Sabahan scholar Vilashini Somiah to lead Southeast Asia Council
Vilashini Somiah is the first Southeast Asian-based scholar to be elected as Chair of the Southeast Asia Council. (Vilashini Somiah pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : 'I set the trend for being that cool, strange, biracial person,' Vilashini Somiah said with a laugh. But behind the humour lies a story as layered and dynamic as the Bornean landscape she calls home.
Born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to a Tamil Indian father and a Sino-Kadazan-Dusun Tatana mother, Vilashini grew up in a world where identity was fluid, complex, and, crucially, embraced.
'There are not very many Indian people in Sabah,' she recalled of her childhood in the '80s and '90s. 'My brother and I were probably among the few half-Indian kids hanging around with native indigenous identities. But it was completely accepted in a place like Sabah.'
That early experience – of standing out yet still belonging – did more than shape her worldview. It became the heart of her work.
Today, Vilashini is a feminist anthropologist and senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya, specialising in gender studies and Bornean communities.
Her research shines a light on the lives of women, migrants, and the stateless – those often left out of the bigger picture.
Beyond academia, she's also co-founder of the Datum Initiative, a non-profit organisation focused on equipping activists and advocates working with marginalised communities. It's one more way she bridges scholarship and real-world impact.
Now, she's making history herself. Last March, Vilashini was elected Chair of the Southeast Asia Council (SEAC) under the Association for Asian Studies – the leading academic organisation in North America focused on Asia – becoming the first Southeast Asian-based scholar to hold the post since the council's founding in 1970. Her term begins in March 2026.
Vilashini is currently a research associate at Harvard University until 2026. (Vilashini Somiah pic)
'Being chair means governance work. You're on the board, moving between the council and directors. But more than that, it signals a quiet, powerful shift – that knowledge production from Southeast Asia should be led by Southeast Asians. It's not just valid. It's vital.'
The day she was elected, Vilashini didn't throw a party or pop champagne. 'I kept quiet for a whole day,' she said. 'I went to the nearest convenience store and bought myself a chocolate bar.'
The first person she told? Her husband, also an academic. Her parents were pleased, but, as she puts it, 'they kind of had to think for a while what it really meant to take on a position like this.'
It was a momentous milestone – fitting for someone whose path was never about fanfare, but about forging meaning. Her journey here wasn't fuelled by privilege. It was driven by something far more powerful: freedom.
'I came from a family where my parents made it clear: 'All we can give you is the freedom to study.' And I understood from young that education had to be the path forward.'
In the heart of Nabawan, Sabah, Vilashini conducts fieldwork on the intersections of gender and mental health. (Vilashini Somiah pics)
Her upbringing was firmly working- to middle-class. Academic ambition wasn't expected. There was no clear map – just a deep hunger for meaning.
'I wanted more in life,' she said. 'Not in a corporate sense, but something that gave me purpose.' So she read – everything from newspapers to academic journals, always chasing fresh perspectives.
The kid who once felt 'like a person of interest' in her own hometown will soon be helping steer conversations on Southeast Asia's academic future. But she's doing it with humility – not because the title isn't significant, but because she knows this journey wasn't shaped in lecture halls alone.
It began much earlier, in the everyday rhythm of growing up biracial in Sabah. In answering curious questions from classmates. In observing the sharp contrasts between East and West Malaysia. In finding comfort in ambiguity, and pride in difference. Vilashini learnt early that nuance is everything.
Now, as Chair-Elect, she's determined to centre voices from the margins. 'A lot of the training I've had, working in Malaysia and especially in its peripheries – I have a responsibility to make sure those lived realities inform policy,' she said.
Her goal isn't just representation. It's transformation. 'I'm trusting that chairing SEAC will open doors. It'll create more seats for other scholars – not just from Malaysia, but across the region. And that representation is very important.'
Find out more about Vilashini Somiah here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Founder of Sri Murugan Centre passes away at 84
KLANG: One of the nation's foremost educationists, Tan Sri Dr M. Thambirajah, passed away in his sleep early on Monday morning (June 23). The founder of the Sri Murugan Centre (SMC) was 84. Dr Thambirajah, a history professor at Universiti Malaya, began his mission to encourage the Malaysian Indian community through education in 1982 after observing the lack of Indian students in public universities. With the help of 42 Indian undergraduates from the university, he set his idea of providing tuition and mentoring classes for young Indians in motion. The undergraduates took to the idea and established the SMC the same year. The name was taken from Lord Murugan, who represents the Tamil language, culture and people At the centre, education was regarded as a pilgrimage, similar to the Kalvi Yathirai (educational pilgrimage) held annually at the Batu Caves Murugan temple. Students were also encouraged to dress to the highest standards when attending classes. The boys were required to wear ties, as Dr Thambirajah believed that for students to excel, their confidence must be boosted first. Parents were also included, and students took part in ceremonies organised by the SMC to honour them. Since opening, approximately 300,000 students have passed through SMC. Dr Thambirajah began his career as a Kirby-trained teacher and then pursued tertiary education, majoring in Russian History at Washington University in the United States. He then pursued a law degree, was admitted to the Malaysian Bar and opened his own legal firm after retiring as a university academic. Dr Thambirajah leaves behind his wife, Puan Sri A. Indrani, two children—Dr Sumitra and Anand, and two grandchildren. Those wishing to pay their last respects may do so at SMC Ashram, No. 40, Jalan Bukit 11/2, Petaling Jaya, from 10.00am to 2.00pm on Tuesday, June 24. Dr Thambirajah's final rites will be conducted at the Shah Alam Nirwana Memorial Park at 3.00pm on the same day.
Malaysiakini
2 days ago
- Malaysiakini
Who am I when the media is watching?
LETTER | Every day, I wake up and scroll. Before I even brush my teeth, I've already seen someone's vacation in parts of the world that I have never been, a viral clip from yesterday, a girl unboxing the latest phone, and a stranger's opinion on why Gen Z is 'too soft'. Yes, it's exhausting, but let's face it: It's addictive and impossible to ignore. This is the media world I grew up in. Not just consuming it, but being shaped by it. Whether we realise it or not, the media tells us who to be, what to care about, and how we should show up in the world. And for many of us in this generation, our identity is still being negotiated under the constant gaze of likes, shares, and filters. I sincerely believe that the media is not inherently evil. In fact, it's one of the most powerful tools of our time. Through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, I've learned about cultures I've never visited, ideas I've never encountered, and stories I would never hear on mainstream news. Media has connected me to communities that affirm who I am - as a Southeast Asian youth, as a Muslim, as someone navigating life between tradition and modernity. It's allowed many of us to share our cultures with pride, to reclaim languages that were once mocked, and to talk about mental health, gender, or faith with honesty. And most importantly, it has given a platform to young people who, in the past, would have remained invisible. But here's the catch: media also fragments who we are. We curate the best version of ourselves online. We post the wins, the aesthetic angles, the achievements, and the carefully selected quotes. But what about the in-between moments? The confusion, the insecurity, the loneliness, or the cultural expectations we quietly carry. These parts of our identity don't always fit into a 15-second video or a neatly filtered Instagram post. When I was younger, I used to think the media was just a reflection of the world. But now I see that the media actually 'creates' the world. And more importantly, our place in it. It tells us whose stories matter. Whose beauty is valid? Whose struggles are 'trending', And often, those of us from small towns, minority backgrounds, or non-Western cultures don't see ourselves represented at all. Or worse, we're reduced to stereotypes. So, how do we resist this pressure to perform? How do we reclaim our image when the media constantly tries to define us? I believe it starts with intentional storytelling. Instead of copying what gets the most views or what the algorithm prefers, we need to ask ourselves: What story do I want to tell? What version of myself feels honest? For me, that means being real. Be it about my language, my background, my struggles with identity, or my hopes for the future. It means showing up online the same way I do offline: imperfect, but real. It also means creating space for others to do the same. We need more platforms that allow young people to express themselves without fear of being judged or misrepresented. We need media that uplifts diverse voices. Especially those who have been historically silenced or sidelined. Whether it's a podcast in a local dialect, a photo essay on hijabi skaters, or a TikTok explaining rural traditions, our generation needs to tell our own stories, in our own way. Finally, we need to remember that identity is more than an aesthetic. It's a journey. It's okay not to have everything figured out. We don't need to fit into a single brand, label, or algorithm to be valid. So the next time I catch myself asking, 'Am I enough?' because of what I see online, I will pause. I will breathe. I will remind myself: I'm not just content. I'm a person. A generation is watching. But more importantly, we are watching ourselves. Let's make sure the version we see, and more importantly, the version we share, is real. The author is an undergraduate student of Universiti Malaya. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Youth want answers on matriculation entry change
PETALING JAYA: The government's silence on the new matriculation entry requirement for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers has put the life of students on hold besides causing them a lot of frustration. Hafsah Yaseer, 17, from Petaling Jaya said any changes in grading should be announced long before the exams to prepare students on what they can achieve and target. She said even though matriculation is a fast-track programme costing less, the issue should not have been brought up at this time. 'I have appealed but I don't have high hopes. I'm currently applying to Universiti Malaya through Saluran Satu,' said Hafsah, who obtained 8As in total, including A+ and A- for SPM. 'I'm not sure if they truly understand our feelings or what we went through while studying for our SPM and looking for placements,' she added. As for a Johor Baru top scorer who only wants to be known as Foo, failing to get into matriculation has left her feeling regretful. 'I scored 9A+ and a merit point of 98, yet I still did not get accepted despite putting in all that hard work. Many of my classmates who got all As except for one A- also did not get in. 'I have submitted an appeal but I have not heard back from the Education Ministry. 'From what my seniors told me, it is tough for those who get in after their appeals are accepted because by then, about five weeks would have passed and the students will have to catch up on the lessons,' the 18-year-old said. Foo considered herself lucky because shortly after getting rejected, she received a full scholarship at a private university to study pharmaceuticals, which is her choice course. 'My classmates however are willing to put their life and future on hold, in hopes of getting in because of their family's financial situation. Not everybody can afford private universities as an alternative,' she said, adding that they also have to worry about living expenses besides tuition fees. Another SPM leaver Teng Chin Hoon, 18, from Johor Baru also voiced her frustration 'After receiving my SPM results of 3A+, 5A and 2A-, I felt that the possibility of entering matriculation was slim, especially after the Education Ministry suddenly changed the requirement of not recognising A-. 'They should have told us earlier,' she said, adding that she decided to enrol in Form Six after weighing her chances. The Education Ministry stated that matriculation applicants who were not offered a place may submit an online appeal until tomorrow. The results of the appeal will be announced on June 30. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had criticised the Education Ministry's revised entry criteria, which no longer recognises A- as equivalent to an A. Under the new policy, only students with 10 straight A+ and A grades will be automatically offered matriculation places for the 2025/2026 session. Dr Wee said the change marks a major shift from last year's policy, which considered students with 10As and above for matriculation, following a commitment made by the Prime Minister. The Ayer Hitam MP said students had prepared based on last year's criteria, only to find the goalposts had shifted, a move he described as unfair. He added that MCA has received hundreds of appeals from students and parents who are confused and disheartened by the change.
