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A. AHMAD & A.R. KHAIRUL-ADHA (2007)<br />

new species (Tan & Martin-Smith 1998). Inventories were also conducted at Sungai Segama<br />

in the Tabin Wildlfe Reserve, Crocker Range, Maliau Basin and Kinabalu Park (Goose 1972,<br />

Samat 1990).<br />

In Sarawak, apart from the work of Watson & Balon (1984) and the compilation of a fish<br />

checklist by Kottelat & Lim (1995), several other studies were conducted, mainly focusing on<br />

small areas and lacking major taxonomic work. Inventories were conducted along the Rajang<br />

River, Lambir and Gunung Mulu National Parks, Batang Ai and Bario areas. Large areas of<br />

the peat swamp forest in the state are yet to be explored. A small pocket of peat swamp forest<br />

near University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has about 16 species of freshwater fish (Khairul-<br />

Adha & Yuzine in press). Surveys in other areas were conducted but the results are preliminary<br />

(Ahmad & Khairul-Adha in prep.).<br />

REPOSITORY CENTER<br />

Malaysia does not have a national repository centre (Ng 2000). The collections in Peninsular<br />

Malaysia are currently deposited in the respective institutions where the research is conducted.<br />

The need for a national repository centre is necessary but until this is created, universities,<br />

research institutions and government agencies will continue to keep their respective collections.<br />

At present, the collection at University Malaya (BIRCUM) is probably the only one being<br />

actively used by researchers and taxonomists alike. The University College of Science and<br />

Technology Malaysia (KUSTEM), Kuala Terengganu and University Kebangsaan Malaysia<br />

(UKM), Bangi each holds a good collection of freshwater fishes. The collections at KUSTEM<br />

are mainly new collections and this does not include collections reported by Mohsin & Ambak<br />

(1983). Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), Malacca, holds a significant number of collections<br />

that includes materials from Sungai Pahang. Many of these collections may not have been<br />

accurately curated.<br />

In Sabah and Sarawak, both the State Museums play a significant role in holding a large<br />

collection of fishes found in the states. Apart from that, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS),<br />

Kota Kinabalu and UNIMAS have their own collections. The number of collections may not<br />

be as great compared to the Museums’ collections, but they are still considered significant<br />

from the viewpoint of research.<br />

LOCAL EXPERTISE<br />

Ng (2000) stated that taxonomic expertise is a greatly misused word. In Malaysia, the number<br />

of practising taxonomists is scarce. Many taxonomists are trained in the field of research but<br />

unfortunately, do not eventually practice active taxonomic research. The establishment of the<br />

national repository center may not materialize if there is insufficient number of taxonomists,<br />

ecologists and biologists. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to encourage the<br />

younger generation to be involved in the research and development of freshwater fishes.<br />

Kottelat & Whitten (1996) and Ng (2000) commented on the pathetic number of practising<br />

taxonomists in Asia. In Malaysia, the figure (Table 2 in Ng 2000) showed that only a few are<br />

involved in this field, but the actual number practicing might be even less than what is reported!<br />

In addition, many senior researchers are not actively publishing their results. The collaboration<br />

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