[1] He completed his PhD in the University of Birmingham, writing a thesis on "Christian Prophecy and Intercession: The Bible, Barth and Koyama in Relation to Contemporary Malaysia.
He taught for a year at the College of the Ascension Selly Oak Colleges (1990–1991), before returning to Malaysia where he served as vicar of the Church of St John the Divine and Archdeacon of Perak (1991–2000) and was vicar of Christ Church Melaka and Archdeacon of Johor, Melaka, and Nefri Sembilan (2000–2011).
[3] Batumalai is known for developing Christian theological responses to the Muslim majority in Malaysia.
Drawing from Kosuke Koyama's notion of "neighborology" as an understanding of Christ's teachings of loving one's neighbors, Batumalai prioritizes a concern for Muslim neighbors as opposed to a simple focus on conversion.
He also speaks about extending muhibbah to Muslims, drawing on an Arabic notion of communal solidarity or "goodwill".