Lahad Datu
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Lahad Datu is a town located in Tawau Division, in the east of Sabah, eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Its population was estimated to be around 118,000 in 1991 and 166,000 in the 2000 census. Lahad Datu is surrounded by kilometers of cocoa and oil palm plantations. It is also an important timber exporting port. The town has an airport for domestic flights.
A settlement is believed to have existed here in the 15th century, as excavations have unearthed Ming dynasty Chinese ceramics. Just east of Lahad Datu, is the village of Tunku, a notorious base for Lanun pirates and slave traders in the 19th century. Lahad Datu is a gateway to the Danum Valley Conservation Area, the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in the east, and Madai Caves further south.
Lahad Datu is also home to Sabah's population of Cocos Island Malays, who were settled in this area in the 1950s when the Cocos Islands became part of Australia.
Beside that, Lahad Datu also has a biodiesel refinery, a rarity in the state.
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Sabah |  |
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| Divisions: Interior Division | Kudat Division | Sandakan Division | Tawau Division | West Coast Division | ||
| City: Kota Kinabalu | ||
| Towns: Beaufort | Beluran | Inanam | Keningau | Kinabatangan | Kuala Penyu | Kota Belud | Kota Marudu | Kudat | Kunak | Kundasang | Lahad Datu | Nabawan | Papar | Penampang | Pitas | Ranau | Sandakan | Semporna | Sipitang | Tambunan | Tamparuli | Tawau | Tenom | Tuaran | ||
| Islands: Banggi Island | Gaya Island | Layang Layang Island | Ligitan Island | Sebatik Island | Sipadan Island | ||
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