IOES Monographs Series - 2008

IOES Monograph Series 1: Natural History of the Pulau Tioman Group of Islands

ISBN: 978-983-9576-35-1, 292 pages
Price: RM80 (Soft cover), RM100 (Hard cover)

A workshop “Marine Natural History of the Tioman Park Group of Islands” was held in 2006, on Pulau Tioman in conjunction with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (formerly the University of Malaya Maritime Research Centre) and the launch of the Pulau Tioman Marine Research Station. This monograph comprises papers presented at the workshop as well as biodiversity checklists of terrestrial, freshwater and marine flora and fauna compiled from published reports. We hope that this monograph will serve as a useful reference for the biological, physical and socio-economic resources of Pulau Tioman

IOES Monograph Series 3: Memory and Knowledge of the Sea in Southeast Asia
ISBN: 978-983-9576-36-8, 128 pages
Price: RM50 (Soft cover), RM70 (Hard cover)
 

The seas have been instrumental in the history and socio-economic development of Southeast Asia. The elongated coastline and the thousands of islands imply that the seas act as a highway connecting one part of the region to another and with the outside world. As the interior is mostly forested and dissected by highlands, land travel is difficult. While the land divides, the sea unites. The importance of the sea in the region is evident from the use of ancient forms of sea transport such as the outrigger canoes and the development of ports. Most of the diverse population in Southeast Asia live near the coast and are dependent to a large extent on the sea to supplement whatever resources there are on the mainland. These include food, as well as petroleum and natural gas deposits which have sustained the rapid development of many Southeast Asian states such as Malaysia. In many small islands and coastal areas, the rich marine life forms the backbone of the tourism industry. However, the socio-economic livelihood of the population is now threatened by various developments.

While change and adaptation is necessary for the population to survive the onslaught of modernization, rapid development and population growth has result in environmental degradation and decline in marine resources. This book brings together the past and the future of maritime social and economic development in the region. The various authors identify current as well as past trends in maritime social and economic developments that have propelled the region to being one of the most dynamic expanses in the world and explore certain key issues. It is the hope that this book will serve as resource material to scholars and researchers interested in the maritime issues of Southeast Asia.

IOES Monograph Series 4: Maritime Social and Economic Developments in Southeast Asia
ISBN: 978-967-5148-10-1, 132 pages,
Price: RM50 (Soft cover), RM70 (Hard cover)
 

The seas have been instrumental in the history and socio-economic development of Southeast Asia. The elongated coastline and the thousands of islands imply that the seas act as a highway connecting one part of the region to another and with the outside world. As the interior is mostly forested and dissected by highlands, land travel is difficult. While the land divides, the sea unites. The importance of the sea in the region is evident from the use of ancient forms of sea transport such as the outrigger canoes and the development of ports. Most of the diverse population in Southeast Asia live near the coast and are dependent to a large extent on the sea to supplement whatever resources there are on the mainland. These include food, as well as petroleum and natural gas deposits which have sustained the rapid development of many Southeast Asian states such as Malaysia. In many small islands and coastal areas, the rich marine life forms the backbone of the tourism industry. However, the socio-economic livelihood of the population is now threatened by various developments.

While change and adaptation is necessary for the population to survive the onslaught of modernization, rapid development and population growth has result in environmental degradation and decline in marine resources. This book brings together the past and the future of maritime social and economic development in the region. The various authors identify current as well as past trends in maritime social and economic developments that have propelled the region to being one of the most dynamic expanses in the world and explore certain key issues. It is the hope that this book will serve as resource material to scholars and researchers interested in the maritime issues of Southeast Asia.

IOES Monograph Series 5: The Seas Divide: Geopolitics and Maritime Issues in Southeast Asia

ISBN: 978-983-9576-37-5, 159 pages,
Price: RM50 (Soft cover), RM70 (Hard cover)

Maritime security is widening in terms of its geo-strategic significance and scope such that it affects Southeast Asia in many ways. In the past, especially during the Cold War, maritime security domains had revolved mainly on the naval equation and military developments in the regional theatre. However, this has changed over recent decades. With the introduction of the UNCLOS in the early 1980, many territorial disputes have surfaced in the region. The geo-strategic configuration in the maritime security domain too slowly changed from one that focused on superpower maritime interests to the rise of regional maritime powers. Since September 11, maritime terrorism has become yet another concern for the littoral states of Straits of Malacca.

The Seas Divide: Geopolitics and Maritime Issues in Southeast Asia addresses an array of maritime security concerns currently affecting the Southeast Asia region. Maritime security is threatened not only by the presence of sizeable navies but border and territorial issues as well. As such, pressure on the need for better military intelligence is on the increase. In addition, some of the security concerns like piracy, smuggling, environmental considerations, developments in contemporary maritime law, fisheries disputes, regional naval equation and military technological changes are all having an impact on maritime geopolitics and security in one way or another. Are regional countries fully prepared for the future is another question that remains to be investigated? In sum, this work attempts to look at the main strategic concerns of Southeast Asia in its maritime zone.

IOES Monograph Series 6: Southeast Asian Religion, Culture and Art of the Sea
ISBN: 978-967-5148-19-4, 98 pages,
Price: RM50 (Soft cover), RM70 (Hard cover)

Expressing identity through culture and visual arts is a shared if not a nearly identical phenomenon that can be observed among the maritime communities of Southeast Asia. In Sustaining Sulu People’s Identity Through Their Culture and Visual Arts, Abraham P. Sakili deals with the cultural and historical identity of the people of Sulu as suggested by or expressed through their visual arts. He primarily concentrates on the case of the Tausug. He presents an overview of Sulu history and culture in order to provide appropriate contexts for a definition of people’s identity and for a discussion of features and creative processes of their representative art forms such as the ukkil (Sulu curvilinear design), textiles and mats with siyabit (“hooked-up”) geometrical motifs, sunduk (gravemarker), mamaan (betel nut boxes) and a rare selection of military artifacts. He makes references to conceptual frameworks of art as cultural expression. Towards the end of his piece, he underscores the role of arts and culture in sustaining a people’s identity as a positive force in the advancement of intercultural harmony, especially among the indigenous and maritime people of Southeast Asia and the world beyond as well as in devising safeguards for balance in the environment, promotion of cultural diversity in the midst of the globalized homogenizing tendencies forced by market trends.

IOES Monograph Series 7: The Place of International Obligations in the Domestic Legal Order of States
ISBN: 978-967-5148-24-8, 335 pages,
Price: RM80 (Soft cover), RM100 (Hard cover)
 

The Inaugural Malaysian International Law Symposium was held on the 7th and 8th of August at the PJ Hilton in Kuala Lumpur. Two societies of international law, namely the Malaysian Chapter of the Asian Society of International Law and the Malaysian Society of International Law were launched in conjunction with the Inaugural Symposium.

The momentum for establishing the two societies, an essential feature of all developed and progressive developing nations, and the impetus for this Symposium gathered pace when discussions were held for the constitution of the Asian Society of International Law (Asian SIL) at the National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law which was established on 7th April 2007. The initiative for the establishment of the Asian SIL may be solely attributed to the dedication and commitment of His Excellency Judge Owada Hisashi, President of the International Court of Justice at The Hague and President of the Asian SIL, and an entire collegiate body of Japanese and Asian Scholars and Professors of International Law whose vision and mission have been to disseminate this fountain of knowledge to the Asian geographical region.

These Proceedings discuss the topic, “The Place of International Obligations in the Domestic Legal Order of States” in the context of treaties, Security Council resolutions, and international judgments and under general and special rules of international law.

IOES Monograph Series 9: Eco-Engineering Applications For Erosion and Sediment Control Under Tropical Conditions
ISBN: 983-42035-7-3, 176 pages,
Price: RM50 (Soft cover), RM100 (Hard cover)
 

This book looks into the construction management practices and technical measures implemented in the control of erosion and sedimentation problems in Malaysia. The roles played by project developers, consultants, contractors, local authorities and regulatory agencies are highlighted as effectiveness relies on the participation and cooperation from these parties. This book reviews current practices in relation to erosion and sedimentation problems associated with the various phases of construction project implementation. It also reviews the use of eco-engineering applications to improve construction practices and to minimize problems. Various case studies are highlighted, for example works at Shah Alam II, Putrajaya, Seremban-Kuala Klawang Road, and Puchong where Best Management Practices have been adopted by contractors and enforced or monitored by authorities and developers. This book will be of interest to academician, engineers, ecologists, contractors, project developers, local authorities and post-graduate students.

IOES Monograph Series 10: An Annotated Field Guide to Tropical Eco-engineering
SBN: 983-42035-6-6, 93 pages,
Price: RM30 (Soft cover), RM70 (Hard cover)

This Annotated Field Guidebook will be useful to practicing geo-technical engineers, botanists, ecologists, landscape planners, eco-engineers and post-graduate students. It highlights practical eco-engineering for erosion and sediment control and field preparation and logistics. This book also contains divergent use of many words and expressions pertinent to the field of erosion and sedimentation, storm water pollution control, and channel and shore protection. Where applicable, pictures are provided to assist users in understanding various terms, materials or structures.

Malaysian Journal of Science Vol. 27 (SESMA Special Issue). December 2008. Scientific Expedition to the Seas of Malaysia
ISSN: 1394-3065, 154 pages,
Price: RM100 (Soft cover)
 

This journal documents the Scientific Expedition to the seas of Malaysia. It comprises 17 papers describing first the geology of these remote islands, then the water quality of surrounding waters in the straits, and followed by the biodiversity of the islands and surrounding marine waters.