o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

A. AHMAD & A.R. KHAIRUL-ADHA (2007)
new species (Tan & Martin-Smith 1998). Inventories were also conducted at Sungai Segama
in the Tabin Wildlfe Reserve, Crocker Range, Maliau Basin and Kinabalu Park (Goose 1972,
Samat 1990).
In Sarawak, apart from the work of Watson & Balon (1984) and the compilation of a fish
checklist by Kottelat & Lim (1995), several other studies were conducted, mainly focusing on
small areas and lacking major taxonomic work. Inventories were conducted along the Rajang
River, Lambir and Gunung Mulu National Parks, Batang Ai and Bario areas. Large areas of
the peat swamp forest in the state are yet to be explored. A small pocket of peat swamp forest
near University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has about 16 species of freshwater fish (Khairul-
Adha & Yuzine in press). Surveys in other areas were conducted but the results are preliminary
(Ahmad & Khairul-Adha in prep.).
REPOSITORY CENTER
Malaysia does not have a national repository centre (Ng 2000). The collections in Peninsular
Malaysia are currently deposited in the respective institutions where the research is conducted.
The need for a national repository centre is necessary but until this is created, universities,
research institutions and government agencies will continue to keep their respective collections.
At present, the collection at University Malaya (BIRCUM) is probably the only one being
actively used by researchers and taxonomists alike. The University College of Science and
Technology Malaysia (KUSTEM), Kuala Terengganu and University Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM), Bangi each holds a good collection of freshwater fishes. The collections at KUSTEM
are mainly new collections and this does not include collections reported by Mohsin & Ambak
(1983). Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), Malacca, holds a significant number of collections
that includes materials from Sungai Pahang. Many of these collections may not have been
accurately curated.
In Sabah and Sarawak, both the State Museums play a significant role in holding a large
collection of fishes found in the states. Apart from that, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS),
Kota Kinabalu and UNIMAS have their own collections. The number of collections may not
be as great compared to the Museums’ collections, but they are still considered significant
from the viewpoint of research.
LOCAL EXPERTISE
Ng (2000) stated that taxonomic expertise is a greatly misused word. In Malaysia, the number
of practising taxonomists is scarce. Many taxonomists are trained in the field of research but
unfortunately, do not eventually practice active taxonomic research. The establishment of the
national repository center may not materialize if there is insufficient number of taxonomists,
ecologists and biologists. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to encourage the
younger generation to be involved in the research and development of freshwater fishes.
Kottelat & Whitten (1996) and Ng (2000) commented on the pathetic number of practising
taxonomists in Asia. In Malaysia, the figure (Table 2 in Ng 2000) showed that only a few are
involved in this field, but the actual number practicing might be even less than what is reported!
In addition, many senior researchers are not actively publishing their results. The collaboration
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