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Prof. Dr. Voon Phin Keong

Academic Director, Vice-Chancellor’s Office
phinkeong.voon@newera.edu.my

Academic Qualification:
PhD (University of Hull)
M.A. (University of Malaya)
B.A. (Hons)  (University of Malaya)

Professional Field 
MajorGeography
 
Research AreaHuman Geography, Chinese Studies, Regional Studies
 
Working Experience
  • Former chairman and professor of Geography, University of Malaya.
  • Former chairman and professor of East Asian Studies, University of Malaya.
  • Director, Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies, Kuala Lumpur (2002-2010).
  • Director, Institute of Malaysian and Regional Studies, New Era College (2010-2014).
  • Associate Dean and Director of the Academic Department, New Era College (2015-2017).
  • Vice President of New Era University College (2017-)
  • Professor and Dean of the Academy of Literary and Social Sciences (2017-)

Membership of Advisory Boards Committees / Professional Bodies
  • Visiting Lecturer, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Hull University England.
  • Visiting Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies, Tokyo.
  • Visiting Fellow, Harvard-Yenching Institute.
  • Visiting Fellow, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University.
  • Visiting Professor in Brunei University.
  • Visiting Professor in Soka University, Tokyo.
  • Chief Editor of Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography.
  • Chief Editor of Journal of Malaysian Chinese Studies.
  • Chief Editor of Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies.

Related Achievements 
Research Projects
(2011-2019)
  1. Chinese Pioneers in the Development Frontier: The Case of Ulu Langat District, Selangor.
  2. The Incubus of Debt: Poverty among Chinese Settlers in Pre-War Malaya.
  3. Chinese Cultural Practices in Malaysia.
  4. Trends in Malaysian Demography and Policy Response.
  5. Contemporary Issues on the Diffusion of Hanyu (Mandarin).
  6. The Pioneers and the Land: Local Development in the National Context.
  7. The Chinese Towns of Colonial Malaya.
  8. Selected topics on Malaysian Chinese studies.
  9. Chinese Business and Development.
  10. Quality of Life and Its Parameters: The Malaysian Perspective.
  11. The luck factor in Chinese Business.
  12. Studies on selected Malaysian Chinese socio-economic and historical topics.
  13. Chinese towns and Chinatowns.
  14. Values and Governance: with special reference to the Malaysia 2013.
  15. Historical development of Ulu Langat District, Selangor.
  16. Aspects of Malaysian Chinese business studies.
  17. Selected topics on belt and road studies.
  18. Selected topics on Malaysian Chinese and business studies.
  19. Malaysian Chinese Population Study: Population and Distribution of Malaysian Chinese Dialect Group.
  20. Local Research: History of Malaysian Chinese and Local Development.
  21. Colonial Studies: A Study of Malayan Opium in the Pre-World War II, Chinatown and Chinese Towns.
  22. Colonial Studies: A Study of Malayan Opium in the Pre-World War II, Chinatown and Chinese Towns.
  23. Confucius lectures and modern educational concepts.
  24. Economic Development of Chinese and Southeast Asian Countries - Performance, Dilemma, Challenge.
  25. Prospects and Challenges of “One Belt, One Road” and Chinese Communication .
  26. The relationship between Chinese characters and Southeast Asian economic performance.
  27. Chinese Culture and Language Studies: Cultural Inheritance and Innovation, Chinese Teaching and Chinese Communication.

BooksMonograph
  1. Phin Keong Voon, Western Rubber Planting Enterprise in Southeast Asia, 1876-1921,Kuala Lumpur:University of Malaya, 1976.
  2. Phin Keong Voon & Zhong Wei Lu, China-Japan Relations in Transition: Towards Constructive Partnership in the 21st Century, Kuala Lumpur, 1998.
  3. Phin Keong Voon, The Chinese population in Malaysia: trends and issues, Kuala Lumpur: Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies,2004.
  4. Phin Keong Voon, Malaysian Chinese and Nation-building: Before Merdeka and Fifty Years After, (Chinese and English, Volume I and II), Kuala Lumpur: Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies, 2007-2010.
  5. Phin Keong Voon, Calling Malaysia Home: Studies on the Malaysian Chinese Community, Kuala Lumpur: Intelligentsia Book Station,2018.

Collaborating
  1. Phin Keong Voon & Teik Huat Khor, Prospering the Nation through Hard Work and Thrift, Kuala Lumpur: Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies,2009.
  2. Phin Keong Voon & Ji Jiao Zhang, Enterprise Anthropology: Applied Research and Case Study, Beijing: Intellectual Property Publishing, 2011.

Published Papers
  1. Phin Keong Voon, “Chinese and Southeast Asian economies”, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, China: Jinan University, 2010: 56-64.
  2. Phin Keong Voon, "Political changes in the post-independence period in Malaysia: towards democratic transition", in Xu Li Ping (ed), Globalization and Neighbouring Asian Countries Society and Culture, Beijing: Chongqing People's Publishing, 2011.
  3. Phin Keong Voon, “Bold entrepreneurs and uncommon enterprises: The Malaysian Chinese experience”, Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 1, Kajang: Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre, 2012: 101-118.
  4. Phin Keong Voon, "Malaysian Chinese Education and Fund-raising Activities: Chinese Traditional Culture in Practice", Malaysian journal of humanities and social sciences, Vol. 1, Malaysia: Institute of Malaysian and Regional Studies, New Era University College, 2012: 1-17.
  5. Phin Keong Voon, “Transforming the development frontier: Chinese pioneers in the Ulu Langat district of Selangor, Malaysia”, Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 2, No. 2, Kajang: Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre, 2013: 45-63.
  6. Phin Keong Voon, Chong Huat Ee & Kim Sin Lee, “Genesis of the Xian Shi Ye Cult in Malaysia”, Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2014: 37-59.
  7. Phin Keong Voon, Pik Wah Fan, Siew Kian Ong & Hong Ching Goh, "Chinese cemeteries and environmental ethics: some insights from Malaysia", Universitas: Monthly Review of Philosophy and Culture, Vol.47, No.7, 2014: 85-105.
  8. Phin Keong Voon, ”Chinese Cemeteries in Malaysia - Culture, Environment, Sustainability“, Collected Essays on Malaysian Chinese Folk Culture, Kajang: New Era University College, 2017: 285-295.
  9. Phin Keong Voon, "A Brief Discussion on the Population and Distribution of Fujian and Other Dialect Groups in Malaysia", Pioneering and Dispersing: Hokkiens Along the Maritime Silk Road, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur: Hokkien Association;Kajang: New Era University College, 2017: 77-104.
  10. Phin Keong Voon, "The Chinese language and the maritime silk road: growth, trends and prospects", Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 6, No. 1&2, 2018: 79-100.

Conference Paper
  1. Phin Keong Voon, “Malaysian Society and Chinese Studies”, a paper presented at the International Symposium on Overseas Chinese and Chinese Community Construction in the Internet Age, sponsored by Institute of Overseas Chinese International Relations, HUAQIAO University and Hong Kong Institute of Overseas Chinese, May 13-17, 2011.
  2. Phin Keong Voon, “Major demographic changes in Malaysia: future trends and implications”, a paper presented at the International Conference on Population Dynamism of Asia: Issues and Challenges Ahead, sponsored by Department of Geography, University of Malaya, July 11-13, 2011.
  3. Phin Keong Voon, “Malaysian Chinese Culture - Inheritance and Innovation”, a paper presented at Seventh International Symposium of Overseas Talents and the Development of China, sponsored by Foreign Affairs (Overseas Chinese Assairs) Office of Hubei People's Government, Foreign Affairs (Overseas Chinese Assairs) Office of Wuhan Government& Central China Normal University, June 8-10, 2012.
  4. Phin Keong Voon, “Chinese Teaching and Chinese Communication - Trends and Challenges “,a paper presented at the 9th Southeast Asian Chinese Teaching Seminar, sponsored by Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre Bhd, June 29-July 1, 2012.
  5. Phin Keong Voon, “Business professional training for the humane society: The role of cultural integrity and ethical principles “,a paper presented at the Fifth China-ASEAN Education Collaboration Week, Seminar on Business Professional Training in the China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone, sponsored by Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and People's Government of Guizhou Province, September 19-19, 2012.
  6. Phin Keong Voon, “Chinese pioneers in the development frontier: The case of Ulu Langat district before the war”, a paper presented at the 3rd Malaysian "British Colonial" Academic Exchange Conference: The Chinese Community in British Malaya, Sarawak& North Borneo (Sabah), sponsored by Sarawak Chinese Cultural Association and Institute of Malaysian and Regional Studies, New Era University College, September 30, 2012.
  7. Phin Keong Voon, “‘Chinatowns’ and ‘Chinese Towns’: Some Comments on Their Origins, Status and Characteristics”, a paper presented at Conference on “Malaysian Chinese in Historical Context: Interpretation and Assessment”, sponsored by Institute of Malaysian and Regional Studies, New Era University College, November 24-25, 2012.
  8. Phin Keong Voon, “Malayan Chinese and opium before the Second World War”, a paper presented at Conference on “Malaysian Chinese in Historical Context: Interpretation and Assessment”, sponsored by Institute of Malaysian and Regional Studies, New Era University College, November 24-25, 2012.
  9. Phin Keong Voon, “Changes and trends in Malaysian demography: implications and policy response”, a paper presented at Conference on Exploring and Revisiting Issues in Malaysian, sponsored by New Era University College, November 8-9, 2014.
  10. Phin Keong Voon, “Hanyu in the Maritime Silk Road Region: Trends and Prospects”, a paper presented at the Overseas Chinese and the New Silk Road International Academic Symposium, sponsored by Jinan University, May 13-14, 2014.
  11. Phin Keong Voon, “Memory of the Japanese Occupation in Malaya, 1941-1945: Atrocities, Remembrance, Lessons”, a paper presented at the International Symposium on the 70th Anniversary of the Victories of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, sponsored by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, September 2-3, 2015.
  12. Phin Keong Voon, “Confucius' Teaching Concept and "Result-based Education": taking Malaysia as an example, a paper presented at the Conference on Theory and Practice of Chinese Language Teaching, sponsored by NEUC Department of Education, September 5-6, 2015.
  13. Phin Keong Voon, “Malaysia Chinese Cemeteries- Culture, Environment, Sustainability”, a paper presented at the Conference on Malaysian Chinese Folk Culture, sponsored by NEUC Tan Lark Sye Institute, October 10-11, 2015.
  14. Phin Keong Voon, “A Brief Discussion on the Population and Distribution of Hokkien and Other Dialect Groups in Malaysia”, a paper presented at the 2nd Southeast Asia Hokkien Studies Seminar, sponsored by Selangor And Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Associatian, December 12-13, 2015.
  15. Phin Keong Voon, “The relationship between role of Chinese and Southeast Asian Economic Performance”, a paper presented at the 1st International Conference on Southeast Asian Chinese Studies: Malaysian Chinese in the past, present and future, sponsored by The Federation Of Chinese Associations Malaysia, UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), UM Malaysian Chinese Research Centre,Xiamen University Malaysia, New Era University College, April 16-17, 2016.
  16. Phin Keong Voon, “the Belt and Road Initiative with the Prospects and Challenges of Chinese Communication>”, a paper presented at the 2016 Nanning International Conference on the Chinese of Southeast Asia, sponsored by Centre For Malaysian Chinese Studies, October 28-30, 2016.
  17. Phin Keong Voon, “One Belt One Road and the Spread of Mandarin”, a lecture presented at UM Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, sponsored by University of Malaya, December 13, 2016.
  18. Phin Keong Voon, “Malaysian demography to 2030: trends and implications”, a paper presented at the Forum on Malaysian Chinese Population: Mapping Changing Social and Demographic Trends, sponsored by New Era University College, June 10, 2017.
  19. Phin Keong Voon, “Quality of Life and Its Parameters: The Malaysian Perspective”, a paper presented at the International Conference of Academic Perspective on Education and Quality of Life, sponsored by The Research Institute for Education and Psychology of Southwestern Ethnic Groups, Department of Education, Institute of Physical Culture, International Institute, September 23-24.2017.

Short Essay
  1. Phin Keong Voon, “The Originator of the Malaysian Chinese Studies”, published in the “Oriental Daily”, June 27, 2014.
  2. Phin Keong Voon, “The Exchange and Dissemination of ‘The Belt and Road Initiative’ and Chinese Culture”, in “Sin Chew Daily”, August 12, 2017.

Book Review
  1. My Story by Lim Goh Tong and Biography of Wee Kheng Chiang by Lam Chee Kheung (in Chinese), Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol.1, 2012: 136-139.
  2. Chinatowns in a Globalizing Southeast Asia, edited by Leo Suryadinata and Ang Cher Kiat, Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2013: 107-110.
  3. Chinese Capitalism in Colonial Malaya 1900-1941 by William Tai Yuen, Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2013: 81-84.
  4. Chinese Circulations: Capital, Commodities, and Networks in Southeast Asia, edited by Eric Tagliacozzo and Wen Chin Chang, Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2014: 91-93.

Talks and Public Lectures
No.TitleLocationDate
1.The Belt and Road Initiative: An Exploratory Overview New Era Univeristy College2017.01.18
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