Kota Kinabalu: The Kota Kinabalu International Book Fair (PBAKK) 2026 recognised six writers, literary practitioners, researchers and publishers from Sabah and Borneo through the 2026 Borneo Book Awards (ABB) here.
The PBAKK 2026 opening and closing ceremony was officiated by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman.
The ABB 2026 comprised six categories, namely Best Book Award (Sabah and Borneo categories), Best Writer Award (Sabah and Borneo categories), and Best Publisher Award (Sabah and Borneo categories).
Professor Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken won the Best Book Award for the Borneo category and the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s Cup for his work “Murder Most Foul: The Kalabakan Massacre 1890”, taking home RM6,000 and a trophy.
Meanwhile, Raymond Majumah’s “Bhahul Puisi Etnik Rungus” won the Sabah category, earning RM4,000 and a trophy.
In the writer categories, Jaya Ramba won the Best Writer Award for the Borneo category, while Ramli Dollah won the Sabah category.
The Best Publisher Award for the Borneo category went to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, while the Sabah category was won by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Publisher, with each receiving RM2,000 and a trophy.
Meanwhile, Dr Rozita Buyoh won the 2026 Sabah-level Article Writing Competition held in conjunction with the National Reading Decade (DMK), with Dr Salbiah Kindoyop as runner-up and Associate Professor Dr Norjietta Julita Taisin third.
The ABB 2026 serves as a platform to recognise writers, literary practitioners, researchers and publishers in Sabah and Borneo for their contributions to producing and publishing works that form part of the region’s intellectual heritage.
Also present were a representative of Sabah Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Hassan Mahali, UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor, UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Ir Dr Rosalam Sarbatly, UMS Publisher Director Professor Dr Patricia Matanjun, and Sabah State Library Director George Yih Ching Yaw.
