Dr. Aqsa Isa is a Senior Lecturer based in the Department of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia and Research Associate at Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Her teaching and scholarly interests are focused on the areas of Critical Discourse Studies, Social Semiotics and Multimodality. She is interested in multidisciplinary work and research involving (violent) extremism and (de) radicalisation, especially on social media, as well as religion and politics, among others. As a linguist, she has looked at various violent extremist and far right propaganda materials, exploring and understanding the ideologies and linguistic strategies used to garner support and attract potential followers. She is also exploring the recruitment, radicalisation as well as the reintegration processes, in which she has worked closely with former detainees, their family members and various local and international agencies. In addition, Dr. Aqsa has been invited as a speaker and resource person in various Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) programmes by agencies such as the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs (Security Division), Malaysian public universities, civil society organisations, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the SEA Women Peacebuilders Network.  Currently, she is also the Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of English Language and Linguistics. Her tasks include overseeing accreditation processes and curriculum reviews, coordinating class schedules, and ensuring the wellbeing of students in the programme. She also engages with local and international institutions to build academic collaborations. As part of her role, she provides academic guidance and supports continuous programme improvement to align with current educational and industry needs. Recent publication:‘Dust Off the Dirt of Laziness and Break the Shackles of the Dunya’: The Language of Female Extremists in Daesh Propaganda Magazines, Journal of Gender and Language. Forthcoming publications: 1. Media Framing of Violent Extremism Cases in Malaysia: A Discursive News Values Analysis (Journal Article) 2. Psychological Impacts of News Reporting on Individuals Arrested for Violent Extremism in Malaysia and Their Families (Journal Article) 3. "As Long As Nobody’s Hurt”: A Digital Discourse on Justifying Quran Burning from an Argumentation Perspective (Journal Article) 4. From Delegitimisation to Conditional Legitimacy: Media Slant and Multimodal Framings of Quran-Burning Protests (Journal Article) 5. Stance-taking in Online Far-Right Discourse Communities: Anti-immigration and Identity Politics (Journal Article)

Dr. Parvathi Wajindram is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya. She holds a PhD in Social Science from the University of Malaya, a Master’s degree in Corporate Communication from Universiti Putra Malaysia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Communication. With professional experience in academia, broadcasting, and corporate communication, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her teaching in civilisation studies, gender and society, Indian politics, media and communication, and traditional Indian arts. Dr. Parvathi’s scholarship is anchored in the intersections of civilisation, gender, and power, with a focus on how cultural worldviews, historical narratives, and social institutions shape identity, authority, and agency in plural societies. She examines how gendered power operates within minority communities and diasporic contexts, illuminating how individuals negotiate inclusion, representation, and empowerment. A significant dimension of her work bridges civilisation studies with communication and media analysis, examining how power is communicated, framed, and performed within organisations, public discourse, and digital spaces. Drawing from her background in corporate communication and media production, she investigates the role of strategic communication, leadership narratives, and cultural storytelling in shaping collective memory and social behaviour. Complementing this, Dr. Parvathi also conducts research on traditional Indian music and dance from an academic and cultural perspective. She explores these art forms as civilisational knowledge systems that transmit values, ethics, gender norms, and community identity across generations. Her work analyses how Indian classical and folk arts function as forms of cultural communication—embedding power relations, reinforcing or challenging social structures, and fostering identity formation among Malaysian Indians and diasporic youth. Through this lens, she highlights how traditional arts become spaces where culture, gender, creativity, and social change intersect. Together, these strands form a cohesive research agenda that foregrounds the role of culture, communication, and power in shaping human experience. Ultimately, Dr. Parvathi’s scholarship contributes to understanding how communities navigate tradition and modernity, build resilience, and cultivate agency in an increasingly interconnected world.

Marlenny Deenerwan, holds a doctorate degree in Theatre Performance from Monash University, Australia (2016), Master of Arts (2011) and a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Drama (2007) from the Universiti Malaya, and received a Diploma of Creative Writing of the National Arts Academy currently known as ASWARA (2002). Prior to entering academia, she served as a teacher at SM Shan Tao Kota Kinabalu Sabah (1995-1997) and also was a sub-editor at Daily Express Sabah (1997-1998). As an academic, her research spans the field of Malaysian traditional and rituals theatre; Bobolian rituals in Sabah, the traditional theater of Wayang Kulit, Makyong, and Bangsawan, research on the Minang community in Kuala Lumpur and the Kaul event of the Melanau community in Mukah. Her recent research focusing on developing interactive theater as an alternative to teaching and learning for young children in rural areas by conducting a field work at SK Pekan Ranau, Sabah. An active creative writer since 1999, Marlenny has published over 20 scripts of modern stage dramas and adaptations (Nur, Dari M ke M, Rumah Lama Kampung Baru, Melati & Melur, YB Jee, Lina & Lijah, No Smoking Please etc), dozens television dramas since 2003 (Haryati II, Dilema Wanita, Kasihnya Di Bawah Bayu, Igauan Semalam etc), besides also contributing to documentary writing, tv promos, newspaper articles/ criticism, short stories, poems, and song lyrics. She has also been prolific in producing Bangsawan scripts since 2007 to date.She involves actively as an actor, director, and stage drama producer since 1998. Her play directing works including Rumah Lama Kampung Baru, Melati & Melur, No Smoking Please, Rachel Corrie, The Glass Menageries, The Zoo Story, Bangsawan Anak Raja Anak Papa (The Prince and The Pauper), Zhao Si Anak Yatim, Asiah Samiah and Bangsawan Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja. She is the co-founder of the theatre group Mekar Budaya since 2002 as well as the Bangsawan Opera Sri Bandaraya group under the organization of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall since 2008. She won the Best Actress award at the Malaysian Theater Festival 2003, Best Director of the Kuala Lumpur Theater Festival 2009, and was the recipient of the Young Theater Artist Award from the Selangor State Government in 2010. She was appointed as the Head of Jury of the Malaysian Theater Festival 2016 by the National Department for Culture and Arts, and served as the Head of Jury for Universiti Malaya's Theatre Carnival (Kaviter UM) since 2017-2020.Marlenny has published a book entitled "Bobolian Seni Teater Etnik Dusun", and is currently in the process of producing a book entitled "Tertib dan Masyhur: Estetika Bangsawan Malaysia". Throughout her activities with NGOs, Marlenny was the former President of the ASWARA Alumni Association 2015-2018, and is currently the Chairperson of the Persatuan Rumpun Seni Mekar Budaya Kuala Lumpur (since 2020), besides maintaining her membership with Ikatan Penulis Sabah since 1992.