Sabah FM Live Streaming
When radio arrived in Sabah, one network was never going to be enough. The service that went on air in 1955 ran two in parallel – one in Malay, and another carrying Kadazan, Murut, Dusun, Bajau, English and Mandarin between them.
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That division still stands, and Sabah FM is the Malay-language side of it: RTM’s main state station for Sabah. The live stream is playing on this page – free, with nothing to install and no account to set up.
Two Networks from the Start
Test broadcasts began in Sabah in 1952, and Radio Sabah was formally established on 9 November 1955.
From early on it was built as two services rather than one. The main Malay network eventually became Sabah FM. The second, known then as the Blue Network, handled the state’s other languages and grew into what is now Sabah V FM.
When Malaysia was formed in 1963, Radio Sabah folded into the Radio Malaysia network and took up its role as the state’s own station – a position it has held ever since.
Where Sabah V FM Fits In
The difference is worth knowing, because listeners often go looking for one and land on the other.
Sabah FM broadcasts in Malay. Sabah V FM is the service carrying the state’s indigenous and minority languages, and it is the direct descendant of that original Blue Network.
Sabah’s ethnic makeup is among the most varied in the country, with Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Bajau communities alongside Malay, Chinese and many smaller groups. Two stations rather than one was the practical answer to that.
Across the State
Sabah FM is carried by transmitters spread around the state, with Kota Kinabalu on 89.9 MHz and further frequencies serving Sandakan, Tawau, Kudat, Tenom and other districts.
The terrain makes that necessary. Mountains, long coastlines and serious distances between towns mean a single transmitter would leave most of Sabah out of range.
What You’ll Hear
The schedule is general-audience radio in Malay – music, information programming and talk aimed at listeners across the state.
Being a state service rather than a commercial network, it carries material a commercial station has little reason to touch: local announcements, public information, and events that matter a great deal within Sabah and rarely travel beyond it.
Across the South China Sea
A great many Sabahans live and work far from home – in the peninsula, in Singapore, or overseas entirely. None of those places sit anywhere near a transmitter in Kota Kinabalu.
The stream settles that. No frequency to hunt for, no receiver to tune, and no distance involved. It runs in a browser on a phone, tablet or laptop, which makes it easy to keep the state’s own station playing wherever you happen to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who operates Sabah FM?
RTM, Malaysia’s public broadcaster.
What language is the station in?
Malay.
When did it start?
Radio Sabah was established in November 1955, following test broadcasts from 1952.
What is the difference between Sabah FM and Sabah V FM?
Sabah FM broadcasts in Malay. Sabah V FM carries the state’s indigenous and minority languages, and grew out of the original Blue Network.
What frequency is Sabah FM on?
That varies by district. Kota Kinabalu is on 89.9 MHz, with other frequencies covering Sandakan, Tawau, Kudat, Tenom and elsewhere.
Can I listen from outside Sabah?
That is exactly what the stream is for. The transmitters cover the state; the online feed reaches anywhere with an internet connection.
Is there anything to pay?
Nothing at all. The stream is free and asks for no sign-up.
Conclusion
Sabah has been called the Land Below the Wind for generations, for sitting clear of the typhoon belt that troubles its neighbours. It has always been a little apart, and it sounds that way too.
Leave the station playing and you get Sabah’s own voice – its language, its music and its announcements – coming out of Kota Kinabalu rather than from anywhere else.