Media in Sabah: Newspapers, TV & Radio Guide
What does Sabah's media landscape look like?
Sabah has its own distinct media: English dailies led by the Daily Express and Borneo Post, long-running Chinese newspapers, RTM Sabah and TV Okey on television, and RTM's Sabah FM with local stations in Tawau, Sandakan and Keningau.
Sabah's media landscape at a glance
Sabah has a media scene that is distinct from Peninsular Malaysia, shaped by the state's history, its multilingual population, and its geography. English-language journalism is strong here, while Chinese-language dailies have documented Sabah life since before the formation of Malaysia. Broadcasting reaches from the city into the interior through RTM's statewide and local radio stations.
This hub introduces Sabah's newspapers, television and radio, with linked guides that go deeper into the history and the players behind each. Whether you are a resident, a researcher, or a visitor wanting to follow local news, it is a practical map of where Sabahans get their information.
Newspapers in Sabah
Print remains influential in Sabah. The Daily Express put out its first issue on 1 March 1963 and describes itself as the state's largest-circulation daily (Daily Express, checked 7 October 2026). The Borneo Post, founded in Sibu in 1978, expanded into Sabah in 1986 and covers both Borneo states (The Borneo Post, checked 7 October 2026). Chinese-language journalism also runs deep: the Overseas Chinese Daily News, sister paper of the Daily Express, was already in print in British North Borneo before Malaysia was formed.
Television and radio
On screen, Sabahans watch RTM's national channels with Sabah-specific bulletins, alongside TV Okey, the RTM channel launched on 21 March 2018 to feature local dialects and community voices from Sabah and Sarawak (New Straits Times, checked 7 October 2026), and the online platform Borneo.TV. On the airwaves, RTM runs Sabah FM and the local stations Tawau FM, Sandakan FM and Keningau FM (Bernama, checked 7 October 2026).
Languages of Sabah's media
Few Malaysian states publish and broadcast in as many languages as Sabah. English and Chinese lead the daily newspapers, Malay anchors broadcasting, and indigenous languages have had a place in print too. Several papers carried Kadazan pages, though by June 2020 the New Sabah Times was reported to be the only one still doing so (The Star, checked 7 October 2026), and TV Okey was set up to feature more local dialects from Sabah and Sarawak. This multilingual mix mirrors Sabah's 14 main indigenous groups (2020 census) and dozens of sub-groups.
Explore the media guide
Following Sabah news as a visitor
For visitors and new residents, the English-language dailies are the easiest way into local affairs, with the Daily Express and Borneo Post both publishing online. RTM bulletins and TV Okey give a sense of the cultural calendar, while regional radio is handy on long interior drives.
Bookmark the Daily Express and Borneo Post websites for English coverage, tune to RTM's Sabah FM, and check TV Okey listings during festival season for cultural programming you will not find on national channels.