10th Bridging Ideas: Research Workshop Series: Research Methodology in Malaysian Chinese Literature
On 6 December 2025, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Graduate School, and Institute of International Education of New Era University College jointly organized the tenth session of the “Bridging Ideas: Research Workshop Series” at Room 801, Level 8, Menara Nantah, with simultaneous online participation via Zoom. The workshop aimed to provide postgraduate students with systematic, practical, and critically grounded guidance on research methodology, particularly within the field of Malaysian Chinese literature.
The workshop, themed “Research Methodology in Malaysian Chinese Literature,” attracted postgraduate students, researchers, academic staff, and members of the public from both within and beyond the university. Through interdisciplinary perspectives and methodological discussions, the session sought to deepen participants’ understanding of the theoretical frameworks, textual approaches, and historical considerations relevant to Malaysian Chinese literary studies.
Four distinguished Malaysian Chinese writers and scholars were invited as speakers. They were Dr. Ng Yean Leng, Professor of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at New Era University College, as well as President of the Writers Association of Chinese Medium; Dr. Fan Pik Wah, Executive Advisor of the Writers Association of Chinese Medium and former Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Chinese Studies at the University of Malaya; Dr. Liau Ping Leng, Associate Professor and Head of the Department at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Sungai Long Campus); and Dr. Florence Kuek, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies at the University of Malaya. The workshop was moderated and discussed by Dr. Siew Wen Jia, Assistant Professor of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at New Era University College.
In her presentation, Dr. Ng Yean Leng emphasized that research in Malaysian Chinese literature should not be confined to a single theoretical model. She argued that scholars should begin with close observation of literary phenomena and select appropriate analytical dimensions based on specific research questions. These dimensions may include historical temporality, spatial and regional contexts, cultural and ethnic interactions, identity construction, gender perspectives, literary circulation, and narrative structures. A multi-layered approach, she noted, allows for a more flexible and comprehensive understanding of the diverse meanings embedded in Malaysian Chinese literature.
Dr. Fan Pik Wah proposed expanding research directions beyond individual authors and genres to include studies of writer groups and regional literary communities. Such an approach, she suggested, enables researchers to examine interactions among different literary communities within broader historical, social, and cultural contexts. She further stressed the importance of crossing cultural, ethnic, and regional boundaries when analyzing Malaysian Chinese literature, particularly in relation to cross-cultural exchange and literary interaction.
From a multi-perspective standpoint, Dr. Liau Ping Leng discussed the possibilities of Malaysian Chinese literary research through both internal textual analysis and external contextual approaches. She highlighted the importance of incorporating diverse materials, including modern and classical literature, translated works, and children’s literature. Dr. Liau also underscored the necessity of systematic collection and organization of historical documents and critical writings, emphasizing that a solid bibliographical foundation is essential for advancing theoretical depth and expanding research horizons.
Dr. Florence Kuek introduced new interpretive pathways by focusing on three key levels: problem awareness, research questions, and research objectives. Drawing on the works of contemporary Malaysian Chinese writers, she explored concepts such as emergent literature, diaspora and re-diaspora, and the significance of local and in-situ writing. Integrating perspectives from comparative literature and transregional studies, she further highlighted the role of translated works in broadening the scope of Malaysian Chinese literary research.
Through interactive discussions and exchanges, participants engaged actively with the speakers, fostering critical reflection and scholarly dialogue that bridged theoretical exploration and research practice. The workshop contributed meaningfully to enhancing postgraduate students’ methodological awareness and provided a solid foundation for future research in Malaysian Chinese literary studies.
