Borneo Book Awards 2026 honors six literary figures

Six individuals and organizations were honored at the 2026 Borneo Book Awards (ABB) held during the Kota Kinabalu International Book Fair (PBAKK). The ceremony, officiated by Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman, recognized excellence among writers, researchers, and publishers in the Sabah and Borneo regions.

In the Best Book category, Professor Datuk Dr. Danny Wong Tze Ken won the Borneo category for ‘Murder Most Foul: The Kalabakan Massacre 1890’, receiving RM6,000 and the Governor of Sabah Trophy. Raymond Majumah won the Sabah category for ‘Bahul Puisi Etnik Rungus’, receiving RM4,000.

Other winners included Jaya Ramba (Best Author, Borneo) and Ramli Dollah (Best Author, Sabah). For Best Publisher, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei took the Borneo category, while Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) won the Sabah category, with each receiving RM2,000. Additionally, Dr. Rozita Buyoh won the article writing competition held in conjunction with the National Reading Decade.