West Coast Division (Malay:Bahagian Pantai Barat) is an administrativedivision ofSabah,Malaysia. It occupies the northwest portion of Sabah. With an area of 7,588 square kilometres, it occupies 10.3% of Sabah's territory. It also has approximately 30% of Sabah's total population,[1] with the main indigenous inhabitants comprising theBajau,Bisaya,Bruneian Malay,Dusun,Illanun,Kadazan andKedayan,[2] as well with a significant numbers ofChinese.[3] The division is divided into thedistricts ofRanau,Kota Belud,Tuaran,Penampang,Papar,Putatan and the state capitalKota Kinabalu. The main towns are as in the names of the districts, plus other towns includingPetagas,Lok Kawi,Menggatal,Inanam,Telipok,Tamparuli,Tenghilan,Kiulu,Kundasang,Pekan Nabalu,Kinarut,Kimanis andBongawan.[1]
Kota Kinabalu Harbour is the main sea ports in the state's capital with an estimate size of 1,440 kilometres long coast.[1] It serves as the gateway for water transport in Sabah. It handles and handles 4,031,000 freight tonne annually. TheKota Kinabalu International Airport serves as the main gateway into the state by air.[1]
West Coast Division is subdivided into the following administrative districts:[1]
| Parliament | Member of Parliament | Party |
|---|---|---|
| P169Kota Belud | Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis | WARISAN |
| P170Tuaran | Wilfred Madius Tangau | PH (UPKO) |
| P171Sepanggar | Mustapha Sakmud | PH (PKR) |
| P172Kota Kinabalu | Chan Foong Hin | PH (DAP) |
| P173Putatan | Shahelmey Yahya | BN (UMNO) |
| P174Penampang | Ewon Benedick | PH (UPKO) |
| P175Papar | Armizan Mohd Ali | GRS |
| P179Ranau | Jonathan Yasin | GRS |
The present divisions of Sabah is largely inherited from the division of theNorth Borneo Chartered Company. Following the acquisition ofNorth Borneo under theroyal charter issued in 1881, the administrative division introduced byBaron von Overbeck was continued by the establishment of two residences comprising West Coast Residency and East Coast Residency. Seat of the two residents was inSandakan, where the governor was based. Each resident, in turn, was divided into several provinces managed by a district officer.[note 1][4]
As North Borneo progresses, the number of residencies has increased to five including: Tawau Residency (also known as East Coast Residency), Sandakan Residency, West Coast Residency, Kudat Residency, and Interior Residency; the provinces were initially named after the members of the board: Alcock, Cunlife, Dewhurst, Keppel, Dent, Martin, Elphinstone, Myburgh and Mayne. The senior residents occupied Sandakan and the West Coast, while the other three resident with the second class residencies occupied Interior, East Coast and Kudat. The residents of Sandakan and West Coast were members of the Legislative Council, the Legislative Assembly of the company.[5]
The division into residencies was maintained whenNorth Borneo became a Crown Colony afterWorld War II. On 16 September 1963, with theformation of Malaysia, North Borneo which subsequently became the state of Sabah took over the administrative structure through the Ordinance on Administrative Units. At the same time, theYang di-Pertua Negeri, the head of state of Sabah, was authorised by proclamation to divide the state into divisions and districts.[note 2] The abolition of the residency term was in favour of the division term that took place in 1976.[6]
Today, the division has only formal significance and no longer constitutes its own administrative level. The resident's post was also abolished, as Sabah's municipal administration is in the hands of the district officers.
Capital:Kota Kinabalu | |||||||||||
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