Tenom

Tenom
District and Town
Other transcription(s)
• Chinese	丹南
Tenom town centre.
Seal
Tenom
Coordinates:
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 the Interior Division of Sabah, east Malaysia on the island of Borneo. 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. The principal ethnic groups are the Murut (60%), Chinese (20%), Malay (10%), 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 district 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.

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.

External links

• (Malay) Tenom District Council
• Tenom District Office