Sabah State Mosque: 6 Things About This Golden-Domed Edifice

Sabah State Mosque in Kota Kinabalu

Sabah State Mosque’s minaret surrounded by smaller golden domes

Located in the intersection of Jalan Sembulan and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman is one of Sabah State’s most recognizable mosques. With its glittering golden domes, this architectural landmark has been wonderfully maintained since it was constructed in the 70s. A quick visit to this mosque will set you back a few ringgit by taxi–and, chances are, your driver may very well be a Muslim and show you around as well.

1. The man behind its design is Dato Baharuddin Abu Kassim. Having obtained his diploma in architecture from the University of Manchester in 1956, he went on to design some of the most recognizable mosques in Malaysia. This includes the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan State Mosque in Seremban, the Islamic College of Malaya Mosque, An-Nur Jamek Mosque in Labuan, and the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Selangor.

2. Built in the 70s, Sabah State Mosque incorporates a combination of Islamic architecture and contemporary design. Being one of the most celebrated building traditions, Islamic architecture is known for its minarets, domes, vaulting, arches, and radiant decorative details.

3. Like most places in Kota Kinabalu, the mosque is also home to hundreds of doves that you can feed if you happen to have a piece of bread in hand.

Just some of the doves as they are fed

Some of the worshippers as they exit the mosque

4. The mosque can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers with a dedicated balcony for Muslim women during prayer that can house up to 500 people.

5. With its slender sculptural minaret and smaller golden domes, Sabah State Mosque’s onion-shaped dome is also known for its unique honeycomb cladding.

Street view

6. Situated near the mosque is the Sabah State Mausoleum that houses the remains of Tun Fuad Stephens and the former governors of the State of Sabah. Known for being the first Chief Minister of Sabah, Tun Muhammad Fuad Stephens played a key role in the formation of Malaysia. On June 6, 1976, Stephens died in a plane crash along with four other state cabinet ministers.