SANDAKAN: Sepilok Jazz has the potential to be elevated into one of Sabah’s international tourism products while continuing to support conservation efforts and the development of local musical talent.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Arifin said the festival, now in its fifth edition, not only caters to jazz enthusiasts but also contributes to environmental conservation, particularly sea turtle conservation on Libaran Island here.
He said the festival, organised by non-governmental organisation Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research (Foster), has the full support of his ministry as well as cooperation from the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) and related agencies.
One of the festival’s objectives is to raise funds for conservation efforts, particularly Foster’s sea turtle conservation initiative on Libaran Island in collaboration with the Kampung Libaran community.
“This initiative deserves support, and under my ministry, we fully support not only cultural activities such as Sepilok Jazz but, more importantly, environmental conservation efforts, particularly involving wildlife such as sea turtles,” he said.
Jafry said this at a press conference after officiating Sepilok Jazz 2026 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) here on Saturday.
Also present were MPS President Datuk Walter Kenson and Foster President Alexander Yee.
Jafry said the festival also provides opportunities for local musical talents to improve their skills through engagement with professional musicians from Singapore and Indonesia.
He said local participants were able to attend short courses lasting about three days, giving them greater exposure and new experience in music.
He said Sepilok Jazz was also among the programmes featured under Sabah Fest, which was launched in Kota Kinabalu on Aug 29 alongside other events held in Kudat, Tawau and Kuala Lumpur.
The initiative is aimed at promoting Sabah’s destinations and culture to domestic and international tourists, he said.
On the future of Sepilok Jazz, Jafry said the ministry was prepared to continue supporting the festival and explore the possibility of staging it on a larger scale.
He said the matter had also been discussed with the MPS President and the organisers.
“Jazz may not be among the more popular forms of music among the general public, but we can see that it continues to attract the attention of jazz enthusiasts from around the world,” he said.
“Our hope is that, from year to year, Sepilok Jazz can be elevated to a higher level,” he added.
Jafry expressed hope that cooperation between the ministry, MPS and Foster would ensure an improved festival next year and attract more visitors from within the country and abroad.
Meanwhile, on the haze situation, he said air quality in Sabah had shown improvement compared with several days earlier.
He said Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, which had previously approached 200, had since fallen, including in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.
“In Sandakan, it has rained almost every night over the past two or three days, sometimes with storms, although they did not last long.
“I think that was enough to help reduce the haze affecting Sabah, and in Kota Kinabalu, I can also see an improvement for the time being,” he said.
