SEASSR Vol. 8, No. 2 (July-Dec 2023)

Abdul Halim Ali, MA, is a retired sociology professor who was one of the founding members of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which was founded in May 1970. He taught sociology in UKM for more than three decades, serving in various capacities including as Dean of the Faculty of Development Science. After retiring from UKM, he moved to Sarawak where he was appointed professor and Chair of Nusantara Studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak for several years until full retirement. Email: aha750@gmail.com.

Bakri Mat, PhD. is an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Asian Institute of International Affairs and Diplomacy (AIIAD) within the School of International Studies (SoIS), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). His academic pursuits span both traditional and non-traditional security sectors, culminating in varied research, consultations, and publications. Email: bakri@uum.edu.my.

Chai Ming Hock, PhD, completed his doctoral studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2009, before he began working at Universiti Sains Malaysia, teaching in the field of journalism at the School of Communication. The book Pemerkauman Isu Pilihan Raya Dalam Akhbar Arus Perdana Berbahasa Inggeris di Malaysia published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka argues that race issues in the national discourse are issues created by stakeholders to maintain their relevance in the Malaysian social system. He believes that education is an enabler in improving a person’s standard of living and hopes that his students will also benefit from the national education system as he has received from all his previous educators. Email: minghock@gmail.com.

Chanthol, Hay, PhD, is a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, National University of Battambang, Cambodia. He also works as a senior research specialist at Save the Children International (SCI) in Phnom Penh. At National University of Battambang, he teaches Principle of Economics, Macroeconomics, Managerial Economics and International Economics. At Save the Children, he works in a Child Protection team to end violence against children in schools in Cambodia. Prior to his teaching position, he worked for International Finance Corporation, a private sector arm of the World Bank as an analyst and for Ministry of Economy and Finance as a young economist. Hay Chanthol received his Ph.D. in international public policy from graduate school of public policy, the University of Tokyo in 2020. His research focuses on macroeconomics and economic development. Email: hchanthol99@yahoo.com.

Gordon, Alec, PhD (1931-2019) was born and raised in a working class family in Glasgow, Scotland, Alec Gordon has worked in research institutions and the UK civil service. Having studied in Glasgow and London, he moved from London to settle in Thailand where he passed away in 2019. He has been a pioneer in trying to understand and measure the colonial surplus, especially in the former Netherlands East Indies, now Indonesia. Rather than dogmatically defending a definition he had pioneered, Alec was constantly trying to improve our understanding of a complex, variegated and changingconcept.

Hooi Shan Lim, PhD, is a registered clinical psychologist and a registered and licensed counselor. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology from the University of Nottingham. She won the Eighth Park Jung-heun Young Scholar Award in 2018. Dr. Lim is currently the Programme Director for the Master of Clinical Psychology at Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur. Email: hooishan.lim@taylors.edu.my.

Jomo K.S., PhD, is Senior Adviser at the Khazanah Research Institute, Kuala Lumpur. He is also Fellow of the Academy of Science, Malaysia, Emeritus Professor at the University of Malaya, Visiting Fellow at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University, and Visiting Professor at the International Islamic University in Malaysia. In 2023, he became Senior Advisor to the Global Programme on Measuring Corruption at the International Anti-Corruption Academy. A renowned economist as well as author and editor of many books, he was awarded the Wassily-Leontief Prize for advancing the frontiers of economic thought in 2007. Email: jomoks@yahoo.com.

Lilia Halim, PhD, is Professor in Science Education at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her current research is on developing a model of Learning to Action for a transformative climate change education at secondary schools. Her research interests include STEM innovative teaching and learning and development of STEM teachers’ knowledge base. Email: lilia@ukm.edu.my.

Nallammai Singaram, PhD, is a seasoned researcher with 30 years experience, with expertise in plant tissue culture, biochemical profiling, molecular biology and in vitro cultivation of various plant species. Her proficiency in statistical analysis contributes to studies involving clinical patients, enhancing research methodologies and data interpretation in fields that intersect with the biological aspects of human health. Email: nallammai.singaram@taylors.edu.my.

Norfatiha Othman, PhD, is a lecturer in development and social change at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Her research focuses on the fishing community, namely the question of entrepreneurship among community members. She has written numerous journal articles, chapters in books and proceedings related to the transformation and social change among the fishing community involved in coastal and deep-sea fishing on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Email: norfatiha.othman@umt.edu.my.

Nazirah Awi, BA, is a postgraduate student at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). In 2019, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Policy Studies and Social Environment and then continued her Master’s studies (by research) in the field of social studies. Her research is focused on the study of coastal fishermen’s involvement in social entrepreneurship. She has participated in several conferences and seminars, including the 13th International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC13) organised by the Malaysian Social Science Association. Email: nazirahawi69@gmail.com.

Nor Hayati Sa’at, Ph.D, is an Associate Professor in Development Sociology at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Her research focuses on the development of coastal communities, fisherfolk and estuarine communities. She has produced several works on social mobility and the implications of social change in coastal and fishing communities in Malaysia. She has held several administrative positions at UMT such as Deputy Director (Socio-Economic Development) at the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (2017-2019), Chairman of the Bachelor of Management Program (Policy and Social Environment), School of Social and Economic Development (2013-2016), and Deputy Dean (Research and Graduate Studies), Faculty of Social Development (2011-2013). She is a consultant-researcher in several government and non-government sponsored research projects. She has published many articles and books. She has authored, Keluar Dari Lingkaran: Mobiliti Sosial Komuniti Pesisir (Out of the Circle: Coastal Community Social Mobility) (2022), co-authored Penyelidikan Sains Sosial Malaysia Pasca-Merdeka (Malaysian Social Science Research in Post-Independence Malaysia) (2019); and co-edited Sains Sosial dan Kajian Pembangunan: Kumpulan Rencana Penghormatan untuk Profesor Abdul Rahman Embong (Social Science and Development Studies: Essays in Honour of Professor Abdul Rahman Embong) (2014). Email: norhayati@umt.edu.my.

Xiaonazi Xieraili. B. Psych. earned her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from Taylor’s University in September 2021. Currently, she serves as a Full-Time Graduate Research Assistant at Taylor’s University, School of Biosciences. Recognized for her commitment to research, she was awarded the Taylor’s Research Excellence Scholarship 2022. Xiaonazi is currently pursuing her Master of Science at Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur. Email: xiaonazixieraili02@sd.taylors.edu.my.

Wan Puspa Melati, PhD, is an associate professor as well as Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian Social Science Association (PSSM) and the Head of Department at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SLAS), Taylor’s University Malaysia. Identifying herself as a Clinical Sociologist and passionate about the community, she has led grassroots empowerment programmes for various target groups. Email: WanMelati.WanAH@taylors.edu.my.