Sabah Emergency Numbers: 999, Police, Ambulance & Hospitals
What is the emergency number in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah?
The main emergency number in Kota Kinabalu and all of Sabah is 999 (police, ambulance, fire and rescue). For an ambulance, dial 999. Queen Elizabeth Hospital in KK is on 088-517555.
Which number do I call?
- Someone is hurt, in danger, or there is a fire 999 Police, ambulance, fire and rescue, Civil Defence and maritime, all through MERS 999.
- Police matter in KK that is not an emergency 088-529 222 Kota Kinabalu police department.
- Power cut 15454 SESB outage line.
- Mental health crisis 15555 Ministry of Health HEAL line.
- Family or domestic violence 15999 Talian Kasih (KPWKM). WhatsApp 019-261 5999.
Tap a number to call it from your phone. Sources for each number are in the tables below.
General Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Emergency | 999 | Police, fire and rescue, ambulance, Civil Defence and maritime (MERS 999) |
| Police (Kota Kinabalu) | 088-529 222 | Police Department (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Fire & Rescue | 999 | Fire and Rescue Department via MERS 999 |
| Civil Defence | 999 | Malaysia Civil Defence Force via MERS 999 |
| Ambulance | 999 | Ministry of Health ambulance via MERS 999 |
| Maritime Rescue | 999 | Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency via MERS 999 |
Save the KK police number (088-529 222) and your nearest hospital in your contacts. The SaveME999 app is an extra channel for reaching emergency services, but a 999 voice call remains the main channel (TM, checked 7 October 2026).
Hospitals
Kota Kinabalu
| Hospital | Phone | Type | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth Hospital | 088-517 555 | Government | Emergency & Trauma Dept |
| Queen Elizabeth Hospital II | 088-324 600 | Government | Emergency & Trauma Dept |
| Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah | 088-522 600 | Government (women & children) | Call to check |
| Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu | 088-518 888 (ambulance: 088-518 911) | Private | 24hr A&E + air ambulance |
| KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital | 088-322 000 (emergency: 088-322 199) | Private | 24hr A&E |
| Jesselton Medical Centre | 088-366 333 (emergency: 088-366 399) | Private | 24hr emergency (JMC, checked 7 October 2026) |
Sandakan
| Hospital | Phone | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Duchess of Kent Hospital | 089-248 600 | Government |
Government hospital numbers from the JKN Sabah hospital list; private hospital numbers from the Sabah Tourism Board and Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu (all checked 7 October 2026). Full directory on the Hospitals & Clinics page.
Fire & Rescue
Sabah's fire and rescue services operate under the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba). In addition to fires, Bomba handles road accidents, water rescues, confined space rescues, and hazardous material incidents.
| Station | Number |
|---|---|
| Fire & Rescue (all of Malaysia) | 999 |
Tourist Police
For theft, lost documents or other police matters, go to the nearest police station. The numbers below are from the Sabah Tourism Board (checked 7 October 2026). The tourism hotline is for tourism emergency matters only. For anything life-threatening, call 999.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Tourism Emergency Hotline | +60 19-939 2121 |
| Police Semporna | 089-782 020 |
Helplines & Hotlines
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Talian Kasih | 15999 | KPWKM helpline, including family and domestic violence. WhatsApp: 019-261 5999 (KPWKM, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Mental Health Crisis (HEAL) | 15555 | Ministry of Health mental health crisis line (Utusan Malaysia, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Poison Emergency / Information | 04-653 6999 | National Poison Centre (PRN). Mon to Fri 8am to 10pm; Sat, Sun and public holidays 8am to 5pm (PRN USM, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Women's Aid (WAO) | 03-3000 8858 | Hotline 9am to 5pm. SMS/WhatsApp TINA: 018-988 8058, 24 hours (WAO, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Electricity (SESB) | 15454 | Sabah Electricity outage hotline (Bernama, checked 7 October 2026) |
Wildlife & Marine Emergencies
Sabah is home to protected species including orangutans, pygmy elephants, sun bears and proboscis monkeys. If you find distressed wildlife or face human-wildlife conflict, contact the Sabah Wildlife Department. If anyone is in danger, call 999.
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Sabah Wildlife Department | wildlife.sabah.gov.my |
Some jellyfish stings and snake bites can be serious. Call 999 and get to the nearest hospital straight away.
Roadside Assistance
For a road accident where anyone is hurt or at risk, call 999. For a breakdown, call your car rental company or your motor insurer's roadside assistance line. Save that number before you set off.
Diving Emergencies
Sabah is a world-class diving destination (Sipadan, Mabul, Lankayan). For decompression sickness or other diving emergencies:
| Facility | Details |
|---|---|
| Recompression chamber | Before you dive, ask your dive operator where the nearest recompression chamber is and how they would get you there |
| Emergency | Call 999 for diving emergencies |
Before diving in Sabah, check that your travel or dive insurance (for example from Divers Alert Network) covers recompression treatment and emergency evacuation.
Frequently asked questions
Q Does 911 work in Malaysia?
Do not rely on it. Malaysia's national emergency number is 999, which connects police, fire and rescue, ambulance (Ministry of Health), Civil Defence and the Maritime Enforcement Agency (MyGOV, checked 7 October 2026).
Q Can I call 999 from a foreign phone with no Malaysian SIM?
Dial 999 from any working phone. We could not confirm on an official page whether calls connect without a SIM card or credit, so keep a working local or roaming SIM in your phone while you travel.
Q How does ambulance service work in rural Sabah?
In remote or rural areas, an ambulance can take much longer to arrive because of distance and road conditions.
Options:
- Government ambulance via 999 (Ministry of Health)
- Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu runs a private ground and air ambulance service across Sabah. Ambulance line: 088-518 911 (Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu, checked 7 October 2026)
Q Do I need travel insurance for hospitals in Sabah?
Highly recommended. Non-citizens are charged without subsidy at Ministry of Health facilities (Utusan Malaysia, checked 7 October 2026), and private hospitals cost more. Choose cover that includes medical treatment and evacuation, and ask the hospital whether your insurer offers direct billing.
Q What should I do if I lose my passport in Sabah?
Step 1: Make a police report at the nearest police station and keep a copy.
Step 2: Contact your country's nearest embassy or consulate (see our Consulates page) about a replacement or emergency travel document.
Step 3: Ask the Immigration Department of Malaysia what you need before you leave the country.
Q What are the most common nature emergencies in Sabah?
Nature-related emergencies visitors may face include:
- Jellyfish stings: some stings can be serious. Call 999 or see a doctor.
- Snake bites: call 999 and get to a hospital straight away.
- Diving injuries: call 999 and tell your dive operator. See the Diving Emergencies section below.
- Heat illness and dehydration: a risk when hiking or out in the sun. Rest in shade, drink water and see a doctor if symptoms are severe.
Q Is there a tourist-specific emergency number?
Yes. The Tourism Emergency Hotline listed by the Sabah Tourism Board is +60 19 939 2121, for tourism emergency matters only (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). For life-threatening situations, always call 999 first.
Sources & References 15 sources
Last verified: October 2026
Government & Emergency Services
- MERS 999 Official MERS 999 system information
- MyGOV: MERS 999 Emergency Line Agencies connected through 999
- JKN Sabah: Hospital di Sabah Official list of Sabah government hospitals and phone numbers
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital QE Hospital official page
- TM: NG MERS 999 statement SaveME999 app is a complementary channel to 999 calls
- Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime search & rescue
Healthcare
Helplines & Support
- Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) Domestic violence support
- KPWKM: Talian Kasih 15999 Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development helpline
- Utusan Malaysia: HEAL 15555 MOH mental health crisis line
- Bernama: SESB hotline 15454 Sabah Electricity outage hotline
- Sabah Wildlife Department Wildlife rescue & human-wildlife conflict