Book excerpt: This book explains how to do' research on the early Malay doctors. A detailed account of the meaning of the word Malay' is given, in due recognition of the high status accorded to Malay Civilisation in the Malay annals and Chinese chronicles. Forty-three early Malay doctors were traced over nine years in Malaya and Singapore. The techniques deployed to trace them are explained. The sources of their biographies are described, which include interviews, narratives, family accounts, newspapers, publications, and contacting their former institutions, friends and associations. Only a brief one-page biography for each doctor is included in this book. There are 30 appendices that contain tabulated information about these doctors, information about the early schools, medical institutions and hospitals at the time. This book is a resource guide on the early Malay doctors based on present research findings. More research efforts need to be channelled to find the remaining 12 early Malay doctors.