Staff Directory


Rajabi Binti Abdul Razak

Academic Qualifications

  • DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (BUILT ENVIRONMENT) - Doctor of Philosophy, International Islamic University Malaysia
  • Master of Art & Design - Masters Degree, Universiti Teknologi Mara
  • Bachelor of Design (Textile) - Bachelor Degree, University Of Technology MARA (UiTM)

Rajabi Binti Abdul Razak (Ts. Dr.)

Assistant Professor
IIUM Gombak Campus

KULLIYYAH OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Other's position:

Head of Department, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design

rajabirazak@iium.edu.my
5252


Expert Profile


Dr. Rajabi Abdul Razak is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Arts and Design, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). She specialises in heritage conservation, particularly focusing on textile conservation, material culture, and traditional Malay manuscripts. With over 20 years of experience in museum practices and academic research, she has held key roles, including Deputy Director of IIUM Gallery and Conservator at both the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and the Department of Museums Malaysia. Dr. Rajabi holds a BA in Textile Design, an MA in Art History and Cultural Management, and a PhD in Built Environment. Her research explores the preservation of cultural heritage through scientific and traditional approaches, notably the formulation and analysis of traditional Malay black ink. She has secured multiple national and international research grants and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals on topics related to manuscript studies, traditional arts, and sustainable heritage practices. She has supervised postgraduate research in areas such as digital cultural heritage, museum accessibility, and indigenous knowledge. Dr. Rajabi also serves as a reviewer, assessor, and invited speaker for numerous academic and heritage-related conferences and institutions. Among her recent roles are being the coordinator for the Serambi Gallery and Heritage Conservation & Technology at KAED, and an advisor for a student-based design society. Committed to knowledge transfer, Dr. Rajabi has contributed to various public workshops, exhibitions, and community engagement projects, including collaborations with Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia), and Department of Museum Malaysia (JMM). Her passion lies in integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary conservation techniques to ensure the continued relevance and appreciation of Malay-Islamic heritage in the modern world.


Area of Specialisation


  • Engineering Tech ~ Applied Sciences And Technologies ~ Architecture ~ Built Environment - Doctor of Philosophy (Built Environment)


Professional Membership


  • 2018 - 2019 : Member of Profesional Body / Association: (member), International Council of Museum
  • 2021 - 2040 : Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Ahli Seumur Hidup), Association of Malaysian Archaeologists
  • 2024 - 2025 : Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Member), Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT)
  • 2025 - 2026 : Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Member ), International Council of Museum


Teaching Responsibilities


AAD STUDIO 5 (MAJORING) 2016/2017
APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN STUDIO 1 2021/2022
APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN STUDIO 2 2022/2023
APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN STUDIO 5 2025/2026 2024/2025 2023/2024
APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN STUDIO 6 2024/2025
APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN (AAD) STUDIO 2 2015/2016
APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN (AAD) STUDIO 5 2023/2024 2022/2023
APPLIED ARTS AND DESIGN STUDIO 6 2023/2024
COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2018/2019 2017/2018
CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016
CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2024/2025 2023/2024
CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2025/2026 2024/2025 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017
DEGREE PROJECT 2025/2026 2023/2024 2021/2022 2019/2020 2016/2017
DESIGN THESIS 2023/2024 2016/2017
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 2024/2025
HERITAGE AND CONTEMPORARY STUDIES 2017/2018
HERITAGE CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2025/2026 2024/2025
INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION ARCHAEOLOGY 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022
INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017
ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERN 2015/2016
PROJECT AND EXHIBITION 2024/2025 2015/2016


Supervision


Malay Manuscript Black Inks: Recipes, Reproduction And Analysis .
Master Completed 2024 Main Supervisor
Assessing Technology Readiness Of Museums In Malaysia For Digital Cultural Heritage.
Master Completed 2024 Main Supervisor
Malay Manuscript : A Visual Observation On The Physical Condition Of The Syed Naquib Al-Atas Library Collections.
Master Completed 2022 Main Supervisor
Physical Analysis Of Kelingkan Shawls As Sustainable Artefacts For Museums In Malaysia.
Master Completed 2021 Co-supervisor
The Signage Design Consideration For Wayfinding In Unesco Heritage Site Of Melaka.
Master Completed 2020 Co-supervisor


Research Projects


Completed
2025 - 2026 Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Melalui Seni dalam STEAM untuk Murid Sekolah Rendah di PPR
2024 - 2025 Instilling Passion for the 4M Modules (Membaca, Menulis, Mengira & Melukis) among Primary School Students at PPR Gombak Setia, Kuala Lumpur
2023 - 2025 Membangunkan Kerangka Pelancongan-peribumi Lestari Selangor (PERINTIS) Dalam Pemerkasaan Ekonomi dan Pemeliharaan Warisan Orang Asli Negeri Selangor
2017 - 2017 Metallurgical Study of Keris and It's Preservation Technique
On-Going
2025 - Present Reviving and Reintroducing Islamic Sundials in Islamic Malay Institutional Environments and Landscapes
2024 - Present Art for Nature: Preserving Sungai Congkak through Creative Expression.
2019 - Present Development of high temperature corrosion protection of metallic alloys
2018 - Present Indigenous scientific and technical know-how of Production of writing ink used in Malay Manuscripts.
2018 - Present Towards Malaysia Education 4.0: Assessing Physical Learning Environment of Design Studio in Promoting Teamwork and Collaborative Experience Among Students in Public University in Malaysia


Awards & Recognition


25 Feb, 2025 Silver Category Winner - Others University
17 Feb, 2017 Bronze Medal - Malaysian Association of Research Scientists National


Publications


Articles

2025 Advancing inclusive planning: mapping the multi-stakeholder perspective and engagement of Indigenous development in selangor, Malaysia. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture, 16 (3) pp. 1-9
2025 Characterisation and degradation analysis of two metallic threads in Malay textiles from the department of museums Malaysia using visual and scientific approach. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 8 (12) pp. 1266-1272
2025 Indigenous tourism in Asia and Malaysia: the bibliometric analysis. Jurnal Antarabangsa Alam dan Tamadun Melayu, 13 (2) pp. 76-91
2025 Navigating progress and preservation: village leaders’ perspective on sustainability challenges among Indigenous communities of selangor, Malaysia. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture, 16 (3) pp. 869-878
2025 Reviving Malay traditional black ink: historical recipes, characteristics, and reconstruction. Conservation Update, 13 (1) pp. 6-29
2024 An investigation of tourists satisfaction in Malaysia cultural museum: entrance space experience. Quantum Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5 (2) pp. 59-69
2024 Indigenous challenges in Gombak, Malaysia. Quantum Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5 (5) pp. 234-244
2024 Resipi dakwat hitam tradisional bukti kebijaksanaan masyarakat Melayu. The Malay Heritage, 1 () pp. 1-2
2024 The Malay Heritage. The Malay Heritage, 1 (1) pp. 1-28
2023 A review on methods of analysis of the pigments and inks in illuminated manuscript. JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, 13 (1) pp. 77-89
2021 A physical analysis of the condition of Malay manuscripts under the collection of The International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC). International Journal of the Malay World and Civilisation, 9 (3) pp. 87-96
2021 Scientific Documentation: Traditional Ink Recipes and Writing Materials used in Manuscripts in the Malay Region. International Journal of the Malay World and Civilisation, 9 (3) pp. 77-86
2019 A study on the signage system in Melaka, the UNESCO heritage sites. Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management (JAPCM), 9 (1) pp. 22-38
2019 Reviewing and identifying the green criteria in relation to the building cost: project management. Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering Knowledge, 6 (1) pp. 30-34
2019 Unity and multiplicity in Islamic geometric and calligraphic expression: a photographic and visual journey of space in nusantara mosques. Cultural Syndrome, 1 (1) pp. 22-33
2017 Traditional Malay black ink: An analysis of its recipes and characteristics. Advanced Science Letters, 23 (7) pp. 6189-6193
Conference or Workshop Items

2023 Revealing Malay wisdom: traditional black ink production and its cultural significance. In: International Conference on Local Wisdom in the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023),
2021 Embedding heritage awareness among school children through inquiry-based projects for outreach programmes. In: International Symposium of Education And Values - 4,
2020 Analisa fizikal terhadap kondusi manuskrip Melayu dalam koleksi Institut Antarabangsa Pemikiran dan Tamadun Islam (ISTAC). In: Persidangan Antarabangsa Pengajian Alam Melayu (PAPAM) 2020,,
2020 Analisis dakwat & pigmen terhadap manuskrip di alam Melayu. In: Diskusi Manuskrip Melayu,
2020 Dokumentasi saintifik: resipi tinta tradisional dan bahan penulisan manuskrip di rantau Melayu. In: International Conference on Malay Studies 2020,
2020 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) study of coconut water as natural inhibitor in Malay traditional preservation of iron artefact. In: 2nd Joint Conference on Green Engineering Technology & Applied Computing 2020,
2020 Embedding heritage awareness among school children through inquiry-based projects for outreach programmes. In: 4th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF EDUCATION AND VALUES (ISOEVA 2020),
2020 Techniques and motifs in Kelingkan shawl : the Malay traditional hand-made embroidery. In: AAD WEEK 2020,
2019 Calligraphic of contemporary Malay world: the case of Selangor mosques. In: Exhibition and Lecture Series: Malay Architecture-The Resilience of Tradition from Origins to the Contemporary, 14th-28th January 2019, Penang. (Unpublished),
2018 19th Century Malay manuscripts and royal Malay letters: identification of writing ink and its characteristics. In: 7th International Seminar On Nusantara Heritage 2018 (7th ISoNH 2018),
2018 An identification of deterioration on Kelingkan embroidery from the collection of Department of Museums Malaysia. In: 7th International Seminar On Nusantara Heritage 2018 (7th ISoNH 2018),
2017 A study on the signage system in Melaka, the UNESCO heritage sites. In: UMRAN 2017 National Landscape Architecture Seminar,
2016 Traditional Malay black ink: An analysis of its recipes and characteristics. In: International Conference on Architecture & Built Environment (ICABE 2016),
Book Sections

2025 Fading challenges in Malay natural-dyed textiles: factors and conservation strategies. In: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., ISBN: 979-8-89530-765-6, pp. 17-34
2024 Tinjauan lensa pelancong di destinasi pelancongan Orang Asli Selangor melalui pendekatan analisa teks. In: Penerbit Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS), ISBN: 978-629-7518-48-0, pp. 113-133