Agreed. We've stayed at KK a few times (at the Sutera Harbour) and you really can't do much better. I've enjoyed KL when I've been there (except the very first time) but KK is a lot more laid back, yet it has everything you'd want as a visitor / tourist. We did go out to a couple of the islands - lots of fish and great swimming! We didn't go to Sandakan but we did visit some of the other memorials and sites that were established to remember the Death March - hugely emotional even though I have no direct connections that I'm aware of (gardens at Kundasang are spectacular).KK is lovely, those 4 islands that you take a small boats from jesselton Point wharf are lovely, also sandacan and up in the forrests to see the probiscas monkeys
Canopy walk on the mountain (Poring Springs)...
Proboscis monkey...
In Kuching we've stayed at the Pullman (they do good deals - hopefully still). I've never seen so many super cars on the street as in Kuching!






