BOOK LAUNCH TO CELEBRATE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR KAMSIAH ABDULLAH IN THE FIELD OF MALAY LANGUAGE EDUCATION

The Asian Languages and Cultures Department (ALC) at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore) invites the media to the book launch of “Menyemai Kemuliaan, Sebuah Feskrip Untuk Kamsiah Abdullah” on 16 October 2024 from 10.30am to 12.00pm. 

This bilingual festschrift serves as a tribute to Dr Kamsiah Abdullah, a distinguished figure in the field of Malay Language education and the first female Malay professor in Singapore. This festschrift not only attests to her invaluable contributions to education but also reflects the sincere admiration and appreciation of her colleagues, students, and the academic community. 

Dr Kamsiah Abdullah's career is marked by her tireless pursuit of knowledge, deep commitment to research and teaching, and steadfast dedication to the professional development of Malay Language teachers in Singapore. Her contributions have not only advanced the understanding of reading skills and critical thinking among Malay students in Singapore but have also inspired many other researchers to seriously delve into Malay academic studies and conduct scientific field research. 

Beyond her remarkable achievements in academia, Dr Kamsiah Abdullah is also fondly remembered for her sincere leadership and unwavering determination. She can be considered the mother of Malay Language teacher education in Singapore due to her visionary foresight. Her relentless efforts in developing the undergraduate degree program in Malay Language education at the Institute of Education, alongside other lecturers in the department she led, paved the way for many trainee Malay teachers to achieve high teaching qualifications. Her advice, always filled with wisdom and gentleness, has shaped a generation of scholars such as Associate Professor Emeritus Hadijah Rahmat, Associate Professor Roksana Abdullah, Associate Professor Mukhlis Abu Bakar, Dr Sa’eda Buang, Dr Mohd Aidil Subhan, and many others who continue to excel and courageously explore the fields of Malay language and culture. 

This festschrift, comprising contributions from her esteemed colleagues and former students, is a mosaic of the intellectual legacy that Dr Kamsiah Abdullah has built. Each chapter in this book reflects the far-reaching influence of her knowledge. 

As you read these pages, we invite you to celebrate not only Dr Kamsiah Abdullah’s academic achievements but also her extraordinary character and enduring impact on the world of Malay Language education and research in Singapore. May this festschrift serve as a fitting tribute to a career filled with excellence, a life filled with purpose, and a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of educators.