Dr Lee is Senior Fellow of the Regional Economic Studies Programme, and Co-coordinator of the Malaysia Studies Programme at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. He was previously Senior Lecturer in development studies at the University of Malaya. He authored Affirmative Action in Malaysia and South Africa: Preference for Parity (Routledge, 2021), co-edited The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge? (ISEAS, 2019) and has written various ISEAS Perspective and Trends articles on Malaysia’s affirmative action, inequality, education and labour. He led an unprecedented field experiment on hiring discrimination, published as “Discrimination of high degrees: Race and graduate hiring in Malaysia” (Journal of the Asia-Pacific Economy, 2016).
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Lee Hwok-Aun
Articles by Lee Hwok-Aun (12)
Ditching Malaysia’s Bumiputera System: Three Utopian Scenarios To Consider
Lee Hwok-Aun
A cold hard look at ways of departing from Malaysia’s long-held Bumiputera system throws up three scenarios, one of which is persuasive.
Malaysia’s New Lockdown – But Where Is the Help for the People?
Lee Hwok-Aun|Kevin Zhang
It is puzzling that the Prime Minister neglects to give assurance that relief will be delivered, if necessary, during this lockdown. Perhaps his government genuinely believes that the broader scope of essential services, along with stimulus programmes introduced in Budget 2021, will translate into a minimal downturn.
The NEP at 50: Misunderstood and Misrepresented
Lee Hwok-Aun
Modern Malaysia’s definitive communal policy agenda should be reoriented not retired.
Malaysia’s “Stand United” Budget Heading Into Testy Debate
Kevin Zhang|Lee Hwok-Aun
Malaysia’s 2021 budget strikes a conciliatory tone, but it will face some vigorous debate in parliament.
Desperation Debases Democracy in Malaysia
Lee Hwok-Aun
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has not got the emergency powers he had asked for. His government has lived to fight another day. Still, the constant horse-trading and bickering among the country’s political class has only subverted the country’s democracy.