The Sabah Society

Symbolic Representation of Sabah
2025-06-19 20:00 - 22:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | The Sabah Society Secretariat, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88450, Malaysia
Jared works closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture (MOTAC), the National Cultural Council (Majlis Kebudayaan Negara, MAKEN) is an independent advisory council with the purpose to develop, to grow and to empower the nation’s arts, culture and heritage, in accordance with the Dasar Kebudayaan Negara (DAKEN) 2021.

Jared aims to refine cultural perceptions of symbolic and artistic representation of Sabah. This talk is part of an ongoing effort to ensure appropriate cultural representation.

KK's "Street Kids": Whose Trauma?
2025-07-08 20:00 - 22:00
Whose trauma is truly being addressed in policy responses and in public discourse regarding street kids? Dr Sanen Marshall and Dr Ayesah Uy Abubakar explore whether popular labeling and representation perpetuates derogatory stereotypes or reflects social realities.

Sandokan: The "Hero of Marudu" in Italian Literature
2025-07-25 20:00 - 22:00
Sandokan is a 19th century hero who fought the British invaders. In a book written by the Italian Author Emilio Salgari (1862-1911) Sandokan is a contemporary of the 19th century hero of Marudu, Syarif Osman. Both hail from the area that is today called Sabah. Dr Gerlich traces the history of these two figures in Sabah’s past.

Buaya Sabah: Guardians of Our Heritage & Rivers
2025-09-26 20:00 - 22:00
Sabah is home to the saltwater crocodile, a species that has long shaped the ecology and culture of our rivers. Dr Sai Explores the biology and ecology of C. porosus in maintaining healthy ecosystems and our role in ensuring that crocodiles remain an enduring part of Sabah’s landscapes and identity.

The Land of The Disappearing Identity: Adaptability in The Sabahan Ethnic Landscape
2025-10-30 20:00 - 22:00
Sabah’s rich ethnic landscape is shifting. As traditions meet modern life, what happens to identity? In this month’s talk, we explore how Sabahans are adapting to cultural change and how and whether this truly affects ethnic identity. This eye-opening talk invites you to reflect on what it means to belong in a land where identity is both disappearing and transforming. Whether you’re Sabahan, Malaysian, or simply curious; come listen, question, and connect.

Bajau Laut: The Sea Is Our Home
2025-11-13 20:00 - 22:00
Bajau Laut: The Sea is Our Home is a poignant documentary by Joo Peter, capturing the vanishing way of life and struggles of the sea-dwelling Bajau Laut in Semporna, Sabah. The screening will last 63 minutes, followed by a discussion with the film-maker on the social issues that affect the Bajau Laut. Join us on Thursday the 13th of November to understand the cultural identity and fragile maritime existence of the Bajau Laut.

Implementing Totally Protected Species Action Plans: Intelligence, Enforcement, and Digital Innovation
2025-12-10 20:00 - 22:00
Goossens’ talk features the Danau Girang Field Centre’s work on consolidating the intelligence, enforcement and prosecution capacity to mitigate wildlife crimes in Sabah. This is done through the establishment of specialised units such as the Intelligence Unit, the Forensic Unit and the Rapid Response Teams for the Sabah Wildlife Department. Join us on Wednesday to hear more about what we can do to protect our wildlife in Sabah.

Beyond the Jungle: A Journey in Conservation
2026-01-22 20:00 - 22:00
In Yulinda’s presentation, she will highlight remarkable flora and fauna discoveries from her work in Tawau, share insights from her field research, technical DSLR camera trap documentation, and showcase her efforts in promoting Tawau as a destination for nature lovers through strong conservation-driven tourism initiatives. Her journey into conservation began unexpectedly. Growing up as a local Sabahan with little connection to nature, she later developed a deep passion for wildlife and forests through hands-on field experience.

Spiders of Borneo Book Launch
2026-01-26 18:00 - 21:30
A keen nature photographer, specialising in the spiders, insects and birds of Borneo, Wong’s works have been used by various magazines and publications. He is currently a member of the Malaysian Nature Society-Bird Conservation Council Records Committee, which assesses rare bird records for Malaysia. He authored A Naturalist Guide to the Birds of Borneo, also published by John Beaufoy.

Reptiles of Borneo Book Launch
2026-01-26 18:00 - 21:30
Indraneil Das is a Professor at the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. He has a DPhil from Oxford University and was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. He has authored many books on reptiles and amphibians.

Gourmet Tuhau: A Sabahan Delicacy
2026-02-26 20:00 - 22:00
From garden soil to shared stories, Shernytta Poloi’s Gourmet Tuhau Sambal is more than a condiment. Rooted in Dusun village life in Tenghilan, her cooking is a tribute to the stories she grew up listening to while preparing food in her family kitchen. She works closely with traditional ingredients sourced from her own garden and the local secrere(market). Inspired by stories shared during paddy harvesting, her food carries memory and meaning. Through her Tuhau sambal, Shernytta keeps Dusun food traditions alive in simple and thoughtful ways, one jar at a time.

The Importance of Seagrass in Sabah
2026-03-07 20:00 - 22:00
Seagrass is often mistaken for seaweed, but it is a completely different organism. Unlike seaweed, seagrass is a marine flowering plant that thrives in shallow coastal waters. It plays a vital role in marine ecosystems by acting as a natural engineer of the seafloor, providing essential habitats for countless marine species, enhancing coastal protection against erosion, and capturing and storing carbon. Beyond these functions, seagrass contributes to water quality, biodiversity, and the overall health of our oceans. Come and learn how we can all play a part in protecting and conserving seagrass habitats.

The Borneo Graveyard: 1941–1945
2026-03-17 20:00 - 22:00
This book portrays the horrific story of Borneo during the Japanese occupation of 1941-1945. Thousands of Australian, British, Dutch and Indian POWs, internees, locals of Borneo and Javanese ramusha perished in Borneo during this period. Allied POWs, who were sent to various POW camps in British and Dutch Borneo, were to die of maltreatment, malnutrition or execution. Many were forced to walk Death Marches in the jungle which came to a horrifying conclusion. This book is a tribute to the strength of character and bravery of those who endured the Japanese occupation.

Birding in Sabah — Nenita Tan
2026-04-24 20:00 - 22:00
Join acclaimed photographer Nenita Tan for an immersive journey into birding in Sabah. Sabah is a global biodiversity hotspot, home to over 600 bird species—from the iconic Great Argus to elusive endemics. Through her stunning lens, Nenita shares the stories behind her most breathtaking shots, practical field tips for avian photography, and the raw beauty of Borneo’s rainforests. Whether you’re a birder or a shutterbug, discover the magic of Sabah’s winged wonders.t

Across The Sulu Sea: A Journey Between Separated Twins
2026-05-07 08:00 - 17:00
In “Across The Sulu Sea”, Philip Golingai traces the lived realities of communities split between Sabah and the southern Philippines. Blending reportage with personal narrative, he explores identity, migration, and the porous borders that bind “separated twins” across history, politics, and culture.

Navigating Climate Uncertainty — Data, Disasters and the Future of Sabah
2026-05-21 20:00 - 22:00
We are facing a shocking state of affairs in Sabah: there is not enough water for everyone in Sabah. Talking about our water issues, our speaker touches on the much neglected climatological and hydrological aspects of our water issues. Join us for a talk about how climate change affects the physical ecosystem — the hydrology and the climatology of Sabah and learn about other matters which affect our standard of living.

Travelling the World to Photograph All Wild Cats
2026-06-04 20:00 - 22:00
Following the traditions of birders, our speaker, Marc Bozon is on a quest to spot all wild cat species across the globe within a single year, while also aiming to visit and support conservation projects in each country that focus on wildlife protection and habitat conservation, as well as documenting wildlife, meeting local conservationists, and promoting awareness on the importance of biodiversity and protecting natural habitats.

The Importance of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) and Green Building Index (GBI) for Sabah
2026-06-16 20:00 - 22:00
Speaker will explain why ESG principles are vital for building sustainable organisations from voluntary ideals to mandatory considerations for adverse climate risk management, profitability, and competitive advantage with mandatory occupational safety and ethical governance. She will highlight the importance of green building practices through Green Building Index (GBI) to shape a sustainable future for Sabah. “The question is not whether we can afford to build green, but whether we can afford not to,” she stresses on the needs for energy efficiency to waste management.therthee

Nomadic Adventures with the Golden Eagle
2026-06-25 20:00 - 22:00
In search of the famed golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) of Mongolia, Nenita regales to us the stories of extreme endurance that was demanded of her while she braved the Altai Mountains to capture the photograph of the treasured bird. Join us for a night of storytelling where Nenita shares with us tales of her travels with the nomads around the vast remote tundra of Western Mongolia. A birding journey that involves encounters with camels, nomads, Mongolian culture, and much more!aba
