ABOUT US

The Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (the Society) collects, records, and distributes information about Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. Our goal is to promote a greater interest in the region, and to this end, we publish a journal and carry out other scholarly activities.

Established by colonial officials and foreign residents of the Straits Settlements in 1977, the Society has since the 1950s moved away from its imperial origins and become a valued resource for the post-colonial world. Colonial governors, prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, and members of royalty in Malaysia and Brunei have served as patrons, and officials and academics with a special interest in the society’s areas of concern have been members of the MBRAS Council.

In 1878 the newly established Society began publishing the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. It became the journal of the “Malayan Branch” in 1923, and of the “Malaysian Branch” in 1964. Digitized copies of all past issues, going back to 1878, are available in libraries that subscribe to JSTOR, and each year users download between 80,000 and 90,000 articles. Current issues are part of the Premium Package of journals handled by Project MUSE, part of Johns Hopkins University Press, and are available in many university libraries. Universities that do not subscribe to the Project MUSE package can purchase an individual subscription to JMBRAS from Project MUSE. A comprehensive index to past issues of the journal can be accessed through the MBRAS webpage.

JMBRAS has published pioneering articles on a wide variety of subjects — culture, history, literature, anthropology, archaeology, botany, and zoology. Its geographical coverage extends beyond the three countries that form its core region to neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. Articles undergo peer review by academic specialists, and the editorial policy is to select articles that will be of interest to readers in its core area. The journal seeks material that has enduring value and does not publish articles on topics that will fall out of date quickly, such as current affairs or contemporary politics.

Membership in the society is open to anyone with an interest in the peoples and cultures of the region. Members receive copies of the journal, special offers for the purchase of the society’s other publications, notices of talks and other public events, and invitations to participate in excursions organized by the society. From the beginning, the society has operated as an independent organization, managing its affairs and controlling its finances and editorial policy. Nominal affiliation with the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland does not restrict its autonomy, and the only practical consequence of this connection is that MBRAS members can use the R.A.S. library and attend its meetings when in London.

IN MEMORIAM

This section recognizes deceased former office holders and life members of the Society. Please click on an image to see the write-up for the individual.