Semporna is the gateway to the beautiful
islands and is located in the Tawau Division, Sabah. The crystal
clear waters are well known for scuba diving and snorkeling.
It has a population of around 135,000,
mainly populated by Bajau Laut ethnic community, whom live in sprawling stilt
villages above the water or inside the traditional Lepa boats.
They are one of
the few nomadic sea borne peoples of the world and spend their lives from birth
to old age on board boats, finding a livelihood from the rich coral reefs in
the area. Only after death burial takes place on land.
A city on east coast of Sabah,
Semporna founded soon after the British North Borneo Company established
Sandakan. It is initially settled by Chinese traders whom mostly
fleeing from Spanish attack on the Sulu Sultanate.
The
name Semporna means place of rest as in Sanskrit and was
given after the British quelled resistance from the local Bajaus in the
mid-1880s, changing it from Tong Talun.
Another
version
of the same story is Semporna was
called place to settle or meeting place by four admirals namely
Panglima Kabogan, Panglima Bum-Bum, Panglima Simunul and Panglima Abdullah. The
original founder of the group of islands and the ancestor to the four admirals
was Panglima Jamaludin Bin Ajibudin.
Semporna іѕ unique as it boasts thе
οnƖу Zamboangueño Chavacano speaking community in Malaysia, a Spanish-based
creole whose speakers can mainly be found οnƖу іn thе Zamboanga іn Philipines.
As a small town on east coast of Sabah,
there is not much to see and do in Semporna itself; however it is the gateway
to diving and snorkeling paradise in world-renowned islands like Mabul, Mataking, Sipadan, Kapalai,
Maiga, Sibuan, Mantabuan, Siamil and Pom Pom among others.
Thе number of tourists is increasing
іn thе dive sites in Tun Sakaran Marine Park whісh consists of eight islands
аnԁ іѕ thе Ɩаrɡеѕt marine park іn Sabah. Thе waters аrе extremely саƖm and the
diving is perfect. Both soft and hard corals form the bank and many mollusks,
sponges and small fish in the reefs.
Marine products and tourism is the
mainstay of the local economy. Pearl culturing is a major component of marine
industry which most tourists bringing back as souvenir.
Although the area is rich in different kinds of fish and seafood and the price is cheap
but they are usually relatively expensive when serve in restaurant.
The
world's
attention was focused on
Semporna besides Lahad Datu as
the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff was
one of the most highly publicized incidents of the century that caused Semporna
catching world’s attention.
The 2013 Lahad Datu standoff arose after 235 armed militants, arrived
by boats in Lahad Datu, Sabah from Simunul Island, Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines
on 11 February 2013.
According to the report, the group, calling themselves the
"Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo",
claimed sent by Jamalul Kiram III, one of the claimants to the throne of
the Sultanate of Sulu stated their objective was to assert the unresolved
territorial claim of the Philippines to eastern Sabah.
However,
the three-week siege by armed Filipino rebels in Lahad Datu, Sabah, ended March
1 with 14 killed and three wounded after Malaysian security forces exchanged
gunfire with the rebels.
According
to the report, at around 6.30 am on 3 March
2013, armed gunmen believed to be less than 10 in number claiming to be from
the Sulu Sultanate ambushed the police during a surveillance operation on a
village off the coast of Semporna, Sabah.
Reports
came out that a total of six Malaysian police officers and seven assailants
were killed in Semporna. Six of the attackers were fatally shot while ambushing
Malaysian police while another was beaten to death by villagers after he tried
to take a hostage says Sabah
police chief Datuk Hamza Taib.
Security officials are increasing
patrols along Sabah’s eastern borders following August 27, 2013 Tuesday’s
incident where armed intruders held local fishermen near the resort island of
Mabul in Semporna.
