Tambunan

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Tambunan
Tambunan

Tambunan is a town located in Interior Division of Sabah, east Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Tambunan is situated within the parliamentary constituency of Keningau. Its population was estimated to be around 19,760 in 1991, almost entirely Dusun. It is about 81 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu, and is located in a pleasant, Shangri-La setting at an altitude of around 1000 meters, in the Crocker Range. The town is surrounded by terraced padi fields and 70 picturesque villages. The dense forests of bamboo around Tambunan are a legacy of the British colonial period, during which time an edict stated that 20 bamboo sprouts had to be planted for every bamboo cut.

East of Tambunan is Sabah's second highest mountain, Trus Madi (2642 meters).

Just outside town is a monument to the Bajau hero Mat Salleh, who led a rebellion against the British North Borneo Company in the late 19th century. His agreement to a truce with the British so outraged his own people that he was forced to flee to Tambunan, where he was eventually besieged and killed.

Near the Mat Salleh's fort is the Tun Datu Mustapha Memorial the famous Sabah statesman.

Tambunan is noted for the quality of its Lihing and Tapai, or rice wine.

Outside of Tambunan is the Rafflesia Forest Reserve, devoted to the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia.