The Centre’s research programme will concentrate on the study of Malaysian history and the Chinese. The first objective is to promote greater interest in Malaysian history especially in the context of a tendency to overlook the importance of historical discourse among Chinese academic circles since the 1980s. The second objective is to keep abreast of the widening interests in the study of contemporary Chinese communities and to encourage collaboration with local and foreign scholars.

The short-term plan of the Centre is the publication of The Collected Works of Zhang Liqian and related studies. Its long-term projects include the collection of historical documents and publications and the completion of a history of Malaysia.

One of the commitments of the Centre is to provide a course on Malaysian History as part of the training of teachers in Independent Chinese Schools. The purpose is to upgrade the quality of History teaching and to strengthen basic work in historical studies.