Mar 30, 2019Getting back on track to Wawasan 2020July 16, 2007 Wawasan 2020 envisioned that “Malaysia can be a united nation, with a confident Malaysian society, infused by strong moral and ethical values, living in a society that is democratic, liberal and tolerant, caring, economically just and equitable, progressive and prosperous, and in full possession of an economy…Malaysia3 min readMalaysia3 min read
Mar 30, 2019Malaysia’s democratic deficitNovember 22, 2009 The reforms in the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) may be a step in the right direction. Already, there are detractors suggesting that the reforms are meaningless as corruption is entrenched in Malaysia. …Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
Mar 30, 2019Low Yat Riot in Malaysia — Racial or something else?July 17, 2015 Was the riot in Malaysia’s entertainment and commercial district racial? According to reports, an estimated 200 Malaysians, mainly youths from Malaysia’s ethnic majority Muslims, demonstrated violently by destroying property and beating up members from a minority ethnic group, the Malaysian Chinese. The riot reportedly started after a…Malaysia3 min readMalaysia3 min read
Mar 30, 2019Malaysia’s development challengesJuly 5, 2013 Malaysia’s Development Challenges — Graduating from the Middle by Hal Hill, Tham Siew Yean and Ragayah Haji Mat Zin (eds) Routledge, London and New York, 2012, pp. xxvi + 348. ISBN 978 0415 63193 8 Any book on Southeast Asia that has Hal Hill’s name on it…Economics7 min readEconomics7 min read
Mar 30, 2019Prime Minister Najib — Fiscal discipline and efficiency for Malaysia first!May 12, 2010 Historically, Barisan Nasional’s (BN’s) fiscal management has failed in two related ways. They have displayed no fiscal discipline, and their public service expenditure has been highly inefficient and corrupt. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib’s decision to introduce a Goods and Services Tax (GST) is therefore premature. …Economics3 min readEconomics3 min read
Mar 30, 2019The unfortunate case of Malaysia’s prime ministerAugust 25, 2015 The feeling that Malaysia is now in an abyss is real. Malaysians fear terrible things are happening to them and their country because of poor leadership. …Malaysia3 min readMalaysia3 min read
Mar 30, 2019The Internal Security Act in Malaysia: abolish, not reform itAugust 27, 2009 Some 20,000 or so Malaysians met the full force of Prime Minister Najib’s security forces when they demonstrated peacefully on August 1 in Kuala Lumpur against the repressive Internal Security Act (ISA), a draconian law used by the Malaysian Government to quell the Communist insurgents after the…Malaysia4 min readMalaysia4 min read
Mar 30, 2019Mahathir’s regional legacyJune 17, 2010 Southeast Asia has seen its fair share of authoritarian leaders. Malaysia’s Dr. Mahathir Mohamed is one who still endures, albeit now on the sidelines. Ascending to the premiership of Malaysia in July 1981, and ruling until his forced retirement in October 2003, he reigned in impressive fashion. …Asean4 min readAsean4 min read
Mar 30, 2019Moving away from the consociational model in Malaysia?January 1, 2014 It was reported that, Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam had sought the intervention of a Barisan Nasional member of parliament (emphasis mine) in Sabah while questioning an order from the Home Ministry to stop the distribution of the latest Herald publication in Sabah. The same news report…Politics11 min readPolitics11 min read
Mar 30, 2019Malaysia: the political tide runs outJanuary 16, 2009 Last year was a watershed in Malaysian politics. After 50 years of comfortably winning elections, the twelfth general elections saw the Barisan Nasional (National Front/BN) caned by the normally docile Malaysian electorate. The BN, a coalition of 14 mostly racially-based parties, commandeered by the United Malay National…Malaysia4 min readMalaysia4 min read
