KOTA KINABALU – Sabah lost a piece of its history today as a colonial building reconstructed in 1905 was destroyed during a thunderstorm earlier today.
The building comprised six units of two-storey wooden shophouses marked the original Kimanis town that was built by the North Borneo Chartered Company.
According to independent history-researcher Shari Jeffri, the old Kimanis town was first established in the 1900s as part of the construction of the railway service.
A small colonial train station is a few metres away from the destroyed building.
“Based on the historical documents, the old Kimanis town shophouses were first established in the 1900s but were burnt down by raiders or rebels.
“The raiders were remnants of the Datu Paduka Mohammad Salleh, or Mat Salleh, whose campaign against the colonists was quashed by the company in 1905,” he told The Vibes today.
However, the shophouses were rebuilt in 1905.
Sabah was hit by the tail end of tropical cyclone Kompasu that hit northern Philippines late last night, causing floods in many west coast districts.
Shari said out of the six shophouses, four were still in use, although the building looked dilapidated.
A 1905 report by The British North Borneo Herald had said: “The Bajaus at the latter place have rebuilt the shops burnt by the raiders and have ready timber for a new station whenever required.
“Kimanis is growing fast owing to the Aerated Water Factory there and the consequent employment of labour.”
The factory is known as the Kimanis Soda Water Factory. – The Vibes, October 12, 2021
