Kota Kinabalu (1996 pop. 76,120), formerly Jesselton, is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah, on the island of Borneo. The name is frequently abbreviated to "KK".

British North Borneo was originally administered from Gaya Island , but when it burned down, a nearby fishing village was chosen as a replacement, first named Api-Api and then Jesselton after Sir Charles Jessel , a manager of the British North Borneo Company . As the main trading post of the colony, Jesselton dealt in rubber, rattan, honey, and wax, eventually receiving it via a railway built into the interior.

The town was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, but largely destroyed by Allied bombing, with only three buildings left standing. After the war, North Borneo became a British crown colony with a rebuilt Jesselton as the capital superseding Sandakan. The city received its present name in 1968. It is named after Mount Kinabalu, Borneo's highest mountain, located about 45km ENE of the city ("kota" simply means "town" in the Malay language).

Notable locations in KK include the Sabah Foundation Building and the Sabah Museum . Also worthy of note is Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, a group of heavily forested islands in the South China Sea, a short distance off KK's waterfront. They are home to extensive coral reefs and mangrove swamps, as well as various forms of wildlife. Kota Kinabalu can be easily access by air through Kota Kinabalu International Aiport that serve by mainly Malaysia Airlines and other international airlines.

KK received its city status on 2 February 2000.

External links

• Some history
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Park