Kota Belud District


The Kota Belud District is an administrative district in the Malaysian state of Sabah, part of the West Coast Division which includes the districts of Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Penampang, Putatan, Ranau and Tuaran. The capital of the district is in Kota Belud Town. Mount Kinabalu is located in the district.

Etymology

Kota Belud gained its name from the combination of two words in Bajau language. Kota means "fort" while Belud means a "hill" which consequently giving the meaning of "fort in a hill".

History

In the past before the existence of a government body, there was often hostility between the races of different villages in the area. In order to defending themselves, they had to find a place to survive their opposition attacks. Hence, the Bajaus have chosen a hill as their fortress which subsequently known as "Kota Belud".

Demographics

According to the last census in 2010, the population of Kota Belud district is estimated to be around 91,27, mainly Bajau, Illanun people and Dusun. As in other districts of Sabah, there are a significant number of illegal immigrants from the nearby southern Philippines, mainly from the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao, many of whom are not included in the population statistics.

Notable Person

Politicians