SABAH, a state in Eastern Malaysia with a population exceeding 3.9 million, possesses a unique ethnic composition where the Bumiputera, including the Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Bajau, and others, form a significant majority.
According to the latest data, Bumiputera account for approximately 89.9pc (3.15 million) of the state’s population.
Of these, 51.4pc reside in urban areas while 48.6pc live in rural areas.
In terms of absolute poverty, 28.5pc of the rural population and 13.9pc of the urban dwellers in Sabah are below the poverty line, compared to the national figures of 12.0pc in rural areas and 4.3pc in urban areas.