I received my dissertation proposal feedback last week, and was pleased with the result of my efforts! But no time to relax, for it’s straight onto planning the structure of the dissertation and drafting out the literature review. Add to this a meeting with my PhD supervisors in a week’s time, and the pressure’s on.

For this meeting I’ll need to read around a concept of Malaysia called the Mental Revolution. As of yet, my search results have not been fruitful. Bar applying for an inter-library loan, and contacting an academic in Malaysia (both of which I have done), there is not much to be getting on with in this regard. However, narrowing down the subject of my PhD has resulted in quite the opposite effect: the more I attempt to narrow down my research scope, the more fascinating the information about Malaysia that I read. Whether the ethnic segregation, the motives behind Malaysia’s Vision 2020, the relations between different political parties, or indeed their relations with the West, the more I attempt to narrow down the more I want to write about!

My housemate broke his thumb on a night out a couple of weeks back, and due to the horrendous effects of painkillers mixed with alcohol, he can’t have an enjoyable night out for the time being. So I’ve opted for a voluntary boycott too. Especially during this frantic period before easter. Instead I’ve been enjoying the football (massive congratulations to Zambia for winning the African Cup of Nations; and to AC Milan for battering Arsenal)! Now let’s hope for Spurs to get into either 3rd or 4th spot. Oh, and on that note, for ol’ Harry not to take his dream England job…