ARTICLES

6 Aug 2025

Saving Malaysia’s AI Dream Amid Shifting US Tech and Trade Policies

Tham Siew Yean

Malaysia must urgently pursue AI chip supply diversification and supply chain vigilance to mitigate the detriments of potential export curbs and tariff hikes.

17 Jul 2025

Manufacturing Malaysia’s Future: Hope or Hype?

Liew Chin Tong

Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok Aun and Malaysia Studies Programme Coordinator Francis Hutchinson speak with Liew Chin Tong, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. Their conversation spans Malaysia’s challenges in engineering a second industrial take-off, implementing reforms, and navigating global uncertainties.

Dialogues at Fulcrum Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics

10 Jul 2025

Data Centres, Energy Demand and Sustainability: Can Malaysia Strike the Right Balance?

Sara Loo

Malaysia’s ambitions to be a digital powerhouse demand urgent consideration of rapidly increasing energy demands. Based on current figures, Malaysia appears to have overcommitted to data centre expansion, especially in Johor, without sufficiently robust sustainability guidelines in place.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Sustainable Development

25 Jun 2025

Thorny Issue: The Durian Economy and Land Tussle in Pahang

Wong Sook Wei

There has been an ongoing dispute between the Pahang state government and farmers cultivating durians on encroached state land. With a new player in the fray, however, the dispute looks closer to a settlement.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics

3 Jun 2025

Plantation Workers Can Barely Live on Malaysia’s Minimum Wage

Alfian Al-Ayubby

Malaysia’s recently raised minimum wage is insufficient for plantation workers, who deserve a living wage to sustain their livelihoods and contributions to this key economic sector.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics

20 May 2025

Preparing Malaysia’s Toolkit for Trump Tariff Tumult

Lee Hwok-Aun

As trade negotiations with the US continue, Malaysia needs to trot out relief measures and pro-growth measures to mitigate the impact of Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Tariffs US

25 Apr 2025

The Significance of the Malaysia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Tham Siew Yean

The agreement builds on a rapidly strengthening economic relationship, with potential benefits for the UAE’s diversification and Malaysia’s trade and investment.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy

25 Mar 2025

Johor’s Data Centres: Implications for the Talent Landscape

Sara Loo

Despite Johor’s data centre boom, there are concerns about the number and quality of jobs they can generate. But demand is rising for skilled workers in ancillary industries, notably construction.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Technology