Sandakan's Muslim community is served by the starkly simple Sandakan Mosque, built on the edges of the bay next to Kampung Buli Sim Sim, where the town of Sandakan began in 1879.

Perched on stilts above the sea, the neat wooden houses of this large village are reached by plant walkways, their wide verandas decorated with pot plants.

Flowery sarong and fishing nets are hung up to dry, and wooden boats bob at the "front door". A wander along the walkways or "jambatan" gives a glimpse of the lifestyle of these friendly fisherfolk.