Updates from Luc on SV Sloepmouche September 2018:

Immigration and Customs are now located in the same (new) building at Sabah Ports at Jesselton Point, past the Mercure Hotel, on the coastal road, just after the roundabout, just before the KKCC Show Gallery storefront. On the other side of the new office building, you have the old Port building (empty now) and old gate (locked). Immigration is on the right side of the building and Customs is on the road front. From town, you can walk, take a taxi or bus.

For less small boat traffic you can anchor in front of Oceanus Shopping Mall, near the backside of Sutera Marina, in the middle of fishing and tourist boat moorings. Fairly well protected during SW monsoon. Not very clean water as it is in front of the town.

To land ashore, one could go into the river south of the anchorage or use the metal ladder near the mall or ask the Sabah Park jetty people permission to leave your dinghy there at the floating dock located on the other side of the fish market (with bow & aft docking line to keep dinghy safe during tidal changes and choppy seas). This last is probably the most secure place. You are right at Wisma Merdeka, one of the malls.

If you wish you can visit some of the attractions on the East Coast of Sabah, but do not wish to go with your boat because of Filipino terrorists. Flying from KK is easy, fast and inexpensive. You can book a very well organized tour from Mr Lai of Sandakan Hotspot Eco-Tours.

Security facts for Sabah, Malaysia Borneo.

At the moment, mid-2016, a lot of “news” goes around in the yachter world of Sabah. The latest was a yacht was sailing from Kudat (North of Sabah) towards the Philippines. After leaving port, they were contacted by radio by the marina of Kudat informing them that they should sail back because of the major increase of dangers for yachters.

The marina was informing this yacht following “news” from Esscom (which is the name of the special Malaysian military force deployed in Sabah since 2013).
I am leaving in Sabah, goes around Sabah and my kind of surprise of the level of fear among yachters now.
What are, actually, the facts?

They had been always a fear of “piracy” or “insecurity” etc for yachters sailing in this part of the world. However, every year, hundreds of yachts sail across this area without any problem. If you add fishing boats, coastal cargo, cruise ship the number increase even more.

IN 2013, a group of about a hundred armed “peoples” came from the Philippines to Sabah and created problems near Lahad Datu, on the east coast of Sabah. It was an embarrassment for the Malaysian government who was caught not able to control this border.

In a show of power, the Esscom was formed and deployed to “bring back security”. Three years later Esscom is still there and operating but the situation had not changed.

If you go to the East coast of Sabah (which I do) you will notice that life is, as usual, resorts are full and booked a long time in advance (like in Sipadan).
So where those fear factors come from?

Maybe you should look at the fact that Esscom had been deployed more for the internal politic issue than for efficiency. After three years of presence, there is still a huge amount of illegal in Sabah, incidents still occurred even in the middle of Sandakan at night with the speed boat carrying aggressors sailing during the curfew with the Esscom boats officially patrolling the area

The situation is very complicated but is, mostly, of the politic issue (a huge amount of illegal coming, leaving and staying in Sabah for the last few decades under very complaisant eyes of the government which make the same government in a difficult situation to acknowledge the present situation they let happen for decades).

In the last decades, and even longer, Malacca Straight was reporting more “piracy” incidents than in Sabah, by far. Did Malaysia authorities declare Malacca Strait a no go zone for yachters?

I can only urge yachters in Sabah or wishing to sail in or around Sabah to look at facts to avoid “news” to become gossips

Maybe yachters could try to get in touch with yachters staying in Sabah and/or the Philippines to have their latest input then make their own decision?

Posted on behalf of Sue Goodrick – latest on Sutera Harbour Marina
Sutera Harbour is a walkable distance from the city but an A/C shuttle service is available. Many facilities because the marina is part of a resort, including pools, restaurants, gym, bowling, billiards, tennis, squash and badminton courts.

Marina rates (for 30′ to 70′ yachts) at 1 October 2014 are: *RM65.00 per ft per month for visitors; RM52.64 per ft per month for 1-year term members and RM32.55 per foot per month for life members. (*RM = Malaysian ringgit. $US1= approx RM3). In the past cruisers have found Sutera marina a secure place to leave their yachts and, depending on timeframes, many have become club members to take advantage of less expensive berthing rates.

Agree that Tanjong Aru is not welcoming any visiting yachts. Also, Sutera harbour wants 30 RM (about $10us) as a landing fee to use their docks, get water or leave rubbish PER DAY without being able to use any of the resorts’ facilities.