| KOTA
KINABALU - MALAYSIA
Kota Kinabalu (1996 pop. 76,120), formerly
Jesselton, is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah, on the island of
Borneo. The name is frequently abbreviated to "KK".
British North Borneo was originally administered from Gaya Island, but when
it burned down, a nearby fishing village was chosen as a replacement, first
named Api-Api and then Jesselton after Sir Charles Jessel, a manager of the
British North Borneo Company. As the main trading post of the colony,
Jesselton dealt in rubber, rattan, honey, and wax, eventually receiving it
via a railway built into the interior.
The town was occupied by the Japanese during
World War II, but largely destroyed by Allied bombing, with only three
buildings left standing. After the war, North Borneo became a British crown
colony with a rebuilt Jesselton as the capital superseding Sandakan. The
city received its present name in 1968.
Notable locations in KK include the Sabah Foundation Building and the Sabah
Museum. KK received its city status on 2 February 2000.
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