Profile

DATO’ DR. MOKHTAR SAIDINE , xpertise in geoarchaeology since 1988. Former professor and director of The Centre for Global Archeology Research Center, USM, Penang (2005-2021). His main geoarchaeological discoveries and research are at the oldest prehistoric site in Southeast Asia at Bukit Bunuh, Lenggong, Perak (over 1.83 million years ago) and the earliest civilization site in Southeast Asia at Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, Merbok, Kedah (788 BCE). He is a lifetime member of the Malaysian Association of Archaeologists.  At the national level, he is the Chairman of the National Committee of the Tangible Heritage and Underwater Heritage Expert Panel (2009-2021), National Heritage Department. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Malay: International Journal of the Malay World, DBP (since 2020), has been appointed as a member of the Board of the Kedah Museum (2019-2022), member of the Board of the Penang Museum (since 2019), member of the Board of the Perak Museum (since 2024) and as the Chief Archeological Advisor of Penang (since 2019).  At the global level, he is the Vice President of the “International Union of the Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences (UISPP)” for Southeast Asia (2017-2021), a member of the Executive Committee (since 2016) of Suyanggae (South Korea Prehistory Association), a member of the Indo Pacific Prehistory Association as well as being the editor for the Journal of Early Gandhara Civilization, Pakistan (2018-2021) and the Scientific Editor of Lithic Studies, United Kingdom (since 2019). He is the world award winner for “Suyanggae Academic Award 2019” by South Korea. Mokhtar also is a Professional Geologist (P.Geo), Ministry of Natural Resources dan Sustainable Energy. In the field of geology, especially geoparks, he is a member of the National Geological Heritage Committee, UKM (since 2009), a member of the Geological Expert Committee, National Heritage Department (2009-2021), a member of the National Geopark Implementation Committee (since 2010), a member of the National Geopark Committee (since 2016).  In 2016, he was the chairman of the scientific and conservation committee that led the writing of the Jerai dossier, and was declared as National Geopark in 2017 and the same task was carried out for Lenggong (since 2020) which was finally declared as a National Geopark in 2021. While being the Chairman of the National Geopark Implementation Committee (2021-2023) he has helped the country make Labuan, Sarawak Delta, Gombak-Hulu Langat and Stong as a National Geoparks. At this point, he is a Scientific Director, Geopark & Geotourism Creative Solution Sdn Bhd (GGCS).