864, William Frederick Schuck, a German ex-member for the German consular service arrived in Sulu and met Sultan Jamal ul-Azam, who encouraged him to remain in Jolo . Schuck associated himself with
3366-625: The Tawau division , as well as ethnic Malays native to the town originating from these ethnic groups such as the Bugis , Javanese and Banjarese peoples) (22,244), Kadazan-Dusun (16,616), Indian (974), Murut and Lundayeh (519) and others (8,754). The 2020 Census showed a growth in the municipal population to 439,050. Most of the non-Malaysian citizens are from the southern Philippines. The Chinese population here are equal proportions of mostly Cantonese (descendants of seafaring traders who settled in
3468-772: The William Pryer Memorial . The oldest religious buildings are the St. Mary's Cathedral , Parish of St. Michael's and All Angels , the Sam Sing Kung Temple and the Jamek Mosque , which was opened by a Muslim cloth merchant from India, known as Damsah, in 1890. A number of leisure spots and conservation areas are available around Sandakan. The Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is a place where orphaned or injured orangutans are brought to be rehabilitated to return to forest life. Established in 1964, it
3570-535: The Yuan dynasty . Chinese rulers of the period prioritized war and territory conquest. Under Kublai Khan 's leadership, a military expedition headed by General Su P'e was sent to the Malay Archipelago in 1292 AD with the goal of attacking many nations, including Brunei. But the invading army were effectively repulsed by Brunei's soldiers. Feeling embarrassed to go back home, the vanquished Chinese troops asked
3672-408: The 19th century. The limited evidence from contemporary sources poses a challenge in understanding the history of the early Bruneian Sultanate. No local or indigenous sources exist to provide evidence for this. As a result, Chinese texts have been relied on to construct the history of early Brunei. Boni in Chinese sources most likely refers to Western Borneo , while Poli (婆利), probably located in
3774-600: The British, German and the Spanish to recognise Spanish sovereignty over the Sulu Archipelago, in return for the Spanish not intervening in British affairs in northern Borneo. Sandakan began to prosper when the British North Borneo Company (BNBC) started to build a new settlement in 1879, developing it into an active commercial and trading centre as well as making it the main administrative centre for North Borneo. The British also encouraged
3876-480: The Chinese are mainly Buddhists, Taoist and some Christians. There is also a small number of Hindus , Sikhs , Animists , and secularists. The large group of non-citizens have been identified as a majority Muslim, and there are some Christian Filipino women who converted to Islam to marry Muslim Filipinos here. Like in Kota Kinabalu, the first wave of these immigrants arrived in the late 15th century during
3978-567: The East Coast of North Borneo then) and also Hakka (mostly descended from voluntary migrants and Taiping Rebellion refugees), who arrived during the British period and had their original settlements before in the town which is now known as the Chinese Farm River Village . The Bajau, Suluk and Malays are majority Muslims , Kadazan-Dusuns and Muruts mainly practice Christianity with some of them having become Muslims while
4080-518: The Emperor's assistance in notifying the Champa government to ensure the safety of Brunei's ships stranded there due to storms. Since that time, the relationship between Brunei and China became increasingly close and friendly. Known as the " Maritime Silk Road " or " spice road ," Brunei's commerce networks were essential in linking it to other areas. As evidence of Brunei's early engagement in foreign affairs , King Hiang-ta of P'oni dispatched an embassy to China in 977 AD. Brunei's historical significance
4182-471: The King of Brunei for permission to reside in the Kinabatangan valley, which is part of Sabah and is governed by Brunei. They founded a hamlet there when the King accepted their request. According to the histories of the Ming dynasty, in 1370 AD, a Chinese Emperor's ambassador on his way to Java made a halt in Brunei. The King of Brunei was titled Mahamosa, which is taken from the Chinese pronunciation of Sultan Muhammad Shah , according to this mission, which
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4284-481: The Majapahit Emperor. But worse was to follow. 1369 marks the absolute nadir of Brunei's fortunes, for in that year its former subjects the Suluks put it to sack. So utterly helpless were the Bruneis, that they had to be rescued by the Majapahit fleet, which drove out the intruders, who departed laden with enormous booty and taking the two precious pearls. After the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, Portuguese merchants traded regularly with Brunei from 1530 and described
4386-437: The Malaysian Census in 2010, the whole town municipality's area had a total population of 396,290. Non-Malaysian citizens form the majority of the town population with 144,840 people followed by other Bumiputras (100,245), Chinese (63,201), Bajau / Suluk (38,897), Malay ( Bruneian Malays as well as Kedayans who are migrants from the West Coast and their descendants together with ethnic Cocos Malay internal migrants from
4488-434: The Malaysian government to repel attacks from militant groups in the Southern Philippines. Sandakan is located on the eastern coast of Sabah facing the Sulu Sea , with the town is known as one of the port towns in Malaysia. The town is located approximately 1,900 kilometres from the Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur , 28 kilometres from the international border with the Philippines and 319 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu ,
4590-400: The Sabah Medical Centre with 134 beds in Kota Kinabalu once it finished in 2011. The Sandakan Regional Library is located in the town and is one of three regional libraries in Sabah, the other in Keningau and Tawau . All these libraries are operated by the Sabah State Library department. There are many government or state schools in and around the town. The first primary school in the town
4692-517: The Singapore-German trading firm of Schomburg and began working in the interest of the Sultan and Datu Majenji, who was an overlord in the island of Tawi-Tawi . While he continued his voyage to Celebes , he decided to open his first headquarters at Jolo. Large quantities of arms, opium , textiles and tobacco from Singapore were shipped to Tawi-Tawi in exchange for slaves from the Sultanate. In November 1871, Spanish gunboats bombarded Samal villages in Tawi-Tawi islands and blockaded Jolo. As war in
4794-410: The Southern Philippines. The state government has been assisting traders to improve their trading system and providing infrastructure facilities. Sandakan main industrial zones are basically based on three areas such as the Kamunting area known for its oil depots , edible oil refinery and glue factories. In Batu Sapi, a shipyard , fertiliser oxygen gas and wood-based factories are situated. Since 2012,
4896-438: The Spanish colonisation, while the others arrived in the early 1970s because of the troubles in southern Philippines . They consist of migrant workers, with many of them being naturalised as Malaysian citizens. However, there are still many who live without proper documentation as illegal immigrants in the town with their own illegal settlement. Like the national language , the people of Sandakan mainly speak Malay , with
4998-811: The State Public Works Department (PWD) has undertaking three projects to upgrade roads in Sandakan. A grand specialised industrial park, Majulah Industrial Centre have also started operating in 2015. The proposed Seguntor industrial area consists of 1,950 hectares (4,833 acres) is originally an agricultural area and the area is now in the process to be re-zoning into an industrial area. 2,531 acres will be for wood-based industries while another 2,302 will be used for general industries. At present, 55 wood-based factories have been approved, of which 35 has been into operation. While another total of 340 hectares area for general industries and 30 hectares for service industries are located in various parts of Sandakan. But in recent years, many businessmen have shifted their operations away from
5100-409: The Sultan of Brunei as their leader. The true nature of Brunei's relationship with other Malay sultanates of coastal Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago is still a subject of study, as to whether it was a vassal state, an alliance, or just a ceremonial relationship. Other regional polities also exercised their influence upon these sultanates. The Sultanate of Banjar (present-day Banjarmasin), for example,
5202-408: The Sultanate believe Schuck was connected with the German government , thus the Sultanate granted Schuck an area of land in the Sandakan Bay to establish a trading port to monopolise the rattan trade in the northeast coast where Schuck could operate freely without the Spanish blockade. The intervention of Germans on the Sulu issue caught the British' attention and made them suspicious, especially when
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#17327866816495304-486: The Sultanate had asked for protection from them. Schuck then established warehouses and residences in the Sandakan Bay, along with the arrival of two steamers under the German flag and it served as a base for the running of gunpowder and firearms. When another German warship Hertha visited Sandakan Bay, its commander described the activity in Kampung Jerman : ... during our stay, two small steamers under German flag, ostensibly coming from Labuan, ran in; also third, of about
5406-409: The Sulu Archipelago. The Sultanate of Sulu awarded a German consular service ex-member a piece of land in the Sandakan Bay to seek protection from Germany. In 1878, the Sultanate sold north-eastern Borneo to an Austro-Hungarian consul who later left the territory to a British colonial merchant. The German presence over the area raised concern among the British. As a result, a protocol was signed between
5508-411: The administrative capital of North Borneo was moved to Jesselton . As part of the 1948–1955 Colonial Office Reconstruction and Development Plan, the crown colony government began to develop the fishing industry in Sandakan. Sandakan is one of the main ports for oil, tobacco, coffee, sago , and timber exports. Other economic activities include fishing, ship building, eco-tourism, and manufacturing. Among
5610-406: The airport is being upgraded and expanded to accommodate additional travellers. There is a ferry terminal which connects the town with some parts in the Southern Philippines such as Zamboanga City, the Sulu Archipelago and Tawi-Tawi . The state government have tried to proposed a new ferry terminal in the town to attract more tourist particularly from the Philippines and also from Indonesia . But
5712-401: The animal welfare and rehabilitation of the Malayan sun bear . Another attraction is the Gomantong Caves , which is home to hundreds of thousands of swifts who build their nests high on cave walls and roofs. Other than swifts, the caves are also inhabited by millions of bats . Furthermore, the Sandakan Orchid House has a collection of rare orchids. Along the Labuk Road from Sandakan, there
5814-538: The area was also impacted by Srivijaya , from which rulers and their supporters fled to Brunei after Raja Sailendra conquered it. When these migrants took over Kamrun, the native population was forced to flee into the interior, which may have resulted in the rise of the Murut and Bisaya peoples . Brunei is an ancient kingdom located in the Malay Archipelago, alongside other historical kingdoms such as Palembang Tua , Tarumanagara , Perlak , Pasai , Malacca , Gersik, and Demak . The kingdom, known as P'oli or Brunei,
5916-425: The arrival of the western powers such as the Spanish in the Philippines , the Dutch in southern Borneo and the British in Labuan , Sarawak and North Borneo . By 1725, Brunei had many of its supply routes to the Sultanate of Sulu. In 1888, Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin appealed to the British to stop further encroachment. In the same year, the British signed a "Treaty of Protection" and made Brunei
6018-415: The authority of the British North Borneo Company, and all-out warfare prevented only by the presence of Royal Navy ships offshore. To resolve the situation, Pryer imported policemen from British India and Singapore . His first contingent of police was made up of Indian Sikhs with a large body stature. The Indian police were probably from the Sepoy Company in India and were generally called 'Sipai' by
6120-401: The capital of North Borneo in 1884, replacing Kudat . As the capital of North Borneo, Sandakan become an active commercial and trading centre. The main trading partners were Hong Kong and Singapore. Many Hong Kong traders eventually settled in Sandakan and in time the town was called the 'Little Hong Kong of North Borneo'. The Cowie settlement was accidentally burnt down on 15 June 1879 and
6222-403: The capital of Brunei as surrounded by a stone wall . During the rule of Bolkiah , the fifth sultan, the sultanate controlled the coastal areas of northwest Borneo (present-day Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah ) and reached Seludong (present-day Manila ) and the Sulu Archipelago , including parts of the island of Mindanao . In the 16th century, the Brunei's influence extended as far as
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#17327866816496324-407: The capital of North Borneo to Jesselton instead of rebuilding it as the cost of reconstruction was higher due to the damage. Although Sandakan was no longer the administrative capital, it still remained as the "economic capital" with its port activities related to the export of timber and other agricultural products in the east coast. To improve the facilities, the Crown Colony administration designed
6426-402: The capital of Sabah. The district itself is surrounded by Beluran (known as Labuk-Sugut District before) and Kinabatangan district. Not far from the town, there are the three Malaysian Turtle Islands, Selingaan, Gulisaan and Bakkungan Kechil. The nearest islands to the town are Berhala , Duyong, Nunuyan Darat, Nunuyan Laut, and Bai island . Sandakan has a tropical rainforest climate under
6528-415: The city had an estimated population of 157,330 while the overall municipal area had a total population of 396,290. The population of the municipal area had increased to 439,050 by the 2020 Census. Before the founding of Sandakan, Sulu Archipelago was the source of dispute between Spain and the Sultanate of Sulu for economic dominance in the region. By 1864, Spain had blockaded the Sultanate possessions in
6630-520: The court beside the Wisma Sandakan. Other police station can be found throughout the district such as in KM52, Ulu Dusun and in Seguntor. Police substations (Pondok Polis) are found in Sg. Manila, Suan Lamba, Sibuga and Kim Fong BT4 areas, and the Sandakan Prison is located in the town centre. There are one public hospital , eight public health clinics , one child and mother health clinic, eight village clinics, three mobile clinics and two 1Malaysia clinics in Sandakan. The Duchess of Kent Hospital , which
6732-437: The development of the town since their immigration in the late 19th century. The immigrants to Sandakan were farmers and labourers while some of them worked as businessmen and entrepreneurs. In the modern days, Sandakan have been poised to become one of Sabah business hubs. The town itself is one of Sabah's major port, other than in Kota Kinabalu, Sepanggar Bay, Tawau, Lahad Datu , Kudat , Semporna and Kunak . Sandakan district
6834-412: The east coast Bajau, their language has similarities with the Sama language in the Philippines and also borrowed many words from the Suluk language which is different from the west coast Bajau who had been influenced by the Malayic languages of Brunei Malay. During the British period, Sandakan grew quickly as one of the largest British settlements on the east coast of North Borneo including having been
6936-425: The emperor of his father's passing. By 1405, he dispatched another envoy to request formal recognition from the emperor, who was pleased to receive this honour. In the same year, the emperor sent an official delegation led by Cheng Ho to Brunei, bringing royal seals and gifts as a gesture of goodwill. During Abdul Majid's rule, Brunei's ties with China grew stronger. In August 1408, the Sultan traveled to China with
7038-407: The emperor, including 100 turtle shells , camphor , five pieces of agarwood , three trays of sandalwood , raksamala wood , and six elephant tusks . The letter included three main points: to inform the Emperor about P'u-lu-shieh’s arrival in Brunei and his assistance in repairing the damaged ship; to send envoys to the Emperor as representatives, offering gifts on behalf of the king; and to request
7140-497: The envoy's logical arguments. Alongside the Chinese ambassador returning from Java in 1371, his delegation set ship for China. Under the reign of Hongwu , the relationship between Brunei and China strengthened further. In 1375, a royal prince from China named Ong Sum Ping visited Brunei and eventually married Princess Ratna Dewi, the daughter of Muhammad Shah, earning the title Pengiran Maharaja Lela . Ong's brother also married Pengiran Bendahara Pateh Berbai . In 1397, during
7242-623: The former capital of the territory. It grew rapidly due to the export activities as a port town . The port is important for palm oil , tobacco, cocoa , coffee, manila hemp and sago exports. In the mid-1930s, the export of tropical timber from Sandakan recorded a level of 180,000 cubic metres which made the town as the world's largest exporter of hardwood . Many Sandakan wood logs are now found in Beijing 's Temple of Heaven . Sandakan also enjoyed modern developments such as telegraph service to London and paved streets before Hong Kong and Singapore . The overseas Chinese have contributed to
7344-537: The lack of road networks and overloading. There is only one federal arterial road which links Sandakan to the west coast of Sabah, the Federal Route 22 , while other roads including the internal roads are called state roads. Most major internal roads are dual-carriageways . The only highway route from Tawau connects: Sandakan – Telupid – Ranau – Kundasang – Tamparuli – Tuaran – Kota Kinabalu , as well Lahad Datu – Kunak – Semporna – Tawau (part of
7446-483: The lingua franca among both dialect subgroups (since both the local ethnic Chinese populations native to this town shares the same ancestral province in China, Guangdong , in the case of the usage of the Cantonese dialect as a lingua franca amongst both the local Cantonese and Hakka populations, while Mandarin is the standardized spoken form of the Chinese language used in the business and education sectors). While for
7548-514: The locals. Meanwhile, the Spanish continued to strengthen their blockade of trade activities in the Sulu Archipelago, resulting in the blockade's opposition by Germans when many of their trading ships were seized by Spain. Both the German and British governments stated the archipelago should remain open to world trade route. Soon, the British began to co-operate with the Germans when rumours about
7650-574: The migration of the Chinese from British Hong Kong to develop the economy of Sandakan. However, the prosperity halted when the Japanese occupied the area . As the war continued and Allied bombing started in 1944, the town was totally destroyed. Unable to fund the costs of the reconstruction, the administrative powers of North Borneo were handed over to the Crown Colony government. Subsequently,
7752-502: The nearby Sultanate of Sulu occurred due to infighting between Bruneian nobles and the king. Brunei eventually lost its authority over the Bajaus and lapsed into a collection of riverine territories ruled by semi-autonomous chiefs. By the end of 17th century, Brunei entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession , colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. Brunei lost much of its territory due to
7854-510: The port underscore Brunei's significance in the region's commerce and its connections with different cultures. The histories of the Liang, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties all indicate that Brunei and China had a cordial connection. Both kingdoms' kings often dispatched envoys from their respective areas with gifts and messages. At the same time, traders also came to the ports of both kingdoms to do business. Brunei–China relations deteriorated during
7956-479: The proposal was turned down due to the trouble in the southern Philippines which could spread to the state and there is a call from the former Chief Minister of Sabah and the Current President of Sabah Progressive Party Yong Teck Lee to suspend the ferry service to counter the high level of people migration from the Philippines which now has become the major problem to Sabah as they are overstaying in
8058-403: The reign of Jiawen , an envoy from Muhammad Shah visited China along with envoys from Annam , Siam , Java, Palembang, and Pahang . This time, the Brunei delegation was officially recognized as representing Brunei rather than P'oni, as the kingdom had relocated to Kota Batu. In 1402, the reigning king was Manajekana, also known as Sultan Abdul Majid . In 1403, the Sultan sent an envoy to inform
8160-576: The responsibility to import basic materials from Hong Kong for fishermen and distribute the materials at a price lower than the one offered by the capitalists. As a result, Hong Kong towkays (bosses) were involved with the fishing industry in Sandakan. The town has twin town arrangements with Burwood , Australia and Zamboanga , Philippines. The town is administered by the Sandakan Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Sandakan). The current President of Sandakan Municipal Council
8262-491: The same size, with a flag of all yellow, the property and flag, as I was told of the Datu Alum. Judging from the stores in the settlement, cotton goods, arms and especially firearms, appears to be the articles of trade with the natives of Sulu. In 1875, an Austro-Hungarian consul named Baron von Overbeck purchased the rights to a defunct American trading company in Borneo. After efforts by Overbeck to sell northern Borneo to
8364-481: The second main shopping destination for Sandakan once it gets finished. Rugby is very popular in Sandakan. Eddie Butler , a former Welsh Rugby Union captain described it as the " Limerick of the tropics". In 2008, the Borneo Eagles-Sabahans (a team which included a few professional Fijians) at the newly built Sandakan Rugby Club hosted a 10-a-side tournament for the eighth and last time. In 2009,
8466-433: The seizure of their trading ship by the Spanish began arriving to Great Britain which lead the British to oppose the Spanish action. British and Germans then refused to recognise the Spanish sovereignty over Sulu. But with strong opposition from Germans over the illegal seizures of their ships and the British fear of the German presence (which was stronger than the Spanish during the time), a protocol known as Madrid Protocol
8568-525: The state and becoming an illegal immigrants. The first court in the city was built in 1957. Due to increasing demand following an expanding population, the Sessions’ court and Magistrates' court were shifted to the Sandakan Municipal Council building (Wisma Warisan) opposite in 1990, while the High Court remained in the old building. The Sandakan War Monument is located near these buildings. In 2001,
8670-587: The three parliamentary constituencies in the district: Libaran ( P.184 ), Batu Sapi ( P.185 ), and Sandakan ( P.186 ). Sandakan district is the third largest of Sabah's 25 districts, with 396,290 inhabitants after Kota Kinabalu and Tawau . [REDACTED] Media related to Sandakan District at Wikimedia Commons This Sabah location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bruneian Empire The Sultanate of Brunei ( Jawi : كسلطانن بروني) or simply Brunei ( / b r uː ˈ n aɪ / broo- NY ), also known as
8772-406: The tourist attractions in Sandakan are Sandakan Heritage Museum, Sandakan Cultural Festival, Sandakan War Memorial, Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary , Turtle Islands National Park , and Gomantong Caves . A first European settlement was built by a Scottish arms smuggler from Glasgow named William Clark Cowie who named the settlement "Sandakan", (which in the Suluk language means "The place that
8874-624: The tournament was changed to seven-a-side . Sandakan District The Sandakan District ( Malay : Daerah Sandakan ) is an administrative district in the Malaysian state of Sabah , part of the Sandakan Division which includes the districts of Beluran , Kinabatangan , Sandakan, Telupid , and Tongod . The capital of the district is in Sandakan City . There are three members of parliament (MPs) representing
8976-466: The town centre to other suburbs due to a large presence of illegal immigrants from Mindanao islands in the Philippines which has caused trouble, mostly crime such as theft and vandalism on public facility and also solid waste pollution in marine and coastal areas. But later in January 2003, an urban renewal project, was launched to revive the town centre as a commercial hub in Sandakan and since 2013,
9078-616: The town on 19 January 1942. During their occupation, the Japanese restored the town's previous name, Elopura and established a prisoner of war camp to hold their captive enemies. Allied planes started to raid Sandakan in September 1944. As the Japanese feared further retaliation from the Allied forces, they began to move all prisoners and forced them to march to Ranau . Thousands of British and Australian soldiers lost their lives during this forced march in addition to Javanese labourers from
9180-652: The town to other domestic destinations. To boost the twin town relationship with Zamboanga City and for the ASEAN spirit in the BIMP-EAGA region, there is an international route from Sandakan to Zamboanga International Airport . Local destinations for the airport including Kota Kinabalu, Kuching , Kuala Lumpur and many others. It is also one of the destinations for MASWings , which serves flights to other smaller towns or rural areas in East Malaysia. As of 2014,
9282-528: The waters of Sulu began to escalate, the Sultanate came to rely on Singapore's market for assistance. When the Sultanate increased their close trade relations with the British trading ports of Labuan and Singapore, this forced the Spanish to take another major step to conquer the Sulu Archipelago. The arrival of German warship Nymph at the Sulu Sea in 1872 to investigate the Sulu-Spanish conflict made
9384-508: Was St. Mary Town Primary School which was opened by Rev. Fr. A. Prenger who became the first headmaster along with Rev. Fr. Pundleider, who is a Mill Hill's priests. It is an all boys Catholic Mission School and have been opened since 24 July 1883, making it as the oldest school in Borneo. Notable secondary schools include Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Elopura II St Cecilia's Convent Secondary School , St. Michael's Secondary School , and Sung Siew Secondary School . One independent private school
9486-640: Was also under the influence of Demak in Java. The growth of Malacca as the largest Southeast Asian entrepôt in the Maritime Silk Road led to a gradual spread of its cultural influence eastward throughout Maritime Southeast Asia . Malay became the regional lingua franca of trade and many polities enculturated Islamic Malay customs and governance to varying degrees, including Kapampangans, Tagalogs and other coastal Philippine peoples. According to Bruneian folklore, around 1500 Sultan Bolkiah launched
9588-412: Was changed back to Sandakan . Besides Elopura, it was also nicknamed Little Hong Kong due to a strong presence of ethnic Chinese migration from Hong Kong (mainly Cantonese and Hakka). It was Pryer who gave the settlement the name Elopura meaning "beautiful town". Several years later the settlement was again renamed Sandakan. The name Elopura, however, is still used for some local government functions of
9690-543: Was covered with nipa palm leaves . In 977 AD, a Chinese merchant of Arab descent named P'u-lu-shieh (Fairuz Shah) arrived in Brunei for trade, receiving a warm welcome from the king and the local populace. Upon his return to China, the King requested P'u-lu-shieh to escort his envoy to the Chinese Emperor. P'u-lu-shieh agreed, and the royal delegation was led by Abu Ali (Pu Ya Li), Syeikh Noh (Shih-Nu), and Qadi Kasim (Koh-shin). They brought letters and gifts for
9792-514: Was headed by Sin Tze and Chang Ching Tze. According to Sin Tze the monarch was bold, powerful, and furious. But he also stated that Brunei's defenses were weakened because of the Suluk people 's annihilation. Because of Brunei's poverty and continued tribute to Majapahit, Muhammad Shah was hesitant to follow Sin Tze's advice to seek protection from China and to deliver tribute. The Sultan eventually decided to send an embassy to China after being convinced by
9894-485: Was never thereafter rebuilt. The first British Resident, William B. Pryer then moved the administration to a new settlement on 21 June 1879 to a residence in what is today known as Buli Sim Sim near Sandakan Bay. During Pryer's tenure of being the first resident of Sandakan, one of his first tasks was to establish law and order. The situation in the nascent colony remained tense, with the Borneans being hostile towards
9996-400: Was pawned"). It was soon renamed Kampong German (Kampung Jerman), due to the presence of several German bases there. When another new settlement was built shortly after the previous Cowie settlement had been destroyed by a fire, it was called as Elopura , meaning "beautiful town". The name was given by the British North Borneo Company but the locals persisted to use the old name and later it
10098-451: Was recorded as 45 days to Java , 40 days to Palembang , and 30 days to Champa . During the Song dynasty , Brunei, referred to as Puni, was noted as a large and powerful state, ruling over 14 regions and boasting 100 warships. The people were known for their bravery in battle, wielding swords and spears, and wearing armor made of copper for protection against enemy attacks. Rice cultivation
10200-427: Was safe, sheltered, and prosperous, attracting merchants from diverse backgrounds, including those from China, Java, Siam, Palembang, Kelantan, Pahang, Cambodia, Makassar , Pattani , and Suluk. During this period, the goods traded at Brunei's port included camphor, gemstones, wax, honey, pearls, gold, spices, pottery, silk, tin, rattan, and various foodstuffs. The bustling trade and the wide variety of goods exchanged at
10302-410: Was the main source of income for the people of Brunei, whose land was said to be extremely productive. Some also fished and reared chickens and goats. In addition to many other handicrafts, the ladies were adept at weaving fabric, creating mats, and constructing baskets. The capital of Brunei, which had around 10,000 residents, was encircled by wooden defences. Like the people's dwellings, the royal palace
10404-459: Was then signed in Madrid to secure Spanish sovereignty over the archipelago, making the Spanish free to wage any war with the Sultanate of Sulu without the fear of other foreign western powers intervening and as a return the Spanish would not intervene in the affairs of British in northern Borneo. The prosperity of Sandakan as the capital of North Borneo was however ended when the Japanese occupied
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