Meeting held at 2.00 pm, 3 December 2003, Faculty of Economics, Business & Law, UNE
(after the Conference on Migrant Labour in SE Asia: Needed Not Wanted)

Present: Amarjit Kaur (Chair), Ian Metcalfe, Ben Tipton, Christine Inglis, Donna Turner, Kiranjit Kaur, Manjit Kaur.

Apologies: Lily Rahim, John Drabble, Janelle Mills.

Confirmation of Minutes

Minutes of the 2002 AGM held in Hobart on 2 July 2002 were confirmed as a true record (Proposer: Ben Tipton, Seconder: Ian Metcalfe)

Matters Arising

Amarjit Kaur reported that Michael Leigh had not submitted his written copy of his James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture “Transitions in East Malaysia” presented on 2 July 2002 at the ASAA Meeting in Tasmania. Lily Rahim is following up on this.

The Malaysia Society Colloquium 2004, on the theme of ‘Islam in Malaysia’ will be convened by Prof. Clive Kessler from 26-27 November 2004 at the Faculty of Asian Studies, ANU. Clive will be assisted by Virginia Hooker.

The Australia-Malaysia Conference 2004 is scheduled for 23-26 November 2004 and will be convened by Colin Barlow.

Election of Office Bearers

Christine Inglis proposed, and Ian Metcalfe seconded, that the election be postponed to the Malaysia Society Meeting to be held during the 2004 ASAA Conference in Canberra where more Malaysia Society members would be present. This was accepted by members at the meeting who also agreed that the present board should stay on until the end of 2004 and the new board, to be elected in Canberra, would take up office for 2005-6.

James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture

Amarjit Kaur proposed that Professor Clive Kessler be invited to present the 13th James C. Jackson Memorial Lecture at the ASAA Conference in Canberra in July 2004. This was seconded by Christine Inglis and unanimously approved by members present.

Any Other Business

Donna Turner sought information on ASAA dates but no one was able to enlighten her.

Christine Inglis asked if Singapore was included under the Malaysia Society. Amarjit Kaur explained what had transpired at an earlier meeting and how most members wanted to retain the original Malaysia Society name.

Ian Metcalfe was thanked by members for maintaining the Malaysia Society web pages.

Ben Tipton reported that Asian languages were being run down at Sydney University.

Donna Turner talked about possibilities of the next Malaysia Society Colloquium being held in either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. This will be discussed at the 2004 meeting in Canberra.

Christine Inglis raised the question of the viability of the Malaysia Society with so few members coming for meetings.

The meeting closed at approximately 2.30 pm.