Choong Chee Yen
B.Sc. (UKMalaysia), Ph.D. (Reading)


Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Faculty of Science and Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor

Room: 4107, Bangunan Sains Biologi
E-mail: cychoong@ukm.edu.my
Tel: 03-89213848
Fax: 03-89253357

     Research Interests:
      Undergraduate courses:
  • STAB3343 Molecular Systematics
  • STAB3143 Molecular Approaches in Conservation
  • STAB3333 Cytogenetics
  • STAB1003 Genetics and Society
      Publication:
  • Oon, B.L., Choong, C.Y., Mahani, M.C. & Mat-Salleh, K. 2001. Molecular phylogeny of Meliaceae based on chloroplast trnL-trnF nucleotide sequences. Malaysian Applied Biology 29:127-132.
  • Sim, C.H., Mahani, M.C., Choong, C.Y. & Salma, I. 2005. Transferability of SSR markers from lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) to pulasan (Nephelium ramboutan-ake L.). Fruits 60: 379-385.
  • Pang, S.L., Choong, C.Y. & Wickneswari, R. 2006. Molecular cloning and characterization of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase cDNA from interspecific hybrid Acacia mangium x Acacia auriculiformis. Journal of Tropical Plant Physiology 1(1):75-85.
  • Nadarajah, K., Choong, C.Y., Wickneswari, R., Leong, S.J., Thi, B.K., Hedley, P. & Waugh, R. 2006. EST analysis in Calamus manan Miq. Journal of Tropical Plant Physiology 1(1):1-11.
  • Radhiah, Z., Choong, C.Y. & Faridah-Hanum, I. 2007. Systematic studies on Guttiferae Juss. of Peninsular Malaysia. Tropics 16(2):141-150.
  • Lee, K.S., Wickneswari, R. & Choong, C.Y. 2007. Stand structure and the genetic diversity of Koompassia malaccensis and Dryobalanops aromatica in unlogged and logged-over stands. Sains Malaysiana 36(2):233-242.
  • Nur Fariza, M.S., Pang, S.L., Choong, C.Y. & Wickneswari, R. 2008. Extensive DNA sequence variation in two lignin genes, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase from Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis. Journal of Biological Sciences 8(3):687-690.
  • Choong, C.Y., Wickneswari, R., Norwati, M. & Abbott, R.J. 2008. Phylogeny of Hopea (Dipterocarpaceae) inferred from chloroplast DNA and nuclear PgiC sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48:1238-1243.
  • Nadarajah, K., Leong, S.J., Choong, C.Y. & Wickneswari, R. 2009. Identification of floral ESTs from Calamus manan inflorescence library. Biosciences, Biotechnology Research Asia 6(1): 7-16.
  • Choong, C.Y., Wickneswari, R. & Fatimah, S. 2009. Survival and sex ratio of a planted rattan Calamus palustris Griff. population: implication to seed production and management. Journal of Biological Sciences 9(6):633-639.
  • Nadarajah, K., Choong, C.Y., Leong, S.J. & Wickneswari, R. 2009. Functional prediction of Calamus manan inflorescence ESTs through motif detection. Biotechnology 8(3): 29-342.
  • Yong, S.Y.C., Choong, C.Y., Cheong, P.L., Pang, S.L., Nor Amalina, R., Harikrishna, J.A., Mohd, M.N.I., Hedley, P., Milne, L., Vaillancourt, R. & Wickneswari, R. 2011. Analysis of ESTs generated from inner bark tissue of an Acacia auriculiformis x A. mangium hybrid. Tree Genetics and Genomes 7: 143-152.
  • Bunawan, H., Choong, C.Y., Md-Zain, B.M., Baharum, S.N. & Noor, N.M. 2011. Molecular systematics of Polygonum minus Huds. based on ITS sequences. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 12(11): 7626-7634. Link
  • Sofiyanti, N & Choong, C.Y. 2012. Morphology of ovule, seed and pollen grain of Rafflesia R. Br. (Rafflesiaceae). Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy 19(2): 109-117. Link
  • Sukganah, A., Choong, C.Y., Russell, J., Neale, D. & Wickneswari, R. 2013. Nucleotide sequence analysis of two lignin genes in Acacia auriculiformis x Acacia mangium hybrid for enhancement of wood pulp quality. Tree Genetics and Genomes 9(5): 1369-1381. Link
  • Pang, S.L., Ong, S.S., Lee, H.H., Zamri, Z., Kandasamy, K.I., Choong, C.Y. & Wickneswari, R. 2014. Isolation and characterization of CCoAOMT in interspecific hybrid of Acacia auriculiformis x Acacia mangium - a key gene in lignin biosynthesis. Genetics and Molecular Research 13(3): 7217-7238. PDF
  • Ng, C.Y., Wickneswari, R. & Choong, C.Y. 2014. Identification of floral genes for sex determination in Calamus palustris Griff. by using suppression subtractive hybridization. Genetics and Molecular Research 13(3): 6037-6049. Link
  • Samsir, S.A., Bunawan, H., Choong, C.Y. & Noor, N.M. 2016. Dataset of Fourier transform-infrared coupled with chemometric analysis used to distinguish accessions of Garcinia mangostana L. in Peninsular Malaysia. Data in Brief 8: 1-5. Link
  • Samsir, S.A., Bunawan, H., Choong, C.Y. & Noor, N.M. 2016. Dataset of SSR markers for ISSR-Suppression-PCR to detect genetic variation in Garcinia mangostana L. in Peninsular Malaysia. Data in Brief 8: 1438-1442. Link
  • Choong C.Y. & Wickneswari, R. 2016. Sexing in rattans. Malaysian Applied Biology 45(2): 1–10. PDF
  • Hamidun, B., Choong, C.Y., Salmah, Y. & Normah, M.N. 2017. Phylogenetic inferences of Nepenthes species in Peninsular Malaysia revealed by chloroplast (trnL intron) and nuclear (ITS) DNA sequences. BMC Research Notes 10: 67. PDF
  • Ratnam, W., Choong, C.Y. & Javed, M.A. 2017. Development of genomic resources and assessing their potential for accelerated Acacia breeding. In: Abdullah, S.N.A., Ho, C.L. and Wagstaff, C. (eds.) Crop Improvement - Sustainabililty Through Leading-Edge Technology. Springer, pp. 117-135. Link
  • Hashim, M.H., Idris, M., Bakar, Y. & Choong, C.Y. 2018. Genetic relationships of Hemibagrus nemurus in Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve based on D-loop sequences. Malayan Nature Journal 70(1): 55-65.
  • Kurian, B., Hemanthakumar, A.S., Jacob, J., Ratnam, W., Choong, C.Y., Sarmah, P., Shefeek, S., Nair, V.V., Sajithkumar, S.V. & Sabu, K.K. 2020. Intraspecific genetic variability, differentiation and evolutionary relationships revealed through microsatellite loci in seven economically important Calamus species. Journal of Forestry Research 31: 1899-1911. Link


  • Raja Zalinda, R.J., Choong, C.Y. & Idris, A.B. 2006. Preliminary study on odonate of the Sungai Chongkak Recreation Forest, Selangor and the Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan. Serangga 11(1-2):53-67.
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Orr, A.G. 2007. Two new species of Chalybeothemis from Malaysia, with a redefinition of the genus (Odonata: Libellulidae). International Journal of Odonatology 10(2):171-184.
  • Choong, C.Y. 2007. Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Kuala Pertang and Kuala Koh at Taman Negara National Park Kelantan. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 24:57-61.
  • Choong, C.Y. & Orr, A.G. 2010. The larva of Podolestes orientalis from West Malaysia, with notes on its habitat and biology (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology 13(1):109-117.
  • Kalkman, V.J., Choong, C.Y., Orr, A.G. & Schütte, K. 2010. Remarks on the taxonomy of Megapodagrionidae with emphasis on the larval gills (Odonata). International Journal of Odonatology 13(1):119-135.
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2010. Elattoneura mauros sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Protoneuridae) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Zootaxa 2502: 65-68.
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2010. A review of the genus Amphicnemis in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, with descriptions of two new species (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Zootaxa 2605: 45-55.
  • Ali, F., Choong, C.Y., Ng, F.Y. & Zainal-Abidin, B.A.H. 2010. Male anisopteran odonata secondary genitalia: variations among Libellulidae genera from Tasik Chini Pahang, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Microscopy 6(1): 131-136.
  • Ng, Y.F., Dow, R.A. & Choong, C.Y. 2011. New records of Odonata (Insecta) from the Cameron Highlands, with first records of two species for Malaysia. Journal of Science and Technology in the Tropics 7:9-16.
  • Dow, R.A., Ng, Y.F. & Choong, C.Y. 2012. Odonata of Sungai Bebar, Pahang, Malaysia, with four species recorded for the first time from mainland Asia. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(3): 2417-2426. PDF
  • Ng, Y.F., Choong, C.Y. & Dow, R.A. 2012. Odonata records from Kuala Tahan, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia in December 2010. Notulae odonatologicae 7(9): 77-88.
  • Choong, C.Y., Dow, R.A. & Ng, Y.F. 2012. Odonata (Insecta) from three forsets of central Terengganu, Malaysia. The Malayan Nature Journal 64(2): 95-104.
  • Choong, C.Y. & Cheah, D.S.L. 2013. Odonata of Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. Faunistic Studies in South-East Asian and Pacific Island Odonata 2: 1-11. PDF
  • Chung , A.Y.C., Majapun, R., Khoo, E., Yukang, J.L., Tajuddin, M.A., Nilus, R. & Choong, C.Y. 2013. Fascinating little flying dragons of Sungai Imbak Forest Reserve, Sabah. Malaysian Naturalist 67(2): 22-27. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y. 2014. Odonata (Insecta) fauna of Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 28: 73-80. PDF
  • Dow, R.A. & Choong, C.Y. 2015. Mortonagrion megabinluyog spec. nov. from Brunei (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Zootaxa 3914(1): 89-93. Preview PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Izzat-Husna, M. & Amirrudin, B.A. 2016. Odonata (Insecta) fauna of Tasek Bera Ramsar Site, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 31: 39-48. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y. 2016. Leptogomphus tioman sp. nov. (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidea) from Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa 4171(2): 382-388. Link
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2016. Records of Odonata from Perlis, Malaysia in August 2015, with a checklist of species recorded from the state. Faunistic Studies in South-east Asian and Pacific Island Odonata 16: 1-22. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Dow, R.A. & Ng, Y.Y. 2017. New records of Odonata from Kelantan, Malaysia, with a checklist of species recorded from the state. Faunistic Studies in South East Asian and Pacific Island Odonata 21: 1-22. PDF
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2017. Drepanosticta rahmani sp. nov., from Kedah, Malaysia. Zootaxa 4338(1): 44-50. Link
  • Choong, C.Y., Alwen, B.M., Izzat Husna, M. & Amirrudin, B.A. 2017. Odonata fauna of Tioman Island, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 32: 31-40. PDF
  • Dow. R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2017. New records of Odonata from Kedah, Malaysia in September 2016, with a checklist of species recorded from the state. Faunistic Studies in South East Asian and Pacific Island Odonata 23: 1-18. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Zulhusni, Z. & Maryati, M. 2017. Odonata fauna of Gunung Ledang and its surrounding areas, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. Johor Nature Heritage Bukit Belading dan Ulu Sedili, Perbadanan Taman Negara Negara Johor, pp. 61-68.
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y., Robi, N.J., Butler, S.G., Ngiam, R.W.J. & Reels, G.T. 2018. Odonata from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. International Dragonfly Fund Report 115: 1-50. PDF
  • Dow, R.A., Choong, C.Y. & Ng, Y.F. 2018. Re-description of Coeliccia erici Laidlaw, and the description of Coeliccia sameerae sp. nov. from Peninsular Malaysia (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae). Zootaxa 4413(2): 351-367. Link
  • Choong, C.Y., Alwen, B.M. & Tan, C.C. 2018. Odonata (Insecta) fauna of Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia. Serangga 23(2): 49-58. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Alwen, B.M. & Tan, C.C. 2018. Odonata of Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 33: 57-64. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Hanisah, A. & Ng, Y.F. 2018. Odonates. In: Haja Maideen, K.M, Wan Jualiana, W.A. and Mohamad Ruzi, A.R. (eds.) A Natural Heritage - The Flora and Fauna of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, pp. 110-113. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y. 2019. Odonata fauna of Pulau Pangkor, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. The Malaysian Forester 82(1): 271-276. LINK
  • Choong, C.Y. & Chung, A.Y.C. 2019. Odonata fauna of Imbak Canyon Conservation Asea, Sabah. Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation 16: 1-8. LINK
  • Steinhoff, P.O.M., Ahmad, R., Butler, S.G., Choong, C.Y., Dow, R.A. & Reels, G.T. 2019. Odonata of Gunong Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. International Dragonfly Fund Report 141: 1-50. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Dow, R.A. & Ng, Y.F. 2020. Additional records of Odonata from Kelantan and Terengganu, Malaysia. International Dragonfly Fund Report 144: 1-26. PDF
  • Choong, C.Y., Dg Fazrinah, A.D., Muhamad Amirul Ashraf, A.A., Chung, A.Y.C. & Maryati, M. 2020. Diversity of Odonata species at Kangkawat, Imbak Canyon, Sabah. Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation 17: 1-10. LINK
  • Dow, R.A., Phan, Q.T. & Choong, C.Y. 2020. Protosticta joepani sp. nov. from Borneo with notes on P. kinabaluensis Laidlaw, 1915 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Zootaxa 4729(3): 371-387. LINK


  • Salmah, Y., Choong, C.Y. and Izfa, R.H. 2015. Modul SEE Nature: Serangga. Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 43 p. ISBN 978-967-0829-13-5
  • Choong, C.Y., Yasser, M.A. and Nurfarhana, H.H. 2017. Ancient Creatures: Dragonflies and Damselflies of Malaysia. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Putrajaya, Malaysia. 115 p. ISBN 978-967-0250-27-4. Download
  • Wickneswari, R., Nadarajah, K. and Choong, C.Y. 2017. Applications of High Technology in Varietal Improvement of Rice. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. 140 p. ISBN 978-967-4125-21-9.