About

VENUE

The Conference will be held in hybrid mode, i.e. in-person on the ANU Campus, and live-streamed on zoom.

  • IN-PERSON: Auditorium, Australian Centre on China in the World, Building 188, Fellows Lane, ANU, Canberra, Australia

  • ONLINE: Live-streamed via Zoom, please note no Q&A from the online audience, we apologise for this inconvenience.

Please select the relevant session according to your preferred attendance.

Image: City view of Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Hongwei FAN via Unsplash.

ANU Malaysia Update 2025: Malaysia's Regional Role

The ANU Malaysia Update Conference is a biennial event bringing together leading scholars and distinguished speakers in Malaysia and Australia to the Australian National University in Canberra. The theme of the 2025 conference explores Malaysia’s role in ASEAN, in Southeast Asia, and broadly in the Asia-Pacific. It positions Malaysia in a broader regional context, delving into pressing issues within foreign policy and trade, culture, politics and society. The conference will engage in pressing debates involving Malaysia at a time of political unpredictability, trade and culture ‘wars’, and rapid technological change in the Asia-Pacific.


The conference will feature leading academics of Malaysian Studies in Australia and Malaysia, as well as contributions from policymakers, students, and the general public.

PROGRAM DETAILS

09:00 AM Opening Remarks 

  • Professor Helen Sullivan, Dean, College of Asia and the Pacific 

  • Her Excellency Datin Paduka, Sharrina Abdullah, Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia 

  • Associate Professor Ross Tapsell, Director, ANU Malaysia Institute 

  • The Honourable Mr Zhi Soon, Member for Banks 

09:20 AM Foreign Policy Update

Professor Ngeow Chow Bing, Director, Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya 

  • Discussant: Ms Sharon Seah, ISEAS/ANU

  • Moderator: Ms Susannah Patton, Lowy Institute 

10:30 AM Morning tea

11:00 AM Cultural Update

Ms Hanna Alkaf, Malaysian writer and novelist 

  • Discussant: Dr Simon Soon, University of Melbourne 

  • Moderator: Dr Ying Xin Show, ANU

12:00 PM Lunch and Friday Prayers 

01:30 PM Political Update

Associate Professor Syaza Farhana Shukri, Head, Department of Political Science, International Islamic University of Malaysia 

  • Discussant: Dr Seb Dettman, Singapore Management University 

  • Moderator: Associate Professor Ross Tapsell, ANU

02:30 PM Afternoon tea

02:50 PM Malaysian studies roundtable discussion and short presentations 

This roundtable explores the theme of the Update – Malaysia in its Region – by bringing together emerging Australia-based scholars whose work engages with Malaysia across diverse disciplines. The session invites reflections on the current state of Malaysian studies, the pressing issues and challenges facing the field, and fresh ideas for future research and policy engagement.

Short presentations from:

  • Mr Teck Chi Wong, UQ - Political economy

  • Dr Nicholas Chan, ANU - Security and politics

  • Dr Jarrah Sastrawan, ANU - Ancient history 

  • Dr Simon Soon, University of Melbourne - Art history 

  • Dr Ying Xin Show, ANU - Literature 

  • Dr Seb Dettman, Singapore Management University - Politics and policy

  • Ms Murni Abdul Hamid, ANU - International Relations 

Moderator: Emeritus Professor Greg Fealy, ANU

03:55 PM Closing Remarks

4:00 PM End of ANU Malaysia Update 2025