I, Chia Jee Luen, was born in Pantai Remis, Perak, Malaysia, in 1984. I completed my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the Department of Chinese Studies at Universiti Malaya and subsequently obtained a Ph.D. in Ancient Literature from Shandong University, China, in 2019. I previously served as a researcher for the "Research, Translation, and Publication of Dream of the Red Chamber in Malaysia (Mimpi Di Mahligai Merah)" project.I am currently a senior lecturer and researcher at the Hong Lou Meng Research Center in the Department of Chinese Studies at Universiti Malaya. I hold the position of secretary of the Persatuan Siswazah Jabatan Pengajian Tionghoa (PEJATI) and am a member of the Writers' Association of Chinese Medium of Malaysia. My teaching and research fields include classical Chinese novels such as "Dream of the Red Chamber" and literary dissemination studies.I have authored the book "The Dissemination and Research of 'Dream of the Red Mansions' in Malaysia and Singapore (1818-2018)" and co-edited two monographs: "Transplanting Flowers and Cultivating Dreams: Dr. Seng Yan Chuan's Works on Redology" (2023) and "Chan Kong Choy Hong Lou Meng Research Books Collection Catalog and Review" (2015). I have published over twenty articles in various journals, namely "Hong Lou Meng Xuekan (Studies on 'Dream of the Red Mansions')", "Cao Xueqin Yanjiu (The Study of Cao Xueqin)", "Hong Lou Meng Yanjiu (Studies on 'Dream of the Red Mansions')", "Asian Culture", "Forum for World Literature Studies", and "Journal of Chinese Literature and Culture", as well as in local and international publications.谢依伦（Chia Jee Luen），1984年出生于马来西亚霹雳州班台，祖籍广东潮州澄海。本科及硕士毕业于马来亚大学（简称“马大”）中文系，2019年获评山东大学国际学生优秀毕业生，取得山东大学古代文学博士学位。曾任“马来文版《红楼梦》（Mimpi Di Mahligai Merah）研究、翻译及出版计划”研究员、马大红楼梦研究中心博士后研究员。现为马大中文系高级讲师、马大红楼梦研究中心主任、马大中文系毕业生协会秘书长、马来西亚华文作家协会出版与发行组主任。2024年荣获马来亚大学颁发的卓越服务奖状（SPC Sijil Perkhidmatan Cemerlang）。教学及研究方向为中国古代小说、《红楼梦》研究以及文学传播学。著有《〈红楼梦〉在马来西亚和新加坡的传播与研究》，合编著《移花植梦：孙彦莊的红学文集》、《陈广才红学研究藏书目录及评介》。在《The China Review》（WOS）、《Comparative Literature: East & West》（SCOPUS）、《Forum for world literature studies》（SCOPUS）《红楼梦学刊》《曹雪芹研究》《世界文学研究论坛》《アジア文化 Asian Culture》《马大华人文化与文学》《Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences》等期刊及国内外书刊发表论文二十余篇。

Dr. Abubakar Abubakar Usman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International and Strategic Studies at Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, where he specializes in globalization, development, and the politics of Africa and the Middle East. With a multidisciplinary academic background spanning International Relations, Diplomacy, and Islamic Finance, Dr. Usman is a prolific scholar whose work bridges theory and policy. Academic LeadershipDr. Usman currently serves as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, teaching Politics and International Relations of the Middle East. He has also been invited as a Guest Speaker at institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Nile University Nigeria, where he shared expertise on diplomacy, conflict resolution, and strategic studies. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and real-world applicability, honed through roles as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and as an English instructor for Saudi Schools Kuala Lumpur. Research ContributionsA dedicated researcher, Dr. Usman has held prestigious fellowships, including as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at IIUM’s Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), where he explored the intersection of Islamic finance and global development. As a Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Africa Studies Circle at the Asia Middle East Centre for Research and Dialogue (AMEC), he fosters cross-civilizational dialogue and evidence-based policy recommendations. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as South African Journal of International Affairs, Global Society, and Contemporary Islam, and he has contributed chapters to Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan volumes on Islamic finance, African diplomacy, and human rights. Dr. Usman actively engages in peer review for Web of Science-indexed journals, including Security Journal and SN Social Sciences, and is currently developing two book projects: The Political Economy of Africa-Asia Relations (Routledge) and Coups in 21st Century Africa (Palgrave Macmillan). His doctoral thesis on Boko Haram’s media strategies and master’s research on Islamic finance as a development tool reflect his commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Policy and Public EngagementBeyond academia, Dr. Usman is a sought-after commentator on African geopolitics, contributing to platforms like Africa@LSE, Daily Trust, and The Conversation. His analyses on ECOWAS, military coups, and Nigeria’s foreign policy have shaped public discourse. He has also served as an interpreter and translator for Malaysian government agencies, leveraging fluency in English, Arabic, and Hausa. Education and Honors PhD in International Relations (Globalization & Development), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Master of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (CGPA: 4.00), UKM Master of Political Science (CGPA: 3.83), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) BA in Arabic/Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Professional Affiliations Member, International Studies Association (ISA) Associate Member, International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) For a full list of publications and research projects, visit his Google Scholar or ORCID profiles. Contact:Email: abubakar.usman@um.edu.my | Phone: +60 162417993Address: Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya

Dr. Muhammad Mehedi Masud currently holds the position of an Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, Public Administration, and Development Studies within the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. He has authored two books, one with Palgrave McMillan in 2019 and another with UM Press in 2023. In addition to his books, Dr. Masud has contributed book chapters and authored over 70 scientific articles in internationally peer-reviewed journals, all within the field of sustainable development. At present, he serves as the lead investigator on several research projects, including the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), the Long-Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS), UMliving Lab, and various faculty projects. Dr. Masud's research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including sustainable development, the blue economy, circular economy, population and environmental development, development economics, environmental impact assessment, ecotourism development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, community development, means of livelihood, poverty, and social mobility. Throughout his career, Dr. Masud has earned several prestigious awards, including the Academic Excellence Award in 2014, the Excellence Award in 2015 for his high-impact publications, the Bangladeshi Students Nights Award in 2016, the Excellent Service Award in 2020, and the Excellent Service Award-2022 from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Furthermore, he holds the role of Associate Editor at the Journal of Institutions and Economies and serves as an Editorial Board Member for Ecofeminism and Climate Change, as well as the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development.