Dear all shortwave listeners, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has officially launched Nasional FM and Sabah VFM on shortwave frequencies since April 2026.
Nasional FM is on SW 15295kHz, meanwhile Sabah VFM is on SW 11885kHz, both are transmitted from RTM Kajang shortwave transmitter masts.
Nasional FM SW 15295kHz transmits at 10kW power with non-directional antenna to target nationwide, meanwhile Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz transmits at 100kW power and beams at 93DEG angle to target East Malaysia. (Source: short-wave.info)
Although many people listen to the radio digitally via online streaming and mobile app, but shortwave radio is still relevant because it targets the rural areas where have no coverage of internet and FM transmission.
Nasional FM has many gap filler FM transmitters across Malaysia, but some of gap filler FM transmitters in remote areas are malfunction, so these areas are backed up by shortwave transmitter SW 15295kHz when gap filler transmitters are down.
Sabah VFM has no coverage in the areas between Nabawan and Tawau, so its shortwave frequencies mainly cover the rural areas in Sabah.
Alongside Sabah, RTM Sabah VFM also can be received in Sarawak via shortwave frequency SW 11885kHz.
Broadcast hours of Nasional FM 15295kHz and Sabah VFM 11885kHz are from 0000 hours to 1200 hours (UTC), meanwhile local broadcast hours are from 0800 hours to 2000 hours.
It is almost 6 months of 88.3 Jia FM and Power 98FM switched off their broadcast on the FM radio frequencies transmission platform as they shifted to focus digitally on Kakee app.
Today's morning, I receive a video from Jony Wong who has detected an unknown test transmission on FM 88.3MHz in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
In the video, FM 88.3MHz mentions something "Goplayster", but the signal is not clear with rough audio quality because I believe that FM 88.3MHz is operated at low power transmission, but the transmitter site is an unknown.
Is it a licensed radio broadcast in Singapore? I don't know. In Singapore, a now defunct radio station would have surrendered the frequency to Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) if it decides to close the broadcast. Then, IMDA would open a new frequency tender to the new radio players, then the new radio players submit their radio format, targeting listeners and technical proposals to IMDA via tender. Then, IMDA will make final decision of awarding the frequencies to new radio player like what IMDA did the tender of FM 89.3MHz, FM 92.0MHz and FM 96.3MHz.
Meanwhile FM 98.0MHz and FM 99.5MHz are still vacated in Singapore.
Is there a new upcoming Singapore radio station on FM 88.3MHz?
Nabawan is a small town in Interior Division of Sabah, located between Keningau and Sapulut.
During my radio DXpedition tour in Sabah from 19th to 21st April 2026, as there are no distant radio stations from Bukit Karatong and Bukit Mas receivable in Keningau, I didn't decide to perform radio DXing activity in Nabawan. In addition, it is quite far to travel from Keningau to Nabawan, somewhat I visited Keningau under daytrip, then I departed back to Kota Kinabalu.
Same as Keningau and Tenom, only RTM radio stations are available in Nabawan, Sabah, but RTM has 4 gap filler transmitters in Nabawan which operate Radio Klasik FM 88.3MHz, Nasional FM 89.1MHz, Sabah FM 89.9MHz and Traxx FM 90.6MHz, meanwhile Ai FM, Sabah VFM and Keningau FM have no gap filler transmitters in Nabawan, but these radio stations can be received in Nabawan, Sabah via Bukit Sigapon transmitter with moderately weak signal.
No signal of Limbang (Bukit Mas) and Brunei radio stations are receivable in Nabawan, Sabah as I could not receive any radio stations from Bukit Mas in Keningau, meanwhile Brunei radio stations from Bukit Subok are already weak and almost zero signal in Keningau.
Although Keningau FM has no gap filler transmitter in Nabawan like Sabah FM, Nasional FM, Traxx FM, and Radio Klasik, but this radio station claims that it can be received in Nabawan via 94.7MHz from Bukit Sigapon transmitter, so automatically RTM Ai FM and Sabah VFM can be received in Nabawan on 92.3MHz and 93.1MHz respectively, but the signal is not strong as Nabawan transmitter.
In Nabawan, there are only 7 available radio stations.
1. RTM Radio Klasik FM 88.3MHz (Nabawan transmitter)
2. RTM Nasional FM 89.1MHz (Nabawan transmitter)
3. RTM Sabah FM 89.9MHz (Nabawan transmitter)
4. RTM Traxx FM 90.6MHz (Nabawan transmitter)
5. RTM Ai FM 92.3MHz (Bukit Sigapon)
6. RTM Sabah VFM 93.1MHz (Bukit Sigapon)
7. RTM Keningau FM 94.7MHz (Bukit Sigapon)
The distance from Bukit Sigapon to Nabawan is about 47km, so Bukit Sigapon transmitter is still considered semi-local radio stations in Nabawan.
Walaupun frekuensi siaran radio Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz meliputi Miri, Bekenu, Batu Niah, Marudi dan sebahagian Negara Brunei (Kuala Belait & Tutong), tetapi Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz boleh diterima di Kota Kinabalu dan Tuaran, Sabah, tetapi bukan sepanjang masa.
Pada 19hb April 2026, saya berkunjung ke Kota Kinabalu dan beberapa kawasan di Negeri Sabah. Di Kota Kinabalu, saya meluangkan masa untuk bersiar-siar pada waktu senja, berjalan dari hotel ke kawasan Bulatan Ikan Marlin dengan membawa radio.
Di kawasan sekitar Bulatan Ikan Marlin, saya menerima isyarat siaran radio Era FM Sarawak pada frekuensi FM 101.3MHz dari pemancar Bukit Lambir yang meliputi Miri dan sebahagian Brunei.
Pada waktu itu, Era FM Sarawak memainkan lagu tanpa juruhebah radio (atau dikenali sebagai DJ) pada pukul 6 petang, oleh itu saya menunggu sehingga waktu jeda iklan. Apabila Era FM Sarawak mengudarakan iklan, saya merakam video isyarat Era FM Sarawak serta merta.
Isyarat radio Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz adalah sederhana lemah di Kota Kinabalu pada waktu senja semasa matahari terbenam, tetapi saya mengklasifikasikan penerimaan isyarat radio Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz di Kota Kinabalu sebagai pemancaran bersifat troposfera kerana Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz tidak sentiasa boleh diterima di Kota Kinabalu sepanjang masa.
Jarak penerimaan siaran Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz dari pemancar Bukit Lambir ke Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu ialah 299km.
==Penerimaan siaran Era FM Sarawak di Kota Kinabalu==
* Frekuensi: FM 101.3MHz
* Kuasa pemancar: 2kW
* Tempat pemancar: Bukit Lambir, Miri, Sarawak
* Tempat penerima: Jalan Tuan Fuad Stephens, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (berdekatan dengan Bulatan Ikan Marlin)
* Jarak: 299km
* Tarikh/masa: 19hb April 2026 6:37 petang (Waktu Malaysia UTC+8)
Selain itu, saya pun menerima siaran Era FM Sarawak pada frekuensi yang sama (101.3MHz dari Bukit Lambir) di Tuaran, Sabah apabila saya memandu dari Kota Kinabalu ke Kudat pada 21hb April 2026. Video dirakam pada waktu pagi (pukul 06:47 pagi) di Jambatan Batangan yang berdekatan dengan Sungai Tuaran, isyarat telah hilang selepas Sungai Tuaran.
Tiada isyarat boleh diterima di Kota Belud, Kudat dan Kota Marudu. Semasa perjalanan pulang ke Kota Kinabalu pada waktu tengah hari, saya tidak dapat menerima siaran Era FM Sarawak 101.3Mhz lagi di Tuaran kerana pemancaran radio di kawasan tersebut adalah bersifat troposfera.
Jarak dari pemancar Bukit Lambir ke Tuaran ialah 326km. Sebelum ini, peminat radio DXer dari Sabah bernama Kisah Alkisah pun menerima isyarat Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz di Tuaran, Sabah.
Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz dari Bukit Lambir (Miri) ialah stesen radio yang paling jauh diterima di Kota Kinabalu dan Tuaran, Sabah.
After receiving Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz Bukit Lambir transmitter in Kota Kinabalu, I received the radio signal of Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz in Tuaran area when I was heading from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat on 21st April 2026 in the morning.
I stuck in the traffic jam in Tuaran when I was driving to Kudat due to a roundabout near the town, then I randomly tuned the radio dial, but I got a radio signal on FM 101.3MHz which was playing Malay hot contemporary songs. So, I took a video of tuning Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz Bukit Lambir transmitter in between Tuaran Town and Batangan Bridge near Tuaran River when I was on the way going to Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Kudat.
I created of new record by receiving Era FM Sarawak FM 101.3MHz in Tuaran, Sabah with a tuning distance at 326km.
No signal of Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz was received anymore after reaching Batangan Bridge.
No signal was receivable in Kota Belud, Kudat and Kota Marudu.
Tuaran becomes the furthest location of tuning Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz in Sabah with 326km distance from Bukit Lambir, beating Kota Kinabalu, but it was a tropospheric propagation because I could hear any signal in Tuaran at noon when I was heading back from Kudat to Kota Kinabalu before going to buy Tuhau Sambal in Tamparuli.
* Frequency: FM 101.3MHz
* Power: 2kW
* Transmitter site: Bukit Lambir, Miri, Sarawak
* Receiving site: Tuaran, Sabah (near Tuaran River and Batangan Bridge)
* Distance: 326km
* Receiving date/time: 21st April 2026 0647 hours (UTC+8 Malaysia time)/2247 hours (UTC)
Even Sabah radio DXer Kisah Alkisah also received Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz in Tuaran, Sabah.
Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz becomes the furthest radio station tuned in Tuaran, Sabah too.
When I had an evening walk in Kota Kinabalu City Centre from the hotel to I LOVE KK landmark, I brought my radio receiver to catch any distant radio signal.
Yes, I had managed to tune Brunei radio stations signal successfully, but surprisingly I caught Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz from Bukit Lambir MIRI in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah near Marlin Fish statue roundabout.
Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz was playing many songs in the evening without any DJs, so I waited for the commercial break patiently in the vicinity of Marlin Fish statue and I LOVE KK landmarks before recording the videos in order to avoid copyright detection.
When Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz started its commercial break, my hard work and patience were finally paid off, then I recorded the signal video immediately for about 90 seconds.
Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz from Bukit Lambir was moderately clear in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah during the radio signal monitoring in the evening, but I classified the radio reception of Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz in Kota Kinabalu as tropospheric propagation because it is not consistently receivable all the time.
In terms of receiving distance, it is 299km from Bukit Lambir to Kota Kinabalu city centre.
==RADIO RECEPTION OF ERA FM SARAWAK 101.3MHz in KOTA KINABALU, SABAH==
* Frequency: FM 101.3MHz
* Power: 2kW
* Transmitter site: Bukit Lambir, Miri, Sarawak
* Receiving site: Jalan Tuan Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (near Marlin Fish statue and I LOVE KK landmark)
* Distance: 299km
* Receiving date/time: 19th April 2026 1837 hours (UTC+8 Malaysia time)/1037 hours (UTC)
Since 19th April 2026, Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz becomes the furthest radio station in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
On the 3rd day (22nd April 2026) of my radio DXpedition in Sabah (PART 2), I paid another visit to Kudat and Kota Marudu, but I mainly focused to check Kota Kinabalu radio stations signal from Bukit Karatong.
From Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, most of Bukit Karatong transmitted radio stations are only receivable up to Kota Belud, then signal becomes weak and zero after Kota Belud during the journey to Kudat and Kota Marudu.
In Kota Marudu, I can only tune RTM radio stations from Bukit Langkon clearly such as Radio Klasik FM 101.6MHz, Nasional FM 90.1MHz, Sabah FM 97.1MHz, Traxx FM 89.0MHz, Ai FM 87.7MHz and Sabah VFM 91.1MHz, but on 22nd April 2026, I could catch 10 radio stations from Bukit Karatong in Kota Marudu town, the videos were recorded opposite Petron Kota Marudu at Jalan Pos where is still in the vicinity of Kota Marudu town.
Jalan Pos is the best location in Kota Marudu, Sabah to catch Kota Kinabalu radio stations from Bukit Karatong with 80km receiving distance.
1. IKIM FM 93.9MHz
2. Eight WuXian FM 95.7MHz
3. Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz
4. Melody FM 98.6MHz
5. Hitz FM 100.8MHz
6. Era FM Sabah 102.4MHz
7. Lite FM 103.2MHz
8. MY FM 104.0MHz
9. Sinar FM 104.9MHz
10. Bernama Radio FM 107.9MHz
All are moderately clear in Kota Marudu town (Jalan Pos), except Melody FM 98.6MHz and Lite FM 103.2MHz. Mix FM 101.6MHz and Hot FM 87.7MHz are not available in Kota Marudu as these frequencies are used by RTM Radio Klasik on 101.6MHz and Ai FM on 87.7MHz, transmitted from Bukit Langkon.
From Kota Marudu to Langkon, Bukit Karatong radio signal became zero after few kilometers from the town when I was heading to Kudat.
In Kudat town, all distant radio stations from Bukit Karatong, Bukit Langkon and Bukit Trig are not receivable due to a strong intermodulation interference of Bukit Kelapa radio transmitter, but Sikuati is the best location in Kudat to tune Kota Kinabalu radio stations from Bukit Karatong such as Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz, Eight WuXian FM 95.7MHz and IKIM FM 93.9MHz. When I was in Kudat town, I could only receive IKIM FM 93.9MHz from Bukit Karatong (118km distance) with intermodulation interference noise of RTM Bukit Kelapa radio stations.
After a full scale of radio DXpedition in Kundasang, Sabah, I visited Keningau and Tenom by driving from Ranau and passing by Tambunan (NOTE: I skipped Tambunan for radio DXpedition because there are no distant radio stations).
Keningau is the biggest town of Interior Division, Sabah, it is an important stopover town for those are driving from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau via Nabawan.
About the radio stations' availability, only RTM radio stations from Bukit Sigapon are available in Keningau and Tenom by following frequencies below:
* Radio Klasik FM 88.5MHz
* Nasional FM 89.3MHz
* Sabah FM 90.3MHz
* Traxx FM 91.1MHz
* Ai FM 92.3MHz
* Sabah VFM 93.1MHz
* Keningau FM 94.7MHz
I tried to perform radio DXpedition there by tuning any radio stations from Kota Kinabalu (BUKIT KARATONG), Limbang (BUKIT MAS) and Brunei (BUKIT SUBOK/ANDULAU) like what I did in Kundasang.
Radio stations from Kota Kinabalu (BUKIT KARATONG) are zero signal in Keningau, Sabah due to Crocker Range (Banjaran Crocker), I also attempted to receive Limbang radio stations from Bukit Mas such as RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz, Red FM 104.1MHz, Cats FM 88.7MHz and Limbang FM 104.9MHz, but zero signal in Keningau, Sabah too. Limbang FM 104.9MHz has super mild signal in Keningau, but its signal disappeared quickly.
Surprisingly I received 3 weak Brunei radio stations in Keningau, Sabah.
1. Al-Quran FM 89.1MHz Bukit Subok (142km)
* 200kHz adjacent channel interference noise from RTM Nasional FM 89.3MHz Bukit Sigapon transmitter was detected in Keningau, Sabah.
2. RTB Nur Islam FM 93.3MHz Bukit Subok (142km)
* 200kHz adjacent channel interference
noise from RTM Sabah VFM 93.1MHz Bukit Sigapon transmitter was detected
in Keningau, Sabah.
3. RTB Harmoni FM 97.7MHz Andulau (199km)
Very mild signal was received in Keningau, Sabah. RTB Harmoni FM 97.7MHz from Andulau is the furthest radio station tuned in Keningau, Sabah with 199km distance.
As there is very less DX radio stations in Keningau, Sabah, so I did not spend more time there, instead I continued driving to Tenom for another radio DXpedition and having lunch there.
Same as Keningau, zero signal of Bukit Karatong transmitted Kota Kinabalu radio stations in Tenom, Sabah, but I could receive the distant radio signal from Limbang (BUKIT MAS) and Brunei (BUKIT SUBOK/ANDULAU).
1. RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (112km)
2. RTM Red FM 104.1MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (112km)
3. RTM Limbang FM 104.9MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (112km)
4. Cats FM 88.7MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (112km)
5. RTB Nasional FM 93.8MHz Andulau BRUNEI (169km)
6. RTB Nur Islam FM 94.9MHz Andulau BRUNEI (169km)
7. RTB Harmoni FM BRUNEI 94.1MHz Bukit Subok (112km) & 97.7MHz Andulau (169km)
8. RTB Pilihan FM 95.9MHz Bukit Subok BRUNEI (112km)
==RESULT OF RADIO DXPEDITION IN KENINGAU AND TENOM, SABAH==
* Andulau transmitted Brunei radio channels such as RTB Nasional FM 93.8MHz, Nur Islam FM 94.9MHz and Harmoni FM 97.7MHz are the furthest radio stations tuned in Tenom, Sabah, Malaysia with 169km distance.
* In Keningau, RTB Harmoni FM 97.7MHz from Andulau is the furthest radio station with 199km distance.
* Due to Crocker Range, Bukit Karatong transmitted Kota Kinabalu radio stations are zero signal in Keningau, Tambunan and Tenom.
* Among all Bukit Mas transmitted Limbang radio stations in Tenom, Sabah, RTM Limbang FM 104.9MHz is the strongest, meanwhile Cats FM 88.7MHz is the weakest.
* At Tenom coffee bean statue roundabout, Brunei radio stations from Andulau are slightly stronger than Bukit Subok.
* In my opinion, Tenom is a better town than Keningau for radio DXpedition because I could catch more distant radio signal in Tenom than Keningau.
