The Sabah Society

The Importance of Seagrass in Sabah
2026-03-07 20:00 - 22:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | The Sabah Society Secretariat, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88450, Malaysia
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

A Tale of Two Autonomies: Learning from Sarawak, Deciding for Sabah
2026-08-06 20:00 - 22:00
“Think and act like a Sarawakian.” It’s advice we Sabahans hear often—from our own leaders and even from voices across the South China Sea. Sarawak is admired as a model: stable, confidently autonomous, governed by home-grown parties with a strong regional identity. But should Sabah simply follow the same path? Arnold Puyok argues that Sarawak’s path was shaped by a history Sabah never shared—from the Brooke era to the anti-cession movement—that borrowing it wholesale may not serve Sabah best. Drawing on history and the idea that Sabah’s much-debated “fragmentation” may hold hidden democratic strengths, Puyok asks what it truly means for Sabah to chart its own course.

Staging Indigenous Heritage: Instrumentalisation, Brokerage and Representation
2026-09-03 20:00 - 22:00
Staging Indigenous Heritage: Instrumentalisation Brokerage and Representation in Malaysia explores the politics of Indigenous cultural villages in Malaysia. Demonstrating that such villages are often beset with the politics of brokerage and representation. By critically examining the relationship between Indigenous tourism and development through the establishment of Indigenous cultural villages, our speaker shows that the opportunities for self-representation and self-determination can become entwined with the politics of brokerage and the contradictory dualism of culture. By challenging the simplistic conceptualisation of Indigenous communities as harmonious and unified wholes, Cai shows how Indigenous cultures are actively forged, struggled over, and negotiated in contemporary Malaysia.　TE
