Papers

• Malay World Contesting Meaning Between Malaysia and Indonesia Awang Azman Awang Pawi University of Malaya

  This paper explores the complex and often contentious process of defining the “Malay world” within the postcolonial contexts of Malaysia and Indonesia. Drawing from postcolonial theory, it examines how historical, political, and cultural narratives have been constructed, contested, and negotiated by these neighboring nations. Both Malaysia and Indonesia claim cultural and historical ties to the broader Malay world, yet their national discourses have produced distinct and sometimes conflicting interpretations of Malay identity and heritage. The study highlights how colonial legacies and post-independence nation-building efforts have influenced these divergent narratives. In Malaysia, the state-driven promotion of a Malay-based national identity has been central to its political and cultural landscape, leading to a more exclusive definition of Malayness that emphasizes ethnic and religious homogeneity. Conversely, Indonesia’s pluralistic and inclusive approach reflects its broader national motto of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity), incorporating a wide array of ethnicities, languages, and cultures under the banner of a shared Malay heritage. Through a comparative analysis, the paper delves into the ways these differing national ideologies manifest in cultural policies, education, literature, and media, shaping public perceptions and international relations. The findings suggest that the contestation over the Malay world is not merely a matter of cultural pride but is deeply intertwined with issues of political power, social cohesion, and identity politics. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how postcolonial nations navigate their historical legacies and contemporary identities, offering insights into the ongoing processes of cultural negotiation and identity formation in the Southeast Asian region

• Enforcement of Sustainable Development Goals: Waste Management as a Shield for Global Sustainability Nurul Asmaa Akmal Binti Md Din University of Malaya

  The issue of waste management has become a pressing concern in many countries due to various challenges and threats posed by improper disposal of waste. This paper discusses the current problem of waste management in several countries and cities, highlighting the challenges faced and their consequences on environmental quality. It emphasizes the limited resources and capacity of local authorities in administering waste management, leading to ineffective planning, contract management, and operational monitoring. Furthermore, rapid urbanization and population growth exacerbate the problem, making sustainable waste management even more complex. The main purpose of this research is to examine the role of local communities in overcoming the issue of the increasingly serious waste burden. Enforcement task is crucial in combating waste management challenges. Enforcement task plays a vital role in combating waste management challenges. It helps to address issues such as illegal dumping of waste and the creation of mini dumping sites, which undermine efforts to attract investment and tourism. This study uses a qualitative approach to obtain community views and make observations on waste management systems in urban centers and small villages. This will require the involvement and participation of all stakeholders, including waste generators, waste processors, formal and informal agencies, non-governmental organizations and local communities. Ultimately, this abstract advocates for a holistic approach to waste management that integrates technological innovation, policy coherence, stakeholder engagement, and international cooperation to fortify the global pursuit of sustainability, encapsulating the urgency and opportunity for transformative action in addressing the waste crisis.

• DECOLONIZATION OF THE MYTH OF “GOOD WAR” AND “WORLD JUSTICE” MEMORY POLITICS OVER VIETNAM WAR Yuri Takahashi Doshisha University
• Joseph Conrad’s Malay World as a representation of postcolonial ecology on the Eastern coast of Kalimantan, Indonesia Awang Azman Awang Pawi University of Malaya Nasrullah University of Malaya

  The historical documentation recorded that the initiation of environmental transformation on the eastern coast of Kalimantan can be attributed to the latter part of the mid-19th century. During that era, the European market experienced the trading of forest products such as rotan, gutta percha, and bird nests. These products were exchanged in Singapore and Makassar, which functioned as free trade ports within the Malay world at that time. The industrial revolution in Europe and the colonial economic system in the colonies played a significant role in enabling the establishment of gold and coal mining activities on the island of Kalimantan as early extractivism. The main aim of this research is to analyze Joseph Conrad’s creative output about the Malay World of the East Coast of Kalimantan, focusing particularly on the perspective of postcolonial ecology. Using a new historicism approach and methodology, this research found that Joseph Conrad’s Malay works depict the ecological changes that occurred in the Malay world in the end of 19th century era. The Conrad era in Europe signified the initial phases of the industrial revolution. The growth of commerce in forest products and the early construction of mining operations in the east coast of Kalimantan were observed as a result of this particular scenario. Indicators of the early ecological damage on the eastern coast of Kalimantan can be found in Conrad’s literary works from the Malay world setting of place. These works represent the extractivism in Eastern coast of Kalimantan as the source of Europe’s raw materials and prosperity.

  Keywords: postcolonial ecology, Joseph Conrad, East Kalimantan, Malay World, Indonesia

• “What part of China is Singapore in?”: Postcolonial Southeast Asia in Neon Yang’s Tensorate series Zhui Ning Chang Birkbeck, University of London

  Despite historical and systemic racial inequities in Anglophone speculative fiction, the past two decades has seen a rise in works that act as “ethnoscapes” (Isiah Lavender III): racialised speculative narratives that seek to unpack colonial narrative assumptions and to interrogate the experiences of racialised and postcolonial communities, including those in Southeast Asia. Drawing on queer Singaporean author Neon Yang’s science fantasy series Tensorate (2017-2019), I argue for the potential of Southeast Asian speculative narratives to subvert Anglocentric convention and instead reflect and reimagine postcolonial issues of racial and gendered hierarchies and neocolonial legacies. Using Joy Sanchez-Taylor’s notion of double estrangement, I study how Yang’s immersive worldbuilding and examination of power dynamics in a fictive Southeast Asia-inspired world dislocates readers from the Eurocentric ‘real’ world and draws attention to postcolonial embodiment in the narrative. I also refer to Wendy Waring’s discussion of paratextual materials to address external factors of the market, material conditions, and the imagined reader(s) acting upon the production and reception of Yang’s text. Since scholarship on postcolonial speculative narratives is still emergent, a mixed methods approach combining literary analysis and expert interviews (authors, editors, genre critics, publishers) was undertaken. Core themes identified include tensions between pluralistic postcolonial communities beyond the Anglophone context, neocolonial nationalist ideologies, and the importance of communal, grassroots acts of resistance. The examination of the imagined reader also demonstrates the shifting boundaries of what ‘Southeast Asia’ constitutes to the Anglocentric publishing industry and its varied, multiply located Anglophone readership. Tensorate’s production and reception demonstrates both the continued orientalist expectations of Anglophone publishing and the ways in which Southeast Asian writers negotiate the market to foreground postcolonial societies and social issues in speculative storytelling.

  Keywords: science fiction studies, migration and diaspora, postcolonialism, neocolonialism, publishing market

• Examining Postcolonial Museum in Malaysia: A Case Study of the Pahang State Museum Ahmad Farid B. Abd Jalal Pahang State Museum

  The first group of museums in Malaysia mostly constructed during the era of British colonial rule in the Malay region. The colonial legacy of the Pahang State Museum provides a strong basis for colonialist ideology and influences the content of its artifacts and exhibition materials. Although its establishment in 1976, after Malaysia’s deliberation from British colonialism, the Pahang Museum’s origins remain affected by colonial ideas. In recent years, the Pahang State Museum has demonstrated a proactive approach towards the decolonization of colonial knowledge and its associated history. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the decolonization initiatives implemented by the Pahang State Museum. The study used a post-colonial museum approach to examine the evolution of transformation in the Pahang State Museum since its establishment to the contemporary era. The findings of this study indicates that the Pahang State Museum has implemented several decolonization initiatives through various methods. These include: firstly, the foundation of the Pahang Museum Campus (Kampus Muzium Pahang), which serves as a hub for education, research, and publication, beside of exhibitions, collections management and monuments conservation; secondly, the establishment of AL-ASAR, as an intellectual circle (Pekan Circle) aimed at encouraging a peaceful and friendly environment for broader local political and social cultural processes; third, the allocation of research grants by the Pahang State Museum to support the development of new local historical writing and storyline; and fourth, the establishment of the Museum Education Club for schools in the State of Pahang; fifth, The establishment of the living museum of the village of the Tunku Azizah Royal Craft Palace.

Abstract