Kota Kinabalu: Sekolah Adat Anak Negeri Sabah (SAANS) has formalised strategic partnerships with universities across Borneo, including institutions in Indonesia’s new capital territory, in a move aimed at strengthening regional academic and heritage cooperation.
“This is not just symbolic on paper. This is the rise of a new narrative for the Borneo archipelago,” said Pertubuhan Masyarakat Adat Anak Negeri Sabah President cum SAANS founder, Shalmon Sanangan.
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“When economic geopolitics shifts toward Nusantara, SAANS ensures that cultural roots, indigenous education and conservation move together at the forefront.
“We are fully committed to strengthening these regional ties so that Borneo is seen by the world as an unparalleled model of global sustainability,” he said.
The signings took place during the fourth Borneo Studies Network gathering hosted by UMS in Tuaran recently, which brought together some 30 delegates comprising professors and academics from 11 universities across Borneo.
The SAANS signed a Letter of Intent with Universitas Balikpapan (UNIBA) from Nusantara, East Kalimantan, the site of Indonesia’s new capital.
UNIBA rector Prof Dr Isradi Zainal represented his institution at the signing, describing the partnership as a critical academic and cultural bridge for the future of Borneo.
Sanangan said the shift of economic geopolitics toward Nusantara made the tie-up with UNIBA particularly timely.
“Borneo is no longer merely an ancient island rich in resources. It is now a centre of future innovation guided by heritage and science,” he said.
The SAANS also formalised a partnership with Universitas Islam Kalimantan Muhammad Arsyad Al Banjari (Uniska) from South Kalimantan, completing a triangle of cooperation linking Sabah, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.
Sanangan said the collaboration reinforced efforts to preserve the unique identity of the Borneo people.
“We are ensuring that the aspect of cultural roots, indigenous education and conservation of nature moves in tandem at the forefront,” he said.
On the domestic front, the SAANS entered a formal agreement with the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP) at UMS.
The document was signed by Associate Professor Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim on behalf of the UMS vice-chancellor.
Sanangan said the partnership with IBTP-UMS would inject scientific research and biodiversity conservation into SAANS’s indigenous education framework.
“Through this synergy, we bring together local wisdom from SAANS, scientific support from UMS and the dynamic vision of universities across the Kalimantan corridor,” he said.
“The agreements encompass three main areas of cooperation. The first covers cross-border expertise sharing in the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, including Borneo’s natural treasures.
“The second involves student and academic mobility programmes between Malaysia and Indonesia to produce a generation of young people with a global outlook grounded in their own cultural roots.
“The third focuses on high-impact research into traditional medicine, indigenous knowledge documentation, and tropical ecosystem sustainability,” he said.
The SAANS management also announced a planned reciprocal visit to Nusantara, East Kalimantan, to ensure the agreed cooperation translates into effective and sustained action following the signings.
Sanangan said the partnerships are expected to draw the attention of international observers, United Nations agencies such as Unesco and global green fund investors.
