SANDAKAN: The Forest Research Centre of the Sabah Forestry Department has released Volume 27 of SANDAKANIA, the scientific journal focused on plant systematics, morphology, and natural history.
This special commemorative issue honours Dr. Wong Khoon Meng, who founded the journal in 1992, led Sabah’s role in the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak project, and served as Curator of the Sandakan Herbarium from 1992 to 1995. Even after his tenure, Dr. Wong remained active as an adviser and frequent contributor.
The editorial committee is chaired by Dr. Arthur Chung, with Dr. Joan T. Pereira as Editor and Alviana Damit as Layout and Copy Editor. This volume also features guest editors Dr. Louise Neo and Dr. Chen Junhao from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Dr. Goh Wei Lim from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).
At 463 pages, Volume 27 is the largest and most comprehensive SANDAKANIA to date, featuring 24 articles. Topics span plant systematics, botany, ecology, conservation, and natural history—fields that reflect Dr. Wong’s lifelong interests and contributions across Borneo, Southeast Asia, and the Malesian region.
Contributors include local and international experts, as well as several of Dr. Wong’s former postgraduate students. Publication was funded by Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES).
The editorial committee remains committed to promoting high-quality scientific work on the flora of Sabah and Borneo. Together, SANDAKANIA and the Sandakan Herbarium serve as pillars of plant research, documentation, and conservation, reflecting the Sabah Forestry Department’s dedication to scientific excellence and biodiversity preservation.
On 8 May, Dr. Arthur Chung, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Research and Development, officially presented a copy of Volume 27 to Datuk Zulkifli Suara, the Chief Conservator of Forests, at the Forestry Headquarters in Sandakan. The presentation was witnessed by Dr. Joan Pereira and Alviana Damit.
The volume was printed by Natural History Publications (Borneo). – James Leong
Datuk Zulkifli Suara (second, left) receives SANDAKANIA Volume 27 from Dr Arthur Chung and editorial committee.
