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AT the launching of the book “What Sabahans should know” on Feb 14, Professor Datuk Danny Wong made one stunning claim only a renowned Sabahan historian would notice, or bother to know:

“As a State, Sabah has an exceptionally large number of newspapers in different languages. No other states in Malaysia has such a large number of newspapers!” he said.   

Why is that the case? Nobody seems to have asked. 

Prof Danny went on to prove it by naming them one by one, all of which are listed comprehensively in his speech which we publish here as an important historical record which no other historian in Malaysia bother. 

It is certain most Sabahans will find the list and personalities of interest.

To keep the record authentic, we let Danny’s speech run verbatim.   

Danny started his speech with gratitude to Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, for “taking time off his busy schedule” to launch the book on behalf the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.       

“I also would like to thank James Sarda for inviting me to be part of this project, and to Mrs Patel (Datin Norlailah) for the patience in waiting for the completion of this book.

Danny confessed for various reasons, Covid disruptions included, it took 13 long years to get the book finally out from the day Patel first expressed his wish before he passed away.  

Met Patel only once 

“I only met Mr Fauzi Patel once, that was the occasion we went to see him about the book project,” Danny recalled. 

“He was very kind, and during that meeting, which was shortly before his passing, I suddenly realized that I have seen Mr Patel before – when I was a school boy in La Salle, we had an occasion to welcome the then Chief Minister, Tan Sri Harris Salleh, who came to open the La Salle School Multi-purpose Hall.” 

Patel, a former Press Secretary to Datuk Harris, passed away on June 27, 2012, aged 83. 

“I remember a man in bush jacket went up to the podium and left a speech there for the Chief Minister, and that man was Patel.”

“Mr Patel belonged to a rare group of people who were the pioneers of newspapers and media.

“In the book, Patel told us that, when he first arrived in Sabah from India, he was unable to read English!” 

“But many years later, he was running and owned his own English newspaper.

“It was through sheer determination and a sense of entrepreneurship that he was able to make it, and made enormous contribution to the development of Sabah.”

“Many of you may not realise that, we Sabahans are blessed. Before the coming of social media, newspapers played significant role in informing the public.” 

Where Sabah out-number them all!

“As a State, we have an exceptional large number of newspapers in different languages – we have the Kinabalu News and Sabah Times, the Api Commercial Press (Yapi Shangbao), Borneo Times,  Sandakan Daily, Merdeka Daily, Tawau Jit Pao (Daily), New Sabah Times (defunct), See Hua Daily, Borneo Times (new), The Borneo Post, Sin Chew Jit Poh, Asia Times, Sabah Post (Online). Utusan Borneo, Overseas Chinese Daily News, and Daily Express.

“No other state in Malaysia has such large number of newspapers, and therefore, our population, be it in big cities or smaller towns are keen readers of newspapers and therefore, very well-informed – I remember when I was a small boy in Tenom, I remember many people would wait at the entrance of the train station, for the 7.30am train from Kota Kinabalu to arrive around 1.00pm, just to read the newspapers.”

“Such large number of newspapers required a huge work force, from reporters and journalists, to type setters, advertisement, printing, finance, editorial and of course, behind all these are the editors-in-chief and the owners.

“It is the latter, that held the entire operation together, it is the editors and owners who push the agenda of the papers, and of course, they had to bear all the criticism and responsible for what they have published.

“Today, using this occasion of honouring Mr Fauzi Patel, I would like also to acknowledge some of the early journalists who were the prime movers of newspapers and media in Sabah, who have laid such a strong foundation for the later journalists and media owners to build on.”

1936 marks the start of commercial newspapers  

“Prior to commercial newspapers, there was the British North Borneo Herald, published fortnightly by the North Borneo Company (Chartered Company).

“It (commercial newspapers) all started in 1936, when Mr Lee Nyuk Lin of Jesselton started the Overseas Chinese Daily News  (OCDN-Hua Qiao Ri Bao) on March 1, 1936.” So today, March 1, 2026 is the 90th anniversary of the OCDN, a sister paper of the Daily Express. 

“The press was a commercial paper but with strong emphasis on the situation of the war in China which was facing Japanese aggression.”

The journalist executed for China zeal 

“Two years later, Mr Chong Fui Cho, a school headmaster in Sandakan, started the Sandakan version of the Overseas Chinese Daily News, Sandakan Hua Qiao Ri Bao.

“His primary goal was to raise awareness of the Japanese war aggression in China.

“This paper was shut down after the Japanese took over the country. Chong was executed by the Japanese in May 1945.”

Here you are – a hard historical proof of a local journalist in the hey-days of North Borneo sentenced to death, most likely beheaded, paying the ultimate price for his belief.  

Wars are death beds for active journalists.

In fact, an average 80 to 100 journalists and media workers are killed annually worldwide with a spike in 2023-24 because of the war in Gaza. The slaughter continued in 2025 with 111 killed, including seven women, according to the International Federation of Journalists. 

Arrival of the most consequential journalist

Back to post war North Boneo.

“Shortly after the war, Mr Yeh Pao Tzu came over from Sibu, Sarawak,” Dany noted. 

“He was a Media and Communication journalism graduate from top-ranking Fudan University, in pre-war China.” 

“He bought over the Overseas Chinese Daily News from Mr Lee Nyuk Lin, and today, the family continue to own and run the newspaper with English Daily Express added later in 1963.

“Both are the leading newspapers in Sabah.

“For English newspapers, it started with the Kinabalu News, published in Sandakan.

“Donald Stephens or Tun Fuad Stephens, was initially a stringer for the Kinabalu News.

“Later, Stephens went on to co-found the Sabah Times, with Patel as proof-reader. It later merged with the Kinabalu News and later, went on as Sabah Times.

“It was, along with the Daily Express, a leading newspaper in Sabah for many years.”

A chief editor detained under ISA 

“Then came Borneo Times, Po Luo Zhou Shi Bao, started by Mr Chan Kong Choy of Sandakan. The paper was a full broadsheet newspaper, and employed some of the top journalists and editors from Hong Kong.

“Later, one of its editor-in-chief, Chan Keng Chan. was arrested under ISA by Tun Mustapha, and was detained with other political prisoners in Kepayan. Mr Chan has just published a memoir in Chinese where he told his story.”

“In 1954, Lo Kwok Chuen, published the Api Commercial Press, or Yabi Shangbao. It was a newspaper with a niche, focusing on business intelligence.” 

“It was the first of its kind in Sabah. Datuk Lo also went on to publish the Kinabalu News, a sports and social newsmagazine.” 

GS Kler the roaring Sports Editor 

“Its chief editor was GS Kler, another pioneering journalist in Sabah. It was a most successful venture that tied the people together through news on sports and social events.

“I have just mentioned some names of newspaper pioneers in Sabah.

“There are many more who have in one way or another, helped to keep Sabahan abreast of events in the state, in Malaysia and beyond.” 

Time for history of newspapers & journalism 

“I believe it is high time for us to have a history of newspapers and journalism in the state, as a way of keeping record of those who have given so much to keep us well-informed.

“This is gaining urgency as news media is now making major shift and changes due to technology and social media.

“There is no doubt that we Sabahan owed a lot to journalists like Mr Patel.

“I am honoured to be part of this project, and I hope journalism will continue to thrive and prosper in the state so that it will continue to provide that most valuable service to the people of Sabah, in making Sabahans better-informed and knowledgeable,” Professor Datuk Danny Wong concluded.