The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 53: Retracing the Political Construction of Race and Ethnic Identity in Malaysia and Singapore: Career of a Concept by Lian Kwen Fee. Please see below for details. Abstract: In this paper, I trace the development of my work on race and ethnicity over my academic career, as a reflection in part of my biographical background. My interest in race and ethnic relations originated from my experience of the race riots in Kuala Lumpur on May 13th in 1969, subsequently grounded…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 52: ‘Wild Borneo’: Anthropologists at War in the Rainforest by Victor T. King. Please see below for details. Abstract: Dispute, disagreement, and debate are the very stuff of academic activity. The problem arises when the language of the debate takes on a personal dimension and the authority that is claimed in arguing in favour of a particular position, approach, or perspective becomes so entrenched that other voices are assigned to the margins. This paper reviews the origins and development of…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 51: Rethinking the Limits of Public Service Labour Casualization in Developing States by Cordelia Belezaire. Please see below for details. Abstract: In the last three decades, labour casualization has become synonymous with Public Service reform in many developing countries. Reforms were meant to restructure and streamline public service delivery by establishing a more flexible workforce. Yet, labour casualization brings with it significant uncertainties such as diminished security of tenure, minimal employment protections, and no guarantee of long-term employment prospects. The…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 50: Halal Certification in Brunei by Hajah Siti Norfadzilah Binti Haji Kifli. Please see below for details. Abstract: This research explores how halal is regulated and practised in Brunei by highlighting the process of Halal Certification in Brunei. In the recent enforcement of the Halal Certificate and Halal Logo (Amendment) Order of 2017, this research discusses the effects it has on the local food and beverage (F&B) businesses, particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). By comparing halal certification…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 49: The Construction of Southeast Asia as an Academic Field of Study: Personages, Programmes and Problems by Victor T. King. Please see below for details. Abstract: This paper explores critically and historically some of the popular academic views or ‘myths’ concerning the development of the study of Southeast Asia through the lens of the contributions of particular scholars and institutions. Within the broad field of Southeast Asian Studies, the focus will be on the disciplines of geography, history and ethnology,…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 48: Ageing and Malay Muslim Women in Brunei by Izzati Jaidin. Please see below for details. Abstract: This paper examines women (gender), Muslims (Orient), and the elderly (age) from a postcolonial perspective. It highlights the relevance of spirituality to ageing, which is currently under-studied in sociology. Ten Brunei Malay Muslim women aged 60 - 76 were interviewed, with the aid of the photo-elicitation method, about their experience of ageing. All interviewees perceive ageing as a gift from God and should…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 47: Malay Traditional Marriage Ceremonies in Brunei: Continuity and Change by Nur E’zzati Rasyidah binti Haji Abdul Samad. Please see below for details. Abstract: Brunei Darussalam is a Malay and Islamic state that is well known for its various local cultural heritage and Adat (customs and traditions) that are steadfastly maintained until today. Adat is considered to be one of the most significant local practices that reflects the unique identity and foundation of Brunei Malay society and culture. It is…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No 46: Difficult Return: Muslims’ Ambivalent Attachments to Jaffna in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka by Dr. Diotima Chattoraj and Dr. Eva Gerharz. Please see below for details. Abstract: This article focuses on the experiences, aspirations, and challenges of Sri Lankan Muslim returnees to the northern part of Sri Lanka, Jaffna, and analyzes their strategies to cope with the ambivalent situation they face. The empirical point of departure is drawn from the stories of three Muslim returnees in Jaffna who returned from different…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No. 45: Stranger Kings and Strangers in an Asiatic Country: The Ambiguity of Human Relations in Early British North Borneo by Liam C. Kelley. Please see below for details. Abstract: This paper seeks to understand how it is that a small number of Europeans were able to extend their authority and control over the northern region of the island of Borneo in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to establish a state known as British North Borneo, as well as…

The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No. 44: Everyday Voices in Marginal Places: Political Anxiety, Resistance, and Mass Support under Duterte’s Martial Law by Eliseo F. Huesca Jr and Dr. Margie D. Fiesta. Please see below for details. Abstract: This paper examines ordinary people’s voices by foregrounding their sentiments and perspectives on Duterte’s imposition of martial law following the Marawi siege in May 2017. The paper purposively privileges the voices of everyday citizens, which are often overlooked, to generate alternative viewpoints to the elite-driven narratives dominating political…