One district in Sabah where the Bajau community has achieved prominence is Kota Belud, a town about 48 kilometres from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. The most illustrious of the Kota Belud Bajau families is the Keruak Clan whose sons have gone on to become Chief Ministers and one of the Governors of Sabah.

The patriarch of the Keruak Clan was Keruak Bin Buruk, chief of the Kota Belud Bajau community who had strong links with the British North Borneo Company and who was very influential with the British Colonial administration. The British Governor of that time would pay homage to him in recognition of and as a mark of respect to his status as chief of the Bajau community. The British District Officers would also constantly seek his advice and guidance on matters related to local customs and traditions.

In fact, locals who had business or dealings with the British would first of all solicit his advice as he was highly regarded by both the British as well as the locals. Keruak was, in a way, the official Bajau community representative of the British administration holding the title of Ketua Anak Negeri (KAN), loosely translated to mean ‘Chief of the Sons of the State’. Later, he was promoted to Orang Kaya-Kaya, a status similar to that of a member of the Royal Council in Malaysian states that practice the Sultanate system.