PROFESSIONAL

Dr. Rahimah Hamdan is a lecturer at the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) specializing in Traditional Malay Literature and Malay Cultural Studies. Her areas of expertise encompass traditional literary studies, cultural thought and the intellectual heritage of the Malay world. To date, she has published more than 58 academic papers in both indexed and non-indexed journals (CIJ and non-CIJ) exploring various dimensions of Malay literature and culture.

Among her significant academic contributions are studies on early Malay autobiographies particularly the works of Munsyi Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir as well as analyses of historical and legendary figures such as Hang Tuah in shaping collective identity and the cultural values of Malay society. Her research also includes critical examinations of colonial perspectives on Malay culture focusing on elements such as the symbolism of the keris and narrative representations in traditional literature.

Dr. Rahimah is actively involved in international research networks and maintains an updated academic profile on ORCID, Google Scholar and ResearchGate. In 2024, she was awarded an international research grant by The Sumitomo Foundation (Japan) for a project titled “Bridging Cultures Through Heroic Narratives: A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Heroism in Japanese and Malay Historiographical Texts.” In 2025, she was selected to receive a conference grant from the Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange Program (SEASREP) Foundation based in the Philippines.

Beyond her involvement in research and publication, she is also an active advocate for women’s leadership and cultural heritage on the global stage. She currently serves as the Malaysia Country Chair for the Culture & Heritage Wing of G100, a prestigious international network of women leaders. In June 2025, Dr. Rahimah was invited as a keynote speaker at the Women Economic Forum ASEAN (WEF 2025) to discuss cultural issues and the role of women in regional leadership.

She also presented a paper titled “Pakai Cara Melayu” (“Dressing the Malay Way”) at the Bicara Seni Budaya program held in conjunction with the Rentak Bertandak Antarabangsa Melaka 2025 which is an event marking the pre-launch of World Tourism Day 2025 and UNESCO’s Anniversary Celebration organized by the Melaka State Government.

Most recently in October 2025, she received international recognition as one of the “Women of Excellence in Academe” by the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) in Manila, Philippines.