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Bota is a mukim in Perak Tengah District, Perak, Malaysia. It comprises two geographical areas: Bota Kiri and Bota Kanan (Left Bota and Right Bota, respectively) as it is divided by the Perak River. There is a river terrapin breeding centre at Bota Kanan. Bota is also well known for its durian fruit. The town has over fifteen mosques.
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Name Origin
Based on the locals belief, the name was taken from a kind of giant "ogre" that exists here. Bota is a great giant who lived underground, hiding in a cave/hole in the ground. Bota will come out of its hiding place at certain time.
Most of his time is spent underground and are rarely seen by humans. According to old folks in this area, the body of Bota resembles an earthy colour itself mainly muddy, and commonly lurks around yellow bamboo grove on the banks and on the edge of a paddy field where fish perch. They find food commonly in the soil and will occasionally forage in the form of human or animal flesh. Humans and animals are not his favorite food because they only come out occasionally, especially at dusk.
Bota giant is associated with the loss of someone. If a resident is found to be missing, they believe Bota is responsible and residents have been violated taboo of Bota 'existence' in an area. Surprisingly Bota, is few but could be anywhere, especially in the area of Sungai Perak.
Demographics
In general, Bota's Malay population can be divided into three main groups, the natives of Perak, the natives of Kedah and the Banjar people. The natives of Perak constitute the majority of Bota's populace, particularly along the left and rights banks of the Perak River. The Kedah natives in Bota moved to this town in the 1960s, and they primarily reside in some areas of Titi Gantung. The Banjar people are a group of migrants who originated from Banjarmasin in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Chinese and Indians constitute a minority of the population in Bota, and they mainly reside in the vicinity of Seri Iskandar.