View of a local in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

We resume our View of a Local series with a visit to the Island in the Clouds, Borneo. Divided between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, Borneo is currently the centre of the largest discoveries of new animal and plant species in modern times.

In this interview medical doctor Ruhaizad Daud tells us about his Borneo, the state of Sabah, East Malaysia (Malaysian Borneo), also know as the Land Below The Wind or Land Of The Sacred Mountain.

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My full name is Ruhaizad Daud. I’m married with 2 kids. I’m a doctor by profession, but my computer is one of my hobbies. I love outdoor activities.

How long have you lived in Borneo?

5 years, after graduation, the Malaysian government sent me here for my intern posting.

What do you like most about living in Borneo?

What I like? Very beautiful land, nice people, good food, (especially seafood) and the pace of life here is a bit slower compared to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia (where I lived before). In the end, I married a local native girl here.

Is there anything you do not like about living in Borneo?

No. Everything I like!

Why should travellers visit Borneo?

Travellers should visit Borneo because this is the only land in Malaysia where you can go up to the highest peak of Borneo (Mount Kinabalu) and dive in the best pristine water of Sipadan. Anything in between is a bonus.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit Borneo?

I wish the travellers will be more concerned about the preservation of this kind of nature associated tourism and take care of their rubbish and leftovers. Not polluting the area.

What do you wish travellers would stop doing when they visit Borneo?

Making mess (littering, and not taking care of the cleanliness of this places).

Are all the new species being discovered in Borneo at risk of being adversely affected by tourism?

Yes, they are. But it should be the act of both parties, the travellers and the local government, to conserve these new species, so that our children will also benefit.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in Borneo, what should it be?

It depends on what they like. There are a lot of things that you can do in Sabah. The one thing that is a must, of course, is to climb Mount Kinabalu.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in Borneo, which dish would you recommend?

Seafood!

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to Borneo?

I have a website dedicated for anybody, who wants to climb Mount Kinabalu. It has insider tips, info and guidelines, free for all. Log on to www.mount-kinabalu-borneo.com. It’s a personal website, and it is written in very simple words. My official blog: www.mount-kinabalu-borneo.com/blog.

Related articles

52 species you didn’t know of last year

Conservation of the Heart of Borneo agreed

View of a Local near Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia

View of a Local in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Our new View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

The map below shows the places covered so far.

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