What's happening around Sandakan
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Sepilok Jazz 2026 draws 3,000 to Sandakan rainforest venue
About 3,000 people attended the two-night Sepilok Jazz 2026 festival at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan, Sabah, from Friday. The event featured 18 bands and over 100 musicians, including Shila Amzah and Jeremy Monteiro, and has grown steadily since its 2022 debut.
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Sabah minister backs Sepilok Jazz as international tourism draw, conservation fundraiser
State Tourism Minister Datuk Jafry Arifin said Sepilok Jazz, now in its fifth edition, has the potential to become an international tourism product for Sabah. The festival, held at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan, raises funds for sea turtle conservation on Libaran Island and provides training for local musicians.
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Sabah API readings hit unhealthy levels in Kota Kinabalu and Kimanis due to haze
Two air quality monitoring stations in Sabah recorded unhealthy API readings on Sept 5, with Kota Kinabalu at 157 and Kimanis at 170. The haze is believed to originate from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, carried by winds across Borneo. The Sabah Department of Environment is on high alert and continuing patrols against open burning.
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Sepilok Jazz in Sandakan blends music with turtle conservation mission
Sepilok Jazz was held on September 4 and 5 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok, Sandakan. The event used jazz music as a medium to promote the conservation of turtles at Pulau Libaran. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards turtle conservation programs on the island.
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Tawau, Tuaran, Sandakan record unhealthy API readings as haze from Kalimantan fires hits Sabah
Three air quality monitoring stations in Sabah recorded unhealthy API readings on Sept 4 due to transboundary haze from fires in Kalimantan. The Tuaran Polytechnic station recorded 151, Tawau 153, and Sandakan 120, while the DOE reported no local hotspots.
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Police arrest man over Sandakan housebreaking, stolen goods found
Police in Sandakan arrested a man on Tuesday afternoon in connection with a housebreaking case at Bandar Ramai-Ramai. A search of the area uncovered a purple plastic bag containing items believed to be stolen, including shoes and scissors. The suspect is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code.
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API readings drop across six Sabah stations, Sandakan and Tawau back to moderate
Air Pollutant Index readings at six monitoring stations in Sabah dropped as of Thursday evening, with Sandakan and Tawau returning to moderate levels. Four stations, including Kota Kinabalu and Keningau, remain at unhealthy levels. The Sabah Department of Environment reported no major fire incidents or hotspots detected in the state.
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Sepilok Jazz adds new beat each year
Sepilok Jazz music director Cheong Kok An discusses the festival's growth since 2022, highlighting new additions for 2026 such as the Big Band Symposium and expanded youth initiatives like the Bakat Sepilok Jazz competition. The festival, held in Sepilok near Sandakan, aims to promote conservation through music and nurture young talent in Sabah.
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Shila Amzah to headline Sepilok Jazz with intimate, jazz-influenced set
Shila Amzah is set to headline Sepilok Jazz 2026 in Sandakan, Sabah, this weekend, where she plans to reinterpret her familiar songs in a more intimate, jazz-influenced style. She discusses her evolving approach to performance, emphasizing connection and storytelling over vocal spectacle, and appreciates the festival's blend of music, conservation, and young talent.
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Janet Lee brings Shanghai jazz to Sepilok
Malaysian jazz vocalist Janet Lee will perform at the Sepilok Jazz 2026 festival at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok, Sandakan, Sabah, on September 4 and 5. Her multilingual set will feature Shanghai jazz and songs from her albums, and she expressed excitement about returning to Sandakan and supporting the festival's environmental advocacy.
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Italian vocal orchestra takes on the Borneo rainforest
Italian a cappella group Mezzotono is set to perform at Sepilok Jazz 2026 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok, Sandakan. The event, which also supports sea turtle conservation, will mark the group's first performance in Sandakan.
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Sandakan assemblyman urges state to build shelter for homeless
Karamunting Assemblyman Alex Wong has called on the Sabah state government to consider building a shelter for homeless people in Sandakan. He made the call after a ground visit where traders and residents complained about the homeless disturbing business areas. Wong argued that simply moving homeless people on does not solve the problem.
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Sawit Kinabalu Sandakan Industrial Park to drive Sandakan growth
Sawit Kinabalu Chairman Datuk Hazem Mubarak Musa said the Sawit Kinabalu Sandakan Industrial Park (SK SIP) has the potential to drive economic and industrial growth in Sandakan, Sabah. He made the remarks after a site visit to several locations within the park, including the construction site for the new SKG Sandakan Region building and the Onshore Receiving Facility for the Sandakan Gas Development Project.
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Better lighting at recreational areas urged
Sandakan residents, especially runners and fitness enthusiasts, are urging authorities to improve lighting at the Sandakan Sports Complex and Ujana Elopura Park to make them safer for evening exercise. They also request accessible public toilets and believe better facilities could support local stall operators and encourage a more active lifestyle.