Kota Kinabalu: A herb garden dedicated to the memory of renowned botanist Datuk Anthony Lamb was officially opened at the Kokol Hill Haven Resort on Jan 31, marking the second anniversary of his passing.
Datin Anthea Lamb, widow of the late conservationist, inaugurated the garden in a ceremony attended by family members, botanists and conservation advocates at the resort perched on the slopes of the Crocker Range.
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The garden features a curated collection of medicinal, culinary and native plant species, designed to serve as both an educational resource and a tribute to Anthony’s lifelong dedication to Sabah’s botanical heritage.
Kokol Hill Haven Resort founder, Datuk Vincent Pung, said the idea for the herb garden originated from Anthony himself during a visit to the resort years ago.
“Anthony suggested that the resort would benefit greatly from a herb garden, particularly one featuring medicinal plants,” Pung said, adding that other projects had delayed its realisation until now.
Anthony, who passed away on Jan 31, 2024, spent decades documenting and protecting Borneo’s flora. A scientist and mentor, he was a prominent figure in Sabah’s botanical and conservation communities, known for his belief that plants should be understood through close observation and care rather than merely catalogued as specimens.
Datuk CL Chan described the garden as not merely commemorative, but pedagogical - a living classroom where future generations can encounter plants as Anthony believed they should.
Chan also announced the upcoming publication of Anthony’s biography, titled The Last Colonial Officers of North Borneo: The Enduring Legacy of Datuk Anthony Lamb.
The 752-page volume will be launched on July 15, 2026, what would have been Anthony’s 87th birthday.
“This is a highly significant occasion not only for the Lamb family, but also for Sabah’s Forestry Department and Agriculture Department, both of which were profoundly shaped by Anthony’s work,” Chan said.
Kokol Hill Haven Resort, located along the Crocker Range, offers panoramic views of Mount Kinabalu, Borneo’s highest peak and Malaysia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site.
The resort also provides vistas across the lowlands toward the South China Sea and is known as a prime location for viewing Kota Kinabalu’s sunsets.
