The diverse DXCC of East Malaysia (Malaysia Timur), in the South China Sea, is the address for proficient Dx Adventure Radio Club member 58DA101 Azlan who joins with our DA-RC Family in November 2020.

11m DX archives prove that 58DA101 Azlan is undoubtedly East Malaysia’s standout DX Hunter and, currently, the International Freeband DX Community’s greatest chance to confirm this very rare DXCC.

With more than 150 Divisions worked and confirmed, over a period of more than 20 years involvement in the hobby, 58DA101 Azlan earns DA-RC Membership via the ‘DX Hunter’ category. (See https://www.delta-alfa.com/about/membership/ )

As the photographs show, our first ever 58 Division member is also practiced in portable DX work, having been QRV as a field station on many occasions with friends in his local radio club.

He also relishes taking handheld rigs out into the field from secluded mountain tops and working ops in neighbouring countries.

Azlan’s country, East Malaysia is the part of Malaysia on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia (AS).

This is the world’s third largest island, and one that’s recognised by the World IOTA Program as having the reference OC-088 (See https://www.iota-world.org/islands-on-the-air/iota-groups-islands/group/847.html ).

According to the atlas, East Malaysia consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah, which is closer to 79 Division than to mainland Malaysia, Sarawak in the west, and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Here, the landscape is mostly lowland rainforests with areas of mountain rain forest towards the hinterland.

East Malaysia, in fact, contains the five highest mountains in Malaysia which, according to 58DA101 Azlan, are all “potential Summits On The Air (SOTA) locations…”

The highest SOTA hotspot is Mount Kinabalu at 4095 m, which is also the highest mountain in Borneo and the 10th highest peak in Southeast Asia.

This uncommon DXCC also contains the two longest rivers in Malaysia — Rajang River and Kinabatangan River.

Spanning the equator and dominated by lush rainforest, Borneo has some of the oldest and most bio-diverse rainforests, lengthy shorelines and a wealth of natural wonders.

Compared to West Malaysia (113 Division), East Malaysia is less populated and less industrialised, but its land mass is larger, and it has more natural resources — primarily timber, oil and gas.

58DA101 Azlan’s home QTH is the tranquil village of Tuaran, the capital of Tuaran District in the West Coast Division of Sabah state.

This state shares maritime borders with Vietnam (242 Division) to the west and the Philippines (79 Division) to the north.

Local landmarks, here, are numerous and worthy of a mention in any ragchew DXperience, pending 11m band conditions of course!

Pictured left, the Tuaran Crocodile Farm is a home for more or less a thousand crocs, located just a few km from the main drag.

The Borneo Ant House is a mini theme park which is immensely popular with families, while the Sabandar Cowboy Town is a mini theme park with focus on horse riding activity.

Suitable for educational and for arts and cultural lovers, the Chanteek Borneo Indigenous Museum exhibits miniature dolls of Barbie size dressed in traditional costumes from Malaysia.

Perhaps the most popular site for tourists, however, is the Linangkit Cultural Village which is located in Kampung Selupuh Tuaran.

The name Linangkit is a unique traditional Lotud embroidery with patterns usually in colour red, orange, etc. to cover up the seams between fabrics which usually used also as a design element in Lotud traditional costumes.

The cultural village is the one and only you could go for in order to explore and be exposed to Lotud traditions and also cultures in Sabah.

Other things you’re fortunate to see include handicraft-making demos, traditional food preps, traditional fish netting, river cruise, firefly watching, and tapioca plucking.

For outdoors activity such as white water rafting, the Kiulu River at the sub-district Kiulu is amazing.

The 9-Storey Pagoda Ling San is one of the main tourist attractions in Tuaran and visitors can climb to the top and get a beautiful view of the town.

In addition to building his profile as one of SE Asia’s leading DXers, 58DA101 Azlan is committed to delivering some exciting islands on the air (IOTA) dxpeditions in the coming years from the “Most Wanted” OC-133 IOTA suffix…

The following dxstinations are on his radar in Cycle 25: Sebatik Island, Banggi Island, Sepanggar Island, Gaya Island, Manukan Island, Mumatik Island, Sulug Island, Usukan Island and others in the Sabah’s Coastal Islands IOTA group.

A quick YouTube search with Azlan’s old callsign, 58BC001, indicates an incredible number of DX-feats with all continents, including a large number of dxpeditions.

His DX station, though, is described by Azlan himself as being “modest”.

Vertical antennas with omnidirectional signal capability are the order of the day, however, there’s no doubt his skip conditions are increased significantly by the equatorial location of his station and low noise floor.

A Galaxy DX-949, Superstar 800, Ranger PPR-129 LRB and President Jackson are just some of the transceivers which adorn the benchtop of his radio shack or car.

Competing with radio comms for Azlan’s attention is the great outdoors and it’s here where the DA-RC’s first ever member in 58 Division spends most of his time.

Like most 11m ops in southeast Asia, 58DA101 Azlan is a regular feature on 27.305 MHz USB.

In fact, here you’ll find citizens band users from Indonesia (91 Division), Philippines (79), Marianas Islands (133) and ops from other countries in regular QSO.

You’re also likely to hear 58DA101 Azlan’s “CQ DX” calls on the international call frequency, 27.555 MHz USB, when propagation permits.