Born in Muar, Johor, Dr. Shafa is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator of Malay Studies at Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She is a Guest Researcher affiliated with Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Netherlands. Dr. Shafa was a Fellow at Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) for 2 years (2022-2023). Dr. Shafa experienced as Assistant Fellow (2006-2007) and College Fellow/Secretary (2008-2013) at Kolej Kediaman Tun Syed Zahiruddin (Ninth Residential College). In 2013-2019, Dr. Shafa lived in Leiden, Netherlands to continue her doctorate studies. Starting in January 2024 until present, Dr. Shafa serves as College Fellow/Treasurer at the same residential college.  Dr. Shafa obtained her Doctoral Degree from Leiden University, Netherlands on a thesis titled "Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice" under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bernard Arps (promotor) and Dr. Suryadi (co-promotor) from Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Netherlands. Dr. Shafa earned her Master of Malay Studies in Performing Arts and Bachelor of Science in Biohealth (Honors), both from Universiti Malaya. Dr. Shafa specialises in heritage/traditional music, Southeast Asia music history, alternative culture (including punk rock), arts community, popular media and music care. Currently, she is working on a project - music care for caregivers - with her team members from Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Creative Arts and Faculty of Education. This project is under IIRG grant (2022-2025). As an ethnographer whose research sites exist between the online and offline in hybrid fields, Dr. Shafa's interdisciplinary music and/or expressive culture research moves with performers, industry professionals and audiences. In 2023, Dr. Shafa published her book titled "Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice" (Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka). In 2016, Dr. Shafa with Associate Professor Dr. Salinah Ja'afar, Associate Professor Dr. Tengku Intan Marlina Tengku Mohd Ali and Datuk Dr. Zurinah Hassan (Malaysian National Laureate) published a book titled "Wacana Pantun Melayu" (Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka). In 2024, Dr. Shafa received Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (P.M.P.) in conjunction with Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah's 68th birthday. Dr. Shafa was awarded Anugerah Penggiat Seni (Seni Berbahasa) Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur in 2023, Anugerah Biduan Syair ASEAN in 2022 and Anugerah Bitara Syair Nusantara in 2021. Also, Dr. Shafa was awarded Skim Latihan Akademik Fellowships (2008-2011 & 2013-2016) from Universiti Malaya. Dr. Shafa is a traditional music practitioner in Malaysia and has recorded more than 300 songs. She experienced in performing music in Southeast Asian Countries, China, Tasmania and the Netherlands. Her videos of music performance can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/@syafasara/videos

Professor Dr. Nor Liyana Mohd Shuib is a distinguished academic at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya, where she coordinates the Bachelor of Computer Science (Data Science) program. Ranked among the top 2% of scientists globally by Stanford University in 2023-2024, she is renowned for her excellence in research, innovation, and consultancy. Throughout her career, Professor Liyana has successfully supervised numerous PhD students to completion, reflecting her dedication to mentoring and nurturing future scholars. She is a prolific researcher with a Scopus H-index of 35 and a Web of Science H-index of 32, and she has published extensively in high-impact journals and international conference proceedings. Her research interests include personalization, e-learning, recommender systems, data analytics, data science, AI applications, and educational technology. An accomplished innovator, Professor Liyana has received over 30 prestigious awards at both national and international levels, including multiple best paper accolades. She leads impactful projects as the Principal Investigator, notably on digital skills frameworks and mental health applications for senior citizens, alongside various AI-driven initiatives in Healthcare and Education. Her consultancy work for Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education includes evaluating digital learning readiness across higher education institutions. A senior member of the IEEE Computer Society, Professor Liyana also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Universitas Semarang, Indonesia, where she continues to advance the fields of computer science and AI applications.

Ling Tek Soon is a senior lecturer at the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya. Apart from teaching, he is currently working on a UMRG project in University of Malaya, entitle “Abode of Dead, Depository of Knowledge and Contested Realm: A Study of Chinese Cemeteries in Malaysia”.  Ling Tek Soon received his BA (Chinese Studies) and MA (East Asian Studies) from University of Malaya in 1997 and 2002.His thesis was titled “The Fundamental Ideologies of Deng Xiao Ping Conceming Reformation and Renewal since 1978" (Idea-idea Asas Deng Xiaoping terhadap Dasar Reformasi danPembukaan sejak tahun 1978). He was a tutor in the East Asian Studies Department, University of Malaya from 1998 to 2000 while working jointly as a n executive editor in The "Rosa Sintesis" Journal published by Centre of Malaysian Chinese Studies.  In year 2001, he worked as a Mandarin Lecturer in UiTM, Pahang. Subsequently, he  went on to pursue a Ph.D at Tsinghua University, Beijing in 2007. He received a doctorate degree in 2011 with a thesis titled “The Political Idea of Yangdu”. In the same year, he was appointed as a lecturer  in Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya.