Donggongon a town of contrasting scenes

A mother lulled her baby to sleep while she selling her vegetables at Donggongon tamu in Penampang. — Photos: NORMIMIE DIUN/The Star

The town of Donggongon in Sabah can very well be the definition of the word contrast.

Located on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, Donggongan is the administrative centre of Penampang district. Here, Sabah’s longest mall is just across the road from a tamu or traditional farmers’ market.

While the latest handphones and electronic devices as well as a supermarket chain can be found at the Megalong mall, it is a different scene altogether at the tamu across the road.

As they have been doing for generations, rural folk living along the Crocker Range and other areas bring their produce to the tamu.

Local vegetables such as losun or wild spring onions, bambangan or wild mango, tuhau or wild ginger, timadang or tarap fruit and karok freshwater fish are just some of myriad of local produce sold at the tamu held every Thursday.

Also to be found there are gongs, sigup or local tobacco and delicacies such as kuih pajaram or fried pancakes and kuih terang bulan or peanut pancakes.

The statue of Datuk Peter Mojuntin at the centre of Donggongon town in Penampang.

For those looking for a more exotic fare, butod or insect larvae found in the sago palm is also available at the tamu.

The tamu that attracts hundreds of people to Donggongon as early as 6am every Thursday causes the weekly traffic slowdown in the town.

The tamu is also the mainstay in Donggongon that has undergone a massive transformation over several decades.

Donggongon’s origins can be traced back to a few rows of wooden shophouses that have evolved into a sprawling township that includes a sports complex, a cultural centre, police and fire stations as well as the mall and hundreds of shops.

The giant 'siga'r or Kadazandusun traditional hat at the roundabout in Donggongon town in Penampang.

In the town centre stands the statue of Datuk Peter Mojuntin, one of Penampang district’s renowned leaders who died in an aircrash on June 6, 1976 along with the then chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens and other state ministers.

Donggongon continues to evolve. Just outside the town is the soon-to- be-opened International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC) featuring a 330-room hotel with 295 suites.

The complex located about 2km from the town centre also features a 16-storey office tower and a multi purpose commercial centre.

“This is an exciting time for Donggongon. There have been so much changes over the years and it will continue to grow,” said resident Douglas Michael.

A hawker selling local fruits such as tarap and durian Dalit.