Professor Dr. Maya Khemlani David (Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya) received the Linguapax Award in 2007 and   is an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, United Kingdom and an Honorary Member of the Foundation of Endangered Languages. As a sociolinguist, Dr. David has a special interest in discourse analysis, languages in Malaysian minority communities, and the role of language in establishing and maintaining national unity within and across cultures. She is a Visiting Scholar, College for Women and also consultant (ELT) for Kinnaird College, both in Lahore, Pakistan. She also is Hon. Academic Consultant, London College of Clinical Hypnosis. She holds an Executive Diploma in Coaching and also in Counselling.  Her publications include Malaysian Indian: Sociocultural Assimilation towards the Malay Majority (2012, Tanjung Malim, UPSI), Leadership Discourse of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad (2010, Shah Alam, UPENA ), Code-Switching in Malaysia ( 2009,Frankfurt, Peter Lang) and The Sindhis of Malaysia: A Sociolinguistic Account (2001, London, ASEAN), and her co-edited and edited publications are National Planning and Language Shifts in Malaysian Minority Communities: Speaking in Many Tongues(2011,IIAS/ICAS, University of Amsterdam Press), Politeness in Malaysian Family Talk (2008, Serdang: UPM), Language and Human Rights: Focus on Malaysia (2007, Serdang: UPM), Language and the Power of the Media (2006, Frankfurt, Peter Lang), Language Choices and Discourse of Malaysian Families: Case Studies of Families in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2006, Petaling Jaya, Strategic International and Research Development Centre), Teaching of English in Second and Foreign Language Settings: Focus on Malaysia (2004, Frankfurt, Peter Lang) and Developing Reading Skills (2002, Kuala Lumpur: Melta/Sasbadi). Dr. David can be contacted at: mayadavid@yahoo.com Areas of Specialisation • Cross-Cultural Communication • Discourse Analysis • English for Specific Purposes • Language Maintenance and Language Shift • Language of the Elderly • Language and Human Rights

Salinah Jaafar ialah Profesor di Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya, dengan kepakaran dalam Leksikologi, Linguistik Melayu, Kesantunan Berbahasa, dan Terjemahan. Beliau memperoleh Ph.D. (2008) dalam bidang Leksikologi dan pernah mengikuti penyelidikan di University of Birmingham, UK. Mantan Pengarah Akademi Pengajian Melayu (2020–2022) ini aktif menulis dalam jurnal berindeks Scopus dan ISI, serta menerbitkan buku ilmiah bersama penerbit MAPIM. Dengan pengalaman hampir tiga dekad dalam pendidikan tinggi, beliau dikenali sebagai pensyarah yang berdedikasi, tekun, dan komited terhadap kecemerlangan ilmu. Selain mengajar, beliau giat dalam penyelidikan FRGS yang merangkumi bidang Pragmatik, Hubungan Etnik, Korpus Melayu, Linguistik Komputer, dan Terjemahan Hadis. Pengalaman luasnya sebagai pentadbir universiti turut memantapkan peranan beliau dalam kepimpinan akademik, pembangunan kurikulum, serta pementoran staf. Salinah Jaafar is a Professor at the Academy of Malay Studies, University of Malaya, specializing in Lexicology, Malay Linguistics, Language Politeness, and Translation Studies. She earned her Ph.D. (2008) in Lexicology and completed a six-month research attachment at the Centre for Academic Research in English (CARE), University of Birmingham, UK.  A former Director of the Academy of Malay Studies (2020–2022), she is an active scholar whose works have been published in Scopus- and ISI-indexed journals as well as in scholarly books by MAPIM Press. With nearly three decades of experience in higher education, she is known for her dedication, diligence, and strong commitment to academic excellence.  Beyond teaching, she is actively involved in FRGS-funded research focusing on Pragmatics, Ethnic Relations, Malay Corpus Development, Computational Linguistics, and Hadith Translation. Her extensive administrative experience at the University of Malaya has also strengthened her role in academic leadership, curriculum development, and staff mentorship.  

Born in the vibrant royal town of Klang, Selangor, Professor Mohd Fakhrul Zamani Bin Abdul Kadir (MFZKadir) is an accomplished individual. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Computational and Electronics Physics from the esteemed Universiti Malaya in 2006, setting the foundation for his academic journey. Demonstrating his determination and drive, he wasted no time in launching his career as a manufacturing executive at Texas Instruments (M) Sdn. Bhd. Shortly thereafter, in 2007, he eagerly pursued his Ph.D studies. What truly sets Professor Kadir apart is his exceptional achievement of completing his Ph.D. program at the Universiti Malaya in less than three years. This remarkable feat exemplifies his dedication and intellectual prowess, earning him a distinguished award in 2010. His scholarly accomplishments have undeniably positioned him as a trailblazer in his field. From 2010 to 2016, he served as a Senior Lecturer at the Physics Division, Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, Universiti Malaya, and since then, he has been promoted to the position of Associate Professor and subsequently to Professor at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science. Additionally, he held the position of Deputy Director (Academic and Development) at the Centre from November 2014 to July 2016. His research aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), as it focuses on developing innovative and sustainable materials for energy storage devices. Biopolymer electrolytes offer a promising alternative to traditional materials, contributing to a more accessible, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced energy landscape. Throughout his tenure at the Universiti Malaya, he has secured funding and grants totaling nearly RM 2 Million, authored 192 journal papers indexed in WoS, boasting a remarkable H index of 58. Moreover, he has successfully supervised the completion of 8 Ph.D. and 6 MSc. candidates. Demonstrating his commitment to academic rigor, he actively serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals, including those published by Springer and Elsevier. Since 2010, he has held the esteemed position of Head of the Advanced Materials Lab in the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science. Notably, his exceptional achievements during his postgraduate studies garnered him several prestigious awards, both domestically and internationally. Among his notable accolades are the Prize Ministry of Education and Science of The Russian Federation and the Silver Medal at the International Trade Fair 2007 (Iena) in Nuremberg, Germany, awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Government. Continuing his pursuit of research excellence, his work gained international recognition once again during his tenure as an academician at the university. His research on "Electrical analysis of amorphous corn starch-based polymer electrolyte membranes doped with LiI" was acknowledged with the exclusive 'Physica Scripta Highlights of 2013' Collection by Institute of Physics (IOP).  He has received several gold, silver and bronze medal awards in international and local invention exhibitions, including IENA, ITEX, MTE, DSSS, PECIPTA and PITRAM. Additionally, in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024, he was listed as one of the world's top 2% scientists by Stanford University. To acknowledge his outstanding contributions, Universiti Malaya awarded him the most outstanding young researcher in the science discipline for the year 2022. In 2025, Professor Kadir's contributions to research were recognized by the goverment with the prestigious Malaysia's Research Star Award (MRSA). Nominated by Clarivate Analytics, he received the award from the Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato' Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir.