My Born City (Kota Kinabalu) K ota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah , Malaysia and the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District . It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the S outh China Sea . The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies to its west and Mount Kinabalu , which gave the city its name, is located to its east. Kota Kinabalu has a population of 452,058 according to the 2010 census when the adjacent Penampang and Putatan districts are included, the metro area has a combined population of 628,725. Kota Kinabalu is often known as KK both in Malaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a popular gateway for travellers visiting Sabah and Borneo. Kinabalu Park is located about 90 kilometres from the city and there are many other tourist attractions in and around the city.