Malay Studies Chairs Abroad Must Serve As Academic Ambassadors, Says Zambry

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) wants holders of its Malay Studies chair position at foreign universities to function effectively and serve as Malaysia’s academic ambassadors in promoting the Malay language and culture internationally.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said among the terms of reference to be reviewed to achieve this goal is ensuring that Malay and Malaysian culture studies are actively carried out for students interested in the field.

“I want to ensure these chairs are fully functional, and one of the terms to be revised is to make sure Malaysian studies are conducted there as well as the teaching of the Malay language and culture,” he told reporters after attending the 2025 Malay Language Academic Awards ceremony here yesterday.

Zambry said the ministry has instructed a review of all its Malay Studies Chairs at foreign universities to ensure they continue to meet national objectives.

“Their role should not be limited to academic work but should also serve as ambassadors introducing Malaysia through its language, culture and Malay studies,” he said.

Currently, the ministry’s active overseas academic chairs include the Sultan Ibrahim Chair of Malay Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University in China, the Tun Abdul Razak Chair at Ohio University in the United States, and the Chair of Malay Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

Earlier in his speech, Zambry said that efforts to elevate the Malay language must extend beyond the ministry level and be championed globally through the ministry’s Malay Studies Chairs.

He said chairholders act as a bridge between Malaysia and the international community by teaching the Malay language and promoting the nation’s culture.

“Each chairholder must conduct Malay language classes and introduce Malaysian studies programmes at their respective universities to enhance understanding of Malaysia,” he said.

At the event, Zambry presented the Malay Language Academic Excellence Award, the Malay Language Academic Rising Star Award and the Malay Language Technical Sector Award, each carrying cash prizes of RM30,000, RM5,000, certificates and trophies.

Assoc Prof Dr Norliza Jamaluddin, 55, from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris’ Faculty of Languages and Communication, won the Malay Language Academic Excellence Award, and described it as the highest recognition from MOHE in her more than 20 years as an educator.

“This award reflects MOHE’s commitment to elevate the Malay language not only as a medium of communication but also as a language of knowledge,” she said.

Meanwhile, Malay Language Technical Sector Award winner Nor Mahani Md Rasidi, 44, said the recognition proved that efforts to use Malay in engineering classes had paid off.

“Not many people translate engineering terms from English into Malay. I am honoured to help strengthen the language through these translations,” said the senior lecturer at the Mechanical Engineering Department of Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

-- BERNAMA