Borneo » Entertainment » Exhibitions

Museums

The Sabah museum is one of the prominent museums in Sabah state that showcases the region's rich cultural and historical heritage in the form of various galleries, each having its own theme. The main museum is the Sabah Museum complex which is located at the Bukit Istana Lama in Kota Kinabalu. Along with the museum there is also an ethnobotanic garden, a zoological garden and a heritage village, all in one place. The museum itself contains six galleries; namely, Islamic Civilization Gallery, the Archaeology and History Gallery, Natural History Gallery, Art Gallery, Ceramic and Brassware Gallery, Traditional Costumes, etc. The main objective of the museum is to protect and preserve Sabah’s rich civilizing legacy, for generations to come.

Address: Jalan Muzium, Bukit Istana Lama, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 253199, +60 88 225033

Photo Credit: Creative Commons/Geographer

Along the eastern coast area of Sabah are limestone caves formed around 20 – 25 million years back. ‘Agop’ in the local Orang Sungai language means cave. There are total three caves in the cliff, which stands 39 metres high. Agop suriba is on the first floor, lingtaga on the second and sawat on the last floor. What makes these caves so special is the presence of wooden coffins dating back to about 250 years. The coffins are said to be of Chinese travellers who settled in Sabah during those times. The caves also house a museum, which has an information centre, staircases, bridges and resting huts so that visitors are able to properly explore the caves.

Address: WDT 197, 90200 Kota Kinabatangan Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 89 565145, +60 89 551062

Located in Kampung Pulong, just 10 kilometres away from the nearby Tenom town, the Murut Cultural Centre is a place specially dedicated to the Murut tribe. Covering an area of 33 acres next to the Pegalan River, the building itself covers 20 acres. In the gallery, one can get to view a variety of artefacts such as jars, gongs and costumes of Murut tribe. The museum buildings are constructed out of local timber, while the architecture, is typical that of a Murut house.

Address: Lembaga Kebuyaan Negeri Sabah (Cawangan Tenom), W.D.T 72, 89909, Tenom, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 734506, +60 87 735365

For the chocoholics the ‘Teck Guan Cocoa Museum’ is a dream come true, where every bit of chocolate you have tasted will linger on forever. Tawau, where the museum is located, is an upcoming cocoa industry and here you will able to discover the process of how cocoa beans finally transform into a tantalising chocolate. Various products prepared from chocolate/cocoa are on sale at the museum.

Address: Mile 2, Tanjung Batu Laut, Teck Guan Factory, Tawau Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 89 775566

The Aquarium & Marine Museum is a division of the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI). The BMRI was started with the goal of encouraging education, research, training and conservation in marine development. The museum located within the BMRI campus, has one of the best aqua facilities for marine species such as free standing exhibition tanks, live open water reef exhibition centre, shallow reef exhibition centre, mangrove walk, etc.

Address: Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Aquarium & Marine Museum, Locked Bag No. 2073, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 320000
Fax: +60 88 320261

Address: Jalan Istana, Sandakan Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 225033, +60 88 253199
Fax: +60 88 240230

Bukit Tengkorak Archaeological Site Museum

Address: Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 253199
Fax: +60 88 240230

Kinarut Mansion Ruins Museum

Address: Kinarut, Papar Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 256199
Fax: +60 88 240230

Labuan Marine Museum

Address: Museum and Antiquity Department, Labuan International Seasports Complex, Jalan Tanjung Purun, 87008, F.T Labuan, Malaysia
Tel: +60 87 412924, +60 87 414403
Fax: +60 87 414462

Labuan Museum

Address: Museum and Antiquity Development, U 0 364 Jalan Dewan, F.T. Labuan, Malaysia
Tel: +60 87 414135, +60 87 422824
Fax: +60 87 414462

Monsopiad Cultural Village

Address: Kampung Kuai Kandazon Penampang Sabah P.O Box 153 89458 Tanjung Aru Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 87 761336
Fax: +60 87 761680

Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum

Address: Jln. Menteri-Off, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 538227, +60 88 538228
Fax: +60 88 240230

Galleries

The Sabah Art Gallery which presently is located in the science centre of the Sabah Museum cares about its main objective of treasuring art by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and making visitors aware about it. The gallery organizes seminars, exhibitions, workshops on a regular basis.

Address: Sabah Art Gallery, Jalan Muzium, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 268798, +60 88 268806

The ‘Tun Mustapha Gallery’ is dedicated to Sabah’s exceptional leader, Tun Mustapha, who was not just a freedom fighter, but also a leading man in Sabah’s independence struggle. The museum offers a glimpse in the life of Tun Mustapha in the form of his victories, struggles and tribulations. Images, costumes and other memorabilia’s special to Tun Mustapha are displayed here. The museum is located at the podium level of the Menara Tun Mustapha (Sabah Foundation Building).

Address: Menara Tun Mustapha (Sabah Foundation Building), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 88 326683
Fax: +60 88 438026