Sandakan

Sandakan is a coastal city in Sabah state on the northeastern shore of Borneo, stretching along an inlet of the Sulu Sea. Development runs from the reclaimed downtown area up into forested hills that limit growth to the west and south.

The British North Borneo Company founded the settlement in 1879 as an administrative center, drawing Chinese traders from Hong Kong. During World War II the city endured heavy bombing that destroyed much of the original built fabric.

The name comes from a Suluk word for pawnshop, referring to an earlier settlement on this site. Today markets and streets echo with a mix of Malay, Chinese dialects, and local languages that reflect the mixed ancestry of residents.

Three bus terminals link the city to destinations across Sabah and over the border into Indonesia. The airport lies several kilometers from the center and offers regular connections to major Malaysian cities.

The downtown area sits on seafloor reclaimed in the 1920s, creating flat building ground where open water once stood. That artificial extension remains visible today along the waterfront, where the ground drops sharply into the bay.

Location: Sandakan Division

Inception: 1658

Elevation above the sea: 10 m

Website: http://mps.sabah.gov.my

GPS coordinates: 5.83913,118.11586

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:02