SABAH: August 2012

Pulau Di Sabah | Sabah Island

Aerial View of Sipadan Island , Semporna

Getting There

From Kota Kinabalu, take a 55-minute flight to Tawau and enjoy an hour’s drive to Semporna. From Semporna, Sipadan is another 40 minutes by speedboat. Be sure to pre-arrange transportation with your respective resort/dive operator.

Dinawan Island, Kinarut

Getting There

Pre-arranged tour is required through the tour operator

Pulau Tiga "Survivor Island", Kuala Penyu

Getting There
Kuala Penyu is 120km from Kota Kinabalu city. Take a bus from the Segama overhead bridge (next to the Post Office) and a one way-trip will cost you approximately RM18.00. A taxi ride from the taxi stand next to the Merdeka Field should cost around RM180.00 (up to groups of four) per way.

*Kindly note that boat transfers must be arranged through tour packages. Contact your travel agent for more information.

Mataking Island , Semporna

Getting there:
The journey to from Tawau to Semporna by road takes approximately one hour. The transfer to Mataking by speedboat takes about 45 minutes

Sipadan Island , Semporna

Getting There

From Kota Kinabalu, take a 55-minute flight to Tawau and enjoy an hour’s drive to Semporna. From Semporna, Sipadan is another 40 minutes by speedboat. Be sure to pre-arrange transportation with your respective resort/dive operator.

Dinawan Island, Kinarut

Getting There

Pre-arranged tour is required through the tour operator

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu (Capital City)

Getting there

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is accessible via 15 – 20 minutes speedboat ride from Kota Kinabalu. The departure and arrival point for the boat transfers is at the KK Ferry Terminal, situated next to the Malaysia Royal Custom Department. Boat transfers to the islands are available daily from 7.30am to 5pm.

Mataking Island , Semporna

Getting there:
The journey to from Tawau to Semporna by road takes approximately one hour. The transfer to Mataking by speedboat takes about 45 minutes.

Turtle Island Park, Sandakan

Getting There
The boat from the Sabah Parks jetty at Jalan Buli Buli Sim leaves at 9.30am and the ride to Selingan takes an hour.

*Kindly note that boat transfers must be arranged through tour packages. Contact your travel agent for more information.

Sandakan Memorial Day

Remember the fallen heroes of the Australian and British prisoners-of-war (POW) who have suffered and perished during the notorious Death Marches from Sandakan to Ranau in 1945. A memorial is held to commemorate the fallen heroes, on the 15th of August every year at the Sandakan Memorial Park, which was once the site of the Prisoners of War camp. Two thousand seven hundred Australian and British soldiers were taken to Sandakan to build airstrips. They were tortured, left malnourished and in poor physical condition. The soldiers were then forced to walk a torturous long walk to Ranau, a distance as far as 260km. Only six men survived. They managed to escape and were then fed and hidden by the locals. Every year, family members and friends of the prisoners-of-war, who perished during the Death March, travel to Sandakan to reflect and remember. This event also remembers local residents who risked their lives to help the POWs during this period. The poignant service starts as early as 7am where everyone relives the hardship of World War II. Special poems are being recited to remember those who endured the sufferings. A wreath laying ceremony, a floral tribute, which symbolizes how beautiful and yet short life is. A moment of silence to honor the departed as the service ends with the Reveille, which brings a profound meaning, a new beginning in a better world for the dead and to incite the living in their duty, a symbolic motion which means respect have been paid in remembrance of their comrades. August 15th is a date to remember as we pay accolade to those who perished during the infamous Death Marches. For further readings, please check on Sandakan-Ranau Death March dedicated website developed by TYK Adventure Tours Sdn Bhd.

Kundasang War Memorial | Taman Peringatan Kundasang,Ranau | Sabah

Established in 1962, this was one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who died in Sandakan and during the infamous death marches to Ranau during World War II. For more info, please go to http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/49-kundasang-war-memorial/ .

Sandakan Memorial Park | Taman Peringatan Sandakan | Sabah

This site commemorates a tragedy and atrocity which struck Sandakan between January and August 1945. The Memorial Park witnessed the death of Australian and British prisoners of war held by the Japanese in the Sandakan POW camp, within the sight of Allied victory in the Pacific war. For more information please visit :
http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/133-sandakan-memorial-park/