Keningau


Keningau is the capital of the Keningau District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is the fifth-largest town in Sabah, as well one of the oldest. Keningau is between Tambunan and Tenom. The town had an estimated population of 173,130. Dusuns, Muruts and Lundayehs are the major ethnic groups in Keningau.

Etymology and history

The name Keningau is derived from the locally-abundant Javanese cinnamon tree which is locally known as koningau. The tree is known as 'Kayu Manis' in Malay and is sometimes referred to as the 'king of spices'. Its bark was collected by the British North Borneo Company to be sold as a spice. During the British colonial era, Keningau was one of the most important administrative centres in British North Borneo.
The Japanese used Keningau as one of its main administrative centres during their occupation of North Borneo in World War II.

Town divisions

Keningau 1

The Keningau 1 is south of the Keningau Town. There is a vibrant commercial district with some of historical 'shop-houses.'

Keningau 2/New Town

Keningau 2 is the New Town, to the north of Keningau. The New Town houses the new Keningau Hospital. There are shops, shopping malls, and school.

Demographics

Ethnicity and religion

Keningau's population was estimated in 2010 at 5,565. Of the total, 90% are Dusuns, Lundayeh and Muruts, 8% are Chinese ; the balance is divided between other indigenous Sabahan races and foreign immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia. The latter group forms a disproportionately large part of the population of Keningau as many of these immigrants come to seek employment in the many agricultural plantations in the district.

Languages

Apart from their native languages, the indigenous Sabahan ethnicities in Keningau mostly speak English, Malay. The ethnic Chinese population speak Sze Yup, Hakka and Mandarin among themselves, but generally speak Malay when interacting with members of the indigenous races.
Most of the Indonesian and Filipino immigrants speak Malay in addition to their native languages.

Climate

Keningau has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy rainfall year-round.

Places of interest

Keningau Oath Stone

This monument was erected to commemorate Sabah's entrance into the federation of Malaysia by Garukon Gurun, a former Sergeant Major of the legendary North Borneo Constabulary from Kampung Dangulad Keningau. It was unveiled and officiated on 31 August 1964. On the stone is a plaque setting out the federal government's promises to the people of Sabah, as well as the reciprocal promise of Sabahans to remain loyal to the federal government. The stone is in the compound of the Keningau District Office.

Crocker Range National Park

covers 1,399 km2, making it the largest park in Sabah. The park consists of hill and montane forest, with many species of flora and fauna endemic to Borneo. Maintenance of this forest cover is essential to ensuring a pure water supply for many of the towns and communities in Sabah.
The park contains at least five species of primates, such as orang-utans, gibbons, furry tarsiers, and sociable long-tailed macaques.
Facilities include an exhibition centre, insectarium, fernarium, observation tower, and trekking trail.

Keningau Handicraft Centre

Also known as Pusat Kraftangan Keningau, it is in Keningau New Town. It just 4.8 km from Keningau town. It is known for its scenic beauty and recreational facilities. It comprises recreational of traditional art, visual art, and all traditional things.

Kapayan Recreation Resources

The recreation resources located at Apin-Apin. It takes 25 minutes from Keningau Town to this location. It also has an alternate road with 26 km for people who want to go there to avoid the crowded traffic jam at the main road.

Matanoi Hill

Also known as Bukit Matanoi. It is located in Apin - Apin, Keningau. It is 23 km from Keningau town.

Bukit Trig

Bukit Trig is where people can go hiking. It is at Apin-Apin, Keningau, 20.2 km from Keningau Town. It is known for its beauty.

Keningau Mall

The main shopping area in Keningau is the Keningau Mall. It is a 4 storey building, launched in 2010, located in Keningau Town and is the first shopping mall in the Interior Division of Sabah.

Tamu Ground Keningau

Tamu Ground Keningau is a weekly market held twice a week, Thursday and Sunday. As early as 5 am, traders begin to set up their stalls on Tamu Ground open space. Stalls available selling fresh local crops, freshwater fishes, seafoods, cheap gadgets and even souvenirs. Keningau's weekly tamu is a great place to experience the original local North weekly market scene.

Communications and transportation

Road

Keningau is along the following highways:
  • Kota Kinabalu-Papar-Kimanis-Keningau
  • Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan-Keningau-Tenom)
  • Ranau-Tambunan-Keningau-Tenom-Kemabong
  • Keningau-Sook-Nabawan-Kalabakan-Tawau
  • Keningau-Sook-Tulid-Telupid-Sandakan

    Public transportation

Long-distance coaches link Keningau with the cities of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau. In the town, public transportation is provided by minibuses and taxis.

Air

Keningau Airport was last serviced by commercial flights in the 1970s. It is currently under private ownership.

Radio

Keningau has its own radio station, Keningau FM, the national public broadcaster with shows in Malay, Murut and Dusun languages. Keningau can connect to other radio station such as Ai FM, TraXX FM, Klasik FM, Nasional FM, Sabah FM & Sabah V FM. Some places in Keningau can connect to Astro Radio, Hitz FM, Era FM and MY FM. In addition, VOK FM is the first commercial radio station to launch in Keningau on 106.6 MHz

Public services

Courts of law and legal enforcement

The Keningau court complex is on Jalan Nyamok. It houses the High, Sessions, and Magistrates courts.
The police headquarters is on Jalan OKK Sodomon. There are police substations or pondok polis in Apin-Apin, Bingkor and Sook.

Healthcare

There are plenty of public health clinics, one public hospital, one maternal and child health clinic, four village clinics, one mobile clinic and one 1Malaysia clinic in Keningau.
Keningau Hospital is a 212-bed hospital and it is a district hospital providing specialist services for outpatients and inpatients. It is the main hospital in the Interior Division and is visited by patients from the surrounding districts of Nabawan, Sook, Pensiangan, Tambunan and Tenom.
There are many pharmacies available in Keningau.

Libraries

The Keningau Regional Library is one of three regional libraries in Sabah, the others being in Sandakan and Tawau. These libraries are operated by the Sabah State Library.

Sports

The Keningau Sports Complex has facilities for badminton, tennis, volleyball and basketball as well as two stadiums for hockey and football. There is a 25m swimming pool. It hosted the 5th Sabah Games in 2011 and 9th Sabah Games in 2019.
Keningau Football Stadium has a capacity of 10,000. It is the home stadium for KDMM F.C.

Education

There are many government or state schools in and around the town. The primary school in the town was
  1. Sekolah Kebangsaan Ambual
  2. Sekolah Kebangsaan St.James
  3. Sekolah Kebangsaan Apin-Apin
  4. Sekolah Kebangsaan Banjar
  5. Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu Lunguyan
  6. Sekolah Kebangsaan Rancangan Biah
  7. Sekolah Kebangsaan Binaong
  8. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bingkor
  9. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bonor
  10. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bulu Silou
  11. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bundu Apin-Apin
  12. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bunsit
  13. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kawakaan
  14. Sekolah Kebangsaan Dalit
  15. Sekolah Kebangsaan Delayan Tulid
  16. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kabatang Baru
  17. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kalampun
  18. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampong Baru
  19. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampong Biah
  20. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampong Keningau
  21. Sekolah Kebangsaan Karamatoi
  22. Sekolah Kebangsaan Jaya Baru
  23. Sekolah Kebangsaan Pekan Keningau
  24. Sekolah Kebangsaan Inandung
  25. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bariawa Ulu
  26. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kapayan Baru
  27. Sekolah Kebangsaan Lanas
  28. Sekolah Kebangsaan Liau Apin-Apin
  29. Sekolah Kebangsaan Luagan
  30. Sekolah Kebangsaan Magatang
  31. Sekolah Kebangsaan Mansiat
  32. Sekolah Kebangsaan Membulu
  33. Sekolah Kebangsaan Menawo
  34. Sekolah Kebangsaan Merampong
  35. Sekolah Kebangsaan Mamagun
  36. Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Putih
  37. Sekolah Kebangsaan Pohon Batu
  38. Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Kahaba
  39. Sekolah Kebangsaan Senagang
  40. Sekolah Kebangsaan Sinaron Tengah
  41. Sekolah Kebangsaan Sodomon
  42. Sekolah Kebangsaan Sook
  43. Sekolah Kebangsaan Membulu
  44. Sekolah Kebangsaan Tuarid Taud
  45. Sekolah Kebangsaan Tulid
  46. Sekolah Kebangsaan Ulu Liawan
  47. Sekolah Kebangsaan Ansip
  48. Sekolah Kebangsaan Malima
  49. Sekolah Kebangsaan Penagatan
  50. Sekolah Kebangsaan Sinua
  51. Sekolah Kebangsaan Meninipir
  52. Sekolah Kebangsaan Malaing
  53. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bunga Raya
  54. Sekolah Kebangsaan Sinulihan Baru
  55. Sekolah Kebangsaan Simbuan Tulid
  56. Sekolah Kebangsaan Ulu Senagang
  57. Sekolah Kebangsaan Gaulan
  58. Sekolah Kebangsaan Petikang Laut Keningau
  59. Sekolah Kebangsaan Binuwou Tengah
  60. Sekolah Kebangsaan Rancangan Belia Tuilon
  61. Sekolah Kebangsaan Binakaan
  62. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bunang Sook
  63. Sekolah Kebangsaan Lintuhun Baru
  64. Sekolah Kebangsaan Nangkawangan
  65. Sekolah Kebangsaan Nandagan
  66. Sekolah Kebangsaan Binanon
  67. Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangas
  68. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Keningau II
  69. Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Yuk Yin
  70. Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Yuk Kong
  71. Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cheng Ming
For the secondary schools
  1. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Keningau
  2. Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Ken Hwa
  3. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Apin-Apin
  4. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bingkor
  5. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Gunsanad
  6. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Gunsanad II
  7. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Keningau
  8. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Keningau II
  9. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sook
  10. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Francis Xavier
  11. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tulid
  12. Kolej Vokasional Keningau
For higher/tertiary education, there are GIATMARA Keningau, Geomatika Commercial College and Sidma College. Universities such as the Open University Malaysia and UNITAR University have a campus here. Kolej Vokasional Keningau also offer higher education in diploma level.