“About three years ago, I handled one of my most rewarding cases, representing a young woman in Kota Kinabalu (KK) accused of drug trafficking. She had been forced by a family member to deliver a package of drugs she knew nothing about. We won the case after months of preparation and a drawn-out trial. Seeing her reunite with her family was the most fulfilling moment in my career.”
Not all cases end in victory, though. “Right after I received my practicing license, I volunteered pro bono to represent the skipper of a catamaran that sank while carrying tourists to an island. My client had only been working at the travel company for a week and was just following instructions. That trial was long and really hard. We didn’t win, but it proved to be an invaluable, formative learning experience.”
The drive to take on these battles started long before she ever set foot in a courtroom. “I was born in KK and raised in Kundasang, a highland valley nestled at the foot of Mount Kinabalu. Growing up in one of Sabah’s busiest tourist regions, I saw the mountain every single day. When I go back there now, it still feels the same as when I was a child. Back then, my parents used to tell me, ‘You are going to be a lawyer or a doctor.’
My father has been a politician since before I was born, so I think that’s where my passion for human rights came from. Studying law came naturally to me because I always loved to read, yet it was still intellectually challenging. I left for Shah Alam, Peninsular Malaysia, to study law for six years. After graduating, I worked at the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia in Putrajaya.
Then, in 2015, I received a marriage proposal and I moved back to Sabah. Because of the move, I had to resign and reassess the next step in my career.”
To cope with the intense demands of litigation, where most mornings start with checking urgent messages, she turned to endurance sports. “I started running during my university days to clear my mind when studies got tough, eventually becoming an ultra-trail runner competing in events like The Most Beautiful Thing (TMBT) in Kota Belud and the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) in Kiulu Tamparuli. In 2022, I also took up surfing in Kudat, at the Tip of Borneo. Running and surfing keep me anchored, while trail running events in Sabah offer a great way to explore the rural areas.
Beyond my legal practice, however, I’m deeply committed to preserving Bornean culture.
What drives me through the legal battles and event planning is a deep pride in my roots because of the richness of our culture and the people who preserve the heritage. Alongside like-minded people, we are working together to keep it alive, and our work must continue.”
That work took shape in 2018, when Juliana binti Aping reached out to her with an idea to launch a festival. “I had met her before at a protest, where I provided legal support. Together, we pitched the idea to the Sabah Museum, giving rise to the North Borneo Rainforest Festival (NBRF).
We established Pertubuhan Kolektif Seni Budaya Sabah (PKSBS), a non-governmental organization (NGO). It acts as a supportive community for local artists by offering guidance and shared resources. To help preserve local musical heritage, we’ve even purchased traditional musical instruments for upcoming musicians, giving them access to essential tools for practice and performances.
Now that the NBRF is celebrating its fifth edition, our festival has grown from a local initiative into an international platform, featuring cultural exchanges with delegations from Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. As we continue to expand, our approach to promotion changed, and we had to be more creative in connecting with what the younger generation wants. This will help to preserve our heritage and make it relevant for them too.
Especially as it faces stiff competition from modern pop culture.
The festival is a living experience. You have to be there to immerse yourself, connect with fellow visitors and artists, and learn from one another. I hope that NBRF visitors take the opportunity to learn, take something meaningful home with them, and feel inspired to come back.”
Benazir Japiril Bandaran, Sabah
For this in-depth profile, we partnered with Dear Sarawak to share stories about the people of Borneo. The North Borneo Rainforest Festival (NBRF) 2026 (International Edition) takes place from 31 October to 1 November 2026 at the Koisaan Cultural Village and KDCA Hall in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. For tickets check here. writing here...