Dr. Zainal Abidin is a senior lecturer at Pusat Asasi Sains Universiti Malaya (PASUM). His researches focus on the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, with a particular emphasis on their antimicrobial, photocatalytic, photonics and morphological properties.

Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin is an Associate Professor, consultant psychiatrist and smoking cessation specialist from University Malaya. He is the coordinator of the Nicotine Addiction Research Group of UMCAS and is the primary investigator for the Grand Challenge Grant (GC004-15HTM) investigating gaps in upscaling existing smoking cessation services in Malaysia. The training that his team developed, is one of three pathways to be a certified smoking cessation provider. He is a technical and expert advisor to the Ministry of Health for policy documents including the Tobacco Control National Strategic Plan 2015-2020 document and mQuit Services project which is involved in strengthening the "O" of MPOWER. As part of his interest, he is involved with both local and international organization in tobacco control and cessation and is active in communicating his ideas on tobacco control in social, mass and scientific media in Malaysia and abroad. He tweets at @MyNarcc and can be found at http://www.narcc.um.edu.my

Nurul Asmaa Akmal is currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at the Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Universiti Malaya, where she specialised in socio-cultural and labour studies with a particular focus on the Malaysian cleaning sector. Her academic trajectory bridges the intersections of social sciences, cultural studies, and contemporary labour realities, positioning her as an emerging scholar in socio-economic and 3D (dirty, dangerous, difficult) work research. Her research interests are diverse yet interconnected, encompassing waste management, Malay cleaners, 3D workers, social labelling, quality of life, and sustainability issues aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). She has published several journal articles and presented research internationally on waste management and the lived experiences of workers in low-skilled and marginalised sectors. In addition to labour studies, Dr. Nurul Asmaa Akmal is actively engaged in the field of Malay language pedagogy, particularly in teaching Malay as a second or foreign language. Her areas of interest include communicative approaches, situational Malay (Malay situational learning), and the integration of cultural context into language acquisition. Her commitment to language education reflects her passion for expanding global appreciation of the Malay language and enhancing the learning experience of foreign students. Her scholarship also extends to Malay socio-cultural studies, including research on adat, traditional practices, and kearifan tempatan (local wisdom). She explores how cultural heritage, belief systems, and community-based knowledge shape identity, resilience, and the continuity of Malay civilisation in both rural and contemporary urban contexts. This includes work related to cultural rituals, community traditions, and intergenerational transmission of values. Furthermore, her academic involvement includes the field of Malay economics and entrepreneurship, where she examines traditional and modern economic practices, entrepreneurial characteristics among Malay communities, and socio-cultural factors influencing business sustainability. Her insights contribute to discussions on economic empowerment, resilience, and the evolving landscape of Malay entrepreneurship in Malaysia’s socio-economic development. Through her wide-ranging scholarly contributions, Dr. Nurul Asmaa Akmal remains committed to advancing knowledge in labour studies, socio-cultural research, language pedagogy, Malay entrepreneurship, and sustainability, while actively engaging in community-oriented initiatives in line with Universiti Malaya’s mission of academic excellence and societal impact.