History

Semporna was founded soon after the British North Borneo

Company established Sandakan,asas and initially settled by Chinese
traders. The name Semporna, means place of rest, and was given
after the British quelled resistance from the local Bajaus in the mid-
1880s.

[edit] Details
The majority of the population is Bajau, many of whom live in
sprawling stilt villages over the water on the outskirts of town.
Semporna is located at the tip of Semporna Peninsula around Lahad
Datu Bay (also known as Darvel Bay), and is visited by tourists as a
base for scuba diving or snorkeling trips to Pulau Sipadan (Sipadan
Island), some 36 kilometers southeast of town.

Marine products are still the mainstay of the local economy. Pearl
culturing is a major component of this industry.

[edit] Activities
Semporna is also known for the Regatta Lepa traditional boat
races which occur annually in April. Semporna was also the location
of the finish line of Eco-Challenge: Borneo, held in 2000. Off the
coast is a marine park called Tun Sakaran Marine Park also known as
Semporna Islands Park. It was gazetted by Sabah Parks in 2004.

[edit] Trivia
Semporna is unique in that it boasts of the only Chavacano-speaking
community in Malaysia, a spanish-based language whose speakers
can today virtually be found only in the Zamboanga area on the
neighbouring Philippine island of Mindanao. Along with Filipino,
another Philippine language, it enjoys the status of official language
here, along with Malay.

[edit] References
1. ^ "Basic population characteristics by administrative districts
- 2006", Department of Statistics, Malaysia.