ARTICLES

25 Feb 2020

A Political Earthquake, More Aftershocks to Come

Francis E. Hutchinson|Lee Hwok-Aun

A manic Monday in Malaysia means that the country could be ruled by one of two competing coalitions

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

2 Aug 2019

Anwar’s “Needs-Based Affirmative Action” Has Noble Intentions but Flawed Perspectives

Lee Hwok-Aun

The system-wide change to needs-based policies proposed by Anwar is lacking in details and rooted in nebulous rhetoric, making them likely to fail. Reforms should be pursued sector by sector, and thought through systematically in order to succeed.

28 Jan 2019

Why is Malaysia Slow to Ratify the CPTPP?

Tham Siew Yean

Despite becoming a signatory to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Malaysia has yet to ratify the agreement, citing concerns over the required governance reform that will impact their preferential Bumiputera policies.

Malaysia TPP

19 Oct 2018

The Mid-Term Review of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan: A Glimpse of the PH Government’s Future Economic Policy Directions

Cassey Lee

The Mid-Term Review of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (MTR-11MP) is a broad overview of the PH government's future economic policy directions with emphasis on institutional reforms and reducing state-level developmental gaps that have persisted.

Economic Planning Malaysia

22 Jun 2018

Reviewing Mahathir’s and Malaysia’s Foreign Policy

Tang Siew Mun

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's visit to Japan in June 2018 signaled the government's interest to work closely with Japan. While affirming friendly ties with China, Malaysia will vigorously defend its rights in the South China Sea disputes.

Malaysia Malaysia-Japan Relations

14 May 2018

The Future of China’s Investment in Malaysia under Mahathir

Tham Siew Yean

While Mahathir's new government has no issues with foreign direct investment from China, the same cannot be said of Chinese investments funded by loans guaranteed by the previous government - particularly infrastructure projects such as the East Coast Rail Link and the numerous port projects that may pose a security risk.

China-Malaysia Relations FDI Malaysia

11 May 2018

Whither Malaysia’s China Policy Under Prime Minister Mahathir?

Ian Storey

Despite his highly vocal stance that Malaysia has become too dependent on China, the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China is unlikely to change drastically under Prime Minister Mahathir. China is too important as an economic partner for Malaysia, and Malaysia being is too influential within ASEAN for China to upset.

China-Malaysia Relations Malaysia South China Sea

31 Jul 2017

A Futile Call: Making Bahasa Melayu ASEAN’s Official Language

Tang Siew Mun

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib's proposal to adopt the Malay language as ASEAN's “main and official language” is unrealistic and divisive. It could also rollback ASEAN's gains in positioning the regional organisation as a global entity. Instead, it should focus on more urgent and pressing matters of community-building.

ASEAN Bahasa Malaysia Malaysia

5 Apr 2017

UMNO’s U-Turn on RUU 355: What Makes Coalitions Stick in Malaysia?

Nicholas Chan

The Barisan Nasional government's U-turn on changes to RUU 355, which will give the syariah courts more extensive powers, suggests that the coalition dynamics of politics are behind the move. Put simply, the coalition’s survival is equally, if not more important than UMNO’s electoral appeal.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics UMNO

21 Mar 2017

Chinese Capital Controls and Forest City

Serina Rahman

Recent Chinese curbs on financial outflows from China has led to speculation that this will affect the iconic Forest City mixed development in Johor. The southern state says that sales will not be affected. After all, Chinese investors have a habit of circumventing around new laws.

China-Malaysia Relations Malaysia Malaysian Politics