A national conference titled "A Comparison of Malay and Chinese Studies" held at Auditorium 3 of the Petaling Jaya Campus of Universiti Tunku Rahman (UTAR) on 25 September 2010, attracted more than 100 people, among whom were scholars, researchers, academics and students.
The one-day conference was jointly organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and The Federation of Alumni Association of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia (FAATUM).
The conference was officiated by Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture, Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz, who represented the Minister Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim as the Guest of Honour.
In his speech Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz said that the conference was very important because it was in line with the national aim and efforts to create a One Malaysia society.
UTAR President Ir Professor Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik, and FAATUM President Yau Teck Kong were also present during the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Prof. Chuah told the audience that the conference had three main objectives and they included strengthening of ties between the scholars in Malay and Chinese studies and encouraging comparative studies in various fields based on the two main ethnic groups in Malaysia.
He added that the national conference was one of the initiatives undertaken by UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies to expand Chinese studies to include comparing it with Malay studies. He hoped that the effort would be continued with the organisation of more conferences of the same nature.
The conference saw 10 local scholars from public and private institutions of higher learning, five in Chinese Studies and five in Malay studies, presenting papers and their views on the similarities and differences between the Malays and the Chinese in four sessions under four sub-themes - relationships, literature, socio-politics and philosophy.
The conference was conducted in Malay but the participants of the conference each received a specially bound copy of all the papers presented in dual languages, Malay and Chinese.
Assistant Professor Dr. Tee Boon Chuan, Chairman of the conference organising committee and a speaker at the conference, said after the event, "We are happy with the positive outcomes of the conference, especially the positive responses received from the Malay scholars." Dr. Tee added that talks had already begun about organising a similar conference in the near future in light of the encouraging outcomes of the conference.
Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz (seated fourth from left) with conference speakers, chairpersons and organisers
The crowd at the opening ceremony of the one-day conference
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