The Sembang Ilmu series is part of an ongoing programme organised by community leaders and members of the Malay community, in collaboration with the Malay Heritage Foundation (MHF). To start off the series, the Malay Studies Society (MSS) began with an event on the theme of “History”, followed by another in September with the theme “Malay Language”.

History & Power: Portrayals of the Malay Community focused on the historiography, or writing of history, of Malays in Singapore. Historical narratives commonly found in textbooks are often presented as undisputed truths, when in reality, the writing of history involves many surrounding factors, such as political and social influences. The contesting historical narratives attest to this complex reality, thus showing that History is not a static subject; instead is one that constantly evolves and changes according to past and contemporary social, political, and economic transformations.