CMS Seminars Archive (2005 - 2002)
"Malaysia's Education Revolution?"
Thursday, 13 October 2005, 11.00 am - 12.30 pm
Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) South, Monash University Clayton campus
Speaker: Ms Marlia Puteh, PhD candidate, Monash Asia Institute
Chair: Dr Wendy Smith, Director, Centre for Malaysian Studies
This paper discusses the introduction and the role of IT in private universities in Malaysia. Have the private universities been leading the educational revolution? Has the introduction of ICT enable the private universities to meet the goals of Vision 2020? This paper seeks to answer these questions by providing two detailed case study of ICT strategies in the private tertiary education in Malaysia.
Ms Puteh is a member of staff at the University of Technology Malaysia and a PhD candidate in the Monash Asia Institute. She has recently returned from six months of fieldwork in Malaysia.
Joint Public Lecture - "Recent Developments in Malaysian 'Political Islam': Is Parti Islam Turning Liberal?"
The Australian Institute of International Affairs, Victorian Branch
Monash Malaysia Focus Group
Centre for Malaysian Studies, Monash Asia Institute, Monash University
Wednesday, 21 September 2005, 12.30 - 2.00pm
Dyason House, 124 Jolimont Road, East Melbourne
Speaker : Professor Shamsul A.B.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Malaysian Islam has always been labeled as "moderate" because of its non-violent nature and, more importantly, it has been highly conditioned by modern electoral politics. The two main political parties claiming to be "Islamic" and "fighting for the Islamic cause" are both Malay parties - UMNO (United Malays National Organization) and PAS (Parti Islam). In the 1999 general elections, PAS made huge gains in the Malay national political constituency. However, in the 2004 general elections, the situation was reversed, PAS suffering humiliating defeat everywhere. In 2005, most of the top leadership was replaced by a group of "young Turks" who claimed to be "liberal." Many have doubts that they are really liberal, in spite of the fact that they now wear Armani suits, rather than the usual turban and robe, and drive Mercedes Benz, instead of the local car, Proton. This presentation will examine whether or not PAS is really turning liberal or is perhaps becoming more radical, in order to attract the disgruntled Malay-Muslim youths.
About the speaker
Shamsul A.B., who was awarded his PhD at Monash University, is Professor of Social Anthropology and Director, Institute of the Malay World & Civilization (ATMA) and the recently established Institute of Occidental Studies (IKON) at the National University of Malaysia (UKM). His research over the last two decades has focussed on politics, culture and economic development in Southeast Asia, with an empirical focus on Malaysia. His monograph From British to Bumiputera Rule, first published in 1986, has recently been reprinted for the second time.
RSVP and Enquiries:
Phone: (03) 9654 7271; Fax: (03) 9654 6605; Email: aiiavic@bigpond.net.au
Contribution at the door: AIIA members and Monash staff $20; non-members $30; student member $10; student non member $12.
Light lunch and drinks will be served.
"The Malay Comedy Films of P. Ramlee 1957 to 1972 - Comedy in a Newly Emerging Islamic Nation"
Seminar jointly presented by:
Centre for Malaysian Studies and Centre of Southeast Asian Studies
Thursday 8 September 2005, 11.00 am - 12.30 pm
Manton Room SG02, Ground Floor, Menzies Building (11) South
Monash University Clayton campus
Rohani Hashim, PhD candidate in Visual Culture, Faculty of Arts, Monash University.
Monash PhD candidate, Rohani Hashim, who is a lecturer in Film and Broadcasting at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, will give a paper providing an introduction to the main subject of her thesis, P. Ramlee, the most important writer, director and star of the Malay language films produced by the Shaw Brothers Studios in Singapore for Malay audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. P. Ramlee, born in Penang in 1929, was multi talented - early in his career he was a singer and composer of songs, but after becoming a major star in Shaw brothers films, he turned to writing and directing as well.
His films are regarded as the most important made in the period immediately preceding and following independence in Malaysia. Filmed in black and white, these films are still regularly screened on television in both Malaysia and Singapore today. Rohani Hashim's paper will commence by outlining the career of P. Ramlee. This will be followed by an examination of the versatility of his approach to comedy in a number of his best films - which deal variously with young village people newly migrating into the cities and with Malay tradition, sometimes even based on Malay folk tales. The second half of the paper will examine in detail aspects of one of his best films, Madu Tiga ('The Three Co-Wives',1963), a comedy about polygamy - focusing particularly on how comedy is deployed in the context of Islamic patriarchy, and on Islamic laws regarding marriage and the way they were implemented in Malaysia at the time.
About the Speaker
Rohani Hashim is a PhD candidate in Film and Television Studies/Visual Culture, School of English, Communications and Performance Studies, Monash University, under the supervision of Mr David Hanan. Her PhD research is on "Malay Comedy in a Late Colonial and Post Colonial Context: The Comedy Films of P. Ramlee, 1957 - 1972". Rohani Hashim obtained her Master of Fine Art (M.F.A.) in Film in 1994 from Ohio University, USA. She is now a Lecturer in Film and Broadcasting, in the School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. She has made dramas for television, which were aired on Malaysian televisions and she has directed short films.
Rohani Hashim has previously published numerous articles on Malay film and theatre in the magazine Dewan Budaya published by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur. Her most recent published chapters in books are "Teknik Asas Perfileman," and "Filem Dokumentari " in Sinema dan Penontonan di Malaysia edited by Ramli Mohamed ('Cinema and Viewing in Malaysia', Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2003) and "Lat's The Kampung Boy:Rural Malays in Tradition and Transition" in Asian Futures, Asian Traditions edited by Edwina Palmer (Global Oriental, 2005).
Enquiries:
Dr Wendy Smith (Wendy.Smith@BusEco.monash.edu.au ), Centre for Malaysian Studies.
"The Malaysian automotive industry: perspective from the local suppliers"
Thursday 18 August 2005
Kadzrina Abdul Kadir, PhD candidate in Management, Faculty BusEco, Monash University.
Chair: Dr Wendy Smith, Centre for Malaysian Studies.
This is a joint Centre for Malaysian Studies and Centre of Southeast Asian Studies seminar.
Social Challenges of Globalisation and Economic Restructuring in Malaysia: Indications of Anomie (2003)
Professor Jamilah Ariffin, Senior Research Fellow and Director, Centre of Socio-Economic Research and Humanistic Development, Institute Sultan Iskandar University of Technology, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Thursday 27 March 2003, 11.00 am - 12.30 pmChair: Dr Wendy Smith
Speaker
Professor Jamilah Ariffin, Senior Research Fellow and Director, Centre of Socio-Economic Research and Humanistic Development, Institute Sultan Iskandar University of Technology, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Prof Jamilah has a BA in Social Sciences (Sociology and Economics) from La Trobe University and an MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of Queensland. She has a keen interest in the fields of Social Change and Economic Development, Gender Studies, Labour Migration and Family Studies. Prof Jamilah has published 30 articles in refereed international journals and is the author of "Women and Development in Malaysia", Pelanduk Publications, 1992. Prof Jamilah has also edited a number of academic books, including "Poverty Amidst Plenty: Research Findings and the Gender Dimension in Malaysia", Pelanduk Publications, 1994, "From Kampung to Urban Factories", University of Malaya Press, 1994 and "Readings on Women and Development in Malaysia", Population Studies Unit, University of Malaya, 1994.
Abstract
In the space of a few years, the Malaysian economy has undergone rapid restructuring. While it took three centuries (300 years) for England and countries of the West to be transformed from an agrarian to urban-industrial society, Malaysian society was pressured to change in this direction within a span of only 30 years (1970-2000). This change was propelled by socio-economic engineering process fostered by the Malaysian government through a series of deliberate economic policies, which notwithstanding have also successfully implemented Economic Growth with considerable Economic Equity.
It must be noted that the changes in Malaysia, as engineered by endogenous measures, are also influenced by globalization forces which further aggravates and complicates the whole process of social transformation.
Due to these trends, many Malaysians are experiencing wide-spread changes in their midst. The nation as a whole has witnessed an expanding middle class and rising standards of living for the majority. However, there are also signs of growing income-inequalities, social disparity and relative deprivation within each ethnic group of this multi-racial society. Due to this industrialization, rural-urban migration, rapid urbanisation and new facilities, more than half of the population are considered to be living in urban areas, but have they become an urban society?
Within this scenario of socioeconomic change, it is often overlooked that the equally important aspects namely changes in attitudes, norms and mediating values, changes in mindsets and psychological "world views" are the least studied and understood. Yet, many are alarmed by the rise in reported rates of child and wife abuse, incest, violent crime and drug-addiction etc.
What are the impact and implications of all these changes for Malaysia? Are there indications of "anomie"? What would be the significant possible future social scenarios in Malaysia in the wake of rising Muslim fundamentalist movements in the world in general and within Malaysia in particular? These are some of the issues and questions that will be deliberated in this public seminar by Professor Jamilah Ariffin.
This seminar was presented jointly with the Centre of Southeast Studies. Please see the seminar list for the Centre of Southeast Studies.
Malaysia after Mahathir (2003)
Dr Abdul Rahim Ghouse
Official representative of the Free Anwar Campaign
Wednesday 26 March 2003, 1.00 pm
About the speaker
Dr Abdul Rahim Ghouse is presently the official representative of the Free Anwar Campaign. He was formerly the Deputy Dean for Research Center at the International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur and also the head of Economic Council of UMNO Youth in Malaysia. He was also the Chairman of Institute for Strategic Research a research and think tank group. While studying in the US, he earned his MS in Chemistry, MA in Sociology and Ph.D. in Sociology. His area of research interest is in cyber resistance and the rise of Reformasi movement in Malaysia. He left the country after Anwar Ibrahim's arrest by the police on the 20th September 1998.
Is Malaysian Islam Moderate? A Post-September 11 Reflection (2002)
Prof. Dr. Shamsul A.B.,
Director, Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi,
3 December 2002, 5.30 - 8.30 pm
Monash Conference Centre, Level 7, 30 Collins St, Melbourne 3000
Abstract
The events of September 11 have had a direct impact on Malaysia, both within and outside the country. For instance, the 'violent' face of Islam that the September 11 events demonstrated has, in some sense, made most non-Muslims in Malaysia begin to appreciate more than before the 'moderate' nature of Islam practised in the country. Indeed, the discourse in Malaysia on the September 11 events, and on topics related to Islam, have only increased non-Muslims' understanding and consciousness about Islam which, in turn, could only have a positive impact on inter-ethnic relations. However, Mahathir's proclamation that Malaysia is an 'Islamic state' has made many non-Muslims feel uncomfortable. Internationally, Malaysia is considered as a model of a moderate Islamic country, as has been stated by no less than the Bush government of the USA. Is Malaysian Islam indeed moderate? This seminar is an attempt to provide some answers to this question.
About the Speaker
Professor Shamsul was formerly, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and is currently Director, Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. He has taught, published and researched extensively in the last 25 years, on the theme "politics, culture and economic development", with an empirical focus on Southeast Asia. His most well-known book is entitled "From British to Bumiputera Rule" (1986), a finalist for the Harry Benda Prize 1988-89, an award for the best book in English on Southeast Asian Studies given by the Asian Studies Association of The USA. His latest book, "Japanese Anthropologist, Malaysian Society" (1998), is currently being translated into Japanese. He has been a regular visiting professor at a number of universities and research institutes in Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA . In April 2000, he was invited by the International Studies Center, Harvard University, as a Distinguished Visiting Professor, to deliver a public lecture on 'Contemporary Malaysian Politics, Religion, Economy and Society'. He has served as a member of the International Steering Committee (Humanities & Global Dialogue) World Expo 2000 Hannover, is the Co-Chair of PEARL (The Program for Europe-Asia Research Linkages), based in Leiden and Copenhagen, and since 1998 has been appointed as a member of the National Information Technology Council (NITC), Government of Malaysia, chaired by the Prime Minister. He is consulted frequently as a social analyst on Malaysian current affairs by BBC London, Radio Australia, Radio Netherlands, Radio Singapore International, Asiaweek, Far Eastern Economic Review, and Asian Wall Street Journal.
Enquiries:
Dr Wendy Smith, Director, Centre for Malaysian Studies (wendy.smith@buseco.monash.edu.au)
Special Seminar co-sponsored by the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies and the Centre for Malaysian Studies
Identity and Empowerment of Indigenous Minorities in Southeast Asian Nation-States: Comparative Perpsectives from Malaysia and Indonesia (2002)
Speaker: Professor Wan Zawawi Ibrahim
Distinguished Monash alumnus
Professor of Sociology and Deputy Dean (Research) Faculty of Social Sciences
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Sarawak, Malaysia.
Prof Wan Zawawi has for the last 10 years been researching indigenous communities in Malaysia, from Orang Asli, to Penans, Kadazandusun, and most recently the Dayaks of Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. He will discuss this research from a comparative perspective.