Sook is a town and administrative district (Sook District) located in the Interior Division of the Malaysian state of Sabah, on the island of Borneo. The district capital is the town of Sook.
Administration
Sook functioned as a sub-district (daerah kecil) under the Keningau District for over 30 years. It was officially upgraded to a full district on 7 August 2024, with the decision formally gazetted in December 2024. The district covers a total area of 2,037.54 square kilometres, which accounted for roughly 58% of the total land area of the former Keningau District. The district encompasses two state legislative assembly constituencies: N.44 Tulid and N.45 Sook.
Demographics
As of 2021, Sook has an estimated population of 62,171 people. The population is predominantly made up of indigenous groups:
- Dusun: 76% (approx. 47,250)
- Murut: 16% (approx. 9,947)
- Kadazan: 5% (approx. 3,108)
- Other ethnicities: 3%
The population is spread across several mukims (communes): Sook, Tulid, Lanas, Dalit, Ansip, and Seberang.
Economy
The economy of Sook is heavily driven by the agricultural sector. Under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, Sook has been identified as an agricultural "hot spot." A total of 69,609.13 hectares of land has been developed for agriculture, with major crops including oil palm, rice, taro (keladi), coffee, pineapples, rubber, cocoa, and various fruits. The livestock subsector is also a significant contributor to the local economy. Continuous development in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, tourism, and commercial real estate is projected to bring an estimated revenue of up to RM719.8 million annually to the district.
Infrastructure
Sook serves as a strategic transit hub along the Kalabakan–Keningau route, supported by a 519.17-kilometre road network. Major infrastructure projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12) include the upgrading of the 40-kilometre Sinaron–Linayukan road, which directly connects Sook to Tongod. The district is equipped with basic amenities including an excess water supply capacity of 5.06 million litres per day, electricity substations, health clinics, and educational facilities.
