SANDAKAN: Ninety years ago, in 1935, the fearless Hollywood adventurer duo Martin and Osa Johnson returned to Borneo for their second expedition, having first visited Sandakan in the 1920s. Their pioneering visits left behind an invaluable legacy: an amazing collection of vintage black-and-white photographs and film reels capturing Borneo’s now-vanished era.
Lai King Hang, Founder and Chairman of Sandakan Heritage Trail, revealed that the Johnsons sought assistance from famed local author Agnes Keith and her husband during their 1935 expedition. Keith documented this encounter in her classic work, Land Below The Wind, beginning on page 68 in the chapter titled “Visitors,” where she describes the Johnsons’ journey to set up camp in Abai, Kinabatangan, to record the region’s indigenous communities and wildlife.
Lai was interviewed by experienced filmmakers Noreini and Norhayati Abdul Rahman of Rye Production at the grounds of Agnes Keith’s House for an upcoming documentary, “Jungle Adventure: The Lost Film.” This project is a collaboration with the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas, USA, and serves as a follow-up to their earlier documentary, “Saudin, The Orang Utan Whisperer,” which was launched by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor in 2022.
Lai expressed hope that this new documentary will re-energize interest in the stories of old Sandakan and Borneo, especially as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026.
Agnes Keith’s House, marked as Stop No. 4 on the Sandakan Heritage Trail, remains a must-visit destination. Since June 2025, the trail’s popularity has been further boosted by its recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records as the First Historical Tree Trail in Malaysia.
Looking ahead, Lai concluded, “A proposed gallery dedicated to Martin and Osa Johnson, announced this year to be located near Agnes Keith’s House, will further boost Sandakan’s heritage tourism for both local and international visitors.”
This combination of historical legacy, documentary storytelling, and unique ecological heritage positions Sandakan as a growing hub for pioneering nature-based and cultural tourism. – James Leong
Lai King Hang (seated centre), is flanked by members of the Rye Production team at Agnes Keith’s House in Sandakan.
