The PAMBM Constitution

1.         Name

Clause 1.1

The name of the Association shall be Persidangan Antarabangsa Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu: The International Conference on Upholding The Malay Language (The PAMBM).

Clause 1.2

The name of the Association shall not change unless an internal referendum is conducted.

 

2.         Purpose 

Clause 2.1 

To network academics working in, for, and on Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies, and pertinent fields, globally. 

Clause 2.2 

To disseminate work on the fields stipulated in Clause 2.1, globally, and to expand the study of this work globally. 

Clause 2.3 

To contribute to the efforts to reduce hegemony in global scholarship, particularly in the fields of Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Clause 2.4

To facilitate the building of linkages between the Global South and other parts of the world, in order to provide scholars and societies in the Global South with increased opportunities to access and achieve scholarship and other opportunities. This will be accomplished by drawing on methods that integrate Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies work.

Clause 2.5

To forge interconnectivity between society and both government and non government organizations in countries globally, by drawing on Anthropological frameworks and praxis.

Clause 2.6

To strengthen industry relations with higher educational institutions, by drawing on methods of Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Clause 2.7

To develop media and other projects, as well as global networks and sustainability engagements, particularly in regions that are underdeveloped, through Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Objectives

Clause 3.1

To promote understanding of the Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies, and the Language and Society of all global regions.

Clause 3.2

To conduct and to concurrently promote the advancement of Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies, as well as other scholarships pertinent to Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies, through collaborating with relevant institutions and other bodies.

Clause 3.3

To invite unlimited participation by academics and associations from all global regions.

Clause 3.4

To promote the development of society through the sharing of linguistic cultural practices

Clause 3.5

To raise funds, and to receive contributions, so as to finance the work of Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Clause 3.6

To advise and mentor those working in the fields of Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Clause 3.7

To facilitate collaboration and communication amongst members of the PAMBM, and in conjunction with other associations. 

Clause 3.8

To organize conferences, seminars, courses, scholarly and other work and other events pertinent to Linguistic Anthropology, Sociolinguistics, and Language and Society, and similar fields. Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Clause 3.9

To assist to peacefully resolve social and political disputes, through concepts, models, and practices in Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies.

Committees

Clause 4.1

The PAMBM shall be administered by its Central Committee. Here, the Central Committee shall work with any Directorship to preside over general goings on, such as the intervention and resolution of any ongoing issues, and the selection of persons to participate in necessary roles such as editing and hosting, but in accordance with the aims and vision of the PAMBM. 

Clause 4.2

The Central Committee shall follow the constitutional requirements set forth herein in this document.

Clause 4.3

The Central Committee shall consist of at least five members, that is:

4.3.1 a chair, who will oversee committee interactions and decisions

4.3.2 at least one vice chair

4.3.3 a head of communications and projects

4.3.4 a sponsorship and fundraising coordinator

4.3.5 at least one general central committee member

Clause 4.4

The Central Committee shall execute managerial decisions, such as:

4.4.1 to nominate and vote on (new) members for the Central, Scientific, and Regional Committees, as well as Affiliates, should there be a need.

4.4.2 to suggest investigate and vote on venues for annual conferences. 

4.4.3 to form working committees, for any required functions, who will be accountable to the Central Committee. 

4.4.4 to oversee the subsets of the PAMBM, that is, projects, events, and other pursuits, so as to ensure the success of these subsets. 

4.4.5 to assist to form networks globally to facilitate its intentions. 

4.4.6 to organize current and prospective actions for the PAMBM, as well as amendments to the status of current projects of the PAMBM, but not conflicting with the terms of this constitution, and aligning with directed decisions. 

4.4.7 to oversee the management and control of funds, providing that no conflict arises between the use of funds and constitutional requirements. 

4.4.8 to ensure that projects are adequately have need and purpose.

4.4.9 to ensure that the non-profit intentions of the PAMBM are fully maintained, and similarly, to ensure that funding is not in any way misappropriated. 

4.4.10 to suggest agreements at times when it considers the such necessary. 

4.4.11 to disqualify any committee members or affiliates who are seen to repeatedly act against the constitution, through a unanimous vote of the committee members. 

4.4.12 to ensure that any funding is directed through its administrative body, such as the University, and that all monies are correctly and legally appropriated by the project heads. 

4.4.13 to appoint agents to transact any business of the association. 

4.4.14 to attend all meetings, which will be ideally twice annually. 

4.4.15 to delegate any of the above responsibilities to any parties who will be responsible for the such. 

Membership 

Clause 5.1 

Membership with the PAMBM shall be open to any institution or organization interested in assisting the PAMBM to achieve its aims, and to any institution or organization willing to abide by the rules of the PAMBM set forth herein.

Clause 5.2

Membership with the PAMBM shall be by agreement between the PAMBM Organization and each invited affiliate, to be exchanged in writing.

Clause 5.3

Any affiliate to the PAMBM may resign its membership by submitting to the PAMBM written notice to that effect. However, at such a time, the organization may be questioned as to its intentions to cease its membership, should the PAMBM central committee see fit to do so.

Clause 5.4

The Central Committee shall retain the power to refuse membership with the PAMBM, where it is unanimously considered that such membership would be detrimental to the aims, purposes, or activities, of the PAMBM. However, the Committee must justify this adequately and unanimously.

Clause 5.5

The Central Committee may, by resolution passed at a meeting thereof, terminate or suspend the membership of any member, if in its opinion its conduct is prejudicial against the interests and objects of the PAMBM. The individual member or representative of the member organization in question contains the right to be heard by the Central Committee prior to a final decision, which will be at least one week after the submission of the justification by the member organization. There shall be a right of appeal to an independent arbitrator appointed by mutual agreement. The Central Committee must justify all actions adequately.

Finance

Clause 6.1

Any monies obtained by the PAMBM shall be used only for the PAMBM and its constitutional intentions, and for its constitutional pursuits through itself or any of its partners.

Clause 6.2

Any bank accounts opened for the PAMBM shall be in the name of the PAMBM, or by any governing body of the PAMBM, such as its governing academic institution.

Clause 6.3

Any payment issued shall be signed by three members of the Central committee. However, in the even that monies are transferred through the PAMBM, no signature will be required. At these times, such as when registrants pay for conferences, money will temporarily be held by the PAMBM, and will then be transferred to the hosting body, at which time, the PAMBM acts as a trustee. Here, no signatures will be required from the PAMBM, as it can evidence all monies transferred through transaction records.

Clause 6.4

The Central Committee will ensure that the PAMBM stays within any expenditure budget, and that it will adhere to the constitutional and ethical appropriations of all funds and accounts, and of all actions and practices.

Clause 6.5

The Central Committee will ensure that the PAMBM adheres to the revenue receiving and spending procedures stipulated by its governing body, which may be its governing academic institution. Here, all monies must be regulated by that institution, and by any funders and in conjunction with collaborators, whereby the money transferred will be signed for by the administrator or leader of any research, academic, or other project, but in accordance with the requirements of the governing academic institution.

Committee meetings and special general meetings

Clause 7.1

The Global Association on Linguistics Culture, Literature, Ethnic Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, Manuscripts, Philology, Arts and other subthemes related to Malay Studies meetings shall fall at various times deemed appropriate by the Central Committee. These may be as frequent or as infrequent as the Committee deems appropriate.

Clause 7.2

The inclusivity of these meetings shall be at the at the discretion of the Chair. That is, should the Chair require the meeting to only include members of the Central Committee, then it shall be so. However, at least one such meeting with solely the members of the Central Committee shall be held every three months, at the discretion of the Chair or the Directorship of the PAMBM.  

Clause 7.3

The PAMBM shall hold an annual general meeting in order to inform any stakeholders and to respond to the questions of these stakeholders, should they wish to request information. The time for this shall be at the discretion of the Chair, and any Directorship, and shall be agreed to by the Central Committee and any Directorship unanimously. The place for this meeting shall be online.

Clause 7.4

Each meeting, be it an annual general meeting, or a Central Committee meeting, must include a minimum of five people as a quorum, in addition to any Directorship. In the case of the annual general meeting, or any other meeting to which those outside of the Central Committee are invited, the quorum requires at least three members of the Central Committee, in addition to any Directorship. In the case of Central Committee meetings, at least seven of all members of the Central Committee must be present, in addition to any Directorship.