Auto Draft
08 August 2022
Focus on boosting booster rates in laggard states
04 August 2022
Govt must deliver vaccines, make them accessible to the vulnerable who need third jab by Emir Izat ACROSS the nation, Covid-19 booster shots – or the third jab – are plateauing across many districts and vaccine inequalities are emerging once again On 13 November 2020, the Orang Asli in Lojing district, Kelantan, barred visitors to…
‘Saving’ Malaysia’s middle class post-Covid-19
08 March 2022
Introduction The growth of a global middle class has been one of the most economically significant movements of the last few decades (Kharas, 2017). With rising incomes in developing countries and millions lifted out of poverty each year, the middle class have grown tremendously, forming an increasingly larger share of populations (Donnan et al., 2021).…
Local government elections vital for democracy
03 January 2022
The reintroduction of local elections in Malaysia has again been in the spotlight. Nevertheless, regardless of its merits and demerits, the right to vote at the local level will strengthen our democracy. by Yohendran Nadar Arulthevan LAST month, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said that Malaysia won’t revive local elections because of…
Youth in Malaysia: The great reset post-Covid-19
21 October 2021
by Yohendran Nadar Arulthevan The past couple of years have definitely been a mixed bag for the youth in Malaysia. The success of UNDI18’s campaign to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 was definitely one of the high points. Not stopping there, their involvement in civic spaces has also increased through youth-led movements during the…
Grit, resilience must be lesson No. 1 from Covid-19
27 September 2021
As Malaysia eyes post-pandemic recovery, policymakers must find ways to help us withstand future shocks. by Yohendran Nadar Arulthevan MALAYSIA’S high vaccination rates and protracted lockdowns have resulted in a steady decline in Covid-19 cases since its peak in late August. Malaysians now have more freedom to indulge in activities, such as dining out, going to the movies, and travelling for…
Vaccine narratives on social media in Malaysia
24 September 2021
Vaccine narratives on social media in Malaysia
24 September 2021
Pemerkasa PLUS bantu usahawan teruskan kelangungan perniagaan
03 June 2021
Dr Juita Mohamad was interviewed by Astro Awani on 2 June 2021 Sejurus selepas pengumuman Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengenai Program Strategik Memperkasa Rakyat dan Ekonomi Tambahan (PEMERKASA+), Buletin Awani memberi fokus kepada kelangungan Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) bersama Dr Juita Mohamad.
BFM Podcast: Pemerkasa+: Reactive or proactive solution?
02 June 2021
Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Lyn Mak, Noelle Lim, Roshan Kanesan With the imposition of a total lockdown for two weeks nationwide, how will members of the B40 community survive the loss of income and economic vulnerability that will result? Enter the Pemerkasa+ aid package, which is the government's attempt to ease the impact…
Nationwide lockdown in Malaysia begins as coronavirus infections surge
02 June 2021
Dr Juita Mohamad was interviewed by ABC News Australia on 01 June 2021 Malaysia entered a national two-week lockdown as it deals with a record surge in COVID-19 cases. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has caved in to growing calls for large-scale lockdown after daily infections soared into the thousands. While it is hoped this will curb…
Things we need to get right to woo back foreign investors
28 May 2021
WITH the Covid-19 pandemic impacting businesses, workers and households in different degrees since its onset, the fear of losing foreign direct investors resonates in many developing countries like Malaysia. Looking at the last two years, from the first quarter (Q1) of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2020, it was observed that the highest foreign…
RCEP: A unifying set of rules
11 May 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Business in Action @ FMM report. by Business in Action @ FMM What the formation of the world’s biggest trade bloc means for Malaysia Towards the end of 2020 as the world reeled from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a piece of exciting news hit headlines as a landmark…
Bicara Politikonomi – Mengimbangi Keperluan Ekonomi dan Kesejahteraan Rakyat
04 May 2021
Dr Juita Mohamad interviewed by Bicara Politikonomi on TV1 RTM on 4 Apr 2021 Dr Juita Mohamad discusses the economic impact of the recently announced Movement Control Order and compares Malaysia’s COVID-19 response with its regional neighbours.
Pemerkasa offers holistic 3-pronged support, says economist
27 April 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. by Nicholas Chung, 27 April 2021 PETALING JAYA: The government’s RM20 billion Pemerkasa economic programme offers a holistic three-pronged support for the nation, says an economist. Juita Mohamad of the think tank Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) said Pemerkasa was targeted to preserve the…
BFM Podcast: Fresh grads barely making minimum wage
15 April 2021
Produced by: Adeline Choong, Azlyna Mohd Noor Presented by: Sharmilla Ganesan, Lee Chwi Lynn A monthly wage of RM1,000 for fresh graduates has been the status quo for at least a decade according to surveys from the Ministry of Higher Education. Experts say that this is a systemic problem not caused solely by the pandemic.…
BFM Podcast: Raise pay to raise productivity
06 April 2021
Produced by: Arleen Webber Presented by: Roshan Kanesan, Noelle Lim Fresh graduates are having a tough time landing jobs as a result of the pandemic-led downturn. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed offers a glimmer of hope, saying they can expect a higher starting salary by H2. Dr Juita Mohamad, Fellow at Institute of…
AWANI Tonight: Malaysia’s Ability to Attract Foreign Direct Investments
25 March 2021
Dr Juita Mohamad was interviewed by Astro Awani in Awani Tonight Malaysia suffered the worst drop in foreign direct investments in 2020 in the region. Why is Malaysia falling behind in attracting investors? We speak to ISIS Malaysia's Dr Juita Mohamad.
Consider This: PEMERKASA - Government Response Evolving?
25 March 2021
Dr Juita Mohamad was interviewed by Astro Awani in Consider This Last week the sixth Covid-19 economic response package was announced -- 20-billion-ringgit worth of initiatives - known as Strategic Programme to Empower People and the Economy (PEMERKASA). What is different about this package of relief and have previous ones hit the right mark in…
Clarify how debt is calculated, govt told
22 March 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. by Robin Augustin, 22 March 2021 PETALING JAYA: An economist has urged Putrajaya to clarify how it calculates the country’s debt, and if necessary, look to increase the debt ceiling. Carmelo Ferlito from the Center for Market Education voiced concern over the country’s rising debt, which is…
Pemerkasa: Strong Enough to Kickstart the Economy?
18 March 2021
Produced by: Arleen Webber Presented by: Philip See, Wong Shou Ning Dr Juita Mohamad from ISIS Malaysia helps us unpack the recent RM20 billion PEMERKASA stimulus package announced by the Prime Minister and shares her concerns and challenges of execution, funding and designing effective initiatives. BFM 89.9 - https://www.bfm.my/podcast/morning-run/morning-brief/pemerkasa-strong-enough-to-kickstart-the-economy
Job creation and retention important to get economy on course
16 March 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. by Imran Ariff, 16 March 2021 PETALING JAYA: Economists have said that job creation and upskilling make up an essential part of economic recovery which comes after a year in which unemployment has reached levels not seen in decades due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unemployment rose…
SDG projects are powerful as they empower communities to take control of their lives
01 March 2021
LAST year, the Finance Ministry projected that gross domestic project growth would bounce back to more than seven per cent, which was too optimistic. As a trading nation inter twined with the global value chains, our economic growth is very much linked to externalities. These externalities include global demand, trade tensions and trade wars through…
Moody’s rating illustrates effectiveness of govt policies
23 February 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. by Imran Ariff, 23 February 2021 PETALING JAYA: Economists have backed the effectiveness of the government’s economic policies after ratings agency Moody’s maintained the country’s local and foreign currency issue rating, but say they must also look towards longer term strategies. In late January, Moody’s reaffirmed…
Lift lockdowns, travel curbs to drive growth, govt told
17 February 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. by Robin Augustin, 17 February 2021 PETALING JAYA: An economist has urged the government to lift all movement restrictions and avoid resorting to lockdowns, even partial ones, again. Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera said lockdowns were the single-largest factor affecting the economy and gross domestic product (GDP)…
V-shaped recovery highly unlikely for Malaysia
16 February 2021
Juita Mohamad was quoted in The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) article. By ASILA JALIL, 16 February 2021 MALAYSIA’S economic outlook is expected to improve this year, but it may not see a V-shaped recovery even after the initiation of the Covid-19 vaccination programme which is slated to roll out by the end of this month. Institute of Strategic…
Selangor making additional plans
22 January 2021
Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Khoo Hsu Chuang, Philip See, Wong Shou Ning The Selangor state government has announced its own stimulus package, valued at nearly RM74 million to mitigate the impact of MCO 2.0 on Selangor residents. Dr Juita Mohamed, Fellow at ISIS Malaysia, gives her views on whether it addresses the problems…
Joe Biden mampu ubah landskap perdagangan
22 January 2021
Dr Juita Mohamad telah berkongsi pandangan berkait pemulihan perdagangan serantau meliputi Malaysia, ASEAN dan APEC selepas Presiden Joe Biden menerajui pentadbiran Amerika Syarikat. Tontoni temuramah bersama Astro Awani tersebut di pautan di bawah. Astro Awani - https://www.astroawani.com/video-malaysia/joe-biden-mampu-ubah-landskap-perdagangan-1886692
Budget funds for automation, digitalisation could attract startups, says analyst
23 November 2020
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. By Nicholas Chung, 23 November 2020 PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and an economist have welcomed initiatives in the 2021 budget geared towards encouraging investments, with the latter saying allocations set aside for automation and digitalisation would attract startups. Juita Mohamad of the Institute…
Consider This: RCEP - How To Maximise Benefits For Malaysia?
19 November 2020
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, follows almost a decade of negotiations, and according to some observers, marks a major step forward for economic integration in the region. Members of the RCEP make up nearly a third of the world's population and account for 30% of global GDP - making RCEP the largest trading…
Proper recognition will improve the lot of Pala'u community
03 November 2020
TO DATE, we have seen a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in Sabah, reaching 466 cases in a single day on Oct 30. What is devastating is that the total cases have reached more than 11,000 since earlier this year, with the number of deaths also on the rise. Just like in the peninsula, the…
The COVID-19 Infodemic in Malaysia: Scale, scope and policy responses
02 November 2020
By: Harris Zainul and Farlina Said Owing to the novelty of COVID-19, much uncertainty had surrounded it when it was first discovered in December 2019. In the months since, more light has been shed on the novel coronavirus, yet the timespan in between was marked with fear and uncertainty, lending itself to a surge in…
Cost Cutting is Key but Not This Year
13 August 2020
Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Roshan Kanesan, Lyn Mak, Noelle Lim Dr Juita Mohamad, Fellow of ISIS Malaysia discusses the Supplementary Supply Bill that was passed by Parliament to allocate an additional RM7 billion for expenses incurred last year. BFM 89.9 - https://www.bfm.my/podcast/morning-run/morning-brief/cost-cutting-is-key-but-not-this-year
Malaysian businesses to feel the pinch from Singapore recession
16 July 2020
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. By Jason Thomas 16 July 2020 PETALING JAYA: An economist has warned that Singapore’s slump into a recession will have wide-ranging consequences for Malaysia, the republic’s second largest trading partner after China. Juita Mohamad of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies said Singaporean households were poised…
COVID-19 in Malaysia: Economic Impacts & Fiscal Responses
05 June 2020
ISIS Policy Brief 1, June 2020: COVID-19 in Malaysia: Economic Impacts & Fiscal Responses Download PDF
Juita Mohamad (ISIS Malesia): la partita commerciale ASEAN-Cina-UE
01 June 2020
Juita Mohamad was interviewed and featured in a Futuro Europa article DI:GIOVANNI PUGLISI, 01 June 2020 Nelle ultime settimane, mentre l’Europa al suo interno si divideva sulle risorse da destinare al Recovery Fund, l’ASEAN “compieva il sorpasso” come partner commerciale principale di Pechino, proprio a scapito di Bruxelles. La Cina sta infatti gradualmente tornando ai livelli di…
How will the Covid-19 outbreak affect Budget 2021?
20 May 2020
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Business Today By Poovenraj Kanagaraj, 20 May 2020 “I imagine that more allocation will be given to the healthcare sector especially when the vaccine is not ready and we cannot risk another wave of infection in the new year,” Fellow in the Economics, Trade and Regional Integration (ETRI) Division of ISIS Malaysia,…
Looking beyond digital trade boon
05 May 2020
WITH the Movement Control Order (MCO) being relaxed starting yesterday after 47 days of strict movement control, looking back, we have seen how instrumental digital trade has been in connecting sellers to consumers in these unprecedented times. Goods and services are able to reach customers, albeit with delay at times, while payments for those services…
Clarity needed before discussions moving forward can take place
01 May 2020
Juita Mohamad was quoted in Business Today Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhiyiddin Yassin had announced easing the MCO starting May 4. While he was aware his government’s move might cause a new wave of infections, the announcement was deemed as a solution to the ongoing economic impacts. The premier has pointed out that he is currently…
Nurturing ingenuity and innovation
08 February 2020
Article written by Dr Juita Mohamad and Muhammad Zulhaziq Abdul Mulok was first published in New Straits Times 8 February 2020 Nurturing ingenuity and innovation The 4th Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) is not a far away dream as it is here at our doorstep if we wish to welcome it. Let’s refer to Richard Baldwin,…
What it will mean to have India in APEC
27 May 2019
APEC, or the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, was established in 1989 as a forum for regional economic cooperation for countries within the Asia Pacific region. To date, its 21-member countries are China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Russia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Australia, Chile, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Peru, Taiwan, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Hong…
India in APEC: Views from the Indo-Pacific
06 May 2019
The Unintended Impact of Protectionism
19 February 2019
THE year 2018 had kicked off with the United States signalling a rise of tariffs on Chinese imports. Between 2012 and 2016, US partner share with China reached 21.42 per cent, making China its biggest exporter. It is due also to a very pronounced trade surplus between China and the US; the latter has targeted…
Focus on the Family to Fight Radicalisation
25 September 2018
SINCE 2014, affected countries across Southeast Asia have introduced multiple layers of policies and legislation, as well as improvised operational strategies in defence against the rise of Daesh. While a handful of these counter-efforts are re-adapted from existing plans built against predecessor groups, such as al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah, Al-Maunah and Abu Sayyaf, Daesh’s relevance to…
The Public Must Fight Too
31 July 2018
THE advent of social media platforms has revolutionised the means of communication as everything is made possible with a single click. You can now have real-time conversation with your mother who lives 5,000km away on Skype, find a long-lost friend on Facebook, or even get a Twitter update on traffic situations from the comfort of…
No One Factor Behind Radicalisation
13 February 2018
THE question of what drives radicalisation has become a familiar refrain, yet, remains a conundrum. Poverty, negative peer pressure, the lack of education, and the inadequate or immature understanding of ideology are usually offered to explain the radicalisation process. The intricacies of radicalisation, however, are far more complex than we can imagine. In an increasingly…
How Do We Deal With The Unknowable Future?
02 February 2018
ON the last leg of our journey to attaining the status of an advanced nation that is inclusive and sustainable by 2020, Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) necessitates a fundamental paradigm shift of our entire political, economic and social system. Some people may feel that since we don’t have a crystal ball, emphasising and embarking on…
Ageing gracefully to 2045
21 September 2017
OVER the past few decades, Malaysia has been enjoying a relatively favourable demographic environment characterised by the working age population, which is growing at a higher rate than the overall population. Malaysia has been very successful in translating this demographic window of opportunity into a sustained economic growth path, poverty reduction and achievement in non-income…
Energy Security Through Nuclear Power?
11 July 2017
THE nuclear crisis that occurred in Fukushima, Japan, six years ago globally reignited the debate over the viability of nuclear power as an energy source. Citing widespread safety concerns, nuclear-established countries seemed to either shift their policies towards reducing dependence on nuclear energy or phase out the option completely. Yet, for emerging countries and those…
Does Democracy Have a Future?
17 May 2017
Paper presented by Dr Abdul Wahed Jalal Nori at the Third International Conference on Elections & Democracy in Malaysia, 19-20 April 2017, Kuching, Sarawak. Download PDF
Rethinking Our Education
02 May 2017
Malaysia regards public examination results as important determinants of a students’s progress to higher education, as well as occupational opportunities. THERE are Malaysians who are dissatisfied with the education system and are looking for approaches beyond the top-down classroom model. The Malaysian education system should undergo a paradigm shift in the teaching and learning process…
Restoring Moral Values
07 February 2017
In thinking about the features of a good society, different people will emphasise different traits that they consider to be important, such as egalitarianism, personal freedom, moral values and spirituality. Yet, what makes a good society? How do we know if a country, region or city is a good society? How can a society be…
Weaving Strong Ties
08 November 2016
Article by Dr Abdul Wahed Jala Nori which appeared in New Straits Times, November 8, 2016. Download
Time for Suu Kyi to Effect Real Change
09 August 2016
Aung San Suu Kyi at the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on July 24. Her comeback to Myanmar’s political arena signals a long-awaited democratic transition, but her performance in the first three months has been seen as disappointing. IT was a normal Sunday in Vientiane, Laos, on' July 24 but for the Asean…
In Pursuit of Happiness…
23 June 2016
Article by Dr Abdul Wahed Jalal Nori which appeared in New Straits Times, June 21, 2016. Download