Tuaran

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title: "Tuaran" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["towns-in-sabah", "tuaran-district"] topic_path: "general/towns-in-sabah" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuaran" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Tuaran
official_name	Pekan Tuaran
Tuaran Town
settlement_type	Town and district capital
image_skyline	Tuaran Sabah ViewsFromLingSanPagoda-04.jpg
image_alt	Tuaran town centre
image_caption	Tuaran town centre.
image_map	SabahDistricts-Tuaran-pp.png
image_seal	Majlis daerah Tuaran.png
etymology	Tawaran
translit_lang1	Other
translit_lang1_type1	Jawi
translit_lang1_info1	توارن‎
translit_lang1_type2	Chinese
translit_lang1_info2	斗亚兰 (Simplified)
鬥亞蘭 (Traditional)
Dòuyàlán (Hanyu Pinyin)
dêu3 a3 lan2 (Hakka)
governing_body	Tuaran District Council
leader_title	District Officer
leader_name	Herman Tunggiging
leader_title2	Executive Officer
leader_name2	Jamlin Bin Ladin
leader_title3	MP
leader_name3	Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) (Tuaran) [[File:United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation Logo.svg
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Malaysia
subdivision_type1	State
subdivision_name1	Sabah
subdivision_type2	Division
subdivision_name2	West Coast
subdivision_type3	District
subdivision_name3	Tuaran
seat_type	Administration
seat	Tuaran District Council
population_as_of	2019
population_total	128,200
area_total_sq_mi	450.195117
timezone	MST
utc_offset	+8
postal_code_type	Postal code
postal_code	89208
area_code	088
blank1_name	Neighborhood Area
blank1_info	Tamparuli, Tenghilan, Topokon
blank2_name	Tamu (Weekly Local Market)
blank2_info	Sunday
blank3_name	Number plate
blank3_info	SA (1980-2018)
SY (2018-2023)
SJ (2023-)
website

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|footnotes =

Tuaran () is the town and capital of the Tuaran District in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located 34 km north of the state capital Kota Kinabalu, and is strategically situated along the main highway linking Kota Kinabalu with the north of Sabah. Tuaran is famous for its 9-storey Ling-San Pagoda Tower, which serves as a symbol and landmark of the town. Tuaran town also famous for its Tuaran fried noodles, a dish that has been passed down through generations. Many people visit Tuaran specifically to try this delicious noodle dish, as it’s made with a special kind of noodle that’s different from the usual ones. Its population was estimated to be around 128,200 in 2019 with half the population consisting of ethnic Dusuns, most of the Lotud ethnic subgroup as well of Bajau descent. The remainder is mostly of the Malaysian Chinese community, particularly from the Hakka subgroup and Malay.

This town is a popular stopover destination for tourists and people traveling to and from northern Sabah cities such as Kudat, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, and Tenghilan, as well as those on their way to Kota Kinabalu. Tuaran has experienced significant urban expansion, but recently, this growth has faced some obstacles due to the limited topography of Tuaran, as the town is surrounded by rivers. The town is bordered on three sides by the Tuaran River.

Etymology

The existence of Tuaran in colonial records can be traced as far back as 1813, in official letters written by Sir Stamford Raffles, the then British Governor of Java, seeking permission to accept the Sultan of Brunei's invitation to deal with piracy issues at 'Jawaran' in the north of Borneo.

'Jawaran' is a corruption of the Malay word tawaran. Tawaran has two meanings; the first meaning is 'fresh water', referring to the importance of the Tuaran area as a source of freshwater for the locality. The second meaning is 'to bargain', which refers to the trading activities which had been taking place in the Tuaran area even before British colonisation commenced in 1884.

Another consideration is Tuaran came from word 'taaran' which mean river by Dusun ethnic.

Administration

Tuaran District Council

The Tuaran District Council is the administration within the Tuaran district, covering administrative areas such as Pantai Dalit, Sulaman, Tamparuli, and Kiulu. It was established on January 1, 1958, under the "Rural Government Ordinance Cap. 132" and began operating as a Local Authority on January 1, 1962, under the Local Authorities Ordinance 1961 and the Tuaran District Council Deed 1961.

The administrative town of the Tuaran District Council is located in the town of Tuaran. Previously, the council's office was in the Small Secretariat Building in Tuaran. In 1994, the proposal to construct a new office complex for the Tuaran District Council was approved, and construction began. The new building, named the Tuaran District Council Complex, was completed and occupied by the end of 1997.

District Officer Tuaran

The current District Officer of Tuaran is Herman Tunggiging. ::data[format=table]

List of Names officer of the Tuaran District Office	Num
Date of service	Officer's name
1	1980 Until 1982
2	1982 Until 1985
3	1985
4	1985 Until 1988
5	1989 Until 1992
6	1992 Until 1996
7	1996 Until 1997
8	1997 Until 2010
9	2010 Until 2013
10	2014 Until 2017
11	2017 Until 2021
12	2021 Until 2022
13	2022 Until 2023
14	2023 Until 2024
15	2024 Current
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Geography

Position of Tuaran Town near other areas; |title = Neighbouring towns, villages and places. |Northwest = • Kampong Dungang • Kampong Selupoh |North = • Kampong Labuaya • Topokon |Northeast = • Topokon • Tenghilan • Kota Belud |West = • Sulaman • Kampong Tambalang |Centre = Tuaran Town |East = • Kampong Sawah • Kampong Sungai Damit |Southwest = • Kampong Mengkabong • Berungis • Telipok |South = • Kampong Marabahai • Kampong Tagas • Kampong Panjut |Southeast = • Tamparuli • Kiulu

Cuisine

Bahar wine

The Dusun Lotud people of Tuaran produce a traditional liquor called bahar (toddy) made from coconut sap mixed with a kind of tree bark known locally as rosok which colours the sap red. Bahar has been scientifically proven to be rich in antioxidants. However, it is extremely pungent and spoils very quickly, usually within one day.

Tuaran mee

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Mi_Tuaran.jpg" caption="Tuaran mee."] ::

Tuaran mee (Traditional Chinese: 鬥亞蘭面; Hakka: Diu ah lan men), which literally translates as 'Tuaran noodles', is a noodle dish created by the Hakka Chinese community of Tuaran. The noodles are made from a batter consisting of egg yolk and flour. They are fried for five to ten minutes in high heat, causing the bottom part of the noodles to become crunchy. Local vegetables are added during frying. Before Tuaran mee is served, it is usually garnished with slices of sweetened Chinese roast pork (Traditional Chinese: 叉燒; Hakka: cha sau) and fried egg rolls (Traditional Chinese: 春捲; Hakka: chun kien).

Bambangan pickles

Bambangan pickles is a traditional relish consisting the flesh of the fruit preserved in brine. Traditionally served as a side dish at any meal; often best served with other traditional dish such as Pinasakan.

Culture

Tamu

Every Sunday morning, a tamu (native open-air market) is held in Tuaran town. At the tamu, produce, seafood, traditional food and drinks, handicrafts and other goods from Tuaran and the surrounding villages are bought and sold.

Places of interest

Borneo Ant House is a mini theme park located at Tuaran-Kota Belud Road. It was open in July 2017 and suitable for family outing.

Chanteek Borneo Indigenous Museum is a mini museum located at Tamparuli Road. It was open in August 2014 and the exhibits are miniature dolls of Barbie size dressed in traditional costumes from Malaysia. It is suitable for educational and for arts and cultural lovers.

Sabandar Cowboy Town is another mini theme park with focus on horse riding activity. It is located near the Sabandar Beach.

Rumah Terbalik or the Upside-down House is an attraction located at Tamparuli Road. It has attracted thousands visitors since its opening in 2012. The major attraction is a Bajau house constructed upside down.

Linangkit Cultural Village (also referred to as LCV) is a cultural attraction which is located in Kampung Selupuh Tuaran. The name Linangkit is a unique traditional Lotud embroidery with patterns usually in color red, orange, etc. to cover up the seams between fabrics which usually used also as a design element in Lotud traditional costumes. The cultural village is the one and only you could go for in order to explore and be exposed to Lotud traditions and also cultures here in Sabah. Moreover, you will save a chance to personally see the actions and visions of how the old folks of Lotud lived in the olden times. Other things you're fortunate to see include handicraft-making demonstrations, traditional food preparations, traditional fish netting, river cruise, firefly watching, and tapioca plucking.

For outdoor activity such as white water rafting, the Kiulu River at the sub-district Kiulu is one of the preferred choice in Sabah for grade I-II rapids.

The 9-Storey Pagoda Ling San is one of the main tourist attractions in Tuaran. Visitor can climb to the top and get a beautiful view of the town.

Tuaran Crocodile Farm is a home for more or less a thousand crocodiles, located just a few kilometres from the town.

Sister Towns

International

Philippines Calabanga, Camarines Sur, Philippines

References

(2022-11-28). "Discovering Pekan Tuaran: A Hidden Gem in Sabah".
(2025-02-09). "Fried Noodles (Mee Tuaran)".
(2022-11-28). "Tuaran Mee (Tuaran Noodle) the gold noodle of Sabah".
(2010). "Population by ethnic group, Local Authority area and state, Malaysia". Department of Statistics, Malaysia.
"Colonial Townships in Sabah: West Coast, 2012: Sabah", ''PAM Sabah Chapter, City Top Enterprise Sdn Bhd & Colourcoil Industries Sdn Bhd''.
(2025-02-11). "Sejarah Penubuhan".
(2025-02-11). "Carta Organisasi".
(2025-02-11). "MASIDI MANJUN MASDI".
"Sabah: Pinasakan - Nation {{!}} The Star Online".
SEAMEOSPAFA. (2015-11-02). "MLY - The 'Pinasakan' (Cooking a Traditional Dish)".

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