[1] On 1 January 1984, Sandakan District Office was abolished by the state government with some of their previous duties and responsibilities were taken over by the municipal council and the former district officer became deputy president of the council.

[1] In April 2018, Sabah Minister of Local Government and State Housing Hajiji Noor said that the Cabinet of Sabah has decided to upgrade the status of the municipal council into Sandakan City Council with the plans supposed to take effect on 1 July.

[3] Through the statement by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Local Government and Housing Minister Jaujan Sambakong on 5 August 2019, the new government will continue the plan to elevating Sandakan's status as the second city in Sabah.

[4] In 2021, the 9th Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has pre-launch Sandakan as the second city in Sabah.

The Public Works Minister Bung Moktar Radin said that if everything went smoothly they had planned Sandakan to achieve city status by October 2022.