Gaya Island
![]() A map of the west coast of Kota Kinabalu city and Gaya Island | |
Geography | |
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Coordinates | 6°1′5″N 116°2′7″E / 6.01806°N 116.03528°E |
Administration | |
State | ![]() |
Gaya Island (
Gaya is the largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, closest to downtown Kota Kinabalu (KK) and is covered with dense virgin, tropical forest. It has been a forest reserve since 1923. The island has 20 km of hiking trails and three 5 star resorts named Gayana Marine Resort, home to the Marine Ecology Research Centre, the neighboring Gaya Island Resort (by YTL Hotel Group), the Bunga Raya Island Resort on the north-east part of the island. Historically, Gaya Island was also the site of the English colonialist's British North Borneo Company's harbour, razed by the folk hero Mat Salleh on 9 July 1897.
In recent years, there has been a plan to turn Gaya Island into a city island and tourism hub.[2] A cable car line has also been proposed before to connect with the city centre.[3]
History
Before the Ice Age, it formed part of the Crocker Range mass of sandstone and sedimentary rock on the mainland. However, about one million years ago, the melting ice brought about changes in the sea level and parts of the mainland were cut off by the sea to form the islands of Gaya Island, Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island and Sulug Island. Evidence of this can be seen from the exposed sandstone of the coastline forming the cliffs, caves, honeycombs and deep crevices.[citation needed]
In 1882, the
In 1974, the major part of Gaya and Sapi islands was gazetted as Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, covering an area of 8,990 acres (36.4 km2). In 1979, the park was increased to 12,185 acres (49.31 km2) with the inclusion of the three nearby islands of Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug. The park is spread over 4,929 hectares, two thirds of which cover the sea.
Illegal settlement
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Pulau_Gaya_immigrant_dwellings.jpg/220px-Pulau_Gaya_immigrant_dwellings.jpg)
Starting from 1970s, Filipino-
The Sabah state government has since been working to end the Filipino squatter problems that have become the main cause for rampant crimes, terrorism and drug trafficking in the state, especially in the capital city, as their location is too close within business areas, by relocating these squatters to a proper place for proper management,[7] while many of the problematic, illegal immigrants will be deported back to the Philippines and their further entry will be prevented.[2][8] After the fire in Kampung Pondo on 2014, the Sabah state government has proposed to move the illegal immigrants in the island to Kinarut with a better facility of modern houses. This proposal has been vehemently opposed by the Sabahan citizens, including some demands addressed to the current Chief Minister to resign for mishandling his power.[9] In late 2016, the state government submitted recommendations to the Malaysian federal government through the Main Committee on Management of Foreigners to move any refugee placement schemes in the state to other more suitable locations far from the towns and industrial development areas.[10]
The squatters relocation is in line with the Kota Kinabalu metropolitan development to turn Gaya Island into a city island and tourism hub.[2]
Administration
Sabah Parks, the body charged with protecting the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, is headquartered on the south-eastern part of Gaya Island in a bay shared with the Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures dive station. A development on the edge of Gaya island nearest to Sapi island is also used by Sabah Parks and offers a small, quiet beach for public recreational use.
Tourism
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Gaya_Island_2.jpg/220px-Gaya_Island_2.jpg)
Gaya Island is well known for a legendary beach at Police Bay. The 400 metres (0.25 mile) stretch of white sand, gently slopes out to the sea and makes Police Beach ideal for swimming in the crystal clear water. Police Beach fronts the upmarket Bunga Raya Island Resort. The coral reefs along the entire coast of Gaya island are in excellent condition, making it a surprisingly good diving destination, considering its proximity to Kota Kinabalu city.
Transportation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Jetty_to_Gaya.jpg/220px-Jetty_to_Gaya.jpg)
Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in downtown Kota Kinabalu is the ferry terminal for those heading to the islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (Gaya Island, Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island and Sulug Island). This ferry terminal is also the departure point for patrons staying at either Manukan Island Resort or Gayana Resort. While the speedboat owners on the island are kept busy, ferrying Filipinos schoolchildren, housewives and traders who sell craftwork at the Filipino market in the Kota Kinabalu Waterfront.
See also
References
- ^ ""Gayo" in Kadazandusun". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Master Plan for touristic Pulau Gaya being drawn up". Daily Express. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Chamber proposes KK-Gaya Island cable car link". The Borneo Post. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-981-10-2245-6.
- ^ "Gaya Island's image tarnished by rubbish dumping into sea". Daily Express. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Stephanie Lee (3 July 2014). "Kebakaran Di Pulau Gaya: Letupan Kedengaran, Belasan Rumah Musnah" (in Malay). mStar. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ Muguntan Vanar (16 February 2016). "Sabah aims to end squatter problem". The Star. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Pia Ranada (11 November 2016). "PH, Malaysia agree on repatriation of Filipinos in Sabah". Rappler. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Sean Agustin (6 July 2014). "Facebook campaign to remove Sabah CM over illegal immigrant issue". The Rakyat Post. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ "Sabah government to submit recommendations to move refugee placement schemes". Bernama. The Sun. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
Further reading
- "A home away from home for many Filipinos". The Star. 2006. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
External links
- Gaya Island on Sabah Parks Archived 7 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine