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MSRI

Research

Publications and resources

MSRI has published continuously since 1959. Recent work examines the state of Malaysian higher education, alongside the Institute’s long-standing interest in Malaysian culture, history and society.

Library

Published works

PDFs open on MSRI’s own website. All publications are listed under the date MSRI has published them with.

8 publications

  • Academia’s Search for the Truth

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    Reflects on the purpose of scholarly inquiry and the pressures that discourage it.

    • Higher education
    • Scholarship

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • Addressing Intellectual Imperialism and Mediocrity in Malaysian Universities: The Relevance of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    Defends the place of the arts, humanities and social sciences against the narrowing of Malaysian universities towards technical and market-driven priorities.

    • Higher education
    • Humanities

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • From New Malaysia to Malaysia Madani: Hopes and Aspirations for Malaysian Academics

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    Traces the shifting political expectations placed on Malaysian academics across two changes of government.

    • Higher education
    • Politics

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • Global University Ranking, a Form of Symbolic Violence

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    Applies the concept of symbolic violence to ranking regimes and their effects on scholarship in the global South.

    • Higher education
    • Decolonial thought

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • Kangkung Professors and PhD

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    A polemic on the politicisation of academic appointments and the devaluation of scholarly authority.

    • Higher education
    • Academic freedom

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • Radicalising the Debate on Global University Rankings

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    Questions the metrics and incentives that drive Malaysian universities’ pursuit of international ranking positions.

    • Higher education
    • Metrics

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • Reforming Higher Education in Malaysia: Combating Entrenched Patronage and Racial Polities

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    An argument for structural reform of Malaysian higher education, focused on patronage networks and the racialisation of institutional politics.

    • Higher education
    • Governance

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

  • Vacuous Minds Who Give PhDs a Bad Name

    Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Muhammad Adli Musa, Ngo Sheau Shi · 6 February 2026

    A critique of credentialism in Malaysian academia, examining how the doctorate has been detached from scholarly substance.

    • Higher education
    • Academic standards

    Please note: MSRI lists this paper under a batch publication date of 6 February 2026. The original date of writing is not stated.

    View PDFHosted by MSRI

Call for papers

Submit research to MSRI

Since 1959 MSRI has worked to strengthen its research and publication activities and to remain a hub for collaboration between established and emerging scholars. The Institute brings together academics and researchers within Malaysia and internationally to share findings and take part in discourse.

MSRI is seeking authors to submit work for possible publication in one of its upcoming journals, and welcomes abstracts with full-length papers from scholars in the field.

The Institute is particularly interested in research papers examining Malaysian culture, history, religion and customs, and in multidisciplinary work related to MSRI’s focus areas.

MSRI also provides a platform for researchers and educators to present findings or lead seminars for the communities it serves, and welcomes proposals for presentation topics.

Email a submission
Bound volumes and stacks of published books stored on shelving.

Authorship and dates

MSRI’s website lists all of its recent papers under a single batch date of 6 February 2026. The date each paper was originally written is not stated there, and we have not estimated it. If you need the original date of a paper, please ask MSRI directly.

Submissions

admin@msri.org.my

Commission research with us

MSRI brings together established and emerging scholars in Malaysia and internationally, and welcomes proposals for presentations and seminars for the communities it serves.

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