- Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, professor of Islamic literature,
formerly of the National University of Malaysia, currently at the
International Islamic University, wrote an important book during his
tenure in the chair.
- Professor Fatimah Hamid Don, then the first female professor of
education at the University of Malaya, brought the force of her expertise
to bear on education and women's issues.
- Professor Zainal Abidin Abdul Wahid, then professor of history at the
National University of Malaysia, contributed much through his
scholarship, his previous experience as a foreign service officer, and
his marvelous network of international friends in the diplomatic and
scholarly communities.
- Dr. Abdullah Hassan, professor of Bahasa Malaysia at the Science
University of Malaysia, in his unassuming wasy, produced several books
and articles and advanced our understanding of the issue of language in
Southeast Asia.
- Professor Abu Bakar, then professor of literature at the University
of Malaya and currently directors of the Writers' Academy of Malaysia,
brought to us his skill as a former deputy vice chancellor and his
expertise in literature.
- Professor Sham Sani, prominent geographer and now vice chancellor of
the National University of Malaysia (UKM), as one of many strengths,
brought to the chair splendidi scholarship on the timely topic of the
environment.
- Professor Ahmad Mahdzan Ayub of the Agricultural University of
Malaysia (UPM), is the immediate past holder of the Razak Chair.
Professor Mahdzan is an agricultural economist and former dean of the
graduate school. During his term, we focused on the critically important
topic of economic develpoment, which is his specialty.
- Professor Mohammed
Yusoff of the Agricultural University of Malaysia
(UPM) is just now beginning his service at Ohio University, and he is
already serving with distinction we have come to expect from Razak Chair
holders.
- Send Comments to:
- Send Comments to:
Tun Abdul Razak Chair in Southeast Asian Studies at Ohio University
In March of 1980, during the late Tun Dr. Hussein Onn's term as a prime minister, the Tun Abdul Razak Chair in Southeast Asian Studies was established at Ohio University. Its creation was the result of the vision, leadership, and support of Tun Hussein, Dato Sri Dr. Mahathir, Dato Musa Hitam, and members of the family of the late Tun Razak, such as is son, Dato Najib, the current Education Minister of Malaysia.
This
unique venture was the first of its kind
by both Ohio University and the Malaysian government. The Razak Chair not
only serves to honor permanently the memory of the late prime minister,
but also provides a new benchmark in the cordial bilateral relations
between Malaysia and the United States. The Razak Chair has been praised
by the president of the United States and the prime minister of Malaysia
as making a unique contribution to Malaysian-American understanding.
The
terms of this historic Razak Chair agreement provide for a series of
prominent scholars, nominated by Malaysia, to travel to Ohio University
to teach, to conduct research, to travel to academic meetings, to advise
on library development, to serve as advisors and consultants to Malaysian
and American students and scholars, in short, to serve as Malaysian
intellectual envoys to the United States.
Since
the chair's establisment, eight distinguished Malaysian scholars have
been selected to serve; and each has enhanced the level of
Malaysian-American understanding in a significant way.