Tongod residents’ friendly spirit shines through

(From left): Aliskaziana, Mary and Maiame.

KOTA KINABALU: For most Semenanjung folk, little is known about Tongod, a central interior district in Sabah.

Or perhaps Malaysians might know it by its location as it borders the Lost World of Maliau Basin, famed for its waterfalls and untouched pristine forest.

But Tongod now has another claim to fame. The people of Tongod are among the friendliest in the country.

The strong bond among the people, despite facing challenges in one of Malaysia’s poorest districts, reflects the resilience and unity that can develop in such close-knit communities.

A survey of 14.8 million people in 2020 by the Statistics Department named Tongod as the second most friendly district in the country due to its residents’ frequent daily interactions with their neighbours.

Pakan in Sarawak was the “champion”. The findings were released two months ago.

Tongod folk have plenty of theories on why they make such good neighbours.

Those living in the village are usually family members and relatives, said Aliskaziana Martin, an entrepreneur from Kg Sanan.

“This is why it is hard for us to find a life partner from our own village. Everyone is related in some way,” she joked.

On a serious note, she said: “When you live close to your family and relatives, of course you will interact more with them.”

This was what our parents taught us since young and I guessed they too grew up that way, said Aliskaziana, 28.

Teacher Mary Ann Marcus, 39, who lives in the neighbouring Telupid district, said just like Tongod, people in Telupid were friendly with each other.

“I think the biggest factor that contributes to this is the fact that we have gone through a lot together, as a community.

“We have faced the same problems and challenges over the years in terms of development,” she said.

As such, Mary said this united them and made them strong as a community.

“Living in such a place, far from basic infrastructure and facilities, brings us together even more,” she said.

She said they realised that only those close to them could provide immediate assistance in times of disasters, accidents or even when someone did not have enough to eat.

“We grew up in that kind of environment and this closeness continued into adulthood,” she said.

Likewise, 39-year-old Maiame Jaini who manages the Digital Economy Centre in Linayukan, Tongod, feels that growing up in a close-knit community has always been the way of life for people in the district.

“Although there are sometimes differences in thoughts, opinions and other aspects, we would eventually put those differences aside,” he said.