Formed on 14 September 1978, the Malaysian Social Science Association (PSSM) aims to advance the corpus of social science knowledge through education, research, publication and other forms of discourses, building and strengthening the social science community, as well as engaging in public advocacy to influence policy making and public awareness in Malaysia.
PSSM undertakes several flagship programmes, among them: First, the biennial International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC) (launched in 1997) which brings together Malaysian scholars and Malaysianists to share research findings and ideas on various dimensions of Malaysian society; second, publishing the peer-reviewed biannual journal, the Southeast Asian Social Science Review, since 2016, dedicated to the advancement of critical scholarship in the field of the social sciences and humanities; and third, organising the capacity building workshop for young social science scholars.
PSSM also collaborates with government agencies and ministries as well as with international organizations such as UNESCO, and is the official Malaysian representative for the social sciences in the Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC).
PSSM welcomes new members be they students, academicians and other professionals, social activists and others who are interested in the advancement of the social sciences in Malaysia.