Labuan Island (Pulau
Labuan) information on Transport,
Attractions, Location, Weather and Hotels.
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Labuan is a tiny island town off Sabah’s coast that was
formerly known as Victoria Town. The name Labuan was
derived from the Malay word 'pelabuhan' or 'labuhan'
which means port or anchorage. In the early 19th
century, the British had its eyes on Labuan as it has
the potential to become a commerce and naval base. They
also felt that Labuan could become a place of refuge for
ships damaged by pirates. |
Up to August 30, 1963, North Borneo was administered
under the provisions of the North Borneo Letters Patent. On
August 31, 1963, North Borneo became self-governing and on
September 16 the same year, the State - taking the name,
Sabah - was made a State within the Federation of Malaysia.
On April 16, 1984, Labuan was proclaimed a Federal Territory
of Malaysia. As a Federal Territory, Labuan comprises Labuan
Island and the territories within 4.8 km of Labuan,
including Pulau Rusukan Besar, Pulau Rusukan Kecil Island,
Pulau Kuraman, Pulau Burung, Pulau Papan and Pulau Daat.
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Today, it is a hub for duty-free goods and boasts some
nice cultural touches and landmarks. Because of its
proximity to Brunei, Labuan attracts many visitors from
there frequently as well as avid scuba divers for its
rich marine life. The climate of Labuan Island is
warm, sunny days and cool nights all year round with
occasional rain in the evenings. Temperature ranges from
24°C to 34°C. Humidity is usually exceeds 82.3%. Annual
rainfall is 3,500 mm.
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