The Malaysian economy has undergone
significant economic and social transformations since the 1980s
and has had to face a constantly evolving set of challenges.
Much of this has can be attributed to the combination of sound
macroeconomic growth and dynamic development policies. Given the
openness of the economy, international transactions of trade in
goods and services, capital, technology and labour have been
crucial to ensuring the dynamism and competitiveness of the
Malaysian economy.
The Bureau of Economic Policy Studies
focuses on practical and policy-oriented research on subjects
and issues of importance to the national economy, including
regional and international developments. The Bureau closely
monitors major developments on the global and national fronts
and maintains a readiness to provide well-considered views,
opinions and recommendations. Among other things, it:-
Monitors current and emerging issues
pertaining to Malaysia’s economy and how the country can
interact with the regional economies, in particular, Asean,
East Asia, the Asia Pacific, European Union, as well as
developing South countries.
Participates in international
conferences, seminars and workshops to exchange information,
analyses and opinions.
Prepares policy memoranda, information
notes, media articles and conference papers and
presentations on a wide variety of subject matter.
Undertakes consultancy projects with
special focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the
Malaysian growth and development model, and in collaboration
with such international organisations as the World Bank,
Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
and World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Organise international and regional
conferences, seminars and workshops on national, regional
and international economic issues.
East Asia became a cooperative reality for
the first time during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. At that
time, the governments of Asean, together with China, Japan and
Korea, acted cohesively to stabilise currencies and finance. In
1999, they agreed to cooperate more widely on economic, social
and political fronts. Since then, the rapid economic integration
of the region, driven largely by private commercial trade and
investment, has given the concept of a regional entity further
credence and weight.
The East Asia Economic Centre (EAEC) was established in 2003 to
provide momentum to, research on regional economic and political
cooperation and integration:-
The Centre supports the government by providing views, opinions
and other inputs on Asean, Asean Plus One, Asean Plus Three and
East Asia Summit matters.
It engages in extensive exchange of views among policymakers and
scholars, both from within the region, as well as outside of it.
The Centre organises the East Asia Congress, an important ‘Track
Two’ meeting of regional policy analysts and scholars.
The emergence of China is an historic event
and one that deserves the most careful and competent analysis.
Despite six centuries of interactions between the two countries,
however, Malaysia remains ill equipped to study modern China in
its political, economic and social dimensions. In an effort to
redress this vacuum, the Centre for China Studies (CCS) was
established in 2003 to focus on two areas:-
Practical policy research, analysis and prognosis on
contemporary and near-future China that is of direct relevance
and usefulness to the government of Malaysia; and
Practical detailed research, analysis and prognosis on
contemporary and near-future China of direct relevance and
usefulness to the multi-ethnic business community of Malaysia
The work of the CCS seeks to be non-abstract, non-academic,
completely plugged into contemporary and near future realities
on the ground and effective in bringing together
up-to-the-minute world-class practical experience and
intellectual power from every sector of Malaysian society and
the four corners of the world.
Activities of the Centre include holding expert dialogues,
network meetings, deep expertise programmes and strategic
business consultations. The opinions of the Centre’s staff have
been sought both by policymakers and analysts from within and
outside the region.
Lead
discussant on think tanks and the shaping of economic
development policies to the Ho Chi Minh National Institute of
Politics, Vietnam, 28 September 2006.
Panelist at the Malaysian Institute for Certified Public
Accountant’s Business Forum on enhancing government service
delivery, 21 September 2006.
Interview by Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the East Asian
Community, 7 July 2006.
Interview by Far Eastern Economic Review on Malaysian
political, social and economic developments, 23 June 2006.
Speaker at the Business Council for Sustainable Development
and World Bank’s Seminar on Malaysia’s Growth and Sustainable
Development – Global Trends, National Challenges, 21 February
2006.
Presentation to the National Productivity Corporation’s
Seminar on Competitiveness for Public Universities, 19 December
2005.
Interview by NHK Japan on the Establishment of an East Asian
Community, 6 December 2005.
Presentation to the National Economic Action Council’s
Seminar on China and India on the topic of Malaysia’s
Competitive Position: Issues, Challenges and Moving Ahead, 22
November 2005.
Keynote Address to the Business International Group’s Second
Annual Competitiveness Conference, 14 – 15 November 2005.
Speaker at the ASLI Strategic Issues Forum/Corporate
Malaysia Roundtable on Budget 2006 and the Malaysian Economy, 12
October 2005.
