Mohammed Taha is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Arabic Language and Middle Eastern Languages. He holds a PhD in Linguistics (theoretical) from the National University of Malaysia (2016), an MSC in Linguistics from the University of Malaya (2012) and a Bachelor of TESL from Omdurman Islamic University (2007). His main expertise lies in linguistic structures (Syntax), how words are put together to create structures (Morphology). Syntax has connections with other fields of language, including meaning, sound structure, word structure, and language use. His research interests include Syntactic Theory, Interfaces in Syntax (with Morphology and Semantics), Ecolinguistics (the interdisciplinary field that looks into the relationship between language, culture, and the environment), Sociosyntax (the variation of syntactic structures due to social factors),  and Forensic Linguistics (the application of linguistic knowledge, methods, and insights to the forensic context of law, language, crime investigation, trial, and judicial procedure).

Started his research career in the think tank sector, Dr. Lee Chee Leong (Karl) is attracted to the rise of non-traditional diplomacy in the international order today. Such appeal has taken Dr. Lee into new research horizons that started with his Monash University's doctoral research on the Chinese sub-state diplomacy in China-ASEAN economic cooperation. With constructive supervision by Professor Helen Nesadurai and Associate Professor Kuik Cheng Chwee, Dr. Lee completed his doctoral thesis that unravels how a faraway and least developed sub-state of Guangxi managed to overcome its own hurdles, navigate the complexities within the Chinese state and become the frontline actor in China-ASEAN economic cooperation. Following his doctoral completion, Dr. Lee's research on non-traditional diplomacy has expanded into Taiwan’s quasi-state diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Such quest has led him spending at great length in comprehending the concept of soft power, a concept that finds its relevance to Taiwan, which has no official diplomatic with Southeast Asia but is heavily connected to the region and has to rely on soft power in its engagements with these Southeast Asian nations. Taking Malaysia as the first case study of Taiwan's soft power in the region, Dr. Lee is developing the third intervening variable correlating both Taiwanese soft power resources and outcomes, in his course of providing a dynamical explanation for such phenomenon. For the coming years, his research focus and publications will be on the different areas featuring Taiwan-Malaysia and Taiwan-Southeast Asia cooperation such as digital social innovation (DSI) for climate change, industry-based education/training programmes, smart cities, tourism, digital democracy, agriculture, public health and medicine, ornamental aquaculture and aquascape. To date, Dr. Lee was the recipient of several scholarships and fellowships in Malaysia and overseas: University of Malaya’s Graduate Fellowship (2010-2011); Monash University’s Merit Scholarship (2016-2019); Chinese Government Scholarship (2018-2019); and Taiwan Fellowship (2020). Prior to his appointment as Senior Lecturer at the Institute of China Studies (ICS), he was the Visiting Scholar at Guangxi University for Nationalities (GXUN) (2018-10992019), Taiwan Fellow at National Chengchi University (NCCU) (2020) and Associate Fellow at ICS UM (2016-2019).He welcomes any potential PhD candidate who would like to work on Taiwan-Southeast Asia relations, Taiwan's soft power in Southeast Asia and Taiwan-Malaysia DSI cooperation for climate change. He is also willing to discuss with potential doctoral candidates on proposals related to the Chinese sub-state (provincial) diplomacy toward ASEAN, China's soft power in ASEAN, Southeast Asian sub-state diplomacy, comparative cases of sub-state diplomacy around the world and conceptual innovation of sub-state diplomacy as well as soft power. 

Associate Professor Dr. Selamat Amir was born in the small village town Kg. Pangkalan Kunak , Sabah. His early studies began at SK Pekan Kunak and al-Madrasah al-Thanawiyyah al-Diniyyah al-Islamiyyah Kunak (SMUIK). He was then was offered to pursue foundation study at the Islamic Studies Foundation level of the University of Malaya, Nilam Puri Kelantan. then completed his studies at the Bachelor's Degree level in Usuluddin (Major in al-Quran and al-Hadith) with distinction. At the same time, he was also involved in Advanced Arabic Language Courses at Qatar University. He received a scholarship offer and sponsorship to continue his studies directly to the level of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the field of 'Tafsir and Quranic Studies'.  Until now, his areas of expertise have included Quranic and Tafsir Studies, Quranic Exegesis, Methodology of Quranic Exegesis, Usul Tafsir, Al-Qur'an and Science, Quranic Philosophy, I'jaz Al-Quran, Al-Quran and ICT . His expertise and experience are further highlighted by his active involvement in the field of research and academic writing when he has published 14 books, 21 book chapters, 30 journal articles, 12 proceedings papers, 170 other publications (including mass media publications) and presented research at 27 international conferences. (about 243 publications in total by August 2023). All of these writings cover areas of Quranic and Tafsir Studies, Quranic Exegesis, Methodology of Quranic Exegesis, Usul Tafsir, Al-Qur'an and Science, Quranic Philosophy, I'jaz Al-Quran, Al-Quran and ICT. In fact, he also supervises postgraduate candidates in and outside the country at the master's and doctoral levels. In addition, he also received research grants from various funding including government agencies, universities, non- governmental organizations, industries and faculty grants with a cumulative grant amount totaling with totals around RM 2,350,000.00 (RM 2.3 million, until Oktober 2024) As a result of his active involvement in research and experience in the field of Tafsir and Quranic Studies, he has been appointed as an expert panel referring to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) and the Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) for the review of Al-Quran interpretation and translation as well as current issues related to the study of al-Quran interpretation in Malaysia. he also was appointed as an expert panel to the Sabah State Department of Islamic Religious Affairs (JHEAINS) and Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS). His expertise is also needed in the context of the national mass media when he is also invited to give his views on the National TV channel, Selamat Pagi Malaysia, TV1 RTM and Apa Khabar Malaysia, Bernama TV as well as Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia newspaper columns. In addition, he was also invited to collaborate with the Publication Planning Division, Department of Broadcasting Malaysia, RTM for the publication of 165 articles (Jan 2022 - August 2023) for Radio Klasik RTM. His expertise and contribution were also recognized by receiving several awards in research and being invited as a speaker and panel expert at national and international level. In addition, Dr. Selamat also shared his experience and research abroad such as at Qatar University, France Sorbonne University, London Oxford University Islamic Studies Research Centre, Jordan University WISE, Saudi Arabia's Madinah Islamic University and Istanbul University, Turkey, also Universitas Darussalam Gontor Indonesia. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Al-Quran and Al-Hadith, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya Kuala Lumpur and is a Fellow at the Centre of Quranic Research, University of Malaya (CQR).