• BA (Hons) in English
  University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
• MA in English
  University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
• PhD in New Literatures in English
  Flinders University, South Australia
• Diploma in Education (English)
  International Islamic University Malaysia
• Fulbright Scholar
  Cornell University, New York
• Mevlana Scholar
  Seljuk University, Konya, Turkey

• English Renaissance; Postcolonial literature
• Women’s writing
• Muslim writers
• Prison literature
• Creative writing

Current research interests:

• Muslim classical scholars
• Pre Independence  Malay Islamic scholars and warriors

Publications

Books

1. The Islamic Interpretation of ‘Tragic Hero’ in Shakespearean Tragedies, (The Research Centre, The International Islamic University Malaysia, 2001, 2^nd 2004)
2. Colonial to Global: Malaysian Women’s Writing in English, 1940s – 1990s (co-authored with M.Quayum, The Research Centre, IIUM, 2001, 2^nd 2003)
3. Edited IIUM Silver Jubilee Celebration (1983-2008), Kuala Lumpur: Alumni and Career Services Division, IIUM, 2008)
4. Writing A Nation: Essays on Malaysian Literature (2008).Co-edited with Quayum, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur.        
5. Imagined Communities Revisited:Critical Essays on Asia-Pacific Literatures and Cultures (co-edited with M.A Quayum, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur, 2011)
6. Di Balik Tirai Besi: Antologi Cerpen, (an anthology of short stories written by female prisoners, co-edited with Khamsiah Ismail, Farizah Jaafar and Che Noraini Hashim, ITBM, Kuala Lumpur, 2016)
7. English Literary Studies and Islamiciation of Knowledge (co-edited with Aimillia Ramli, IIIT, Kuala Lumpur, 2016)
8. Bridge: Anthology of Emerging Writers from Malaysia and Lahore (co-edited with Aisha Umt Ur Rashid), Silverfish Books, 2019.
9. “And Race is my name”.In: The bridge (2019). Silverfish Books, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 73-74.
10. Travel Poetry, Silverfish Books, 2019.
11. Editorial Special Issue.Kemanuasian:The Asia Journal of Humanities, 2019
12. Wanita Rawa Terakhir (Silverfish Books, 2022)
13. Budaya Membaca di Malaysia: Satu Tinjauan, co-edited by Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf, Rohaiza Rokis and Wan Nur Madiha Ramlan (Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia, 2023)
14. Dari Jambu Rias ke Conakry (PENA, 2024), chosen one of top 100 entries for a Madani book project.
15. Sejarah, Budaya dan Sumbangan Masyarakat Diaspora Rao di Tanah Melayu, co-edited by Fauziah Fathil, Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf and Wan Suhana Wan Sulong (IIUM Press, 2025)

Chapters/Articles in Books and Encyclopedia

1. ‘A Retrospective Interview’ in Lane With No Name by Hilary Tham, Lynne Rienner: Boulder, 1997:199-210.
2. ‘Making the Bard Bardable: An Islamic Approach in Reading Shakespeare’s Tragedies’ in A View of Our Own: Ethnocentric Perspectives in Literature edited by Fadillah Merican et al, UKM, 1996, pp. 515-522.
3. ‘A Woman in Her Own Write’ in Siti Zainon Ismail, Kembara Seni Siti, Galeri Melora and Kumpulan Utusan, 1997, pp. 95-100.
4. ‘Unity in Diversity: Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Globalisation in Malaysian Anglophone Women’s Writing, 1940s – 1990s (Vigo, Spain, 2000)
5. Entries on Malaysian Anglophone women writers in a book entitled Contemporary Women’s Writing Around the World edited by Jane Eldridge Miller (Routledge, 2000)
6. ‘Sexuality in Post-Independence Anglophone Writing by Three Malaysian Muslim Women Writers’ in Quayum and Wicks (eds), Malaysian Literature in English: A Critical Reader, Longman (M),2001.
7. Entries on Malaysian/South East Asian traditional dances/theatrical performances in Levinson, David and Karen Christensen et al (eds)   Encyclopedia of Modern Asia, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 2002.
8. “Distorted Body, Warped Mind: Stories of Pregnancies, Childbirth, Abortion and Women’s Identities in Malaysian Anglophone Women’s Writing, 1950s –1990s” in Zaleha Kamaruddin and Zeenath Kausar (eds) Women’s Issues Women’s Perspectives, Ilmiah Publishers, Kuala Lumpur, 2002.
9. Article on the ‘coming of age’ rituals of Malay Muslim girls in Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures, Volume 3, Brill Publication, Leiden, 2005 (see http://sjoseph.ucdavis.edu/ewic/other/Volume3_LOC.htm)
10. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf. “Translating Cultures: Between Hope and Despair”. In From the Inside: Asia-Pacific Literatures in Englishes. Edited by Edwin Thumboo. Singapore: Ethos Books, 2007.
11. ‘From the Courts of Malacca to the Twin Towers of Petronas: Charting Masculinities in Malaysian Works’ (co-authored with Ruzy Suliza Hashim) in Ruzy Suliza Hashim and Ganakumaran Subramaniam (Eds.) Reclaiming Places and Space: Issues in New Literatures, Bangi: Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, 2003: 212-28.
12. ‘Topeng Putih, Kulit Hitam:Arah Tuju Pascakolonialisme pada Alaf Baru” in M.Daud Mohamad and Zabidah Yahya (Eds). 2005.Pascakolonialisme Dalam Pemikiran Melayu. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
13. ”Mahakarya Melayu dalam Abad 21” (co-authored with Ruzy Suliza Hashim) in Mohamad Saleeh Rahamad, S.M. Zakir and Shamsudin Othman (eds).2006. Persuratan dan Peradaban National.Kuala Lumpur: Persatuan Penulis National Malaysia.PP.149-61.
14. “In Defense of Islam:American Muslim Women Write Back”.In Hassan Ahmed Ibrahim and Zaleha Kamaruddin (Eds). 2009. Muslim Women in Contemporary Societies:Reality and Opportunities.Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press.
15. “Strong Women in Post-Independence Malaysian Literatures: Imagined or Real?” In  Noraini M. Noor (Ed). 2009.An Insight Into Post-Independence Malaysian Women’s Well-Being. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press.
16. “Nation, Identity and Justice: A Comparative Study of American and Malaysian Muslim Poets, Daniel Abdal Hayy Moore and Wong Phui Nam (aka Razali Abdullah).” In Writing A Nation: Essays on Malaysian Literature (2009).Co-edited with M.Quayum, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur.
17. Translated “Nationalism and Nation-state: A Discourse on ‘Mahua’ Literary Critics.” In ” In Writing A Nation: Essays on Malaysian Literature (2009).Co-edited with  M.Quayum, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur.
18. The Politics of Branding in Southeast Asian Literature:Understanding the “Other”. In Imagined Communities Revisited:Critical Essays on Asia-Pacific Literatures and Cultures (co-edited with M.A Quayum, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur, 2011)
19. “Pengantarabangsaan Sastera Malaysia:Menyusun Strategi Pemasaran”. In Mohamad aleeh Rahamad and Rozlan Mohamed Noor (Eds). Sastera Teras Negara Bangsa.Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2014.
20. “Southeast Asian Women in the Age of Risk: Portrayal of Women in Selected Works by Singaporean and Cambodian Women Writers” (co-written with Mazni Muslim). In Mohd Quayum and Hassan Ibrahim (Eds). Religion, Culture, Society:Readings in the Humanities and Revealed Knowledge, Silverfish Books, Kuala Lumpur, 2017.
21. Yang Tunduk Itu Berilmu, Yang Berbudi Itu Bahasa. In Nasirin Abdillah and Ridzuan Harun (Eds), 2020.Serambi Taulan: Pemerian Muhammad Haji Salleh . UMK Press, pp. 71-76.
22. “Malaysian Muslim Women’s Writing: A History of Colonization, Decolonization and Globalization”, co-authored with Ruzy Suliza Hashim in Feroza Jussawalla  and Doaa Omran (Eds), Muslim Women’s Writing from across South and Southeast Asia, Taylor & Francis Ltd, London (July 2022).
23. “Sumbangan Masyarakat Rao di Pahang”, in Sejarah, Budaya dan Sumbangan Masyarakat Diaspora Rao di Tanah Melayu, co-edited by Fauziah Fathil, Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf and Wan Suhana Wan Sulong (IIUM Press, 2025)

Articles in refereed journals

1. ‘More Than Just A Woman: An Interview with Shirley Lim’, Tenggara 34 (1995): 75-86. (the same interview piece was also published in an Australian journal, The CRNLE, Vol. 1&2, 1995)
2. ‘Kelantan Tales: An Interview with Che Husna Azhari’, New Literatures Review 31 (Summer 1996): 13-18.
3. ‘The Years That Were and Now: An Exclusive Interview with Lee Geok Lan’, Gombak Review 1:1 (May 1996):26-36.
4. ‘Muddied Legs, Floating Bodies: The Portrayal of Women in Shahnon Ahmad’s No Harvest But A Thorn and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude’, translation work for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka’s Malay Literature Journal (Vol. 13 No. 2, 2000)
5. “Islamizing the ‘Feminine, Feminist and Female’ Voices in Three Malaysian Short Stories by Anglophone Women Writers” Intellectual Discourse, 8.2(2000):223-36.
6. Nor Faridah Abd.Manaf and Ruzy Suliza Hashim, “Reshaping the Future: A Survey on Nationalist Literature in Malaysia”, Malay Literature Journal, 14:2 (2001):25-36 (DBP, KL)
7. ‘The Influence of Farid Al-Din Attar’s Mantiq Al-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds) On Western Writers: From Chaucer to Peter Brook’, The Islamic Quarterly, XLVI:3, 2002: 247-58.
8. ‘Ties that bind : A Comparative Study of Two Asian Women Memoirists’, Feminist Studies in English Literature, 10:2 (2002):189-208.
9. ‘Tarik-Ulur:’Krisis’ identitas puisi-puisi Malaysia berbahasa Inggris’, Kolong Budaya, 2(2003):31-45.(translated into Bahasa Indonesia by Budi Santosa for Kolong Budaya’s special edition on poetry of Asia-Pacific.The paper was originally written in English entitled ‘ Dis/connected: Malaysian Identity ‘Crisis’ in Contemporary Malaysian Poetry in English’).
10. ‘Dis/connected: Malaysian Identity ‘Crisis’ in Malaysian Poetry in English’ in Ideya: Journal of the Humanities, 5:2 (2004): 46-58. (published by De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines)
11. ‘Humanity in text/intact: Malay images in selected Singaporean writings in English’ (article accepted for publication by The Flinders University of South Australia’s CRNLE journal)
12. ‘Beyond Grammar: Religious and Cultural Awareness in Language Communication’, Muslim Education Quarterly, Vol.22, Nos. 1&2, 2005:22-9 (published by The Islamic Academy, Cambridge, UK)
13. ‘Pakistani women writers: voices of progress’, International Research Journal of Arts and Humanities (IRJAH), Vol. 34 No. 34 (2006): 1-23.
14. ‘Contemporary Malaysian women writers: Writing beyond race, gender and class’, accepted for publication in Malay Literature Journal, Vol. 17. No 1&2 (2007):96-105.
15. “On becoming good women: a study on ‘the fragmented self’ in Malaysian Muslim women’s writing in English”, Feminist Studies in English Literature 15.2(2007):113-133.
16. “Human Rights and National Literature: A Comparative Study of the Experiences in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines”, Asiatic, Vol. 2, No. 2, December 2008.
17. “Notions of Home for Diasporic Muslim Women Writers”, in European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 9, Number 4 (2009)
18. “The mediating effect of attitude on perception towards impact change after watching Islamic films” co-authored by Saodah Wok, Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf and Rizalawati Ismail, in Journal of Modern Education Review, Sept 2014, Vol 4, No. 9, pp. 651-662.
19. “Impact of Islamic Film on Understanding of Islamic Values and Cultures for a Multicultural Society in Malaysia”, co-authored with Saodah Wok, Rizalawati Ismail and Faridah Abdul Manaf, in International Journal of Science, Commerce and Humanities, July 2014, Vol 2, No. 5, pp. 161- 74.
20. Does Group Therapy Work On Inmates’ Self-Belief And Psychological Well-Being? A Study at a Malaysian Women Prison, co-authored with Khamsiah Ismail, & Farizah Jaafar in  SSekamanya Siraje Abdallah & Siti Rafiah Abd. Hamid (Eds), Spiritual, Religion and Coping – Studies on Psychological Well-Being from Educational Perspective , Kuala Lumpur: Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia Berhad, 2016 (pp. 171-98)
21. Helping Women Cope with Life Behind Bars co-authored with Khamsiah Ismail et al in Sinisa Opic (Ed) European Center for Science & Research, Conference Proceedings ICSS IX2016, Vol III, ISBN 9788890916373 (pp. 206-13).
22. Hopes and Goals of Female Inmates Spiritual Well-Being Development and Curriculum Implication: a Case Study at Malaysian Female Prison in Conference Proceeding International Conference Business, Economics, and Social Science & Humanities (BESSH-2016) co authored with Khamsiah Ismail et al, 2016 (ISBN 978-969-670-609-0)
23. “Female Courage” in Prison Literature in Malaysia and the Philippines co authored with Farizah Jaafar, Khamsiah Ismail and Che Noraini Hashim in E-Book  in 6^th World Congress on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Management, Psychology, Political and Social Science), Barcelona, 2016,  (pp.12-7) ISSN: 2344-6722.
24. “A Critical Analysis of Bloom’s Taxonomy in Teaching Creative and Critical Thinking Skills in Malaysia through English Literature” (co-written with Shukran Abdul Rahman) in English Language Teaching 10:9 (Sept 2017), pp.245-256.
25. “Peace and harmony in Islam: a 21st century perspective”, International Journal of Recent Scientific Research 8:5 (2017), pp. 17111-114.
26. Sulaiman, Suraiyaand Quayum, Mohammad Abdul and Abdul Manaf, Nor Faridah (2018). “Negotiating Muslim women’s rights and identity in American diaspora space: An Islamic feminist study of Kahf’s The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf”. Kemanusiaan, 25 (1). pp. 43-67. ISSN 1394-9330
27. Sharif Shahidullah and Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf (2019), Historicist and Presentist Interpretation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night,University of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature Pakistan, Vol 3 No I .
28. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf et al (2023), Language Learning through Play: A Psychological Perspective from Ibn Sina, Journal Indexed MyCite.

Articles in conference proceedings, professional magazines and newspapers

1. ‘A Woman and a Writer’, The New Straits Times, 29/3/95, p.36.
2. ‘Penulis Wanita Melayu dan Feminisme’, Berita Harian, 5/4/95, p.26.
3. ‘A Woman in Her Own Write’, The New Straits Times, March 1995, p.32.
4. ‘Concerns of Tamil Women Writers’. The New Straits Times, 19/4/95, p.34.
5. ‘Sastera Sukuan Perlu Interaksi’, Utusan Malaysia, 8/4/95, p. 20.
6. ‘Penulis Hawa Sering ‘Difitnah’?’, Utusan Malaysia, 29/4/95, p.22.
7. ‘Include translated works of our ethnic groups’, New Straits Times, 16/7/99, p. 11 (co-written with Prof Syed Nasir Kazmi)
8. ‘Catering to the Clientele’s Needs: Managing Libraries in the New Millenium’, a feature article on Syed Salim Agha Syed Azmatullah, Asia Library News (Bangkok), Vol. 3 No. 2 (2000) : 10-11.
9. ‘Resisting the Fear of Globalization and English : The IIUM Experience’, Proceedings of Tamkang International Conference on Globalization, Education and Language, Tamsui: Tamkang University, 2004: 23-33.
10. ‘Tamu dari medan perang: Dinsman kembali!’,Pentas, Jil 1, Bil 2 (2006), ms.50-1.
11. ‘Penaklukan barat berterusan:kekurangan bahan bacaan tempatan menyebabkan anak-anak kita dipengaruhi budaya kuning’, MPH Quill, Issue 12, Aug-Oct ’06, pp 58-9. (commissioned to write by MPH Quill)
12. 12.”In Defense of Islam:American Muslim Women Write Back”, The Status of Muslim Women in Contemporary Societies: Realities and Prospects, International Institute for  Muslim Unity, 2007, Vol 8:277-300.
13. ”Sastera Kebangsaan:Satu Perbandingan Pengalaman Sastera Kebangsaan Malaysia, Thailand dan Filipina”. In 35 Tahun MABBIM: Memartabatkan Bahasa dan Sastra National Dalam Upaya Meningkatkan Ketahanan Budaya Serumpun, Pusat Bahasa Departemen Pendidikan Nasional Republik Indonesia, 2008: 1-11
14. “Arah tuju nasionalisme Asia Tenggara”, Utusan Malaysia, 31/8/09.
15. “Kesusasteraan Inggeris galak pelajar berfikiran kritis, kreatif”, Berita Harian, 30/11/09
16. ”Kembara Muslimah”, Dewan Sastera, Bil 6 (2014), m.s. 68-72.
17. ”Antara Seni dengan Tradisi:Cerpen Kontemporari di Persimpangan Pascamoden”, Dewan Sastera, Bil 11 (2014), m.s. 55-58.
18. “Malaysian Women’s Prison Literature: between Reality & Fiction” http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/probing-the-boundaries/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/manaf-ep6-paper.pdf
19. “Experiencing Prison: The Journey into the Self” http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/probing-the-boundaries/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/jaafar-ep6-paper.pdf
20. “Cerpen-cerpen Airmata”, Dewan Sastera, Ogos (2016), m.s. 63-5.
21. Sajak.Jurnal Melayu, 19(1), 2020, p.169
22. Cerpen Koronavirus:Seni dan Refleksi, Dewan Sastera, 51(3), 2021, pp. 58-63.

Book Reviews in refereed journals and n/papers

1. Book Review on Marie Louis’s novel, The Eleventh Finger, New Straits Times, July 18, 2001: 5
2. Book Review on Indrid Rudie’s book, Visible Women in East Coast Malay Society: On the Reproduction of Gender in Ceremonial, School and Market, Intellectual Discourse, 9:1 (2001), pp. 113-4.
3. Book Review on Uni of Hawaii’s Land Beneath the Wind, Gombak Review, 4 :2, 1999: 180-2.
4. Book Review on Leigh Gilmore, The Limits of Autobiography: Trauma and Testimony, Cornell Uni. Press, Ithaca, 2001 for Australian Feminist Studies, 17: 39 (Nov), 2002: 351-2.
5. Book review on Th. Emil Homerin (trans), ‘Umar Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verse, Saintly Life. New York: Paulist Press, 2001 in New Zealand’s Mystics Quarterly, 29 (2003):140 – 3.
6. Book review on  Rozlan Mohd Noor, 21 Immortals: Inspector Mislan and the Yee Sang Murders. Asiatic,Volume 5, Number 1, June 2011

Creative writings published

Malay

1. ‘Waktu Memakan Usia’, Berita Minggu, 5/2/95 (poem)
2. ‘Feminis Islam’, Mingguan Malaysia, 1996 (short story)
3. ‘Rumah Kubur No. 1’, Mingguan Malaysia, 1996 (short story)
4. ‘Kasut Hitler’ in Kasut Hitler, Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd (1996) (short story)
5. ‘ Temu Janji’, Mingguan Malaysia, 1997 (short story)
6. ‘Plaza Flinders’, Berita Minggu, 1997 (poem)
7. ‘Lola’ in  Wacana Hitam Putih, Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn. Bhd. (1998) (short story)
8. ‘Pelangi Hidup’, Mingguan Malaysia, 29, 2000
9. ‘Perspektif’, Mingguan Malaysia, March 21, 2004 (short story)
10. ‘Prelude’, Mingguan Malaysia, June 8, 2008 (short story)
11. “Teh di Bukit Tinggi” (short story, DBP anthology, 2009)
12. Ijtihad, Mingguan Malaysia, May 15, 2011.
13. Pengembaraan Aji Kitul, Mingguan Malaysia, January 13, 2013
14. Mama, Mingguan Malaysia, April 27, 2014
15. Ria Raya, Utusan Malaysia, April 28, 2024.
16. Ejen Dagang, Berita Minggu, Jun 4, 2024

English

Collection of poems

1. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf. The Art of Naming: A Muslim Woman’s Journey, Awards Publishing, 2006.
2. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf, Travel Poetry, Silverfish Books, 2019.

Poems and short stories published by others

1. ‘Panta Rhei’ Deep South, Vol. 2 No. 2 (Winter 1996), University of Otago, New Zealand. (poem)
2. ‘Technofools’, Deep South, Vol. 2 No. 3 (Spring 1996), University of Otago, New Zealand. (poem)
3. ‘Woman From Hell’ in Satendra Nandan (ed) Silverfish New Writing 2: An Anthology of Stories from Malaysia, Singapore and Beyond, Silverfishbooks, Kuala Lumpur, 2002. (short story – one of 10 stories chosen from Malaysia to be included in this anthology of 25 entries picked out of 500 entries from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Africa)
4. ‘Princess Kamaliah’ (short story), published in M.Quayum (ed). Petals of Hibiscus, Longman, 2003.
5. ‘Standenham Palace, Wellington’, published in M.Quayum (ed). Petals of Hibiscus, Longman, 2003.
6. ‘MSD Officers’, published in M.Quayum (ed). Petals of Hibiscus, Longman, 2003.
7. ‘English Dorm Mates and the Muslim Girls’, published in M.Quayum (ed). Petals of Hibiscus, Longman, 2003.
8. ‘Flinders, South Australia’ published in M.Quayum (ed). Petals of Hibiscus, Longman, 2003.
9. ‘Of self, race, nation and others’ in Wellversed: Thankfully good poetry live in KL, British Council, 2007.
10. “Unnamed Piece” in Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof (ed). Asian Centre Anthology of Malaysian Poetry in English, Partridge Publishing, Singapore, 2014.
11. “The Prayer” in Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof (ed). Asian Centre Anthology of Malaysian Poetry in English, Partridge Publishing, Singapore, 2014.
12. “And Race Is My Name”, a short story in The Bridge: Writings from Emerging Writers from Pakistan and Malaysia, Silverfish Books, Kuala Lumpur, 2019.

Other Links

1. https://norfaridah.com
2. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=r92VDbsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
3. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nor-Faridah-Abdul-Manaf

1. Winner of the 1997 Literary Writing Award by Public Bank-Utusan Malaysia (short story category).
2. Consolation Prize for the 1995 & again for the 2000 Literary Writing Award by Public Bank-Utusan Malaysia (short story category)
3. Best Teacher Award for Dept of English Language and Literature, Semester 1, 2004/5.
4. Silver Medalist at the 2012 IIUM Research, Invention and Innovation Exhibition (Islamic Research/Product category) : Farid ud-Din Attar’s Conference of the Birds, Digitalised in English: A Multicultural Lesson for the Asia-Pacific Rim”
5. One of three winners of Writers’ Village University “Why I Write?” Competition.
6. Picked top 25 (of 500 entries) for an Asia-Pacific writers’ anthology by Asia-Pacific regional judges/editors.
7. Country representative to the ASEAN Literature Symposium 2015 in Manila, Philippines, August 26-28, 2015.
8. Gold award for Outstanding Leader, KIRKHS 2020

1. UPM Literature in English conference 1991.
2. ‘Making the Bard Bardable: An Islamic Approach in reading Shakespeare’s Tragedies’, The International Literature Conference organised by UKM at Shangri-la, KL, 1995.
3. ‘My Baby! By Baby!’ : Pregnancy, Childbirth and Women’s Identities in Malaysian Anglophone Women’s Writing, 1950s-1990s’, M/MLA Conference, Minneapolis, Minn., 7-9, 1996 (also presented at the postgraduate seminar, The Flinders University of South Australia, 1996.)
4. ‘Islamising the Female, Feminine and Feminist Voices in Contemporary Malaysian Short Stories Written by Anglophone Women Writers: Experimental or Real?’, English and Islam:Creative Encounters Conference organised by The International Islamic University of Malaysia, Petaling Jaya at Crystal Crown Hotel, Dec. 20-22,1996.
5. ‘Sink or Swim; Doing a Postgraduate Research’, Public Lecture series, IIUM, 1998
6. ‘Unity in Diversity: Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Globalisation in Malaysian Anglophone Women’s Writing, 1940s -1990s’, I International Conference on Postcolonial Studies, Vigo, Spain, Nov. 5-7, 1998.
7. ‘Topeng Putih, Kulit Hitam: Arah Tuju Pascakolonialisme di Alaf Baru’, Kolokium “Mempersoalkan Pascakolonialisme”, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 8-10 Disember, 1998.
8. ‘Doing Plays at IIU : Halal or Haram’ , a paper presented in a discussion on women in theatre from Islamic perspective, October 20, 1999, Lecture Hall 1, Kulliyyah of Economics, IIU.
9. A Critique of Dr. Nur’Ainy Ali’s book on Pramoedya Ananta Toer: Selected Early Works 1949-1952, a paper presented at a book discussion organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Pustaka Peringatan Kuala Lumpur, 26, 1999.
10. ‘Teori Teksdealism Dari Kacamata Seorang Wanita Muslim’, a paper presented at the ‘Kolokium Membina Teori Sastera Sendiri’, The Summit Hotel, Subang Jaya, Dec 6-8, 1999.
11. Islamisation of Knowledge Workshop, a panelist for English Language & Literature Dept, 28/2/00, KIRKHS Conference Room.
12. Presented a paper on Malaysian Nationalist Literature at the SOAS/UCL Conference on Nation and Narration, London, June, 2001
13. Presented a paper with Assoc. Professor Dr Ruzy Suliza Hashim (UKM) at the International Symposium on Malaysian Masculinities jointly organised by Monash University and UKM, Nov. 3-4, 2001, UKM, Bangi. The paper was titled “From the courts of Melaka to the twin towers of Petronas: Charting Masculinities in Malaysian Literary Works”
14. Guest speaker in a seminar on Faridud-din Attar’s Conference of the Birds(spoke on Attar’s influence on Western writers: from Chaucer to Brook), Balai Seminar, Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka, July 13, 2002
15. Presented a  paper entitled ‘ Dis/connected: Malaysian Identity ‘Crisis’ in Contemporary Malaysian Poetry in English’ for the Asia-Pacific Conference-Workshop on Indigenous & Contemporary Poetry, Manila, Philippines, 20-25 August, 2002.
16. Presented a paper (co-written with Dr Ruzy Suliza Hashim of UKM) entitled ‘The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore: A Comparative Study of Two Asian Women Memoirists’ for an international conference on Gender, Nation and Difference, Seoul, Korea, Oct. 24- 26, 2002.
17. Presented a paper entitled ‘Resisting Fear of Globalization and English: the IIUM Experience’ at the International Conference on Globalization, Education and Language, Tamkang University, Taipei, Taiwan, Nov 15-16, 2002.
18. Presented a paper entitled ‘Redefining ‘Diasporism” Across Ethnicities in Malaysia’ at the International Conference on Indian Diaspora, Hotel Midah, Jalan Kg Attap, KL, April 3, 2004 (guest speaker)
19. Presented a paper entitled  ‘Humanity in text/intact: Malay images in selected Singaporean writings in English’ at the International Symposium on Malaysian and Singaporean Literature in English, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, June 15-16, 2004 (guest speaker)
20. Presented a paper entitled ‘Beyond grammar: Religious and cultural awareness in language communication’ at the launching of a new department (Dept of Language Communication and Multimedia), University of Yokkaichi, Japan, June 18-19, 2004 (one of the two keynote speakers invited, the other being a scientist/medical Professor, Prof. Oohashi from Tokyo)
21. Presented a paper entitled ‘Contemporary Malaysian women writers: Writing beyond race, gender and class’ at the Citigroup Kuala Lumpur International Literary Festival 2004, Evolving Faces:Identities and the printed page, Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, July 29 – August 1, 2004
22. Invited to speak as a Malay writer at a forum on new Malay writers, Lingkaran Sastera Mutakhir (Contemporary Malay writers) at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, July 30, 2004.
23. Invited to speak on ‘Writing from the Ghetto: Present and Future Challenges of Contemporary World Literature’ as keynote speaker at UPM’s postgraduate seminar on Contemporary World Literature, Modern Languages Faculty, UPM, March 17, 2005.
24. Invited to speak on ‘Textual Analysis’ to SLAB participants, Research Centre, IIUM, April 8, 2005.
25. Presented a paper on “My Feudal Lord: Writing Autobiography Against Culture” at the International Conference on Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (MICOLLAC 2005), Holiday Villa, August 23-25, 2005.
26. A panelist at a book discussion on Anwar Ridhwan’s Tales of Ogonshoto (with SM Zakir and Faisal Tehrani from UKM and PENA), Moot Court, IIUM, Sept 23, 2005.
27. Presented a paper on “Politik di dalam sastera kontemporari di Malaysia dan Singapura: Satu perbandingan” at the Dewan Seminar, DBP, K.Lumpur, Nov. 29-30, 2005.
28. Presented a paper on “Translating Cultures: Between Hope and Despair” at the 11^th Biennial Symposium on the Literatures and Cultures of the Asia-Pacific Region, NUS Centre for Arts, Singapore, Dec 7-10, 2005.
29. Invited and presented a paper on “The Image of Islam/Muslims in Western Literature including Shakespearean plays” at the International Conference on “The Truth of Islam: A Vision for the ummah and the rest of the world” at the Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Dec 21-22, 2005.
30. Presented a paper on ‘ Pakistani women writers: voices of progress at at the 4^th. International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Illikai Renaissance Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Jan 11- 14, 2006 (the paper was co-written with Siti Nuraishah Ahmad)
31. Invited to conduct a workshop on “Empowering students: the use of Literature/Drama in Language Teaching” at English Language Teaching Workshop”, Fakulti Kommunikasi dan Bahasa Moden, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok April 6-7, 2006/UUM, Sintok.
32. Invited by PENA to speak on ‘Mahakarya Melayu dalam Abad ke 21’ (a paper co-authored with Assoc Prof Dr Ruzy Suliza Hashim), Port Dickson, 4-6 August, 2006.
33. Invited as keynote speaker to speak on “Erasing gender gap, espousing equality: between dream and reality”, Seminar on Gender Issues: Erasing gender gap, espousing equality’, Institut Perguruan Ilmu Khas, Kuala Lumpur, November 15, 2006.
34. Invited as a speaker, ‘Managing Diversity in Multicultural Malaysia: From Teaching Shakespeare to World Poetry’, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, April 2, 2007.
35. Invited as a speaker, ‘Bridging the Gap: A Comparative Study of Two Muslim Poets, Razali Abdullah (Wong Phui Nam) and Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore,  West Virginia University at Parkersburg, USA, April 5, 2007.
36. Invited as a speaker, ‘Malaysian Literature in English: Reality and Challenge’, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, USA, April 6, 2007.
37. Invited as a speaker, ‘Breaking the myths: Islam, faith, sexuality and perceptions of Muslim women in the West’, West Virginia at Parkersburg, USA, April 5, 2007.
38. Invited as a speaker, ‘Breaking the Silence: Writings in English by Malaysian Women Writers’, Ohio University in Athens, USA, April 6, 2007.
39. Presented a paper on ‘In defense of Islam: American muslim women write back’, International Conference on The Status Of Muslim Women In Contemporary Society: Realities And Prospects, IIUM, 14-16 Aug. 2007.
40. Invited to be one of three panelists to address the issue on ‘Masa Hadapan Sastera: 50 Tahun Akan Datang”, PENA House, Kuala Lumpur, 27/10/07.
41. Invited to be one of the four panelists to speak on the topic ‘Malaysian Muslim Women’s Role in Public Life’ at the “Dialogue between Afghan and Malaysian scholar issues related to women’s rights” organised by Afghanistan Rule of Law Project (ARoLP) and Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, IIUM, 5^th November, 2007, Conference Room, AIKOL.
42. ”In Defense of Islam:American Muslim Women Write Back”, The Status of Muslim Women in Contemporary Societies: Realities and Prospects, International Institute for  Muslim Unity, December, 2007
43. Invited to speak on “Looking West: English Renaissance Theatre and What Asia Can Learn From It”, International Conference on Performing Arts As Creative Industries in Asia.Perdanasiswa Complex, University of Malaya, 27-8 February, 2008.
44. Invited to speak on “Sastera Kebangsaan: Satu Perbandingan Pengalaman Sastera Kebangsaan Malaysia, Thailand dan Filipina”, Seminar Bahasa dan sastera MABBIM-MASTERA, Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, April 7-8, 2008.
45. “When Home is No Longer Home: An Analysis of Diasporic Muslim Women’s Writing”, International conference on Unsettling Women: Contemporary Women’s Writing and Diaspora, University of Leicester, United Kingdom, July 11-13, 2008.
46. Invited to speak on “Critical Thinking for Gen Y: Why and Why not?” Segi College, Subang Jaya, July 8, 2009.
47. Invited to speak on “In the absence of a mystic voice: contemporary Muslim women writers problematising the ummah”, International Seminar on Mystical Aspects of Islamic Art and Literature, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, March 23-26, 2009.
48. Invited to speak on “Across Class, Gender and Race: Malaysian Women Making a Difference Through Their Community Service Work” ,  International conference on “WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY”: CHANGE MOVERS,Conference Hall 1, Administration Building, Singapore Management University, Feb. 26-27, 2010.
49. Invited to speak on “In search of Rabi’a Al-Adawiyya in the 21^st century”, 2nd International Seminar on Mystical Aspects of Islamic Art and Literature, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, July 20-23, 2010.
50. Invited to speak on “Politik Jenama di dalam dunia sastera: Ideologi Penerbit, Media dan Hadiah Sastera”, Hotel Santika, Jakarta, Pusat Bahasa Indonesia, Sept. 27-29, 2010.
51. Invited as keynote speaker to speak on “Islamicising English Literature: Promoting cross-cultural understanding in a terrorised world” at the International Conference on “Redefining English Literary Studies in Third World Countries” at the Sahid Kusuma Prince Hotel, Surakarta,Indonesia, Nov. 9-10, 2010 (organised by English Dept, Sebelas Maret University,Indonesia)
52. Invited as keynote speaker to speak on “Women’s Universities in the Muslim World: History, Challenges and Prospects” at the International Conference on “Women Universities as Agents of Change”, held at International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan on November 26^th-27^th,
53. MOVE representative to EI/FES ASEAN TURN Sub-regional workshop on trade union skills development, held at Cambodiana Hotel Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sept. 12-14, 2011.Spoke on Malaysian women’s human rights.
54. Invited to speak as a panellist at a Forum on Human Rights in Malaysia, Mini Auditorium, IIUM, Nov. 23, 2011 (with Prof. Aziz Bari and SUHAKAM Commissioner James Nayagam).
55. Invited to speak on “World Peace: Farid ud-Din Attar’s Conference of the Birds, Digitalised in English” with co-researcher Yau Sim Mei at the 14^th Biennial Symposium on Culture and Society in the Asia-Pacific Region, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Dec 4-7, 2011.
56. Invited as plenary speaker at UPM’s MICOLLAC conference at Pullman Hotel, Putrajaya, July 9-11, 2012.
57. Presented a paper on “Southeast Asian women in the age of risk: Portrayals of women in selected works by Singaporean and Cambodian women writers”, 15^th Biennial Symposium on Literature and Culture in the Asia-Pacific Region, University of Hong Kong, June 10-12, 2013.
58. Invited as one of two key panelists (with National laureate Prof Emeritus Muhammad Haji Salleh) and spoke on “Melawan Arus atau Memenuhi Tuntutan Agama?”, Kembara Minda dan Jiwa, Institut Pendidikan Guru Raja Melewar, Seremban, Oct 26, 2013.
59. Co- presented a paper on “Myth Smashers:Muslim Writers Positioning Muslims in a Post-Modern and Post-Feminist World (with Mazlen Arepin) at the International Conference on Social Sciences and Management, Kyoto, Japan, May 8-9, 2014.
60. Co-presented a paper on “The Mediating Effect of Attitude on Perception towards Impact Change after Watching Islamic Films” (with Saodah Wok and Rizalawati Ismail) at the International Conference on Social Sciences and Management, Kyoto, Japan, May 8-9, 2014.
61. Invited to speak on “Pembangunan Pendidikan Pahang:Pencapaian semasa dan hala tuju kecemerlangan” (co-written with Dr. Norrihan Sulan of UMP), Seminar Pengajian Pahang Sempena Sambutan 40 Tahun Pemerintahan Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Pahang, Hotel MS Garden Kuantan, 11-12 September, 201        4.
62. Invited to speak on “Pengantarabangsaan Sastera Malaysia:Menyusun Strategi Pemasaran”, Sidang Kemuncak Penulis Malaysia, Jitra, Oktober 24-25, 2014.
63. Presented a paper on women’s writing from prison at the 6^th Experiencing Prison Global Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia, May 6-8, 2015.
64. Invited to speak and read at “Writers Talking”, University Lounge, SMU Administration Building, Singapore, May 28, 2015.
65. Invited to speak at the ASEAN Literature Symposium 2015, “Celebrating Multiplicities: Malaysian Literatures in the Last 50 Years”. Manila, August 26-28. 2015 (sponsored by Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Writers’ Union of the Philippines).
66. Invited to speak as one of three panelists at Islam: Aku, Kau dan Kita, MCCHR Pusat Rakyat LB, Jalan Pantai Baharu,Kuala Lumpur, August 13, 2016.
67. Presented a paper with Devi Arumugam on “Teaching English Literature in Malaysia in the 21^st century: Issues and Challenges, Meritz Hotel, Miri, Sarawak on Oct 18-19, 2016.
68. Invited to speak as a keynote at International Seminar on Shakespeare, Nature and Culture, Aliah University, Kolkata, India, Jan 10-12, 2017
69. Invited to speak at the International Conference on Peace and Harmony at Singapore Management University, Singapore, Feb 22-24, 2017.
70. Invited to speak/moderate a discourse on Hamzah Fansuri at ITBM, KL, August 2018.
71. Invited to speak on environment issues at Eco Club, IIUM, Sept 2018.
72. Invited as keynote speaker at MICELT conference, UPM, Oct 5-7, 2018.
73. Keynote at Zawiah Yahya Series, UKM, 2020.
74. Keynote at UTHM’s Posgraduate Symposium on Linguistics and Literature, Nov 21, 2021.
75. Speaker on Graduate Employability: The Role of Universities,Sept 4, 2021.
76. Speaker at Islam-Buddhism conference on Environment, Jan 2022.
77. Invited speaker at Nanyang Technological University’s  Asia Creative Writing Programme;s conference ‘Saving Face: Writing Right or Righting Write?”, Nov 2, 2024, Marina Bay Sands Singapore.
78. Invited to conduct a short story writing workshop at Singapore Writers’ Festival, Nov 10, 2024, Blue Room, The Arts House, Singapore
79. Invited to speak as one of OUM’s RnR speakers, ‘Living in the AI era: Thoughts within and beyond the digital world’, online, 14/5/25