Sabah in the Eyes of the World

1 July 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah continues to advance in the realm of digital broadcasting with the launching of Borneo.TV, a new streaming platform that showcases the faces, voices, and culture of the state to an international audience.

Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said with the slogan “Cerita Sabah di Mata Dunia” (“Sabah in the Eyes of the World”), is set to become the primary channel for delivering authentic content, original documentaries, arts and culture, and the natural beauty of Sabah through a more modern, flexible, and global digital approach.

“This is not merely a launch of a digital media platform, but a stage for Sabah’s children to create and shape the image of the state through their own narratives,” he said when speaking at the Borneo.TV Launch Ceremony at Banquet Hall in Menara Kinabalu, on Tuesday.

Hajiji stated that the launch of Borneo.TV is a strategic move in the era of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming media, which no longer relies solely on conventional channels, and also provides local content creators with the opportunity to reach a broader market.

“Today’s lifestyle changes, from communication to entertainment, are driven by digital technology. Borneo.TV is a timely response to these changes and an opportunity for us to present our own content,” he added.

He further mentioned that the state government fully supports the implementation of Borneo.TV as it is not just a broadcasting platform, but also a strategic medium for telling the true stories of Sabah’s people to the world.

“The broadcasting industry today demands creativity, daring, and sensitivity to audience needs. I want Borneo.TV to be a space that challenges norms, introduces new ideas, and reveals Sabah’s true face,” he said.

Hajiji also emphasised that Borneo.TV personnel should view their roles not just as technical routines, but as a form of creative art that shapes the state’s image. The content produced must carry values, identity, and narratives that build and inspire.

He urged local artists, digital influencers, and creative industry players to utilise Borneo.TV as a platform to showcase original works and the voices of Sabah’s communities inclusively and with integrity.

The event also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Government, represented by the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat, and IB Media Consultant Work Sdn Bhd, the operator of Borneo.TV, which operates without any government funding.

“This model of implementation demonstrates the commitment and confidence of the private sector in Sabah’s digital broadcasting potential. I am confident that this approach will position Borneo.TV as a competitive and sustainable platform,” he explained.

Hajiji also expressed his appreciation to the SMJ Secretariat and IB Media for their success in realising Borneo.TV under the Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 Roadmap, which emphasizes the development of the creative economy sector as one of the key drivers of the state.

“I call on all parties,  government, private sector, and the community, to support this effort and use this space to create, share, and deliver Sabah’s narratives as we wish the world to see them,” he concluded.