The Malaysia and Singapore Society of Australia (MASSA) is the first ‘country’ association to be affiliated with the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) – shortly after ASAA’s formation in 1976. MASSA serves as a focal point for scholarly contact and communication and strives to represent and promote the interests of Malaysia and Singapore studies in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Panels on Malaysia and Singapore continue to be a regular feature of the biennial ASAA conferences, where the James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture is delivered by a leading scholar of Malaysia and Singapore studies.
Professor Wang Gungwu (National University of Singapore) presented the James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture at the University of Western Sydney in 2012, Professor Garry Rodan (Murdoch University) presented the James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture at the University of Western Australia in 2014 and Professor Anthony Milner presented the James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture at the Australian National University in 2016. Dr Jomo K. Sundaram presented the James Jackson Memorial Lecture in July 2018 during the biennial ASAA (Asian Studies Association of Australia) Conference at the University of Sydney. Associate Professor Michael Barr presented the James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture online in November 2021 during 22nd MASSA Symposium. These lectures have been published by MASSA as well as the Asian Studies Review.
In alternate years to the ASAA conference, MASSA hosts a Colloquium/Symposium, at which established and emerging scholars present papers. The inaugural MASSA Colloquium was held at Griffith University in 1977. The 18th Symposium was held at the University of Sydney in December 2013 and the 19th Symposium at the University of Adelaide in July 2015. The 20th MASSA Colloquium was held at the University of Malaysia in Terengganu in February 2018, while the 21st MASSA Symposium was held at Monash University in September 2019. The 22nd MASSA Symposium was held entirely online in November 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
The current officeholders in MASSA are:
- President: Dr Yeow-Tong Chia (University of Sydney)
- Immediate Past President: Dr Lily Zubaidah Rahim (Georgetown University, USA)
- Vice President: Associate Professor Kerstin Steiner (La Trobe University)
- Secretary: Dr Jason Sze Chieh Ng (New Era University College, Malaysia)
- Treasurer: Dr Wibert Wong (Australian National University)
- Singapore Representative: Dr Walid Abdullah (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
- Malaysia Representative: Dr Fiona Lee (University of Malaya)
- Australian State Representative (Queensland): Professor Hallam Stevens (James Cook University)
- Australian State Representative (Tasmania): Professor James Chin (University of Tasmania)
- Australian State Representative (Australian Capital Territory): Dr Yin Xing Show (Australian National University)
- Australian State Representative (New South Wales): Mr Kean Wong (University of Technology Sydney)
- Australian State Representative (Western Australia): Dr Cecilia Das (Edith Cowan University)
- Australian State Representative (South Australia): Dr Hannah Soong (University of South Australia)
- Ordinary Member: Dr Amrita Malhi (The Australian National University, Flinders University)
- Postgraduate Representative: Ms Hwee Ping Teo (RMIT University)
- Postgraduate Representative: Mr Marcus Paul (University of Sydney)
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