Over the last few weeks, Sabah demanded the attention, thoughts and prayers of Malaysians as a small group of Suluks’ claim to the northern Borneo state of Sabah led to bloodshed in the town of Lahad Datu, shocking a country which has enjoyed many years of peace.
Like most West Malaysians, I knew very little of our Bornean neighbours until my first visit in 2006. What was initially a huge cultural shock quickly transformed into a lifelong love affair thanks to its gorgeous sunsets, soft-spoken people and endless green hills. Over the next few years, I took every opportunity that came to visit Sabah... even to the point of entering a Firefly competition tweeting, "Borneo boys are hot." I won two free tickets to fly there.
