20-05-2025
Language preservationist wins UM's top academic award
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, today graced the 2024 Universiti Malaya (UM) Excellence Award ceremony, which recognised excellent contributions by university staff and corporate partners.
Sultan Nazrin, who is UM chancellor, presented awards to 59 recipients across 45 categories.
The highest honour, academic figure of the year, was awarded to Professor Dr Stefanie Shamila Pillai from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics in recognition of her pioneering work in Malaysian English variation and heritage language preservation.
She is the first Malaysian to document and archive an endangered language in Malaysia, namely the Melaka Portuguese language, through the Endangered Languages Archive (Endangered Languages Documentation Programme).
Other award categories were the innovative alternative assessment, excellent teaching, best academic administrator, outstanding young researcher, research figure, corporate partner and excellent partner.
Present were UM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman and pro-chancellors Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong as well as Tan Sri Zainun Ali.
In his speech, Azuan said the event reflected the university's appreciation for individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields.
"UM has surpassed its target with grant acquisitions amounting to RM163.37 million in 2024, an increase of 42 per cent compared to the previous year.
"This growth reflects the confidence of various parties in the capabilities of UM researchers, as well as the strength of its research ecosystem, which continues to develop sustainably and with impact," he said.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Stefanie said she began studying the Melaka Portuguese language in 2009, with formal documentation starting in 2011.
The work has since been digitally archived and made publicly accessible.
Beyond research and archiving, she has also worked closely with the community to develop learning tools, including mobile applications, aimed at reviving the use of the language.
"In terms of research, my motto is that research should not just stop at publication but it must make an impact, on the country and especially on the community.
"I think it's really important for us to continue using our languages, to document and revitalise them because language is not just for communication, it is also how we convey our culture, practices and our ways of thinking.
"When we lose a language, we also lose a part of our soul. That's why it's so crucial," she said.
