COMMENTARIES

25 Feb 2021

Covid-19 in Malaysia: Maladies & Misinformation

Serina Rahman

Fake news and the incessant jockeying for political power is complicating Malaysia’s battle against the coronavirus.

8 Feb 2021

Cosmopolitanism and Multiculturalism: Reviving Bangsa Malaysia

Khoo Boo Teik

Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s concept of a Bangsa Malaysia has been given a fillip by Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, president of ABIM, which represents the aspirations of Malaysia’s Muslim youth. It should be given some serious consideration.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics

4 Feb 2021

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.

Economic Development Economic Planning Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics

27 Jan 2021

Malaysia’s Third Covid-19 Wave

Serina Rahman

Malaysia is suffering from its longest, highest and most politically fraught surge in Covid-19 infections.

COVID-19 Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics

Police check documents of motorists at a checkpoint in Kuala Lumpu

22 Jan 2021

State Governments and the 2021 Emergency: Unfettered Powers at the Centre

Tricia Yeoh

Malaysia’s declared state of Emergency has given the federal government sweeping powers to intervene into the affairs of the country’s 13 states.

COVID-19 Malaysia Malaysian Politics

18 Jan 2021

Malaysia’s Declaration of Emergency Keeps PM Muhyiddin’s Window Open

Francis E. Hutchinson|Kevin Zhang

Malaysia’s King has put parliamentary politics on hold to the undoubted benefit of the current prime minister.

COVID-19 Malaysia Malaysian Politics

Motorists travel on the near-deserted Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway

15 Jan 2021

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.

COVID-19 Malaysia

Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

12 Jan 2021

Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional: Parlous State of Political Limbo

Norshahril Saat

Bersatu, the party of Malaysia’s prime minister, is running out of options to keep itself at the reins of power.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

Protesters display placards and shouts slogans during a protest

24 Dec 2020

The Value(s) of Palm Oil

Patrick O'Reilly|Helena Varkkey|Shofwan Al Banna Choiruzzad|Rory Padfield

The EU-Southeast Asia palm oil dispute pits consumers’ environmental values against producers’ economic development and poverty alleviation ones.

Environment EU Indonesia Malaysia

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin

21 Dec 2020

Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail: End of the Line?

Francis E. Hutchinson|Kevin Zhang

A truncated high-speed rail service that ends in Johor Bahru rather than Singapore will significantly reduce the potential economic benefits of the railway project.

Malaysia Malaysia-Singapore Relations Singapore