Center for Malaysian Studies

1. About CMS (Center of Malaysian Studies)

Representative's Message

Founder Ikeda, who had the insight that the diversity of Malaysian society has "unlimited possibilities and a vast future", developed a dialogue with Malaysian intellectuals such as Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Azlan Shah, Former King of Malaysia and Chancellor of the University of Malaya, Royal Professor Ungku A. Aziz and Prof. Syed Hussain Alatas, Former Vice Chancellors of the University of Malaya. Soka University has also actively concluded academic agreements with Malaysian universities ahead of other universities, and has promoted and deepened multifaceted cooperation in education and research, including exchange programs, holding Pacific Rim Symposiums, and implementing large-scale research projects by the Faculty of Science and Engineering. International students from Malaysia have also made a significant contribution to the construction of our university. We will continue to make efforts in both research and education to further develop the initiatives that have been established over a long period of time at Soka University.

Objectives

To promote research on Malaysia from the humanities and social sciences perspective.
To encourage international collaborative research by focusing on the common social issues that Japan and Malaysia have.
To contribute to achieving the vision and specific goals of Soka University's Grand Design from the perspectives of research, education, SDGs, and diversity.

Current Activities

Applying for competitive external research funds
Promoting joint research projects
Proposing International Conference
Holding research seminars and meetings to report the research output produced by the center.
Conducting International Fieldwork I-II (short-term study abroad program in Malaysia)

2. People

Members

Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia)

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Soka University

3. Research

Research Projects

(1) Japanese Economic Activities in British Malaya

	Malaysia	Japan	External Research Grants Agencies
Japanese economic activities at Batu Pahat District, State of Johore under British Colonial administration: Collaboration and Competition Among Actors	Md.Nasrudin	Sugimoto	JFE21st Century Foundation
Economic Activities of Japanese Capitalists and Migrants in British North Borneo: Focusing on Cooperation and Competition among Actors	Mohd. Ikbal	Sugimoto	TCER=TIFO Fellowship
Consumer Behavior of Malaysian towards Japanese Luxury Goods in Pre-War British Malaya	Mohd. Shazwan	Sugimoto	The Sumitomo Foundation

(2) Look East Policy

	Malaysia	Japan	External Research Grants Agencies
Rethinking Strategic Economic Cooperation with Japan in the Look East Policy 2.0	Mohd. Ikbal	Sugimoto	The Japan Foundation

(3) SDG-related Research Projects on Malaysia

	Members	Grants Agencies
Economic Ripple Effects of the Creation of Creative and Cultural Industries in George Town, Penang Island: An Estimation of Input-Ouput Table and Its Empirical Investigations	Sugimoto Ichiro, Khoo Suet Leng, Chan Lih Shing	Soka University Priority Research Promotion Project Type B “SDGs Promotion Program
Economic Development and the Gender Division of Labor: A Case Study of Malaysia	Utsumi Tomoko, Satogami Mihoko	Soka University Priority Research Promotion Project Type B “SDGs Promotion Program

(4) Economic History of Malaya

	Members	Grants Agencies
Formation and Accumulation for Wealth of Commercial migrants Chettiar in British Malaya using Estate Duty Fil	Sugimoto Ichiro, Md.Ikbal Md.Huda	JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)