Current Status of Radio Astronomy in University of Malaya

Radio Astronomy is an important branch of multi-wavelength astronomy and is essential in any investigations of celestial objects including our own Sun. In University of Malaya, this research field has been taken to the forefront of astronomical research by the Radio Cosmology Research Lab, which was established in 2005 by the two authors of this review paper. Scientific research topics include dark matter, evolution of galaxy clusters and galaxies, star formation law, pulsars and molecular clouds. The technical side of the research involves radio frequency interference, receiver testing and international interferometer network testing investigations. Other research areas include space weather especially the study of solar radio bursts, as well as its relationship to seismic activity. An important landmark in this research is the completion of the construction of the UPSI-UM Radio Telescope for observation of galaxy clusters and also the Half-Wave Dipole Antenna for the monitoring of solar radio bursts, both in 2016. A brief report on future plans will also be included in this review.