The federal government of Malaysia officially recognizes 28 ethnic groups as being indigenous or bumiputra in Sabah:

Other inhabitants:

Chinese people has been brought in during the British Crown Colony and their presence can be seen until today. Major towns’ businesses are run by Chinese and the Chinese community has played a great role in developing Sabah and in the local government politics. Other races such as Indians, Sarawak bumiputra, Filipinos and Indonesians can be spotted around major cities. Most of them are here looking for job opportunities.