Sabah marked a stylish new chapter in regional travel with the arrival of Batik Air Malaysia’s inaugural flight connecting Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The maiden landing was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute, a polished gesture signalling the beginning of a fresh air link between two of Borneo’s most dynamic gateways.

Carrying 119 passengers, the flight touched down to a warm Sabahan reception. Traditional garlands and a cultural welcome set the tone immediately, introducing visitors to a destination where heritage, hospitality, and modern rhythm coexist with ease.

Leading the welcoming delegation was YB Datuk Jafry Bin Ariffin, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, alongside YB Dr. Andi Md Shamsureezal bin Mohd Sainal, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, and Mr Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Tourism Board. They were joined by the Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah, the Senior Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Tourism Board, and the Head of Marketing of Batik Air, underscoring the strategic importance of this new route.

Beyond the runway, Kota Kinabalu reveals itself as a destination of contrasts done right. Just minutes from the city, travellers can escape to the crystal waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, where island-hopping, sunset sails, and barefoot luxury define the pace. Inland, Mount Kinabalu rises with quiet authority, offering one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic natural silhouettes. In the city, waterfront dining, vibrant local markets, and a growing contemporary café culture shape an urban lifestyle that feels relaxed yet refined.

This new Batik Air route strengthens inter-Borneo connectivity while positioning Kota Kinabalu as a gateway to nature, culture, and understated luxury, aligning seamlessly with Sabah’s tourism vision as the nation moves towards Visit Malaysia 2026.

#SabahTourism #ExploreSabah #VisitMalaysia2026

TripZilla Excellence Awards 2025

Sabah is deeply honoured to be named Best Nature & Wildlife Conservation Destination at the TripZilla Excellence Awards 2025.

This distinguished recognition, shaped by the voices and votes of travellers across the region, reflects Sabah’s unwavering commitment to protecting its extraordinary biodiversity and elevating responsible travel as part of its identity. It is a reminder that conservation is not just a duty here; it is a living culture carried through our forests, oceans, and communities.

The award was presented by TripZilla General Manager, Mr. Benjamin Phey, to Sabah Tourism Board CEO, Mr. Julinus Jeffery Jimit, a moment that captured Sabah’s continued leadership in nature-driven tourism. The ceremony offered a refined pause in a fast-moving world, celebrating a destination that lets travellers rediscover wonder in its purest form.

To everyone who voted and continues to support Sabah’s conservation-focused journey — thank you. Your belief fuels our mission to protect the wild places that make Sabah a rare treasure for generations to come.

photo courtesy of Sabah Tourism Board social media page

Gleam of Joy: A Radiant Prelude to the Season at Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu

There are festive evenings, and then there are moments when December feels as if it opens a hidden door and lets its first wave of wonder into the room. 

Beautiful Christmas tree after the lighting up 

Mr. Suresh, General Manager of Le Méridien, extended a warm welcome to all attendees at the ceremony.

At Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony returned with the elegance of a winter soirée and the warmth of a gathering meant to kindle the holiday mood.

The lobby shimmered with red baubles, golden glints and the soft perfume of pine, creating an ambience that felt like the season whispering its arrival. The towering tree stood dressed in luminous ornaments, glowing gently as if carrying stories from Christmases past.

When the lights came alive in a warm cascade, the space shifted into something enchantingly serene. The Seventh-Day Adventist Choir filled the evening with carols that unfurled like velvet ribbons, adding a sense of intimacy and nostalgia that only Christmas melodies can summon.

The celebration continued at Latest Recipe, where the festive buffet was presented like a curated holiday tableau — colours reminiscent of winter markets, flavours echoing the season’s generosity, and plates arranged with a quiet touch of indulgence. It felt less like dining and more like tasting the month of December itself.

Beyond the glow and the gourmet reverie, the night captured the essence of Christmas: people gathering under gentle light, sharing warmth, creating memories stitched with sincerity. A moment where joy didn’t shout but glowed.

Thursday, 11 December 2025

6pm–7pm: Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

7pm–10pm: Festive Buffet Review at Latest Recipe

Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu’s “Gleam of Joy” offered more than a seasonal celebration. It opened the festive calendar with elegance, heart and a touch of holiday enchantment that lingered like the final sparkle on a perfectly dressed tree. ✨

Shoney’s Christmas Roasts Return in Opulent Holiday Style

A seasonal masterpiece arrives once again, crafted with the precision of haute cuisine and the soul of a timeless Christmas tradition. Each roast is brushed with aromatic finesse, roasted to regal perfection, and presented as the true centrepiece of your holiday celebration. 

It’s more than a meal — it’s a moment dressed in gold, wrapped in warmth, and served with the quiet elegance of the season.

A Christmas feast made to dazzle your table and enchant your guests.

Available for dine-in or takeaway, perfect for soirées, intimate gatherings, and festive nights that call for culinary luxury.

Pre-order at least 3 days in advance to secure your signature holiday showstopper.

Call or WhatsApp 016-886 8786 for personalised assistance and reservations.

#shoneyskk

#deliciousstartshere

#gayastreet

#sabahborneo

#servenopork

#festivemenu

#kotakinabalu

Designing Sabah’s Smart Ageing Blueprint: A Research Journey Towards Long-Term Solutions

Over the past year, my work on Sabah’s ageing ecosystem — highlighted in recent Daily Express and Borneo Post features — has led me to examine not only the gaps in our current system, but also the type of long-term roadmap Sabah will eventually need. The first journal, now approaching publication, analyzed structural gaps across governance, community support, caregiver challenges, and rural–urban disparities.

Building on this foundation, I am now developing a second journal that focuses on a Smart Ageing Blueprint for Sabah. This blueprint draws on local realities, regional comparisons, and global ageing frameworks to outline how Sabah can strengthen its systems over the next decade. The manuscript is progressing well, and I look forward to sharing it once the academic review processes are completed.

In recent weeks, I’ve noticed growing interest from various institutions exploring ageing-related themes — which is encouraging. When more agencies start paying attention to the same issues, it signals that the conversation is maturing. It also suggests that ageing is finally being recognised as a strategic development agenda, not merely a welfare topic.

My intention has always been simple:

to contribute research that helps Sabah think long-term, plan cohesively, and build systems that reflect our community strengths.

Multiple voices entering the space is a positive sign. What matters now is that the work ahead — whether by researchers, NGOs, government bodies, or policy institutions — is grounded in evidence, shaped by collaboration, and aligned with Sabah’s unique realities.

As the new administration settles in, I hope that the insights from these studies can add value to broader policy discussions. Ageing affects every family, every district, and every part of our economy. A thoughtful roadmap will help Sabah move from conversation to coordinated action.

I look forward to contributing to this journey as the research evolves, and to supporting a collective effort towards a more inclusive and resilient ageing future.

KDCA and TV Sabah Sharpen the Cultural Vision for Kaamatan 2026 Through a Focused Reflection Session

PENAMPANG, 5 December 2025 — In a gathering that felt both ceremonial and forward-leaning, the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), in collaboration with TV Sabah, staged Kaamatan Reflection Day — a curated platform designed to refine the blueprint, rhythm and cultural direction of the 2026 Kaamatan Festival.

The session brought together the Kaamatan Steering and Coordination Committee (MICC), the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan leadership, Randawi Tavantang Kaamatan representatives, custodians of Bobolian traditions, the Publicity and Communications unit, and cultural ambassadors from traditional houses. At its core, the program aimed to distill the festival’s vision and values, ensuring that next year’s celebration emerges more structured, culturally tuned and rooted in the unifying spirit of the Kadazandusun people.

The day opened with remarks from KDCA Deputy President and Honorary Treasurer, Datuk Joseph Paulus Lantip, setting a tone that was part reflection, part renewal — the kind of moment where heritage meets contemporary cultural ambition.

What followed were four dynamic dialogue sessions, each crafted like editorial think-pieces: exploring the meaning of Kaamatan in modern Sabah, elevating leadership strategies, strengthening the familial unity within the KDCA ecosystem, and mapping a cultural roadmap for Kaamatan 2026 with a distinctly Kadazandusun identity.

As afternoon light settled over Hongkod Koisaan, the fifth and final session unveiled the collective reflection: sharper management strategies, wider youth engagement, fortified cultural content, and a more enduring communication framework for the upcoming festival season.

The program concluded with a closing address by KDCA President, Huguan Siou Tan Sri DSP Joseph Pairin Datuk Kitingan, whose presence lent a sense of gravitas and generational continuity to the moment.

This reflective initiative is poised to become a catalyst, shaping Kaamatan 2026 into a celebration that feels more curated, inclusive and aligned with the aspirations of today’s Kadazandusun community — a cultural festival not only preserved, but thoughtfully re-imagined for a new era.

Source from TVsabah 

KDCA Dan TV Sabah Mantapkan Halatuju Kaamatan 2026 Melalui Sesi Refleksi Berfokus - TV Sabah | Berita Terkini

JUARAGYM REOPENS ON 15 DECEMBER 2025 - Aeropod Commercial Square

The air in Aeropod hums with a quiet electricity. A familiar name is coming home, not as a repeat, but as a refined evolution. On 15 December 2025, at 7AM, JuaraGym reopens its doors — more intentional, more elevated and more deeply rooted in the identity of the community it serves.

For founder Ben Uzair, this move isn’t simply a change of address. It is a return to the soil that shaped him. Tanjung Aru is where his story began, where school mornings paved the rhythm of youth and where early dreams took form. Bringing JuaraGym back here feels less like strategy and more like destiny aligning itself.

The new space reflects that sentiment. Crafted after weeks of shifting, planning and reshaping, the gym stands as a sculpted statement of growth. It is built with the members at its core — those who waited, checked in, encouraged and believed in the journey long before the lights came back on. Their loyalty became the blueprint.

Inside, the environment breathes movement. Training zones flow with purpose. Recovery areas speak of balance. Everything is designed to elevate the modern pursuit of well-being. JuaraGym has always championed strength, but here, strength expands into something fuller. Regular training becomes a ritual for clearer minds, steadier moods, sharper focus and improved long-term health. Wellness is no longer an accessory to fitness; it becomes the architecture.

Yet through all the refinement, JuaraGym retains its unmistakable pulse — that golden thread of community, discipline and shared ambition. The energy that members know so well hasn’t changed; it has only matured.

The reopening signals not just a comeback, but a continuation of the Juara ethos:

Stronger community. Better space. Same Juara energy.

As Aeropod awakens, JuaraGym steps forward — polished, grounded and ready to write its next chapter with the people who inspired it from the beginning.

See you at Aeropod.

— Ben Uzair, Founder, JuaraGym

#JuaraGym #KotaKinabalu #Sabah #TanjungAru #Aeropod #CommunityFirst #CreateYourBestSelf #EndureConquerBe

The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu | Feast Preview Night | 5th December 2025

The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu stepped into the holiday season with the poise of a grand debutante, unveiling not just its freshly revitalized interiors but an entire December moodboard of elegance, warmth, and cultivated celebration. 

The Feast Preview Night became a tableau of indulgence: velvet laughter drifting through the air, conversations shimmering like champagne bubbles, and a sprawling gastronomic display curated for those who appreciate a well-made moment.

 

The hotel’s MarCom team assembled a distinctly modern court of storytellers: media, bloggers, content creators, and press whose digital lenses and editorial instincts captured the night’s aesthetic pulse. A specially invited choir delivered sonic velvet, their harmonies filling the lobby with an almost cinematic glow.

The Christmas tree stood as the evening’s sculptural centerpiece, dressed in seasonal opulence and framed by parcels that echoed the ritual of generosity and the quiet joy of receiving. As the clock kissed 7:30pm, the hotel’s Managing Director, alongside the General Manager, MarCom and Sales teams, gathered for the marquee moment: the lighting ceremony. Their young guest of honor, Ms. Amber, pressed the illuminated screen, and the lobby erupted in a cascade of light and music, as if the building itself exhaled into celebration.

FAVSTYLE Magazine and Mejarasakk Media were among the invited chroniclers, translating the night into imagery and narrative that will live far beyond the walls of the hotel.

With this luminous overture, The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu extends a graceful wish to all. May this Christmas glow warmly, and may the year 2026 arrive bold, brilliant, and beautifully new.