Institute 'Pondok Perancis' Will Further Promote Malaysia-France Intellectual Links

By Nabilah Saleh KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- The recently launched Institute Pondok Perancis, a French research centre focusing on social sciences studies in Malaysia, is aimed at further promoting scientific, cultural and academic ties between France and Malaysia. Fraech Ambassador to Malaysia, Christophe Penot (left in the picture), said that the centre, the first of its kind to be set up in the country, would also help to reinforce intellectual links between the two nations. "Pondok Perancis aims at supporting tangible cooperation and collaboration in the field of humanities and social sciences, and will also host scholars and young researchers from both countries to help them conduct research," he said at the centre's launching. He explained that the centre would also support fieldwork research, translation and publication, as well as help organise seminars and conferences. He added that the research centre, a brainchild of renowned French researchers Dr David Delfolie and Dr Elsa Lafaye de Micheaux (right in the picture), would complement the activities of the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia (IRASEC), a French institution, which currently has researchers in countries in Southeast Asia. He said that Pondok Perancis was an expansion and addition to IRASEC's role and existence, and would further enriched academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries. Headquartered in Bangkok, IRASEC benefits from a wide network of French researchers, lecturers and research fellows based in the various Southeast Asian countries, who may be affiliated to IRASEC either independently or by appointment for a period of two to four years. Meanwhile, de Micheaux said that the existence of Pondok Perancis was very timely to boost and encourage more researchers to produce accurate and extensive research about Malaysia and France. Citing her experiences working as an IRASEC researcher, she said that many potential pieces of research exposing Malaysia could be done. "France has many researchers in this region, but I could say Malaysia's dimension is still small," said the economist and specialist of Malaysia's development in IRASEC. She added that the centre could also help Malaysian scholars to understand France better. Derived from the word Pondok (small lodging shelter or a hut), Pondok Perancis would also be a residence for researchers from both Malaysia and France. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA