KHOO Kay Kim (1937–2019)

Khoo Kay Kim, once the doyen of the history of multiethnic, multicultural, and multireligious Malaysia, was widely regarded as its national historian, and was one of the leading scholars of Malayan/Malaysian history. His specialization of ethnic Malay political and social history was of particular significance, contributing to the greater and further understanding of the country’s predominant ethnic community. A pioneer in adopting, and subsequently promoting, indigenous perspectives in history and historiography, his scholarly and objective reevaluation and reinterpretation provided published works of immeasurable influence and impact in tertiary institutions as well as secondary schools in the country.