Penampang
Encyclopedia
Penampang is a district as well as a small town (Penampang Proper) within the West Coast Division
West Coast Division
West Coast Division is an administrative division of Sabah, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It occupies the northwest portion of Sabah. With an area of 7,588 square kilometres, it occupies 10.3% of Sabah's territory...

 of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...

, Malaysia. It has virtually become a suburb of Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...

 which is Sabah's capital. Its population was estimated to be around 132,002 in 2000, with ethnic Kadazan
Kadazan
The Kadazans are an ethnic group indigenous to the state of Sabah in Malaysia. They are found mainly on the west coast of Sabah, the surrounding locales, and various locations in the interior. Due to similarities in culture and language with the Dusun ethnic group, and also because of other...

-Dusun
Dusun
Dusun is the collective name of a tribe or ethnic and linguistic group in the Malaysian state of Sabah of North Borneo. Due to similarities in culture and language with the Kadazan ethnic group, a new unified term called "Kadazan-Dusun" was created. Collectively, they form the largest ethnic group...

 as the majority.

The name penampang came from an old village within the district. The village's name in turn originates from a Kadazan word that means "big rock". This is because huge rocks were easily found within the vicinity of the village a long time ago.

The name Penampang in contemporary usage refers more often to the district, with the town of Donggongon
Donggongon
Donggongon is a town in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. The town is located within the district of Penampang, but today it can be considered as part of the greater metropolitan area of Sabah's capital city, Kota Kinabalu. As of 2007, it has a population of 78,086.Donggongon is a very...

 as the main town within the district. Donggongon means 'shelter' or 'rest area' in the native Kadazan language, referring to its historical role as a stop-over for people from the hills who journeyed down the coast for trade. Other towns or sub-districts within Penampang are Putatan
Putatan
Putatan is a town and a suburb of Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah, East Malaysia.-Location:The town was located within the district of Penampang on the coast of the West Coast Division but from March 1, 2007, Putatan became a district on its own....

 and Lok Kawi
Lok Kawi
Lok Kawi is a township in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia.Located around the border of the districts of Penampang and Papar, and about 15 kilometres south of the state capital Kota Kinabalu, it has become part of the urban expanse of Kota Kinabalu. It also features one of the few Hindu...

.

Penampang is often considered a stronghold of the Kadazan community, and the main centre for their political and cultural development. The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) community hall hosts many of Kadazan's traditional festivities, chief among them the annual Kaamatan or 'harvest festival', their most important cultural event.

The Monsopiad
Monsopiad
Monsopiad is a Kadazandusun warrior who is well known to be a headhunter. There is a memorial dedicated to him at Penampang, Sabah, Borneo.-The legend of Monsopiad:...

Cultural Village is in Penampang. Monsopiad was the name of a past warrior who was known for decapitating the heads of his enemy and hanging the skulls at the entrance of his home, to warn his enemies of his powers.

Penampang is administered by Majlis Daerah Penampang (Penampang District Council).

External links

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