News and Events: Online discussion on the Local History of Yap Tao Sha New Village Gambier and Chinese Society Online History Lecture Series Tan Lark Sye Institute Lecture Series No.23: The Clan Culture of Singapore Chinese and the Development of Chinese Culture Overseas The academic book Annals of Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum 2018: Kangchu and Local Society edit by Dr Pek Wee Chuen, Bak Jia How and Dr Henry Chong Ren Jie was publish on October 2019. The 3rd Conference on Malaysian Chinese Folk Culture Senior lecturer Liaw Siau Chi co-authored The History of Malaysia with Fan Ruo Lan and Li Wan Jun. The book was published by World Publishing Corporation in July 2018. Dr Lew Bon Hoi, Head of Southeast Asian Studies department, published the new book “Malaysia: The Ethical Country of Multi-symbiosis”, and held a book launching ceremony on 30 March at Linking Bookhouse. Associate Professor Dr. Lew Bon Hoi and Assistant Professor Dr. Pek Wee Chuen were invited to give talks in Taiwan.

Introduction

Situated between China and India and their respective neighbouring countries, Southeast Asia has historically been a pivotal region of East-West trade, international relations and cultural interactions. Southeast Asia has a rich variety of regional characteristics. Nowadays, as the global economy and geopolitical power move to the region, Southeast Asia is becoming more and more important in global affairs, and it has become a prominent study in academic field in recent years.


In response to the trend of research and development in Southeast Asia, New Era University College officially established the Department of Southeast Asian Studies in February 2019, which is affiliated to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This department is the first department among all Malaysia's private colleges and universities to take the Southeast Asian regional research as the main focus of development. In terms of talent cultivation, the Department of Southeast Asian Studies offers a diverse curriculum based on the philosophy of “Think locally, expand globally”. It also arranges teachers from different disciplines and backgrounds, such as Taiwan, China, UK and Germany, who are trained in the fields of history, geography, sociology, education, literature, etc. to help cultivate professionals with both local and global perspectives in all relevant fields.

     The Department of Southeast Asian Studies currently runs the postgraduate courses for MA and PhD degrees in ASEAN Studies. The MA programme focuses on issues related to the development and integration of economics, politics, security, education and social culture among the ASEAN members. The PhD programme has a wider range of research topics. In addition to ASEAN-related topics, it also focuses on the diverse history, ethnic groups and language culture in Southeast Asia, as well as population trends, educational development, and environmental complexity.

Our Message

Southeast Asia has become a channel for the East and West since ancient times. The East and West cultures have inter-mingled, leaving behind many traces of politics, economy, society and culture. Southeast Asia is also a region where prehistoric men interacted and resided. Various human species have left their marks here. Therefore, Southeast Asia is not only culturally diverse, it is also a museum of human race.



The study of Southeast Asia has experienced several stages of development over the past hundred years, from Indian colonialism to Indianisation before moving towards the independent development of Southeast Asia, which has its own subjectivity and integrity. At the same time, it has also experienced a gradual change from Eurocentrism to Asiacentrism. Today, Southeast Asia is also one of the focuses of regional research and international relations research. This shows that the study of Southeast Asia is not only keeping pace with the times, It is also bringing something new for research. However, it is undeniable that Southeast Asian studies are still dominated by the Western countries. The emergence of China in the past two or three decades has helped to narrow the gap. And, as a member of Southeast Asia, Malaysia should take it as her responsibility to promote Southeast Asian Studies to the world.



“The Belt and Road” of China and the New Southbound Policy of Taiwan have made Southeast Asia more important in the international arena. Currently, many universities and colleges in the southern coastal areas of China have established their respective department of Southeast Asian studies, and even the college of ASEAN studies. It is likely that the development of Southeast Asian studies will continue to grow. Now, the University of Malaya is the only public university which offers MA and PhD degrees in Southeast Asian studies, while New Era University College is the first private university in Malaysia to offer the same research programmes in Southeast Asian studies. We have indeed developed another channel in cultivating regional research talents by offering students who are interested in this area but are unable to enter the public universities. Apart from this, we hope to recruit international students, especially graduate students from China. We also hope to contribute to the country by making Malaysia a regional education centre.



Our training policy stresses on staying local while accepting broad-mindedness and inclusiveness. We welcome like-minded people to join us and help us develop the programme together.

Course

The course is conducted by research. Students are required to take three courses before completing the thesis:

Research Methodology

  • This course is designed to give graduate students the knowledge to conduct original research and expand ASEAN affairs. Students will be able to independently conduct research design and problem solving, analysis, assessment, and presentation of data. This course helps students to lay the foundation for their future professional fields.

Directed Reading in ASEAN Studies

  • The aims of the course is to equip students with the basic knowledge of the ASEAN region and relevant issues or literature on ASEAN and its members from the perspective of social sciences, humanities and regional studies. Students should integrate various types of knowledge with a view to developing professionals in the relevant fields.

Seminar in ASEAN Studies

  • The course consists of two parts: The first part is a series of lectures to introduce the latest trends and methods in the fields of language, literature, history, philosophy and culture in ASEAN. In the second part, students will introduce and discuss their own research topics and progress.

Thesis

  • The objectives of the thesis are to assess the academic qualities and skills of graduate students, to develop their ability to think independently and creatively while engaging in academic research or professional work. The thesis will be written independently by the graduate student under the guidance of the instructor. The medium used is English. The MA thesis shall be between 40,000 and 80,000 words, and the PhD dissertations between 80,000 and 120,000.
PhD in Southeast Asian Studies

Enrolment Regulations
Master of Arts ASEAN Studies

Enrolment Regulations

Instructor

DR. PEK WEE CHUEN
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT / ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

weechuen.pek@newera.edu.my

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PROFESSOR MOK SOON CHONG
VICE-CHANCELLOR

soonchong.mok@newera.edu.my

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PROFESSOR VOON PHIN KEONG@JOSEPH VUN PIN KIONG
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR

phinkeong.voon@newera.edu.my

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PROFESSOR LEE KAM HING
RESEARCH PROFESSOR

kamhing.lee@newera.edu.my

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PROFESSOR LEW BON HOI@LIEW BOON HOOI
PROFESSOR

bonhoi.lew@newera.edu.my

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PROFESSOR NG YEAN LENG
PROFESSOR/ DEAN, FACULTY OF ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES

yeanleng.ng@newera.edu.my

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PROFESSOR ONN HUANN JAN

huannjan.onn@newera.edu.my

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ASSOC. PROF. DR. TEY SHI BIN
DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR (INTERNATIONAL AND CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT)

shibin.tey@newera.edu.my

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ASSOC. PROF. DR. WONG SHWU HUEY

shwuhuey.wong@newera.edu.my

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ASSOC. PROF. DR. WANG RUIXIN

ruixin.wang@newera.edu.my

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ASSOC. PROF. SHAMUNI A/P KUNJIAPU

shamuni.k@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. DR. EDWARD FOO LOKE MIN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR/ DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF AGEING AND PROFESSIONAL CARE

lokemin.foo@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. DR. WONG WAI SHEE
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT CUM ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
HEAD OF TAY LIAN SOO CHINESE STUDIES CENTRE

waishee.wong@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. DR. JOE LIAW SIAU CHI
DEAN CUM ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION, CINEMATIC AND PERFORMING ARTS

siauchi.liaw@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. DR. WONG YEE TUAN

yeetuan.wong@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. DR. NG SZE CHIEH

szechieh.ng@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. DR. ALEXANDER TAY GUAN MENG
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS STUDIES

alexander.tay@newera.edu.my

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ASST. PROF. FRANKIE GOH SONG PENG
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

frankie.goh@newera.edu.my

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Navaratnam A/L Vejaratnam
SENIOR LECTURER

navaratnam.v@newera.edu.my

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Rajennd Muniady
SENIOR LECTURER; DIP. IN MARKETING & BBIM PROGRAM COORDINATOR

rajennd.m@newera.edu.my

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Adjunct Professor

Prof. Dr. Lee Boon Thong
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Prof. Dr. Wong Tai Chee
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Prof. Dr. Khoo Boo Teik
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Academic Advisors / External Examiners

Prof Dr. Danny Wong Tza Ken
Academic Advisor

Programme: MA & PhD in Asean Studies
Serve: University of Malaya
Appointment Duration: 2019-2021

Associate Prof Dr. Helen Ting Mu Hung
External Examiner

Programme: MA & PhD in Asean Studies
Serve: University Kebangsaan Malaysia
Appointment Duration: 2019-2021

Activity Highlights

Publication



Town of Tin - The Hundred-Year History of the Chinese in Sungai Lembing

This book is divided into four sections: History, Economy, Culture, and Society. The History section includes the history of the villages and towns as well as important local figures. The Economy section covers the development of tin mines related to underground tin mining, evolution of the company, and the mining process. The Culture section focuses on education, associations, and folk beliefs, while the Society section primarily discusses the work and daily life of miners. Additionally, a special article is dedicated to addressing the issue of floods, which have become a part of life for the residents of Sungai Lembing.

Author: Lew Bon Hoi & Chang Kok Loy
Publisher and Distributor: New Era University College, LLG Cultural Development Centre Bhd, Kutub Khanah Awam Sungai Lembing Pahang
Date of Publication: July 2023
Language: Simplified Chinese
ISBN: 978-967-1478981
Pages:112p
Price: RM30



Collected Essays on Malaysian Chinese Folk Culture, 2021

It is undoubtedly that folk culture has the most far-reaching influence on the Malaysian Chinese community. At the same time, it is also the most profound cultural expression of our community. For this reason, a group of Malaysian scholars had come together to produce essays on various fields of folk culture, which encompasses folklore production, folk life, folk beliefs, folk literature, folk art and entertainment, languages in folk custom, festivals, and life etiquette. It is their hope that this volume will help collect some of the Malaysian Chinese folk culture in a printed form.

Editor: Lew Bon Hoi
Publisher and Distributor: SIRD & New Era University College
Date of Publication: January 2021
Language: Simplified Chinese
ISBN: 9789672464198
Pages:347p
Price: RM40

Collection of Chinese Documents in the Straits Settlements (Special Edition)

‘San Zhou Fu (literally means The Tri-State Government)’ is the common name used by the local Chinese to refer to the Straits Settlements which composed of Penang Island, Singapore, and Malacca. This political administrative system was established in 1826 and lasted for 120 years until it was dissolved in 1946.
The original version of this book, entitled “A Text Book of Documentary Chinese, Selected and Designed for the special use of Members of the Civil Service of the Straits Settlements and the Protected Native States《三州府文件修集》”, was published in 1894 in Singapore and was used for the training of colonial officers of the Straits Settlements. With a total of 383 documents separated into 3 Volumes and 7 Chapters, this book includes a wide range of materials including private submissions to the colonial government, notices from the Chinese and British governments, various commercial and private correspondences, wills, application affidavits, articles of association, regulations, contracts, IOUs, prefaces, arguments, essays, notes and memorials, etc. The original book is currently kept in the National Library of Singapore’s Special Collections Department.
For this Special Edition, the Editors have selected 162 pieces of documents related to the early Chinese community in Singapore and Malaya during the 19th century. The book also chronicles the lives of the lower-class community back then. The original book is a rare historical resource, with many surprises waiting to be discovered as you delve into it.

Compilers: Kua Bak Lim & Lew Bon Hoi
Publisher and Distributor: Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations & New Era University College
Date of Publication: January 2021
Language: Simplified Chinese
ISBN: 978-981-14-5658-9

Discovering The Goddess of Mercy in Swee Nyet Temple of Pulai, Kelantan

Pulai Village is a typical Hakka settlement, located in the southern part of Kelantan State of Peninsular Malaysia. Due to its geographical isolation and economic activity background, it still preserves its Hakka traditional culture till this day. For decades, many researches on this village have been carried out. This book focuses on the Guanyin worship of Swee Nyet Temple in Pulai Village and its religious characteristics. It also attempts to explore the traditional beliefs and historical culture of Hakka immigrants in this village through historical documents kept in this temple.
The belief of Guanyin in Pulai Village originates from Hakka homeland. It was then incorporated to local elements to form a new local Chinese immigrant belief. However, the spirit of adhering Chinese culture is the main factor that Pulai people can still include their religious culture in their daily life.

Author: Lew Siew Boon
Publisher and Distributor: New Era University College & Pertubuhan Pemeliharaan Warisan Budaya
Date of Publication: July 2020
Language: Simplified Chinese
Price: RM50
ISBN: 978-967-14789-2-9

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