Ensuring transparency in govt’s social media removal requests

Recently, the issue of content moderation on social media platforms came under the spotlight, particularly surrounding government removal requests.

Europe and the Global South: a reconvergence of visions and values

Europe and the Global South: A Reconvergence of Visions and Values

Act decisively to facilitate women’s inclusion in Malaysia

THIS year's International Women's Day theme, "Inspire Inclusion", suggests that we imagine a future in which inclusion is not only a buzzword but a genuine reality for women of all walks of life.

Navigating geopolitical currents: Malaysia and Australia’s pivotal role in the Asia-Pacific

Allow me to begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

Govt task force on AI must involve stakeholders, says expert

An expert has advised the government to tackle current concerns with generative artificial intelligence (AI) and use the technology to improve productivity.

Do public schools unite or divide Malaysians?

In a diverse society like Malaysia, national schools play a crucial role in bringing together pupils from various backgrounds to foster national unity.

Harmony across horizons: Malaysia and Kazakhstan’s enduring journey of friendship

The year 2024 marks the 32nd anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Kazakhstan, a testament to the enduring partnership that has evolved since Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991.

Seizing the moment: Malaysia’s role in a world of geopolitical flux

In the last few years, the global geopolitical chessboard has been changing rapidly, and the potential economic implications are manifold.

Amid China concerns, Manila and Hanoi agree to better manage maritime...

Frustrated with the slow progress in reaching a regional maritime code-of-conduct with China, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is turning to neighboring South China Sea claimant states to boost regional security cooperation and potentially forge a united front against Beijing at a time of growing friction in contested waters.

BFM podcast: Malaysia’s clean energy ambitions waiting on action

Malaysia launched its National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) to much fanfare in 2023, setting the goal of reaching 70% renewable energy installed capacity by 2050.

Put defence reforms on the frontline

MALAYSIA’S strategic defence planning and capacities are beset with challenges which have hobbled the armed forces and the country’s capability as an effective deterrent.

Consider This: Gender pay gap — deciphering the decline

Women earn only RM66 for every RM100 earned by men; according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.

BFM podcast: Malaysia & Indonesia on shared boundaries in a relationship

Indonesia has had strong relations with Malaysia throughout the years. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim even made his first foreign visit there upon assuming office.

The tragedy of middle power politics

Amid trust deficit, Asean should get its act together and take lead as US-Sino rivalry plays out in the region.

Asean should be open but wary about Quad

Quad is one in a constellation of mini-laterals gaining currency amid shifting sands in Southeast Asian geopolitics. Quad can bring something to the table for Asean but it, too, could pose risks.

US-Sino rivalry driving development financing

The competition for influence among great powers like the United States and China is continually reshaping the global landscape.

Seizing Asean’s digital moment

Much has been said about Asean’s digital potential. The region’s digital economy is poised to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, driven by a large...

Japan could take lead to bring Asean ‘higher’

The Fukuda Doctrine introduced in 1977 laid the foundation for Japan and Asean relations.

COC negotiators will carry on burden

Negotiations over the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea remain intractable.

Tech, power and rules-based order

The concept of power in international relations indicates an actor’s ability to shape the actions of another.

Laos committed to Asean centrality

Asean clings to ‘centrality’ as its major tenet but recent events in Southeast Asia are testing the limits of that concept.

Asean should sell own success story

Discussions about Asean’s purpose and utility are often followed by criticism towards the lack of tangible and meaningful results

Challenges to adopting renewable energy

Southeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent were identified in many climate studies as two of the most vulnerable regions.

With India’s help, Asean could fulfil Indo-Pacific aspirations

Asean’s current relations with India are defined by older, outdated and ‘safer’ narratives – none of which reflects current realities.

Will Progressive Wage Policy make or break MSMEs?

Move to increase quality, productivity requires industry wide participation The Progressive Wage Policy (PWP) appears tailored for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), excluding multinational...

Adaptation: Urgent need for proactive adaptation strategies in Malaysia

Malaysia faces escalating climate hazards such as inundation, heat and storm surges that have far-reaching effects on the economy, local communities and the built environment.

Energy: For the transition, implementation will be key

The year 2023 was a big one for the energy transition in Malaysia, with a strategic road map and a long-awaited energy efficiency bill introduced, as well as the removal of blanket subsidies for electricity, which spurred more interest in renewable energy (RE) adoption.

COP28: The move away from fossil fuels must be just

The recently concluded 28th United Nations (UN) Conference of Parties (COP28) ended with a landmark deal that encourages countries to move away from fossil fuels. It was lauded for making such an explicit claim on fossil fuels for the first time, but also criticised for not going far enough.

What SEA could learn from Muizzu’s Maldives?

In the recent Maldivian elections, Peoples National Congress candidate and Malé mayor Mohamed Muizzu won, becoming the eighth president.

Malaysian Women and Girls Forum

Analyst Lee Min Hui spoke at the Malaysian Women and Girls Forum, alongside Tengku Aira Tengku Razif and Tehmina Kaoosji, delving into the care...

COP28: World set to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels

After two weeks of negotiations, nearly 200 countries adopted the first-ever Global Stocktake at the just concluded UN climate change conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

One year recap of Anwar Ibrahim’s foreign policy

Review of one year of Madani govt shows stronger focus on Asean, Middle East, balancing major powers

Unpacking COP 28: successes, shortcomings, and the road ahead for Malaysia...

The verdict on the COP 28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates varies, with opinions ranging from success to failure. Despite this, most would acknowledge the mixed progress with numerous unresolved issues.

Malaysia’s cabinet revamp sees ‘climate change’ name dropped in portfolio split;...

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof will now oversee the energy portfolio, which has been extracted from the previous ministry of natural resources, environment and climate change.

Time for Malaysia to recognize the ‘New’ Delhi

The visit by Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir to New Delhi from November 5-8 was a significant milestone in Malaysia-India relations.

South China Sea: Philippines risks its Beijing ties with ‘non-starter’ mini...

The Philippines risks torpedoing its relations with Beijing and derailing talks on a wider South China Sea code of conduct by pursuing a separate set of rules and regulations for the disputed waterway with fellow claimant states, analysts say.

China’s control of ports worldwide not a worry, says analyst

Beijing reportedly controls ports and terminals at nearly 100 locations in 50 countries across every ocean and continent.

Is Malaysia’s visa-free entry enough to entice ‘picky’ Chinese tourists as...

Tour agencies in Malaysia have reported a surge in interest from Chinese travellers following news of a 30-day visa-free entry announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on November 26.

Laws that spell new hope for energy efficiency

Energy efficiency (EE) is widely acknowledged as a low-hanging fruit to reduce fossil fuel dependence and decarbonise the energy sector. 

STEM’s legacy problem of ‘poor’ teaching

Malaysia is now at a crossroads on the education front. The nation is striving for high-income status, which requires producing enough skilled workers for advancement, yet there are deep-rooted challenges within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education system that have impeded progress for decades. 

Reintroducing GST a question of when not if

The goods & services tax (GST) can have wide-ranging benefits for the nation's public revenue, fiscal space, and tax compliance.

Care Economy: Bringing invisible labour out of the shadows

Discussions on the care economy have risen in prominence over the past year, amid a realisation that demographic shifts in society mean the traditional care arrangements in households are not sustainable.

BFM podcast: APEC, trade benefits for all

The APEC summit, which has a membership of 21 countries, is ongoing in San Francisco. As a bloc, its members produce around 11.4 trillion US Dollars in exports.

BFM podcast: Giving policy recognition to the care economy

Lee Min Hui was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 1 November 2023 Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Wong Shou Ning Both the federal and state...

Where do we go workwise? Malaysia’s Labour landscape – Introduction

When Covid-19 first struck, large swathes of jobs and workers reeled from the impact of the economic and health shocks that trailed in its wake. In the process, it also accelerated the path towards the future of work – now a portent of disruptions looming on the horizon.

Decent work, wage growth as national objective

In the first chapter on Decent work, wage growth as national objective, Lee Hwok-Aun and Kevin Zhang of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute review Malaysia’s labour standards, detailing its transition out of a low-wage regime through the long-awaited introduction of a minimum wage in 2013.

Post-Covid-19 recovery and quest for ‘good jobs’

In Post-Covid-19 recovery and quest for ‘good jobs’, author Calvin Cheng from ISIS Malaysia delves deeper into the complexities of this issue.

The changing nature of work: an overview of informal employment in...

Amanina Abdur Rahman and Alyssa Jasmin of the World Bank explore the impacts of the pandemic on informal workers who, due to their exclusion...

Centring women’s work and care at core of recovery

Women workers have stood out as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of Covid-19 – a fact that is heavily emphasised throughout this volume. In...

Centring women’s work and care at core of recovery

In Centring women's work and care at core of recovery, authors Lee Min Hui and Sofea Azahar of ISIS Malaysia look deeper into the “she-cession” catalysed by economic shocks during Covid-19.

Prepping the nation for skills-based hiring

In the chapter on Prepping the nation for skills-based hiring, Nurul Izzati Kamarulbahri and Mohd Ikhwan Abdullah of TalentCorp Malaysia suggest that where educational degrees used to be a proxy to guarantee employment, there has since been a shift towards skills-based hiring

Putting environment and climate action at heart of job creation and...

The pandemic has revealed the link between climate risks and the rise of zoonotic diseases, highlighting the ways in which planetary boundaries have been crossed through ecosystem exploitation, agricultural intensification and climate change, which combined are now affecting human health on a grand scale.

Localising SDGs and grassroots concerns of six vulnerable groups in Malaysia:...

PPR schemes aim to provide a conducive living environment for those living in poverty through the provision of adequate communal amenities, with facilities for all ethnic, religious, and age groups.

Localising SDGs and grassroots concerns of six vulnerable groups in Malaysia:...

PPR schemes aim to provide a conducive living environment for those living in poverty through the provision of adequate communal amenities, with facilities for all ethnic, religious, and age groups.

Understand Chinese maritime behaviour: Opportunities for Malaysia-Japan cooperation in the South...

In the East and South China Seas, actions undertaken by both claimants and non-claimants in the disputed waters have cultivated an environment of distrust, erecting more barriers to making progress diplomatically.

Unpacking Budget 2024: navigating fiscal realities and policy priorities

Budget 2024 records the largest annual budget allocation, but a negative fiscal impulse.

Unpacking Budget 2024: navigating fiscal realities and policy priorities

Budget 2024 records the largest annual budget allocation, but a negative fiscal impulse.

Southeast Asia fears US neglect, ostracised Muslims and resurgent extremists as...

As the civilian death toll from the bloodiest Israel-Gaza conflict in decades climbs ever higher, analysts warn that Asia must be on guard against deep divisions over the war tearing at the region’s social fabric – and the consequences of an increasingly distracted United States turning the bulk of its attention elsewhere.

BFM podcast: Is China’s Belt and Road Initiative still relevant

World leaders have convened in Beijing to mark the 10th anniversary of the belt and road initiative. And some noteworthy attendees include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the sole head of state or government from the European Union.

BFM podcast: PM Thavisin visit sets tone for Thai-Malaysia ties

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embarked on his maiden visit to Malaysia this week after assuming office last month. How might Malaysia-Thailand bilateral relations take shape under his government?

New digital education policy must be inclusive

THE National Digital Education Policy is set to be implemented soon, according to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. The new education policy would focus on key matters related to digital literacy among pupils and educators, quality of digital education, and digital infrastructure in schools. 

Why we should welcome back GST

The goods and services tax (GST) was first introduced in 2015 and repealed in 2018. At the time, we predicted that a similar consumption tax of its type would eventually return.

Policy: NETR and NIMP a response to global trends

There are many similarities in the two strategic documents that were released in the last month and outline the country’s path forward in the low-carbon global economy.

Continuity over change in China-Malaysia ties

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a whirlwind day trip to China on Sunday, marking his second official visit in just 6 months.

Awani Tonight: Nurturing stronger M’sia-China bonds

ISIS Malaysia's Angeline Tan says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent visit to Nanning, China signals Malaysia's greater commitment at strengthening existing ties with the world's second largest economy.

Nation-building at 60: Beyond economic expansion

THE political scientist, Benedict Anderson, theorised in his seminal work that communities are social constructs, to be differentiated only in the ways that they are imagined.

Asean must reimagine, re-‘New’ Delhi ties

India recently hosted the G20 summit, which was dubbed a phenomenal, runaway success and showcased its multi-faceted convening power.

Asean has united to send Myanmar’s junta a message. Can it...

Asean has been much criticised over its failure to effectively respond to the crisis in Myanmar that was triggered by the military junta seizing power in the February 2021 coup.

Can ASEAN’s Troika Model handle Myanmar crisis better?

Senior fellow Thomas Benjamin Daniel shares insights into how the informal Asean troika can better position the bloc’s long-term response to the crisis in Myanmar.

Cover Story: Defining AI’s ethical boundaries

From creative copyright infringement to being blamed for the end of the human race altogether, artificial intelligence (AI), specifically generative AI, is going through much public scrutiny.

Will China-Philippines tensions make other South China Sea claimants more likely...

A clash between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea last weekend will make Southeast Asian nations a little anxious but it may make some governments more likely to speak up against Beijing’s actions if tensions escalate, observers said.

Asean must secure own future, vision

There is the risk of a conflict between China and the United States, the increasing adoption of various Indo-Pacific strategies and the simmering South China Sea dispute –such challenges have long beset this region and hamstrung Asean’s desire for centrality.

How Sino-US rivalry could derail Asean-Japan ties

Golden anniversary an opportunity to reboot relationship, putting national interests first  JAPAN was the first nation to engage Asean, albeit in the innocuous form of...

BFM podcast: Spotlight on Malaysia-Pinoy ties

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 27 July 2023. Produced by: Moh Heng Ying Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Shazana Mokhtar, Mark Tan President of the...

‘Cherished ideals’ hobbling Asean’s strategic moves

Sino-American rivalry, competing Indo-Pacific outlooks add to bloc’s inability to sort out priorities Asean has always touted its spirit of cooperation and dialogue yet Southeast...

2023 marks reset in India-Malaysia relations

With Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s maiden visit to Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, Malaysia has now hosted ministers from two pivotal Indian ministries in less than two months.

How Asean responds to “Post-Cold War” challenges

Over the past half century, ASEAN has grown from five founding members to a regional cooperation organization including all countries in Southeast Asia. 

Malaysia to work with Meta on wiping ‘undesirable content’ from Facebook,...

Facebook parent company Meta has agreed to work with police in Malaysia to tackle online scams and remove “undesirable content” from its platforms, the Communications and Digital Ministry said

BFM podcast: Malaysia’s foreign policy under the unity government

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 28 June 2023. Produced by: Sharaad Kuttan Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim...

After legal threat to Meta, observers say better for Putrajaya and...

The government should sit down with social media platforms to agree on what counts as improper content in Malaysia, several mis/disinformation and free speech experts said after Putrajaya threatened legal action against Meta Platforms Inc.

Should Malaysia ratify a UN treaty to protect the high seas?

The treaty will be opened for signature on Sept 20 as part of global efforts to preserve marine biodiversity in international waters.

Tech giants should be more transparent about content moderation

As Malaysia heads into six state elections, it is imperative for social media platforms to step up their game in moderating harmful content.

There’s alternative to East, West in 5G rollout

MALAYSIA’S 5G rollout woes boil down to one major conundrum: should we look West (i.e. Ericsson) or East (Huawei).

Asean risks ‘withering away’ in the Indo-Pacific

In the recently concluded 42nd Asean summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, Asean member states reiterated their desire to mainstream the four priority areas of the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Malaysia’s role in the emerging Indo-Pacific order

First and foremost, my profound gratitude to the High Commission of India to Malaysia and CARUM for the opportunity to address this distinguished gathering today.

Asean turns to ‘reliable’ South Korea to feed growing demand for...

South Korea is shaping up to be the new arms supplier for Southeast Asian countries, following a recent purchase by Malaysia that adds to the region’s growing demand for advanced yet affordable equipment, analysts have said.

Don’t let youth be ‘lost generation’

Malaysia’s young population continues to face a significant challenge in the labour market: underemployment.

Don’t let youth be ‘lost generation’

Malaysia’s young population continues to face a significant challenge in the labour market: underemployment.

Asean, ADMM and regional defence cooperation: how successful has it been...

From a cursory glance, regional cooperation in Southeast Asia flourished out of the interest in benefitting from mutual development and stability.

As Malaysia eyes renewable energy exports to Singapore, can it stick...

Malaysia’s aspiration of exporting billions of dollars of renewables to Singapore must not undercut efforts to first reset its domestic economy onto a greener footing, experts have warned.

Be wary of potential AI deception during polls campaign, warns analyst

PETALING JAYA: The authorities must seriously consider the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to be abused to create “realistic” false materials during election campaigns, warns an analyst.

Balance game for middle powers caught in US-China rivalry

ASIA-PACIFIC is indispensable in the global trade and investment landscape, with the region driving much of the world’s economic growth over the past two decades.

Timor-Leste growth gets ASEAN push

Timor-Leste's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expected to spur growth in Asia's youngest nation, experts said.

Payoffs from clamping down on greenwashing

CLIMATE change is now a recognised risk and no business wants to be labelled as “environmentally damaging”.

BFM podcast: Could this heatwave be the coolest ever?

The World Meteorological Organisation is now predicting that the world is more likely to break the key temperature limit of 1.5⁰C between now and 2027, and judging by the heatwave we are experiencing now, it's not hard to imagine that it is likely.

BFM podcast: Myanmar crisis: Asean rhetoric still outweighs action

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 12 May 2023. Produced by: Sim Wie Boon Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Philip See, Mark Tan Indonesia chaired the first...

Unleashing power of deeper economic ties

Malaysian firms should capitalise on India’s infrastructure spending spree By Tan Sri Kuna Sittampalam INDIA and Malaysia enjoy a long history of trade, cultural ties and...

Resetting trade ties to spread prosperity

As Asean-India economic relations enter fourth decade, Malaysia could be key to deeper partnership By Prabir De & Durairaj Kumarasamy MALAYSIA is India’s third largest trading...

Culture as catalyst to closer ties

Governments must ensure money trickles down to activists, groups bringing both countries together By Padma Shri Datuk Ramli Ibrahim SINCE time immemorial, there has always been...

How to leapfrog a digital economy

India’s success with fintech, data and entrepreneurship provides invaluable lessons for Malaysia By Shravishtha Ajaykumar & Mihir Sharma DATA and the assets that utilise it have...

Opportunities galore with shift in focus to SMEs

Malaysia should focus on 2nd, 3rd tier Indian cities, explore emerging sectoral priorities By Datuk Umang Sharma INDIA and Malaysia’s commercial links have helped the latter...

Embracing past to forge ahead

Unshakeable links between both nations should be impetus for greater economic, strategic ties By Veena Sikri ANNIVERSARIES are special occasions. The 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations...

Palm oil challenges: Start dialogue based on science, diplomacy

ON April 19, the European Union Parliament passed a regulation meant to limit deforestation and forest degradation, singling out palm oil as a major driving force.

With AI emerging as both friend and foe, how should Malaysia...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes ever more ubiquitous in our everyday life, governments have had to scramble to work out how to regulate the technology.

Aidilfitri preparations: overspending can lead to financial burden, wastages

Analyst Qarrem Kassim speaks about the impact of rising prices this Raya season on Nightline.

Awareness on North Korea’s cyber threat crucial – analysts

In February this year, a United Nations (UN) Security Council committee report stated that North Korea stole more cryptocurrency assets in 2022 than in any other year, and targetted the networks of foreign aerospace and defence companies.

ASEAN urges cool heads on South China Sea as summit ends

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded its three-day summit on Thursday, calling on all parties to exercise self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, while bloc chair and Indonesian President Joko Widodo lamented the lack of progress on resolving the crisis in Myanmar.

Deepening Sino-US tensions: implications for Malaysia and Southeast Asia

Competition and rivalry between states is very much the norm in international relations and indeed one might say a defining feature of modern-day diplomacy. But when competition and rivalry takes on an adversarial turn between two superpowers, the dynamics in international relations could well become supercharged as well.

Warming relations between China and Malaysia

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concluded his maiden visit to China over the weekend. This is seen as an important visit as China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009.

An uncertain world: solidarity and cooperation for development amid challenges

The theme of this year’s forum, namely “An uncertain world: solidarity and cooperation for development amid challenges”, is most apt and relevant given the extraordinary ebb and flow of the state of geopolitics and power as well as geo-economics which we now live in.

Raise two sensitive issues with Xi, PM told

PETALING JAYA: Two foreign policy experts have urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to raise two key issues when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during his maiden trip to Beijing, saying this will prove he is consistent in his principles.

Anwar’s visit to China: Striving for consistency amid global uncertainty

Malaysia’s bilateral relationship with China—its past, present, and, most importantly, future—comes under renewed scrutiny this week as Anwar Ibrahim travels to China. In his first visit as prime minister, Anwar is expected to address the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan and then head to Beijing for official engagements, where he is expected to call on President Xi Jinping, among others.

China Premier Li pledges opening up to world amid U.S. tensions

QIONGHAI, China -- China vowed Thursday to ramp up trade and investment with new market access measures as it looks to rev up its post-pandemic economy.

Science tells us what to do, but we need love to...

LAST week, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tried again to shake the world out of its lethargy with powerful language in its new report. This latest work summarises six previous reports over the last few years involving 700 expert authors from 95 countries, including Malaysia.

Prime Minister’s visit to China | Scholars are optimistic and positive,...

Local scholars generally hold positive views on Dato’ Seri Anwar’s first official visit to China as Prime Minister, and believe that the relationship between Malaysia and China will only be further improved after the visit.

Why throwing billions at floods no longer a ‘solution’

THE recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment provides a sobering read – if we continue the present trajectory, parts of the planet will soon become uninhabitable.

Maternity Leave (Part 1) — Are Employers Favouring Men Over Women?

Do policies like longer maternity leave make women less hireable? On this episode of Consider This, Melisa Idris speaks to Lee Min Hui, analyst at ISIS Malaysia, where her research interests' centres on policies to mitigate gender inequality, with a particular focus on childcare policy and equalising outcomes for women in the labour market.

Proactive diplomacy to drive growth in turbulent times

THE global economy is entering a turbulent period, with fears of financial uncertainty, not to mention the unfolding drama of bank failures and supply chain disruptions amid renewed conflicts complicating geopolitics.

Asia update: how AUKUS impacts Southeast Asia

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by ABC Radio National on 15 March 2023. Produced by: Phillip Adams Presented by: Ann Arnold The AUKUS announcement could have major implications for Southeast...

Malaysia buys South Korea fighter jets as ASEAN arms market grows

KUALA LUMPUR -- Korean Aerospace Industries late last month confirmed that Malaysia had signed off on a 4.08 billion ringgit ($910 million) purchase of 18 FA-50 fighter jets, beating out other manufacturers like Indian-based Tejas and Pakistan-China's GS17.

5th Asean-India Business Summit

The 5th Asean-India Business Summit took place on 6 March 2023 in Kuala Lumpur. Speakers and participants from Asean and India convened to discuss how business linkages, connectivity and supply chain resilience can be enhanced through deeper Asean-India cooperation.

Malaysia can’t risk failing women further

Conversations about women’s empowerment inevitably take centre stage on International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March. Yet, as public figures, multinational corporations and policymakers alike rush to extend words and repeat platitudes in commemoration of IWD, one question looms large: are these well-crafted corporate messages just exercises in self-promotion, tokenism and corporatisation?

International Women’s Day 2023: Invest in women, reap the rewards

Why should employers care about gender equity in the workplace? Is diversity and inclusion a priority for Malaysian employers? Ahead of International Women’s Day, analyst Lee Min Hui outlines the business case for investing in women, and why Malaysian organisations need to catch up on implementing gender equity.

Of Menu Rahmah and the fight against inflation

WHAT used to be an unhealthy trend among cash-strapped students, the consumption of instant noodles is growing. According to a recent study by Kantar Worldpanel, a market research firm, 85% of Malaysians cooked more at home during Covid-19 and 46% expected to do so in the new normal, with time and cash-strapped parents turning to instant noodles for family meals.

China’s durian demand is a godsend for Philippine trade, but for...

More than 900km southeast of Manila, Davao City is dubbed “Durian Capital of the Philippines”. With the volcanic soil of Mount Apo said to give the pungent “king of fruit” a unique flavour, the region accounts for almost 80 per cent of all durians grown in the country.

2023 budget: Well-crafted budget for all

Qarrem Kassim was interviewed by Bulletin TV3 nightline on 24 February 2023

Cover Story: Ready or not, here comes climate change

Westports is one of three main ports located in Klang along the Strait of Malacca. Its long wharf fronts the sea and is lined with tall cranes that move containers back and forth between its yard and the massive ships berthed at the port.

Simulasi Sidang Kemuncak | Krisis Myanmar fokus utama simulasi Sidang Kemuncak...

Yanitha Meena Louis was a co-instructor in the EU-ASEAN Youth Diplomat Programme (EAYDP) held at the Asia-Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya, which was covered by Astro Awani, 19 February 2023. The EAYDP was organised by the Centre for ASEAN Regionalism Universiti Malaya (CARUM), the EU Delegation to Malaysia, EUPOP and Malaysian Youth Association for Diplomacy and Policy (MYADP).

Lower defence funding seen sending Malaysia down slippery slope

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Malay Mail, 15 February 2023 by Keertan Ayamany KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Malaysia must not deprioritise funding for the Defence Ministry (MinDef)...

Pemimpin belia Asean, India bincang kaedah perkukuh kerjasama di Indo-Pasifik

HYDERABAD (India), 13 Feb (Bernama) -- Seramai 175 pemimpin belia dari 10 negara anggota Asean dan India menghadiri Sidang Kemuncak Belia Asean-India Keempat yang bertemakan “Memperkukuh Perkongsian Asean-India di Indo-Pasifik”, di sini pada Ahad.

Defence, strategic lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian war

ON 24 February last year, Russian forces invaded Ukraine in what was expected to be a “quick” operation to seize the remaining parts of the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and install a new regime in Kyiv.

Labour relations ripe for reforms

Malaysia should capitalise on India’s ability to provide skilled workers By Muhammad Faliq Abd Razak & Andika Ab Wahab INDIA and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in...

Unlocking true potential of 65-year-old friendship

Indo-Pacific initiative, culture, food security present opportunities to reset ties AS we mark Malaysia-India @ 65, it is important to analyse and understand the status...

The higher education elephant in the room

Cooperation between universities could unlock R&D potential, curricula reform, tech sharing and transfer By Nomesh Bolia INDIA and Malaysia share centuries-old ties rooted in culture, people-to-people...

Re-imagining Indo-Pacific construct

Greater synergies could bring about strategic, defence advantages to Malaysia, other Asean member states By Rahul Mishra INDIA-MALAYSIA ties are embedded deeply in history. Waves of...

Time to unleash SAGAR’s potential

Amid great power transition, Asean should leverage on New Delhi’s security pact with Putrajaya By Nur Shahadah Jamil THE great power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region...

Diaspora ‘secret sauce’ to closer ties

More people-to-people interactions could strengthen economic relationship, create new opportunities By Suseela Devi Chandran & Yanitha Meena Louis ONE significant aspect of Malaysia-India relations is the...

Diaspora ‘secret sauce’ to closer ties

More people-to-people interactions could strengthen economic relationship, create new opportunities By Suseela Devi Chandran & Yanitha Meena Louis ONE significant aspect of Malaysia-India relations is the...

2023: Way forward for climate action

THE year 2023 will be another important junction in Malaysia’s climate journey. The Minister of Natural Resources, Environment & Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, has already stated some of his priorities, which include enacting a Climate Change Act.

Increasing voices calling for institutional reform

Unity govt must deliver its promises to ensure country’s good governance THE calls for institutional reform are becoming louder each day since the 15th general...

BFM podcast: Singapore-Malaysia building stronger ties

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 31 January 2023. Produced by: Moh Heng Ying Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Chong Tjen San, Shazana Mokhtar Datuk Seri...

Understanding national unity in post-GE15 Malaysian society

Shifting from a singular to a tri concept of unity, cohesion and reconciliation  NATIONAL unity is a very dynamic and relevant theme for public discussion. One...

Malaysia tidak anggap kehadiran kapal China satu pencerobohan

Thomas Daniel was quoted in the Benar News Menteri Pertahanan berkata aset negara lebih dari cukup untuk melindungi kawasan tuntutan bertindih di perairan Sarawak. by Iman Muttaqin...

Southeast Asia’s trust issues with China

Beijing must repair relationships as it attempts to revive economy after scrapping Covid strategy  SINGAPORE’S ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute has been conducting its state of Southeast...

World’s biggest trade deal RCEP is a year old – here’s...

The world’s largest free-trade deal just turned a year old. And like a toddler, while its full potential remains yet to be seen, there are glimmers of “hope” that it will develop into everything that was envisioned years ago when its member countries hailed it as a groundbreaking step toward lowering trade barriers in Asia.

Foreign policy must step out of ‘mute’ mode

ANWAR Ibrahim’s appointment as prime minister last November made headlines across the world, with positive coverage, ranging from Nikkei Asia to New York Times.

Vaccine access means reaching out to marginalised

ON 19 January 2020, Covid-19 had still not reached our shores. But by late January, import cases arrived and in early February the first Malaysian case was recorded.

Time for Malaysia to live up to ‘biodiversity superpower’ tag

As one of 17 mega-diverse nations, we can do much more to prevent extinction  SELDOM are the results of a United Nations mega-meeting hailed in...

Justify Sosma controversies before taking ‘no review’ stand, pressure groups tell...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — The government must justify the controversies surrounding the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 before deciding to retain it, pressure groups and academics have said.

Towards a greener tomorrow

IN the final quarter of 2022, two major United Nations (UN) meetings were held back to back – the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27)...

How to capitalise on trans-Pacific trade deal

THE Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was ratified on 29 November 2022, following years of negotiations, public consultation and amendments to domestic laws, binding Malaysia to the terms of the agreement.

Penganalisis: Malaysia perlu tetapkan dasar luar negara dengan jelas dan segera

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Benar News. by Ray Sherman & Iman Muttaqin Yusof, 6 January 2023 Perdana Menteri baharu Anwar Ibrahim masih belum menyatakan dasar luar negara, dengan...

Penganalisis: Malaysia perlu tetapkan dasar luar negara dengan jelas dan segera

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in Benar News. by Ray Sherman & Iman Muttaqin Yusof, 6 January 2023 Perdana Menteri baharu Anwar Ibrahim masih belum menyatakan dasar luar negara, dengan...

Beware of fault lines when building a nation online

THE moments after a major incident are a test of a nation’s resilience. For instance, the national emergency declared by the Muhyiddin administration to combat Covid-19 saw Malaysians banding together online via the #KitaJagaKita campaign.

Leveraging on trade as geopolitical strategy

AS we welcome a new year, the regional geopolitical environment in Asia-Pacific remains in flux and dominated by major power rivalry between China and the United States.

8 priority areas for environment and climate change in Malaysia

THE newly formed and merged Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change is a welcome move as the environment and natural resources are closely linked. The new minister already has his hands full dealing with the recent Batang Kali landslide.

The new MSME economy: Post-pandemic drivers for growth report

A collaborative effort between the ABAC MSME & Inclusiveness Working Group and the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, this report present a new post-pandemic comparative APEC MSME economy scorecard.

No place for demonisation, hatred in post-GE15 Malaysia

Learn how to listen, interact with those of opposing views before nation is torn apart By Nazran Zhafri & Zayana Zaikariah THE results of the 15th general...

Investing in sustainability for a better future

MOTHER Nature is showing us that the way we do business and treat our planet is no longer sustainable nor tolerable. We do so...

No place for demonisation, hatred in post-GE15 Malaysia

Learn how to listen, interact with those of opposing views before nation is torn apart By Nazran Zhafri & Zayana Zaikariah THE results of the 15th...

NRECC ministry: balancing trade-offs in climate change action

Alizan Mahadi was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 16 December 2022 Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Wong Shou Ning Under the new government, the portfolio...

Nation can no longer ignore defence spending reforms

Corruption will render military into ‘non-fighting machine’ as new threats emerge  AS a middle power located in a reasonably peaceful region, Malaysia traditionally has not...

EU, Asean should create post-education strategy

Alumni unable to land jobs despite landing prestigious scholarships Education has always been at the heart of the European Union-Asean partnership and educational cooperation remains...

Women’s work: The care burden

Tashny Sukumaran presented Women's work: The care burden at TEDxMonashUniversityMalaysia on 13 Dec 2022  Women are doing spectacular in university yet estimates suggest that half of...

Biodiversity conservation: Malaysia on right track but awareness lacking

Tan Sri Zakri Abdul Hamid was quoted by Bernama by Soon Li Wei, 13 December 2022 This article is written as part of the 2022 CBD COP15...

Focus must now move to climate-change policies

Nation can no longer ignore ecological disaster, climate crisis MALAYSIA now has a prime minister and cabinet. The formation of a government, however, might have...

COMMENT | Easy wins first: Human rights policymaking under unity govt

COMMENT | Malaysia finds itself in an interesting position this Human Rights Day. With a fresh cabinet of both new and familiar faces, the...

Montreal meeting a critical moment for all lives on Earth

AFTER a two-year Covid-related delay, negotiators from more than 190 countries are assembling in Montreal, Canada, today (until Dec 19) to finalise a global...

Pantau Kerajaan Baharu | Memerangi berita palsu dan ucapan benci

Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Awani on 8 December 2022 Penganalisis Kanan ISIS Malaysia, Harris Zainul berpendapat pengguna media sosial berhak untuk tahu sama ada...

Kandungan berbaur kebencian: Wujudkan undang-undang, akta lebih bersasar

Harris Zainul was quoted by Astro Awani, 8 December 2022 by Madiha Abdullah KUALA LUMPUR: Memerangi berita palsu dan kandungan berbaur kebencian tidak cukup hanya dengan pembentukan akta...

Grassroots empowerment key to national unity

THE results from the 15th general election have shown that there is no one Malaysia but many with voters having different aspirations and expectations...

Dealing with autism’s ‘invisible’ problem

New govt must adopt suggestion to set up council to provide relief for ASD families EVERY 3 December, the United Nations celebrates the International Day...

#Talkingpolicy ep 06: Implementing the five-point consensus in Myanmar: A Malaysian...

Experts Thomas Daniel and Yanitha Meena discuss Malaysia's role on seeking strategic options for #Myanmar, with a focus on #Asean’s Five-Point Consensus, and what that means for our new government, in EP06 of #Talkingpolicy.

#Talkingpolicy ep 06: Implementing the five-point consensus in Myanmar: A Malaysian...

Experts Thomas Daniel and Yanitha Meena discuss Malaysia's role on seeking strategic options for #Myanmar, with a focus on #Asean’s Five-Point Consensus, and what that means for our new government, in EP06 of #Talkingpolicy.

Can Malaysia’s Anwar fix corruption, inequality and inflation?

Harris Zainul was quoted by Al Jazeera Southeast Asian nation’s new leader faces challenges from a falling ringgit to one of Asia’s biggest wealth gaps. by John Power, 25...

Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister

Harris Zainul was quoted by The Financial Times King moves to end post-election chaos by appointing reformist one-time protégé of Mahathir Mohamad by Mercedes Ruehl, 24 Nov 2022 Anwar...

#Talkingpolicy ep 05: Post-GE15 analysis with Eddin Khoo

Noted historian and ISIS Malaysia senior fellow Eddin Khoo provides his expert analysis on #GE15 in Episode 5 of #Talkingpolicy

1.5C remains on life support post-COP27

Alizan Mahadi was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 21 November 2022 Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Chong Tjen San, Philip See Alizan speaks on...

#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist

As we head to the polls, experts Jamil A. Ghani, Lee Min Hui, Harris Zainul, Thomas Daniel, Qarrem Kassim and Ahmad Afandi weigh in on what the next government should focus on domestically and internationally.

#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist

Without adequate women’s representation in the halls of power, Malaysia risks running a democratic deficit. Catch analyst Lee Min Hui on EP03 of our #TalkingPolicy podcast, where she discusses the true cost of excluding women from office.

#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist

Without adequate women’s representation in the halls of power, Malaysia risks running a democratic deficit. Catch analyst Lee Min Hui on EP03 of our #TalkingPolicy podcast, where she discusses the true cost of excluding women from office.

#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist

Without adequate women’s representation in the halls of power, Malaysia risks running a democratic deficit. Catch analyst Lee Min Hui on EP03 of our #TalkingPolicy podcast, where she discusses the true cost of excluding women from office.

#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist

Without adequate women’s representation in the halls of power, Malaysia risks running a democratic deficit. Catch analyst Lee Min Hui on EP03 of our #TalkingPolicy podcast, where she discusses the true cost of excluding women from office.

#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist

Without adequate women’s representation in the halls of power, Malaysia risks running a democratic deficit. Catch analyst Lee Min Hui on EP03 of our #TalkingPolicy podcast, where she discusses the true cost of excluding women from office.

New govt must tackle food security

Reset national agenda, invest in agricultural modernisation as geopolitical, climate risks increase   MALAYSIA’S food security has caught the public’s attention in recent years, with global...

Malaysia GE15: Low political literacy and indecisiveness limit youth votes

Lee Min Hui was quoted by channelnewsasia’s Darrelle Ng on 11 November 2022 Surveys show that young voters are more politically undecided, with "many pollsters unwilling...

GE15: Litmus test for youth participation

Lee Min Hui was quoted by the Star on 13 November 2022 By Tarrence Tan PETALING JAYA: Youth issues such as quality education, better minimum wage,...

#Talkingpolicy EP03: Women power-less at GE15

Without adequate women’s representation in the halls of power, Malaysia risks running a democratic deficit. Catch analyst Lee Min Hui on EP03 of our #TalkingPolicy podcast, where she discusses the true cost of excluding women from office.

Myanmar tops Asian summit’s agenda as global issues loom

Thomas Daniel was quoted by Associated Press. by David Rising, 9 November 2022 BANGKOK (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders convene in the Cambodian capital Thursday, faced with the...

Malaysia GE15: What do youth voters want from politicians?

Lee Min Hui was quoted by channelnewsasia’s Darrelle Ng and Pamella Lim on 10 November 2022 Opportunity, stability and accountability are the top issues concerning...

What’s coming in Xi’s second decade in power

20th party congress cements authoritarian rule in era of competition, conflicts XI Jinping secured a third term as president of the People’s Republic of China...

SDG centre right step to resolving statelessness

Sabah’s move to register all foreign nationals could breed resentment, fuel criminal activities THE government recently announced the establishment of the National Sustainable Development Goals...

BFM podcast: All eyes on China’s twice-a-decade 20th national congress of...

Angeline Tan was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 17 October 2022. Produced by: Moh Heng Ying Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Shazana Mokhtar, Chong Tjen San There will...

Malaysia’s upcoming elections could cost Myanmar’s NUG one of its biggest...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in the Benar News by Iman Muttaqin Yusof, 13 October 2022 Malaysia's upcoming election could cost the Myanmar shadow government one of its biggest...

Implementing the Five-Point consensus: A Malaysian perspective

The violence and political fracture resulting from the February 2021 coup by the Tatmadaw continues to not just destabilise Myanmar but have an impact on its immediate region and ASEAN at large. The regional organisation, and its rotating Chairs, face the dilemma of how to manage the resulting fallout of the coup. Given the intricate complexities at play and ASEAN’s self-imposed constrictions, it is likely to not make much progress.

Implementing the Five-Point consensus: A Malaysian perspective

by Thomas Daniel & Yanitha Meena, 10 October 2022 Introduction The violence and political fracture resulting from the February 2021 coup by the Tatmadaw continues to not...

China’s assertive attitude in South China Sea unlikely to change after...

Thomas Daniel was quoted on the Radio Free Asia Experts say it is likely to continue claiming nine-tenths of the waters and resisting Western ‘interference’. by RFA Staff, 14...

Will Malaysia change its policy on Myanmar?

Malaysia has been one of the most forthright Asean member states when it comes to Myanmar and the actions of the junta since the...

Analysis: Youth voters are undecided and possible kingmakers if they show...

Min Hui was quoted by Bernama, 12 October 2022 by Nina Muslim KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Nazhatul Syafiqa has never voted before despite being eligible during the last general...

How Malaysia’s polls imperil Myanmar’s revolution

Thomas Daniel was quoted in the Asia Times Malaysian FM Saifuddin Abdullah has been anti-junta NUG’s strongest advocate in ASEAN and at UN but may...

Strengthening TVET capabilities in Malaysia

Key takeaways TVET increasingly important, producing occupationally skilled youth as its dual system focuses on workplace training and hands-on experience. Greater focus on skill-heavy...

#Talkingpolicy EP02: 2023 budget reactions with ISIS Malaysia experts, part 01

The 2022 Budget, coming just ahead of the 15th general election, needs to balance the needs of the govt, environment and our most vulnerable,...

#Talkingpolicy EP02: 2023 budget reactions with ISIS Malaysia experts, part 03

The 2022 Budget, coming just ahead of the 15th general election, needs to balance the needs of the govt, environment and our most vulnerable,...

Time to reset 65-year-old friendship

Diplomacy, dialogues and deeper people-to-people ties to help overcome statis  AS we mark 65 years of Malaysia-India ties, a more sobering assessment of the bilateral...

Set aside politicking, focus on stateless time bomb

Situation in Sabah will worsen if documentation eludes another generation AT the 89th Malaysian Armed Forces Day celebrations on 16 September, chief Gen Tan Sri...

Women might pay price of employment ‘progress’

*Editor’s note: This article was updated on 15 September 2022 Amendments to Employment Act raise fears that poor implementation will hurt parents instead In a long-overdue...

Taiwan adapts to ‘new normal’ while world looks on warily

Beijing’s cross-strait actions could extend to South China Sea dispute US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan last month dominated headlines for its...

Chinese troops drive away fishing vessels from disputed waters

Thomas Daniel was quoted on the Radio Free Asia Soldiers repelled a boat from an area also claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. by RFA Staff, 13 Sept...

Making trade, investment work for Malaysia 

Globalisation must benefit local firms, help them move up value chain AS anxieties over Covid-19 fade, Malaysia has sought to rebuild the links shattered by...

BFM podcast: Will TVET help address Malaysia’s need for skilled talents?

Sofea Azahar was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 2 September 2022. Produced by: Jeremy Ng Presented by: Christine Wong, Lily Chai Malaysia is currently beset by a shortage...

AWANI Global: Hubungan tegang Taiwan – China

Angeline Tan was interviewed by Astro Awani on 27 August 2022 Ikuti diskusi dan analisis mengenai ketegangan hubungan Taiwan – China dan implikasi kepada hubungan...

Labour: Hard decisions and institutional reforms needed to tackle the labour...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in The Edge Malaysia. This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on August 22, 2022 - August 28, 2022. by Chong Pooi...

What it takes to remove subsidies

Other countries have succeeded in reducing sting of price rise by adopting cash transfers, PR blitz to educate populace PUTRAJAYA recently backtracked on subsidy removals...

Underemployment: An economic problem ignored by many

Sofea Azahar was quoted by Malaysiakini. Gajendra Jeya Kumar, 25 August 2022 When Firdaus, who wants to be referred to by his first name only, graduated...

It’s politicians, bureaucrats who control arms deals, says analyst

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Free Malaysia Today, 9 August 2022. by Nicholas Chung PETALING JAYA: A defence analyst, describing the local defence industry as a patronage machine, says politicians...

Pelosi trip sets back Biden’s effort to woo Asia against China

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in Bloomberg South Korea, India stayed quiet on US speaker’s landmark trip Regional leaders want to avoid being drawn into US-China...

Focus on boosting booster rates in laggard states

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...

Why is the Myanmar crisis such a challenge for ASEAN?

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Al Jazeera. by Al Jazeera Staff | 3 August 2022 Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are meeting in Phnom...

On the question of labour: work-life balance (or lack thereof) in...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in The Vibes. Solutions to work-life balance in Malaysia remain a distant utopia, at the cost of the overall well-being of Malaysians by Kalash...

Is Asean pointless handling the situation in Myanmar?

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 29 July 2022. Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Keith Kam, Shazana Mokhtar, Wong Shou Ning Myanmar's military government which overthrew...

ASEAN keeps firm focus on recovery

Thomas Daniel was quoted in China Daily. by YANG HAN | 29 July 2022 Economic priorities expected to draw attention when foreign chiefs meet Efforts to promote...

China announces series of exercises in S. China Sea as Taiwan...

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in Radio Free Asia 'Playing with fire will only get you burnt,' Xi warns Biden. By RFA staff, 29 July 2022 In a show...

‘Center of the global battery industry’: Samsung builds $1.3 billion EV...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Forbes. by Ralph Jennings, 27 July 2022 Samsung Electronics’ battery arm, Samsung SDI, has broken ground on a $1.3 billion factory in...

Asean must recognise hard truths about Myanmar

Regional body must live up to principles, deal with deaths, displacement in member state THE Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) next week will see more discussions...

Govt urged to help as bosses brace for longer maternity leave

Lee Min Hui was quoted by MalaysiaNow, 19 July 2022. Otherwise, there are concerns of discrimination against women workers as the amendments to the Employment Act come into...

Education best bet for Quad to win Asean ‘brownie points’

Security and strategic forum should shed ‘exclusive’ image by strengthening people-to-people connectivity THE Quad fellowship was launched in May 2022 during the fourth Quadrilateral Security...

BFM podcast: Trade, still the centre of the Sino-malaysia relationship

Angeline Tan was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 14 July 2022. Produced by: Philip See Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Keith Kam Researcher Angeline Tan discusses the significance...

Small nations can play big part in multilateralism

Reforms not happening in global institutions, so it’s time for smaller powers to step up to protect own interests DESPITE grand promises of cooperative action...

Why multilateralism matters in ‘crazy’ world

Cooperation, less selfish acts can overcome post-Covid challenges like inflation, supply chain disruptions  IF we take a few steps back and look at what is...

Asean must play cards right amid competition

Leaders must not lose sight of cooperation and centrality as superpowers pursue goals contrary to our interests. The phrase “the more things change, the more...

Post-Duterte: Diplomats, analysts watching how Marcos will handle US-China rivalry

Thomas Daniel was quoted on Rappler, 14 June 2022. At an Asia security summit, many eagerly await news of Marcos' appointments to the defense and foreign affairs...

China warns of risk of war over Taiwan while pledging peace

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in Bloomberg Defense chief Wei Fenghe responds to US at security gathering Vow to respect sovereignty faces skepticism after Ukraine war By...

US makes Asia inroads by playing down need to oppose China

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in Bloomberg Washington tries softer touch to counter Beijing’s influence Defense chiefs present competing visions at security forum by Peter Martin and Philip...

Foreign worker reforms must be No.1 priority

Firms need to adopt innovation, move away from ‘cheap’ labour Covid-19 exposed many flaws in our labour market. The pandemic disrupted the global and regional...

Narrowing educational inequality – Malaysia’s perspective

NEAT Working Group Meeting on "Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Socio-Economic Recovery and Growth in the Midst of Pandemic" Presentation by: Sofea Azahar Date: June 2022 Presented at: Network of East...

Flood management must be at centre of urban planning

Malaysia can no longer ignore climate change, bureaucrats should get their act together. IN the Klang Valley, flash floods are the new normal.   The sixth Intergovernmental...

Consider This: Diplomatic Service: Professional or Political

Consider This with Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris – 26 May 2022 The controversial pick of an UMNO politician as Ambassador to Indonesia brought the diplomatic...

What TVET needs is good dose of talent show

Technical and vocational grads more marketable yet sector suffers ‘poor perception’. TALKS about rebranding technical and vocational education and training pop up all the time...

After Malaysia’s NUG meeting, will Asean approach towards Myanmar shift?

Thomas Daniel was quoted on South China Morning Post, 24 May 2022. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister this week informally met a member of Myanmar’s opposition NUG party,...

‘Difficult to believe’: Biden’s economy plan a tough sell in Asia

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Al Jazeera. US president’s arrival in Seoul will mark start of effort to promote new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in region by Andrew Haffner,...

Why Putrajaya prefers quiet diplomacy in dealing with China’s maritime claims

Thomas Daniel was quoted on the Free Malaysia Today, 14 May 2022. by Hakimie Amrie Hisamudin  PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya is pursuing its “quiet diplomacy” in dealing with territorial disputes...

China slams planned US economic framework as Biden hosts SE Asian...

Thomas Daniel was quoted on the Radio Free Asia Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a centerpiece of US policy, expected to be launched this month by RFA Staff, 13 May 2022. Beijing...

President Biden hosts US-ASEAN Special Summit | Radio Free Asia (RFA)

Thomas Daniel was interviewed on Radio Free Asia, 12 May 2022 President Biden hosts the US-ASEAN Special Summit this week for the first time since 2016....

BFM podcast: US-Asean summit: Symbolism over substance?

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 12 May 2022. Produced by: Tan Chen Li Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Tan Chen Li, Khoo Hsu Chuang The US-ASEAN Summit...

Maklumat palsu dan literasi media & informasi

Authors: Harris Zainul and Tashny Sukumaran Read pdf Bab ini adalah salah satu daripada modul pembelajaran literasi media dan informasi yang telah disunting oleh Dr Hasrul Hashim,...

China stumbles over zero-Covid strategy

Southeast Asia should court investors wary about dealing with extended lockdowns, fears of Beijing suffering Shanghai’s fate IN February, the world watched in anticipation as...

Let’s bring these pressing issues to US-Asean Summit table

SITTING in Washington DC, it is easy to get distracted by the great number of strategic issues that compete for the attention of policymakers,...

BFM podcast: Power returns to the Marcos family

Izzah Ibrahim was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 10 May 2022. Produced by: Natasha Fusil Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn Voting in the Philippines presidential election concluded yesterday, and...

Asean-US relationship needs reboot as geopolitical risks evolve

Summit on May 12-13 chance to advance regional prospects, minimise stagnation THE lead up to the much-anticipated Asean-United States (US) special summit did not get...

Malaysia’s relations with the United States and China: Asymmetries (and anxieties)...

ISEAS Yusof Ishak, Southeast Asian Affairs 2022 Malaysia's Relations with the United States and China: Asymmetries (and Anxieties) Amplified by Thomas Daniel & Kuik Cheng-Chwee This essay traces...

Falling ringgit has no immediate impact on low- income earners, say...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in the Malaysian Insight. by Raevathi Supramaniam, 5 May 2022 THE deteriorating ringgit is unlikely to have an immediate impact on the livelihoods...

Occupational safety standards should be increased, urges labour group

Tashny Sukumaran was quoted by The Star by CHAN MAY THENG, 28 April 2022 PETALING JAYA: Continuous efforts will be made to ensure workers who lost...

‘Sudden death’ used as catch-all for many migrant worker fatalities, says...

Tashny Sukumaran was quoted by the Free Malaysia Today by Reshna Reem Ganesan, 28 April 2022 PETALING JAYA: “Sudden death” has been used as a catch-all term...

Getting the mix right on tech race, national interests

Nations must navigate alliances, build domestic digital economy. In recent years, many nations have pursued partnerships with the purpose of advancing alliances on emerging and...

Pandemic Papers: Lessons from Covid-19

Pandemic Papers: Lessons from Covid-19 touches on economic growth and development; the impact on women; human capital and foreign relations; and how the pandemic shaped the national discourse. It also documents Covid-19 policies and their effects.

Crisis of inequality: Covid-19’s long-lasting economic impacts

Introduction: Malaysia after the pandemic The Covid-19 crisis has been the single largest economic disruption in modern Malaysian history. Since the first case was discovered...

Poorer pupils pay price of pandemic with e-learning shortcomings

The shutdown of schools because of the pandemic has disrupted education worldwide, affecting more than 1.7 billion children, youth and their families.¹ Worse, at...

Women’s woes: Gendered impact of Covid-19

The effects of a crisis are rarely gender-neutral. Women and men experience markedly different outcomes during a crisis because of unequal foundations in society.¹...

Accelerating digitalisation, digital rights in Covid era

Born out of the ashes of the pandemic is a deeper government commitment towards the technological adoption and digitalisation agenda. Since 2020, a number...

Building a more robust and resilient information ecosystem

On 15 February 2020, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that “we’re not just fighting an epidemic;...

China’s ‘soft power’ on show in Southeast Asia

The year 2021 was when most governments tried to find a new normal in an ever-changing Covid-world. For Southeast Asia, it meant launching national...

Room to grow the Putrajaya-New Delhi partnership

The early days of the pandemic in 2020 were also a time when Malaysia-India relations were at an all-time low. Former prime minister Tun...

Civil-military relations during pandemic

by Izzah Ibrahim & Regina Wan Ahmad The first cases of Covid-19 in Malaysia were detected on 25 January 2020, traced to three Chinese nationals...

Mine the data to fight Covid, future pandemics

As Malaysia moves to endemicity, it must use every tool to stay ahead of public health issues AS Malaysia reopens its borders this month, the...

Food security a matter of national security

If desert nation-state Qatar can be 100% self-sufficient in dairy, so can we.  MALAYSIA is a food-insecure nation. This fact flies in the face of...

OIC can work towards ‘greater good’ if it ignores rivalries

India, Pakistan helped Afghanistan, showing that ‘rivals’ can resolve problems AT the recently concluded 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad...

Cosmos Dialogue | Bangladesh-Malaysia relations: Prognosis for the future

Yanitha Meena, speaking at the Cosmos Dialogue, urges both Malaysia and Bangladesh to move beyond the stereotypical “labour relations” that has traditionally defined the...

My Say: Policy failures and lessons from the Covid crisis

by Calvin Cheng and Harris Zainul / The Edge Malaysia Policymakers around the world grappling with Covid-19 have learnt a harsh lesson in the last...

My Say: Policy failures and lessons from the Covid crisis

by Calvin Cheng and Harris Zainul / The Edge Malaysia Policymakers around the world grappling with Covid-19 have learnt a harsh lesson in the last...

Ukraine war: How the battle on Malaysia’s social media has become...

Thomas Daniel was quoted on the South China Morning Post, 19 March 2022. While Ukraine has the lion’s share of international attention, Malaysian observers say local...

Assessing the invasion, how war in Ukraine impacts Southeast Asia

Thomas Daniel was quoted on Southeast Asia Globe, 16 March 2022. Regional analysts consider Russia’s military action and the possible consequences for ASEAN nations Written by Brian P. D....

Fix digital weaknesses first to make up for learning losses

TVET education bore brunt of shortfalls in online platforms, setting back students by 2 years   AS Malaysia enters the endemic phase of Covid-19, it is...

Russo-Ukrainian war the bloody outcome to power play

When superpowers provoke one another, the innocent first to pay the price  AS the Russo-Ukrainian war enters its third week, sparking one of the largest...

With 28pc of young voters under 30, what can we expect...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malay Mail by Milad Hassandarvish, 8 Mar 2022 KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 ― Johoreans are a few days away from voting...

‘Saving’ Malaysia’s middle class post-Covid-19

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). By 2030, global middle-class consumption is projected to grow by US$29 trillion and Asia is set to account for more than half the total consumption market (Donmaz et al., 2017).

Focus in continuity: roundtable series | digital economy

What role does the digital economy play in supporting Malaysia’s development? How can international and regional cooperation be strengthened through effective policy making?  Calvin Cheng...

Progress comes when more women are elected to power

We must ask why politics lagging women’s economic, educational advancements WOMEN make up about half of the Malaysian population but only 15% of parliamentarians. As...

MOH acted on 14 ‘viral fake news’ posts for covid misinformation

Harris Zainul was quoted by CodeBlue, 4 March 2022 In 2021, the government spent RM13.25 million on educational and promotional materials on healthy living, Covid-19 vaccine safety, and...

Code red: Malaysia needs adaptation plan for climate change

The 6th assessment report issued this week by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) gave a grim prognosis on the impact of global warming, warning that temperatures were rising faster than our capacity to adapt. We speak to Ahmad Afandi of ISIS Malaysia on the state of Malaysia's preparedness to mitigate and adapt to climate change risks

BFM podcast: Why is Asean muted on the invasion of Ukraine

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 28 February 2022. Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Khoo Hsu Chuang The Malaysian government's latest statement on the...

In Malaysia, oppressive policies marginalise migrant workers

Malaysia’s capital city is a place of contrasts and diversity: soaring skyscrapers alongside ramshackle tin dwellings, cold monsoon rains just weeks before muggy heat....

Reboot Look East Policy for new generation

40 years on, we can learn about sustainability, Society 5.0 and aging society from childhood friend THIS year marks the 40th anniversary of the Look...

Malaysia eyes China 40 years after it ‘looked east’ to Japan

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Nikkei Asia.  by P Prem Kumar and CK Tan, 15 February 2022  KUALA LUMPUR/SHANGHAI -- When engineers and mechanics at Malaysia's largest car...

BFM podcast: Should we raise the minimum wage sooner?

Calvin Cheng was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 7 February 2022. Produced by: Evening Edition Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan The Malaysian Trades Union Congress has urged...

Covid-19 in Malaysia: Socioeconomic impacts of Covid 19 in Malaysia and...

This guest lecture is part of the Global Business Strategy course in the Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School at Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam Presentation by: Calvin Cheng Date: 29...

NewsX #UNLEASHINDIA Special global telecast

Yanitha Meena was interviewed by NewsX on 01 Feb 2022. Yaneetha Meena discusses India’s newly announced Union Budget, its implications for Malaysia, the potential reset...

When will the next pandemic happen?

Harris Zainul was interviewed by R.AGE on 07 February 2022. Harris Zainul recently shared his thoughts on the consequences of misinformation during a pandemic, what can...

Silly to throw money at disasters

Climate change demands better planning, bigger budgets to address flooding, pandemic   THE Lunar New Year two years ago took place in what feels like a...

Socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia

Publication: National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)’s Asia Policy journal This article explores the wide-randing macroeconomic and socioeconomic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic since its arrival...

Why isn’t Asean making use of Indian know-how on disaster mitigation?

New Delhi’s climate-crisis initiative could help region where natural disasters becoming more frequent, vicious. ON 28 January 1992, India became Asean’s sectoral dialogue partner and...

2021 review of opportunities and challenges: China on “being itself”

Angeline Tan was quoted by Sin Chew Daily China’s “peaceful development” has led to its astonishing economic growth. In recent years, this has led the...

A look at digital adoption among Malaysia’s SMEs

Sofea Azahar was quoted by Channel News Asia. Small and medium enterprises in Malaysia have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. One important lesson...

Local government elections vital for democracy

The reintroduction of local elections in Malaysia has again been in the spotlight. Nevertheless, regardless of its merits and demerits, the right to vote...

Indonesia seeks cooperation among ASEAN coast guards

Thomas Daniel was quoted on Radio Free Asia. China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea are disputed by other regional countries. by Radio Free Asia...

Philippines, 4 other Asean member-states urged to form coalition in South...

Thomas Daniel was quoted on Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism As tension increases in the South China Sea and the drafting of the Asean-China Code of...

Researcher calls for better TVET teachers to produce skilled workers

by Aminah Farid / The Malaysian Insight / 24 December 2021 THE poor quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) instructors is adversely affecting...

Perkasa TVET, tingkat kemahiran graduan, kata penyelidik

by Aminah Farid / The Malaysian Insight / 24 December 2021 KUALITI tenaga pengajar Pendidikan dan Latihan Teknikal dan Vokasional (TVET) perlu dipertingkat untuk melahirkan lebih...

Consider This: Diplomacy – Bidens’s S.E.A gameplan

Consider This with Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris – 21 December 2021 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week embarked on his first visit to...

Rangka kerja dasar luar Malaysia dalam dunia pasca pandemik

Chief executive Herizal Hazri was on RTM’s Bicara Naratif to discuss Malaysia’s foreign policy posture in a post-pandemic world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=yARadFHs6JQ&feature=emb_title This interview first aired on 20...

Anthony Blinken’s short trip to Malaysia

Produced by: Arleen Webber Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Shazana Mokhtar, Philip See Thomas Daniel, Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Programme, ISIS...

Why Putrajaya should reset relations with South Asia

Foreign policy response to region needs fresh impetus given geopolitical events IN 2022, Malaysia will celebrate 65 years of bilateral relations with India, Pakistan and...

How Asean should defend its primacy

As the Asia-Pacific evolves to deal with changing dynamics, more multi- and mini-lateral groupings are created alongside them. Southeast Asia is watching the development warily,...

AWANI Global: Memahami Perkongsian Strategik Komprehensif (CSP) ASEAN-China

Angeline Tan was interviewed by Astro Awani on 4 December 2021 Apakah cabaran dan peluang baharu hubungan ASEAN-China melangkaui 30 tahun sebagai rakan dialog rantau...

Experts brand govt handling of high food prices a knee-jerk reaction

Dr Larry Wong was quoted by The Malaysian Insight by Raevathi Supramaniam - 3 December 2021 SUSTAINABLE solutions to the problem of high food prices lie in holistic policies...

After signing ILO protocol, Malaysia will be obligated to end forced...

Tashny Sukumaran was quoted by Benar news by Hadi Azmi, 1 December 2021 Malaysia will be legally obligated to prevent all forms of forced labor and sanction violators once...

A new self-reliant India: Priorities and opportunities for Malaysia

India’s self-reliant campaign or Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan will change the face of Malaysia-India trade relations. With New Delhi recently approving the US$1.4 billion (RM5.8 billion) National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) to become self-reliant in edible oil production, Malaysia would be hit hard, considering that India is one of the largest importers of Malaysian palm oil. This is an opportunity for Putrajaya to revisit the current trade, investment and business relationship with New Delhi to ensure that ties remain resilient.

BFM podcast – On the Melaka election: BN’s big win

Harris Zainul was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 22 November 2021. Produced by: Adeline Choong, Tasha Fusil, Raihanna Azwar, Chin Kar Marn Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla...

End of period ‘spot checks’ not an end to larger problem

Sexual harassment, policing women’s bodies ‘normalised’ in Malaysian society, which is why we must change mindsets. AFTER revelations that schools were still carrying out period...

Hubungan AS-China | Hala tuju hubungan Washington-Beijing

Thomas Daniel was interviewed by Astro Awani on 15 November 2021 Bagi mengupas lebih lanjut mengenai arah hubungan Amerika Syarikat-China sempena pertemuan secara maya antara...

South China Sea safeguards ‘not strong enough’ to stop international tensions...

Herizal Hazri was quoted in South China Morning Post. Observers call for greater efforts to agree on a code of conduct for the disputed waters,...

Preparing Future Workforce for Post-Pandemic Recovery

Preparing Future Workforce for Post-Pandemic Recovery Building TVET Capabilities in Malaysia Presentation by: Sofea Azahar Date: November 2021 Presented at: 2021 Research Institute Network (RIN) Online Workshop Series...

China’s much anticipated sixth plenum

Angeline Tan was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 9 November 2021 Produced by: Philip See Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Wong Shou Ning, Philip See Angeline Tan, Researcher in...

Asean must keep evolving or end up a dinosaur

Regional grouping sheds ‘non-interference’ in Myanmar case but that’s only the first step By Yanitha Meena Louis  and Muhammad Sinatra   THE 38th  and 39th  Asean Summit...

Asean must keep evolving or end up a dinosaur

Regional grouping sheds ‘non-interference’ in Myanmar case but that’s only the first step By Yanitha Meena Louis  and Muhammad Sinatra   THE 38th  and 39th  Asean Summit...

To know the Taliban, talk to the neighbours

Malaysia should not wait for problems to spill over before engaging South Asia on ‘ground reality’ THE formation of the Taliban government raises important questions...

Youth in Malaysia: The great reset post-Covid-19

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...

Post-pandemic growth – Address barriers to business digital transformation

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses all over the nation have had to weather the economic impactsof social distancing and lockdown measures....

Challenges in digital adoption

IF there is one lesson to be learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that adoption of digital technologies is no longer optional for...

Asean must do more than excluding generals from summits

Grouping needs to find long-term solution to Myanmar crisis if it doesn’t want to lose ‘central’ role in regional affairs.  IT is a decision as...

ASEAN emergency meeting to discuss barring Myanmar junta chief from summit

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Benar News. Article by Shailaja Neelakantan, 14 October 2021 Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting Friday to discuss barring the...

We can’t be caught napping on foreign policy front

As geopolitical tensions rise alongside US-China rivalry, Malaysia must reassert its importance in region.  THE United States has long been criticised for neglecting Southeast Asia...

UNHRC membership will place Malaysia in good stead to speak up...

Harris Zainul was quoted by Bernama By Rosmalis Anuar – 11 October 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11  -- Malaysia has presented its candidature for the United Nations Human Rights Council...

South China Sea tensions: why Malaysia’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ approach to...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. Although Malaysia has pursued a cautious foreign policy towards China, it recently ticked off the...

BFM podcast: 10k household income by 2025?

Calvin Cheng was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 6 October 2021. Produced by: Arleen Webber Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Philip See, Shazana Mokhtar Is raising the average household...

Experts: Raising minimum wage, median earning better targets for 12MP than...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Malay Mail.  by Keertan Ayamany, 1 October 2021  KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — Experts polled by Malay Mail have argued that...

My Say: Time to hold a national conversation about Malaysia’s ties...

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on July 26, 2021 - August 01, 2021. by Tashny Sukumaran and Shahriman Lockman If 1978 was...

BFM podcast: Does the 12MP address gender inequality and inequity?

Tengku Nur Qistina was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 29 September 2021. Produced by: Dashran Yohan Presented by: Dahsran Yohan On the 27th of September, Prime Minister Datuk...

China survey ship leaves Indonesia EEZ but another appears off Malaysia

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Radio Free Asia article on 29 September 2021. The Da Yang Hao, is now operating in an area that runs through the...

China’s Dual Circulation Strategy: Implications and opportunities for Malaysia

Executive summary China’s new development paradigm, dubbed the “Dual Circulation Strategy”, will impact on the direction of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. Shifting away...

RMK12 – Ini suara anak muda

Senior analyst Calvin Cheng and senior researcher Tengku Nur Qistina were on air to discuss youth perspectives and agency in Malaysia's recovery efforts, ahead of the...

RMK12 – Ini Suara Anak Muda

  Senior analyst Calvin Cheng and senior researcher Tengku Nur Qistina were on air to discuss youth perspectives and agency in Malaysia's recovery efforts, ahead of the...

Pembentangan Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 (RMK-12)

Chief executive Herizal Hazri was on air to discuss the impact of the 12th Malaysia Plan, as well as key takeaways with Buletin TV3’s Mior Abdul Malik Rayyani on 27 Sept 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uM3Lup3y4w This interview...

Grit, resilience must be lesson No. 1 from Covid-19

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...

How will Malaysia survive the Covid-19 economic crisis? The answer may...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Malay Mail.  by Keertan Ayamany, 15 September 2021  KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Like most other countries, Malaysia has gone through...

Economists predict bigger budget to fund recovery, welfare

Calvin Cheng was quoted in the Malaysian Insight.  by Raevathi Supramaniam, 16 September 2021 PUTRAJAYA is likely to announce an expansionary budget for 2022 as the country...

Uneasiness in Malaysia not ruled out as Australia gets nuclear subs

Thomas Daniel was interviewed in Malaysia Now on 18 September 2021. by Ahmad Mustakim Zulkifli There may be some “residual uneasiness” in Malaysia following the announcement of...

BFM podcast: Walking the talk, not just rhetoric

Tengku Nur Qistina was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 17 September 2021. Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Philip See Malaysia has long championed for...

Pandemic pushes millions of Asians into poverty

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Het Financieele Dagblad (FD). by Ate Hoekstra, 9 September 2021  Southeast Asia has been prospering economically for the past two decades. But the tide...

Democratech: Can technology make petitions relevant again?

Terence Too, interviewed by Jotham Lim AFTER Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister, a Change.org petition was created to protest against...

Let’s include more voices in foreign policymaking

AT the start of his second stint as foreign minister, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah spoke about the push for a more open and consultative approach...

BFM podcast: Common prosperity to address China’s inequality

Angeline Tan was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 3 September 2021. Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Philip See Angeline Tan, researcher for ISIS Malaysia, helps us...

What we can learn from the ‘summer of freedom’

FOR a short time in June, the United States gave us a peek into what life was like and what to expect post-Covid-19. Dubbed...

No, America is not exiting the Asia-Pacific anytime soon

Thomas Daniel was quoted in a recent commentary published in The National (UAE) which focused on the coverage of long-term effects of America's withdrawal...

This Merdeka, let’s recapture spirit of change

Malaysia has beaten the odds of race, language, religion dividing us and this is what we have to celebrate in a pandemic year.  IT is...

Six years on from the Andaman Sea crisis, the Bali Process...

When hundreds of Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi migrants travelling to Southeast Asia in 2015 died after being abandoned at sea by smugglers, the...

BFM Podcast: What would the ideal Cabinet look like?

Harris Zainul was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 25 August 2021. Produced by: Loo Juosie, Tasha Fusil, Alia Zefri Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan Prime Minister...

Undi18 youth votes should be heard, say experts

Tengku Qistina has been quoted in The Star article by Dina Murad, 22 August 2021 UNDI18 must be implemented soon to ensure the voices of youth are...

Time to build back better with more women leaders

IN the 64 years that Malaysia has been independent, there have only been 16 women Cabinet ministers. Today, close to 50% of Malaysia’s population is...

Pregnancy during pandemic raises thorny questions

Malaysia is neglecting women’s health during Covid-19 and will pay the price down the road.  THE death of songstress Siti Sarah Raissuddin in early August...

BFM podcast: Understanding the evacuations from Afghanistan

Yanitha Meena was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 19 August 2021 Produced by: Azlyna Mohd Noor, Adeline Choong, Loo Juosie, Alia Zefri Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn,...

To go down hydrogen route or not…. our dilemma

By Syamil Hakimi & Nazran Zhafri HYDROGEN is fuelling the major economies of Asia with Japan, South Korea and China leading the way. Even in...

To go down hydrogen route or not…. our dilemma

By Syamil Hakimi & Nazran Zhafri HYDROGEN is fuelling the major economies of Asia with Japan, South Korea and China leading the way. Even in...

NEWS | PN collapses, Who will the king choose as next...

Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Radio News on 17 August 2021 Malaysians have now turned their attention to what comes next, following the fall of...

COVID-19 | Cabaran dan dasar belia & wanita masa hadapan

Tengku Qistina was interviewed by Astro Awani on 14 Aug, 2021 Hari Belia Antarabangsa 2021 menyatakan golongan belia semasa pandemik ini terpaksa menangani ketidakadilan keselamatan...

Consider This: Diplomacy (Part 2) – Asean met Covid-19 challenge?

Consider This with Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris – 15 August 2021 Thomas Daniel was interviewed on Astro Awani's Consider This in the lead up to...

Culture can be money spinner for both Malaysia, India

AS Malaysia and India mark their independence month in August, we are reminded of the time-tested friendship between Putrajaya and New Delhi. Resilient bilateral relations, however, must be continuously...

US-China rivalry puts Pacific centre stage for world’s navies

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in South China Morning Post. The US Indo-Pacific command is planning a near-month-long series of global exercises with major allies...

Pergelutan pandemik dan geopolitik Asia Pasifik

Herizal Hazri was interviewed by Astro Awani Global on 7 August 2021 By Nailah Huda Ketua Eksekutif ISIS Malaysia Herizal Hazri membincangkan mengenai Persidangan Meja Bulat...

Police summon Malaysian teen who reported teacher’s alleged rape joke

Tashny Sukumaran was quoted by Benar news by Hadi Azmi and Nisha David, 5 August 2021 Malaysian police have summoned a teenage girl who made international headlines in April for...

Cabaran pandemik Covid-19

Senior Director (Research) Alizan Mahadi was interviewed by Berita RTM’s Bicara Naratif on 02 August 2021.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK9iU0K0nOc&ab_channel=BeritaRTM

Insight, Ep 14: Fish wars in Asia

Thomas Daniel was interviewed in Episode 14 of CNA's Insight documentary, which focused on the contest for resources and influence in the strategic South...

To ‘rescue’ Malaysia, get a grasp of constitution

Leaders, voters need to understand ‘document of destiny’ to resolve many thorny issues confronting us today. THERE has been a lot of talk of late...

Activism, journalism are key to nation-building

IN the last few months, Malaysia has seen increasing crackdowns on activists and civil society members – from iconoclastic graphic designer Fahmi Reza to,...

How OIC’s ‘Asia’ could help banish hunger

In pursuit of the collective goals of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the true potential of member states from East and South Asia...

Govt needs king’s consent to revoke emergency ordinances, says expert

by Raevathi Supramaniam Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Hj Shad Saleem Faruqi was quoted in The Malaysian Insight on 29 July 2021 YANG di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah...

Parliament – Vaccination plan scrutinised

Herizal Hazri was interviewed by Astro Awani on 28 July 2021 By Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan Day 3 of Parliament’s Special Sitting saw the presentation...

Why the private sector should get involved in cybersecurity

GOVERNMENTS and the private sector don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to security issues. It would require those with jurisdiction in...

In age of disruption, foresight and agility trump all

Almost one and a half years into the Covid-19 pandemic, the norms and architectures that shape policymaking are in the midst of their greatest...

Southeast Asia riding this pandemic wave together

Ramadan spike didn’t result in blame game between Malaysia, Indonesia and could be a model for post-Covid policymaking. THERE was a time last year when...

SDGs can guide our Covid-19 recovery

Development need not leave out anyone and should lift everyone out of poverty towards a more prosperous, just nation. LAST week, amid the record number...

Shaming Covid-19 aid seekers, or when the poor in Malaysia don’t...

Calvin Cheng was quoted in Malay Mail.  by Syed Jaymal Zahiid, 21 July 2021  KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — While the informal #benderaputih movement to help...

Without herd immunity, Asean sees surge in Covid-19 numbers

Harris Zainul was quoted by Bernama By Rosmalis Anuar – 17 July 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 -- After dodging the worst of COVID-19 since the pandemic surfaced...

The net zero journey: What board members need to know

Presentation by: Alizan Mahadi Date: 13 July 2021 Presentation about the "Policy impact on corporate climate change responses" at an online forum hosted by Climate Governance Malaysia, titled...

Elites alone can’t solve Myanmar’s turmoil

JULY 12 — ”Myanmar protest.” “Myanmar military coup.” “Is it safe in Myanmar?” These are just some of the options that pop up when one...

Let’s talk about Covid vaccine passports

As nations mull reopening borders, they must consider how to balance travel and public health interests. PUBLIC conversations last week had, among others, centred on...

ISIS Malaysia: Selective vaccine passports will fracture world

By Boo Su-Lyn | 8 July 2021 The Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia says having different “classes” of Covid-19 vaccines will lead...

BFM Podcast: Moving forward with challenges in migration issues

Produced by: Loo Juosie, Kelvin Yee, Azlyna Mohd Noor Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan COVID-19 has complicated migration, with a pause being put on migrant labour...

Digital sovereignty viewed from Asia

The rapid pace of global digital transformation has led to new ideas concerning the relationships between economic growth, human development, human rights and national...

Telling a good Communist story

Ever since President Xi Jinping came into power in 2012 he has set about telling “a good story about China”, and what better story...

PEMULIH: Fasa Pemulihan Negara

With Harris Zainul and Calvin Cheng - 5 July 2021 BernamaTV’s Ruang Bicara discusses the mental, economic and social toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well...

PEMULIH: Fasa Pemulihan Negara

With Harris Zainul and Calvin Cheng - 5 July 2021 BernamaTV’s Ruang Bicara discusses the mental, economic and social toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well...

To compete with China, the West needs commitment, pragmatism

A KEY outcome from the G7 meeting in Cornwall last month was the agreement for the world’s wealthiest liberal-democratic economies to provide “high-quality” financing...

Migrant vaccination policies

IN May last year, Malaysians thought they were experiencing the height of the pandemic. Against the backdrop of isolation and social distancing, economic woes...

Better to house the homeless than let them roam free

Juita Mohamad was quoted in The Sun article. by Hakem Hassan / 30 Jun 2021 PETALING JAYA: Spending money to house homeless people with mental illness...

Rohingya refugees in Malaysia struggling to survive amid rising arrests

By Melissa Goh - 29 Jun 2021  Malaysia hosts the largest number of Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia. Many of them are struggling and still living...

BFM Podcast: On the evolving role of think-tanks

Produced by: Sim Wie Boon Presented by: Noelle Lim  ISIS Malaysia Chief Executive Herizal Hazri discusses overlooked policy areas, and how think tanks could remain relevant in this...

Market forces push race to zero to forefront

Businesses, countries risk losing out if they fail to adopt net-zero emission targets.  LAST week, naturalist David Attenborough called on all of us to take...

Trends in Malaysia’s future of work

by Calvin Cheng and Harris Zainul Publication: Chinese on Journal of China-ASEAN Studies (Volume 2, 2021) Download as PDF  

As Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination drive revs up, sceptics threaten to spoil...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Online disinformation has left many elderly too afraid to get jabbed and is fuelling ‘vaccine...

Policies for the future of Malaysia’s youth

This presentation provides a brief overview of COVID-19's unequal economic impacts on Malaysia's youth and outlines policy areas for the future of Malaysia's youth. Presentation by: Calvin...

With schools closed, transport operator looks to loan moratorium to sustain...

Juita Mohamad was quoted in Fee Malaysia Today article. by Nicholas Chung, 25 June 2021 PETALING JAYA: With schools closed because of the lockdown and a...

BFM Podcast: The COVID-19 crisis: Is Malaysia Losing Its Middle Class?

Produced by: Sim Wie Boon Presented by: Khoo Hsu Chuang, Wong Shou Ning, Shazana Mokhtar Prolonged lockdowns and an economy in neutral may have sent more...

What Raisi’s victory means for the region

Election of judge, Khamenei loyalist to presidency signals new pivot to Asia. EBRAHIM Raisi’s victory in Iran’s general election on 18 June 2021, as president...

Is our data truly safe?

By Jotham Lim - 21 July 2021 Think about our current digital footprint — gigabytes of family photos, social media posts and sensitive documents uploaded from...

Pelan Pemulihan Negara: Peralihan Fasa PKP Secara Berperingkat

ISIS Chief Executive Herizal Hazri was interviewed by RTM’s Bicara Naratif on 16 June 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keBM8ulr7PQ  

BFM Podcast: Outcomes of the G7 summit

Bunn Nagara was interviewed by BFM 89.9 on 14 June 2021  Produced by: Tasha Fusil, Azlyna Mohd Noor Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn Leaders from the G7...

Women dominate healthcare, yet their health issues are neglected

Policies, ending taboo about menstrual leave could go long way to address gender inequality.  IT is ironic that females, who make up 70% of the...

Dealing with anti-vax campaigns

Harris Zainul was quoted on The Star on 13 June 2021  By DINA MURAD EVERY afternoon, we are faced with a distressing new set of Covid-19 case...

Middle class money problems will hurt too, economists warn

Calvin Cheng was quoted in MalaysiaNow article.  By Ahmad Mustakim Zulkifli - 12 June 2021  A drop in the spending power of the M40 will have repercussions...

Geopolitics of Trade and Regional Integration in East Asia

Dr Juita Mohamad was interviewed by Sarwar Kashmeri on 09 June 2021  In an interview with Polaris Live, Dr Juita Mohamad talks about how trade...

Uzbekistan’s multi-pronged approach to extremism, terrorism

The Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISRS), Uzbekistan, shares the republic’s strategies to fight terrorism. UZBEKISTAN is not allowing Covid-19 to stand in its...

Malaysians cry foul as government points finger in COVID-19 blame game

Harris Zainul was quoted on Arab News on 06 June 2021  By Ushar Daniele Accuse authorities of ‘incompetence’ after public blamed for flouting strict lockdown rules, leading...

Leadership 101 must be on full display during pandemic

Leaders seeking public compliance with SOP should inspire confidence, stop making U-turns.  THE Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the world into a prolonged state of crisis...

Consider This: China friends with friction?

Consider This with Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris - 02 June 2021 Mr Bunn Nagara was interviewed by Astro Awani Recent incursions into our airspace by PRC...

Pemerkasa PLUS bantu usahawan teruskan kelangungan perniagaan

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...

BFM Podcast: Pemerkasa+: Reactive or proactive solution?

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...

Nationwide lockdown in Malaysia begins as coronavirus infections surge

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....

Summon Chinese envoy over airspace intrusion, govt told

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Free Malaysia Today. FMT Reporters,  1 June 2021 PETALING JAYA: Wisma Putra should summon the Chinese ambassador to protest the flight...

Fiscal size matters (Pt. 2): Permerkasa Plus and Malaysia’s economic stimulus...

On 31 May 2021, on the eve of the implementation of the Full MCO, the Malaysian government announced the RM40 billion Permerkasa Plus assistance package. This...

Govt has means to provide stimulus package, say experts

By Ragananthini Vethasalam - 31 May 2021  Calvin Cheng was quoted in The Malaysian Insight article.  THE government must come up with a “large” economic aid...

SPEAK UP! Hosted by SRDC: Wages and Employability

SPEAK UP! Hosted by SRDC: Wages and Employability   featuring  Calvin Cheng SPEAK UP! Organised by University Putra Malaysia Students’ Affairs Division, in collaboration with Serdang Royals Debate...

Things we need to get right to woo back foreign investors

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...

Youth in Peril: the unequal impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on...

Presentation by: Calvin Cheng Date: 27 May 2021 Presented at an online forum hosted by University Putra Malaysia’s Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelajar, titled “A Conversation on Wages and...

Implications of Nepal’s political crisis for Malaysia

Foreign labour agreement at risk as landlocked Himalayan country fights deadly virus surge following collapse of communist government.  ON 13 May, KP Sharma Oli was...

We can still tweak policies ahead of COP26

Tackling climate change involves cutting Malaysia’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels, reducing emissions. IN November, the 197 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on...

BFM Podcast: Economic vs health trade-offs: protecting Malaysian workers and households...

Produced by: Sim Wie Boon Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Philip See Putrajaya announced new and tighter restrictions in redoubled efforts to cut the spread of...

Bicara Naratif – ‘Solidariti Malaysia untuk Palestin’

Bicara Naratif – "Solidariti Malaysia untuk Palestin" bersama Timbalan Menteri Luar Negeri, YB Dato' Kamarudin Jaffar dan Ketua Eksekutif, Institut Kajian Strategik dan Antarabangsa...

Gazans cannot rely on ‘friends’ to end conflict

Groups like the OIC and UNSC are beholden to the US, Israel’s staunchest ally, which explains Palestine’s long-suffering humanitarian crisis. O N April 13, the...

As Israel pounds Gaza, Malaysia and Indonesia fill Arab void to...

Hardline stance of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei will be closely watched by China and Russia as they seek to shift the US position on...

Why we should fear the new ‘Made in China’

Beijing is seizing the opportunity to retool its economy and cement its superpower status while the world continues to grapple with Covid-19. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the global economy, China is emerging...

RCEP: A unifying set of rules

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...

To solve problems, listen to our youth

Leaders could do well to tap into youngsters for their perspectives and ideas, instead of excluding them from policymaking. I RECENTLY facilitated a number...

A framework towards addressing vaccine-related false information in Malaysia

Executive summary As we move forward with the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP), the “infodemic”, as coined by the World Health Organization (WHO), shows no...

Bicara Politikonomi – Mengimbangi Keperluan Ekonomi dan Kesejahteraan Rakyat

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...

Serve foes same drink… teh tarik or kopi ‘o’

THE Yemeni civil war is now in its seventh year. Last month, two long-time foes – Saudi Arabia and Iran – held secret talks...

Government needs planned Covid-19 infodemic response

by Ragananthini Vethasalam / The Malaysian Insight / May 02, 2021 THE government needs carefully planned strategies to deal with the Covid-19 infodemic, or risk worsening...

Malaysia’s Youth in Peril

The impacts of the pandemic on the youth and its implications for Malaysian economy, society and politics By: Calvin Cheng and Bridget Welsh An original version...

Getting it right on tech sovereignty

THE term “sovereignty” is used to describe an independent state, whereby a government’s legitimacy rests on its ability to keep the national interests above...

Asean must act on to achieve consensus points

LAST Saturday (24 April), Asean leaders met in Jakarta to discuss the Myanmar crisis, including the junta’s crackdown on civilians since the 1 February...

Pemerkasa offers holistic 3-pronged support, says economist

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...

Is Asean’s Myanmar five-point consensus workable, and what is next?

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. Asean leaders and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday agreed on five issues,...

Agenda AWANI: Next steps for ASEAN on Myanmar

Mr Thomas Daniel was interviewed by Astro Awani in Agenda AWANI. The special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday to discuss the current...

BFM Podcast: Translating green policies, councils and plans into real action

Produced by: Arleen Webber Presented by: Wong Shou Ning, Philip See With the Malaysian Climate Change Action Council and the National Low Carbon City Master Plan,...

Why Asean must deal with the generals

The Asean leaders’ meeting on Saturday in Jakarta looks set to proceed despite being beset with multiple challenges. The meeting on Myanmar will only...

When does a recession look like a recession?

While many have been devastated by the sweeping impacts of the pandemic—others are redirecting travel budgets into increased spending on shopping, dining, and entertainment. Download...

BFM Podcast: Fresh grads barely making minimum wage

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...

Experts: Fresh grads’ pay as low as RM1,000 a systemic problem,...

by Ida Lim and Keertan Ayamany, 15 Apr 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Low earnings for Malaysian fresh graduates was a long-standing issue due to...

Make SDGs relevant for all so no one gets left behind

THE Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set up in 2015 by the United Nations and adopted by all member states, have provided truly worthwhile aims...

BFM Podcast: Raise pay to raise productivity

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...

BFM Podcast: Has the pandemic created more jobs?

Produced by: Kelvin Yee Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan According to the Malaysian Employer's Federation (MEF), there are currently more jobs than there are job seekers....

BFM Podcast: Understanding ‘big brother’ furore

Produced by: Tasha Fusil, Loo Juosie, Alia Zefri Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was recently criticised over his...

Expanding Malaysia-Bangladesh ties

AS Bangladesh celebrates its 50th year as an independent nation, one is also reminded of how Dhaka has remained an all-weather friend and ally...

Pushed to the Margins: the unequal impacts of the COVID-19 crisis...

Presentation by: Calvin Cheng Date: 1 April 2021 Presented at an online ISIS Forum titled “Fighting the inequality pandemic: COVID-19 and its economic impacts on marginalised worker groups”  and...

Covid-19 conspiracy theories and ways to address them

TO Michael Butter, author of the book The Nature of Conspiracy Theories, conspiracy theories seek to explain events happening in the world as planned, with...

We cannot afford for Myanmar to unravel any further

Thomas Daniel was quoted in The National Article by Sholto Byrnes,  31 March 2021 After Myanmar’s military regime marked National Armed Forces’ Day on Saturday by committing their...

BFM Podcast: Malaysia uninvited to climate action summit

Produced by: Kelvin Yee, Alia Zefri Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan Malaysia has been excluded from the Leaders Summit on Climate, a US-organised climate...

Malaysia can benefit from emulating Japan’s early education system

JAPAN is often described as a country of contrast, where modernity and high technology coexist with tradition and culture, with words such as polite,...

AWANI Tonight: Malaysia’s Ability to Attract Foreign Direct Investments

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....

Consider This: PEMERKASA – Government Response Evolving?

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...

Clarify how debt is calculated, govt told

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...

Social Media: Counter disinformation with digital literacy and more objective-based policies

Iriani Amirudin / The Edge Malaysia / March 22, 2021 Most of us have come across conspiracy theories and anti-science rhetoric on popular platforms such...

Test of quality friendships

THE Cold War swept in from 1947 and took decades to end. The Korean War began a few years later and has not officially...

Pemerkasa: Strong Enough to Kickstart the Economy?

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...

Job creation and retention important to get economy on course

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...

The New Emergency Ordinance and the problems with fake news

by Harris Zainul and Ryan Chua MARCH 15 — Much has been and will be said about the introduction of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No....

Time to embrace female leadership

Last week, the world celebrated International Women's Day. This year's theme was "#ChooseToChallenge", the choice to empower, and support women (or men) to challenge...

Malaysia in 2021: Year of the vaccine

Article by Zarina Zainuddin and Muhammad Sinatra  first published in Observer Research Foundation (ORF) India on 11 March 2021 Malaysia’s roller coaster experience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic...

Malaysia in 2021: Year of the vaccine

Article by Zarina Zainuddin and Muhammad Sinatra  first published in Observer Research Foundation (ORF) India on 11 March 2021 Malaysia’s roller coaster experience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic...

Lawatan Perdana Menteri ke Arab Saudi perkukuh hubungan KL-Riyadh – ISIS

Herizal Hazri mengulas mengenai lawatan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ke Arab Saudi, Bernama KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Mac -- Kejayaan lawatan rasmi Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin...

The race towards energy transition

Ever since the industrial revolution heralded a transition from an agrarian economy to one that is dominated by machine manufacturing, the supply and reliability...

Malaysia as Uzbekistan’s Key Partner in Southeast Asia

Malaysia as Uzbekistan’s Key Partner in Southeast Asia: Celebrating 29 Years of Diplomatic Ties and Bilateral Relations  Aziz Karimov, Abror Madimarov Leading research fellows Institute for Strategic and Regional...

SDG projects are powerful as they empower communities to take control...

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...

Myanmar deportation won’t affect Malaysia’s regional standing, world ties, say experts

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Free Malaysia Today Article by Jason Thomas,  26 February 2021 PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s decision to repatriate more than 1,000 undocumented migrants to...

South China Sea: ‘reasonable’ for Asean nations to be worried about...

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in South China Morning Post. SCMP’s China Conference: Southeast Asia hears of possibility of ‘dangerous encounters’ with China’s coastguard in...

BFM Podcast: To deport or not?

Produced by: Sim Wie Boon Presented by: Lyn Mak, Noelle Lim, Roshan Kanesan Thomas Daniel, Fellow for Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Institute Of...

Moody’s rating illustrates effectiveness of govt policies

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...

Three Vaccine Assumptions for 2021

As COVID-19 vaccination programs scale up globally, they must be able to withstand reality. Policymakers need to incorporate three realistic assumptions into their immunization...

Malaysians turn to Clubhouse amid coronavirus lockdown, weighing its inequities vs...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Science minister Khairy Jamaluddin, actress Maya Karin and disgraced ex-premier Najib Razak have all used...

There’s No Hard Reset for Conflict

More than a year’s worth of disruption and reactive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a stop. Thus unsurprisingly, when...

Malaysia-US ties expected to remain strong under Biden’s administration — Analyst

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Bernama article. Article by Voon Miaw Ping,  17 February 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, Feb.17 -- Malaysia's bilateral relations with the United States (US) is...

Lift lockdowns, travel curbs to drive growth, govt told

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...

US-China Tensions and the Future of ASEAN

This article was first published in the Valdai Discussion Club Managing major power competition is nothing new for member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations...

V-shaped recovery highly unlikely for Malaysia

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...

Questions abound on safety risks amid the hope for normalcy

IN what seems to be a race against Covid-19 — to execute effective measures to control and ultimately put an end to its devastating...

BFM PODCAST: In crisis, better to include than exclude?

Produced by: Sim Wie Boon Presented by: Lyn Mak, Noelle Lim, Roshan Kanesan A poll conducted by the USCI Poll Research Centre showed almost half of...

Prospects and risks for Malaysia’s economy in 2021

A version of this article was originally published on Malaysiakini As a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the return of strict movement restrictions in most...

Tatmadaw Runs Against Progress

By Pou Sothirak, Philips J. Vermonte, Herizal Hazri, Herman Joseph S. Kraft and Thitinan Pongsudhirak The coup d'état in Myanmar represents a major reversal in...

Indonesia, Malaysia call for Asean meeting to discuss Myanmar coup as...

Muhammad Sinatra was quoted by the South China Morning Post Muhyiddin, who was in Jakarta for a brief visit, said a special meeting was...

Buka Laluan Hijau Timbal Balik kepada pelajar, pekerja – Penganalisis

Muhammad Sinatra was quoted in Astro Awani by Isabelle Leong Februari 4, 2021 KUALA LUMPUR: Antara isu utama yang akan dibincangkan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dalam...

Malaysia-Indonesia: Partnership in challenging times

By Philips Vermonte and Herizal Hazri The visit to Indonesia by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin – starting today and ending with a meeting with...

Turn Your Head Westward, But Not Too Far West

When one looks to the West from our current geographic location, we tend to overlook what’s in between. Instead, we focus on what’s immediately...

Proactive measures to combat fake news on Covid-19 vaccine

Harris Zainul was quoted in The Star By DINA MURAD Sunday, 31 Jan 2021 ONE of the best ways to tackle misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine and to...

Malaysia draws battles lines with EU over palm oil, focusing on...

Ainun Jaabi was quoted by the South China Morning Post Government complaint filed at WTO says Europe’s anti-palm oil measures create ‘unreasonable trade barrier’ But...

Malaysia-Australia ties raised to comprehensive strategic partnership

Bilateral ties between Malaysia and Australia were just elevated to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” at a virtual meeting between the Prime Ministers of both...

It is only right that migrant workers should get full protection

MALAYSIA'S reliance on migrant workers from countries like Indonesia has intensified since the introduction of the New Economic Policy in the 1970s. The foreign labour...

Selangor making additional plans

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...

Joe Biden mampu ubah landskap perdagangan

Dr Juita Mohamad telah berkongsi pandangan berkait pemulihan perdagangan serantau meliputi Malaysia, ASEAN dan APEC selepas Presiden Joe Biden menerajui pentadbiran Amerika Syarikat. Tontoni...

Malaysian COVID-19 Cases Soar to Thousands per Day

Harris Zainul was quoted in VOA news online  Article by Ralph Jennings,  22 January 2021 TAIPEI - Malaysia has gone back into a tough new lockdown as COVID-19...

Fiscal size matters: the PERMAI assistance package and Malaysia’s economic response...

On 18 January 2021, a week into the Movement Control Order for most states in Malaysia, the government announced the RM15 billion ‘Perlindungan Ekonomi...

It is a shame if we learn nothing from 2020

This new year, rather than rejoicing in the promised Malaysia as visioned three decades ago — we face devastating floods, an unrelenting pandemic, and...

Trump, twice impeached

Produced by: Tasha Fusil Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan Trump will face the Senate in a historic second impeachment trial, after the House voted...

Pendakwaan Trump: Tiada siapa mengatasi undang-undang – Penganalisis

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Astro Awani. Article by Nailah Huda, 14 January 2021 KUALA LUMPUR: Pendakwaan kali kedua terhadap Presiden Donald Trump merupakan satu langkah bersejarah...

Malaysia, once praised by the WHO as ‘united’ against COVID, has...

Tengku Qistina has been quoted in an ABC article Article by Max Walden, 14 January 2021 Malaysia's nationwide state of emergency is set to last...

Grassroots, machinery the biggest challenge for Pejuang, Muda in snap polls...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malay Mail By Milad Hassandarvish,  4 January 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — The seemingly endless political turmoil in the country...

GE15: Issues on environment, education and gig economy to be main...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malay Mail By Milad Hassandarvish,  31 December 2020 KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 ― A lowered voting age and the ongoing political...

2020 In Review: World News

Produced by: Hezril Asyraaf Presented by: Hezril Asyraaf, Kam Raslan We take a look at the biggest international headlines this year with Thomas Daniel - revisiting...

Should COVID-19 Vaccines Be Mandatory?

The accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines is a triumph of science, and governments will soon turn their attention on ways to achieve the highest...

Learning to live together in harmony

THE shadows are lengthening on 2020 and a tumultuous decade is about to come to an end. It is time to reflect on the...

Malaysia A Price-Taker In Regional Security?

Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Lyn Mak, Roshan Kanesan 2020 was initially thought to be a transformative year for Malaysia's regional security outlook, but the twin crises...

Community responses to Gendered issues during Malaysia’s fight against COVID-19

“Domestic Violence is more prevalent than ever before with the stay-at-home measures as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)...

Consider This: COVID-19 – Addressing vaccine hesitancy

Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Awani in Consider This Will vaccine hesitancy-the reluctance to accept immunisation-threaten to derail our fight against the pandemic? Tonight on...

Malaysia’s Regional Security Outlook: Continuity amid Disruption

This article was first published in The CSCAP regional security outlook (CRSO) 2021 annual publication. Building on key developments throughout 2019, 2020 promised to be an exciting...

Gastrodiplomacy – Connecting Malaysians with the refugee diaspora

By Sujatha Spaapen Cuisine as a medium connecting the refugee diaspora with host communities seems farfetched. However, recent developments in the field of gastrodiplomacy show...

Rising cases scupper hopes of Malaysia-Indonesia travel bubble

A friend’s FaceTime session with his father last week began with a surprise query: “Is Malaysia now open to Indonesians?” He told my friend of...

East Asian Summit matters to Asean

The 15th anniversary of the East Asian Summit (EAS) received scant attention amid the many statements, declarations, plan-of-actions and other such announcements from the...

Budget funds for automation, digitalisation could attract startups, says analyst

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...

Consider This: RCEP – How To Maximise Benefits For Malaysia?

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, follows almost a decade of negotiations, and according to some observers, marks a major step forward for...

A Big Win for Malaysia

Download as PDF Malaysia kick-started the APEC CEO Dialogue this morning marking the end of APEC meetings as a host before the finale; the APEC...

Constitutional issues to the fore

AS in life so in law, a host of factors have to be examined holistically before any significant decision or determination can be made....

A US Navy First Fleet in the Indian Ocean, based out...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. The US Navy Secretary’s proposal raised eyebrows among observers, who say the plan is a...

Asia-Pacific region should push for free trade, sustainable development: Malaysian expert

KUALA LUMPUR (Xinhua): Asia-Pacific economies should strengthen anti-Covid-19 cooperation and promote economic recovery while facing the impacts of Covid-19, said Herizal Hazri, chief executive...

Behind the Text – Reaffirming ASEAN’s Spirit

An ASEAN Summit is more than a “mere” biannual affair. It means a barrage of associated bilateral and multilateral meetings between the 10 Member...

Robust digital strategy vital to tap halal industry potential

THE 2021 Budget tabled recently covered various initiatives focusing on technology deployment and enhancement, aiming to boost competitiveness of local businesses, drive foreign investment...

ASEAN’s New Normal: Change and Continuity in Terrorism Landscape

ASEAN and ASEAN Member States must embrace the elements of change and continuity in the terrorism landscape as part of the “new normal” imperatives. By...

ASEAN’s New Normal: Change and Continuity in Terrorism Landscape

ASEAN and ASEAN Member States must embrace the elements of change and continuity in the terrorism landscape as part of the “new normal” imperatives. By...

4 Ways South Korea Can Make A Difference in the Mekong

What are the available options that Seoul can consider to contribute in the resolution of environmental, economic and political challenges that have haunted the...

Geopolitical Considerations for ASEAN-ROK Relations

ASEAN and South Korea should strive towards fostering cooperation in the strategic aspect of the New Southern Policy. To reach that objective, however, ASEAN...

Budget 2021: Will Malaysia keep up with the Global Green Economy...

By Alizan Mahadi and Darshan Joshi Joe Biden is set to become the next president of the United States of America, and many analysts have predicted...

Budget 2021: Will Malaysia keep up with the Global Green Economy...

By Alizan Mahadi and Darshan Joshi Joe Biden is set to become the next president of the United States of America, and many analysts have predicted...

4 strategies to counter Covid-19 anti-vaccination propaganda

Providing some optimism for an otherwise bleak year is the recent announcement on Pfizer and BioNTech. Perhaps now, with the promise of a potential...

Countering COVID-19 anti-vaccination propaganda

Executive summary In preparation for a COVID-19 vaccine, the government needs to be proactive in laying the groundwork towards the twin goals of simultaneously increasing...

Malaysia’s latest economic data offers hope but Covid-19 curbs could threaten...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Q3 GDP contracted 2.7 per cent from the same period in 2019, less severe than...

Can Batu Sapi polls be postponed?

THE by-election for the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat in Sabah, caused by the untimely death of respected former Law minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong,...

Proper recognition will improve the lot of Pala’u community

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...

The COVID-19 Infodemic in Malaysia: Scale, scope and policy responses

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 false information.

US-China rivalry set to persist whoever wins the White House

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Al Jazeera article. Whoever emerges the winner of the November 3 election, the US is set to retain a tough approach...

COVID-19: Malaysia’s Role & Policy Response in Food Security

In the history of mankind, situations have repeatedly risen when food insecurities led to social changes and explosions: hunger riots, troubled times, revolutions, mass...

Biden’s green economy PIVOT

ON Nov 3, Americans will cast their ballots to select their next president. Since July, the Democrat candidate Joe Biden has had a lead...

The Sabah Crisis

Article by Bridget Welsh and Calvin Cheng A version of this article was originally published on Malaysiakini Download as PDF Yesterday, Sabah's Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) was...

Malaysia and Japan: Fanning old flames

JAPAN’S new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga seems to be quite the decisive fellow. Untroubled by opposition in the Home Islands, he is moving quickly...

Observe the spirit of the Constitution

THOUGH the pandemic rages and the economy plummets, the wheeling and dealing to secure advantages for themselves remains the pastime of many leaders on...

BFM PODCAST: How Do We Cure An Infodemic?

Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are also battling what’s being called an infodemic, which the...

Malaysian development means good, constructive work

From last December to March this year, Notes Verbale were filed by Malaysia and the Philippines at the United Nations over Malaysia’s extension of...

Lawatan Menteri Luar China ke Malaysia 
Bawa Pelbagai Manfaat Kepada Negara

Hubungan diplomatik Malaysia-China telah dimeterai sejak 1974. Berpegang kepada semangat kesaksamaan, kepercayaan dan saling menghormati sepanjang 46 tahun, persahabatan dua negara ini telah mencoret...

New Chances for South Korea’s New Southern Policy

Considering the current ambiguous geopolitical and geo-economic situation, Southeast Asia has found itself at the centre of attention in shaping post-pandemic agendas and priorities...

The Covid infodemic: To err is human, to share is criminal?

By now, Covid-19 is a worrying fact of life. Also a fact of life is how the onset of the pandemic has brought about...

China’s push lets foreign poachers steal our fish, say experts

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Free Malaysia Today Article by Ainaa Aiman,  11 October 2020 PETALING JAYA: China’s dominance in the South China Sea, and the big...

Finding normalcy in uncertain times

By Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan, Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin DURING the Movement Control Order (MCO) in April, we wrote that the period brought lessons and...

Make environment a security issue

By Alizan Mahadi and Nazran Johari Two incidents last month reminded us about the absurd juxtaposition when it comes to environmental security in Malaysia. On Sept...

Make environment a security issue

By Alizan Mahadi and Nazran Johari Two incidents last month reminded us about the absurd juxtaposition when it comes to environmental security in Malaysia. On Sept...

Invisible force: Can Undi 18 end Malaysia’s political dilemma in GE15?...

Harris Zainul was quoted in Malay Mail Article by Milad Hassandarvish,  09 October 2020 KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — This year has been a roller coaster ride for...

The Impact of COVID-19 on Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Malaysia

By Thomas Daniel and Ariane Jeffrey The onset of COVID-19 and its resulting lockdown had a particularly harsh impact on refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia,...

The Impact of COVID-19 on Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Malaysia

By Thomas Daniel and Ariane Jeffrey The onset of COVID-19 and its resulting lockdown had a particularly harsh impact on refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia,...

South China Sea: Malaysia to stick with ‘quiet diplomacy’ towards Beijing...

Shahriman Lockman was quoted in South China Morning Post. Not only is China Malaysia’s biggest trading partner, it also has a history of ‘escalation...

The appointment of Sabah’s CM

THE last fortnight has thrust a number of constitutional issues to the fore. By-election: Due to the sad demise of Datuk Zachary David Liew Vui...

BFM PODCAST: SPV 2030 – Fair, Just, and Inclusive?

Produced by: Arleen Webber Presented by: Wong Shou Ning,Lyn Mak Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has said that the Shared Prosperity Vision will continue to...

Why Vietnam Is Asking Other Asian Countries to Help Squelch Fake...

Harris Zainul was quoted in VOA news online  Article by Ralph Jennings,  01 October 2020 TAIPEI, TAIWAN - A surge in fake news around Southeast Asia, particularly bogus...

YBhg. Encik Herizal Hazri appointed as Chief Executive of ISIS Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, 30th September 2020 – The Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia is pleased to announce that YBhg. Encik Herizal Hazri has...

Promote multilingualism in education

As the laws permit considerable discretion and flexibility, it is ultimately a matter of wisdom, political courage and educational vision. MALAYSIAN Employers Federation executive director...

In a US-China war, whose side is Southeast Asia on? Philippines,...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. Amid China’s military drills near Taiwan and fears that the South China Sea is becoming...

Claim of ‘Malaysian disguise’ for US spy plane baffles experts

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Free Malaysia Today. Article by Hakimie Amrie Hisamudin,  12 September 2020 PETALING JAYA: Defence and foreign policy analysts are baffled by...

Philippine and Chinese defense chiefs try to ease South China Sea...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Nikkei Asian Review. Article by CLIFF VENZON and CK TAN,  12 September 2020 MANILA/SHANGHAI -- The defense ministers of China and...

Asean treads fine line as US-China rivalry, South China Sea loom...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. The bloc made clear during the four-day summit that it did not want to be...

Honouring the Malaysia Agreement

In many areas, Sabah and Sarawak’s autonomy has suffered serious retreat. AS we commemorate 57 years of the formation of Malaysia, we need to recapture...

What makes us Malaysian in the digital space?

IN the first five phases of the Movement Control Order (MCO), Malaysia used technology in specific ways. Among the most prominent was to highlight specific...

Building bridges, dismantling walls

THERE are no quick-fix solutions. The causes of disunity are many and the cures must tackle a whole range of swirling, divisive forces, some...

Pandemic should pave way for green new deal

WHILE Malaysia has made huge strides in modernising and diversifying our economy, the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated our continued reliance on our natural resource...

In Malaysia’s Covid “infodemic”, crime is all too easy

A crackdown on the spreading of false information is unfair if people don’t have the means to spot it. In Malaysia earlier this month, it...

South China Sea clash raises Vietnam-Malaysia tensions after fisherman shot dead

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. The incident took place on Sunday after Malaysia’s coastguard attempted to inspect two Vietnamese boats deemed...

Cost Cutting is Key but Not This Year

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...

Support the nuke weapons ban treaty

Nuclear arms are not weapons of war but weapons that would wreak total, global destruction. SEVENTY-FIVE years ago, on Aug 6,1945, in a horrendous act...

Health diplomacy way to managing international affairs

WHILE pandemic-induced times call for pandemic-tailored measures, the immediate effects of the Covid-19 virus have shown how countries dependent on the globalised world have...

Reigniting issue of royal immunities

LAST month, the outgoing president of the Dewan Negara, Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran, called upon the government to reinstate royal powers and immunities diminished...

Xi vows to revamp AIIB as model for multilateral cooperation

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Nikkei Asian Review article. Article by CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer,  28 July 2020 SHANGHAI -- Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed...

Global impact of US policies

THE policies of the United States, even domestic ones, tend to have global implications. A travel ban on Muslims, deportation of illegal immigrants and...

Will South China Sea’s rival claimants be emboldened by US policy...

Thomas Daniel was quoted in South China Morning Post. Washington’s tougher line on the contested waterway gives China’s neighbours some leverage in negotiations, observer says ...

Malaysian businesses to feel the pinch from Singapore recession

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...

China’s own records debunk ‘historic rights’ over disputed

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Al Jazeera article. Experts say official Chinese documents belie 'nine-dash line' as Beijing asserts dominance in South China Sea. Article by Ted...

Put Rukunegara at the core of govt

AUGUST 31 this year will be doubly sacred. Besides being the 63rd anniversary of Merdeka, it will be the 50th anniversary of our Rukunegara. This...

Consider minilateralism in dealing with South China Sea dispute, says analyst

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Bernama article. Article by Voon Miaw Ping,  14 July 2020 KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 -- As tension continues in the South China Sea over...

Guna pendekatan ‘minilateralism’ tangani isu Laut China Selatan – Penganalisis

Thomas Daniel was quoted in Bernama article. oleh Voon Miaw Ping,  14 July 2020 KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Julai -- Negara anggota ASEAN perlu segera mencari pendekatan alternatif...

Asean must pay heed to negotiations, outcomes of Code of Conduct

NEGOTIATIONS for the Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea have stalled, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 conclusion target anticipated by...

Disinformation and xenophobia target Malaysia’s Rohingya

The Rohingya in Malaysia have become the target of increasing xenophobia and hate speech. Disinformation — the intentional creation of false information — is...

The need for gender-inclusive policies in a post-pandemic world

As the world shut its borders to control the spread of Covid-19, concerns for women were raised. That concern comes as the uneven scales of...

More must be done to address Covid-19 infodemic

PARALLEL to the spread of Covid-19 is its infodemic. Coined by the World Health Organisation, it refers to a situation where there is "an...

Campaign of Hate? Fake News and Anti-Refugee Rhetoric in Malaysia

Harris Zainul was quoted in New Naratif Article by Jules Rahman Ong,  20 June 2020 Abdul Wahid, 40, came to Malaysia seven years ago in a rickety...

COVID-19: The Real Wedding Crasher

With the pandemic projected to last until a vaccine is discovered, perhaps it is necessary to give some thought to how COVID-19 may have...

Asean must take daring steps like EU

Entering 2020, there were many reasons for Asean to take pride in the bloc’s progress towards sustainable development. Extreme poverty has decreased from 138...

Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia: Lessons from Negeri Jiran

Article by Zarina Zainuddin and Muhammad Sinatra CSIS Commentaries DMRU-066-EN 6 May 2020 Download as PDF The story of Malaysia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic thus far is not only an...

Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia: Lessons from Negeri Jiran

Article by Zarina Zainuddin and Muhammad Sinatra CSIS Commentaries DMRU-066-EN 6 May 2020 Download as PDF The story of Malaysia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic thus far is not only an...

Onus on businesses to not depend fully on Penjana

THE latest economic stimulus package Penjana aims to initiate the economic recovery phase of Malaysia through three thrusts — empowering the people, propelling business...

Onus on businesses to not depend fully on Penjana

THE latest economic stimulus package Penjana aims to initiate the economic recovery phase of Malaysia through three thrusts — empowering the people, propelling business...

Will PENJANA Revive The Economy?

Produced by: Hezril Asyraaf Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn We take a first look at the RM35 billion worth Penjana economic recovery plan, and discuss if...

We must draw the line with cyberbullying

A CRITICAL implication of Covid-19 is the development of cyberbullying that has taken the form of online harassment, Internet trolling and sexual cyberbullying that...

Juita Mohamad (ISIS Malesia): la partita commerciale ASEAN-Cina-UE

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...

A New Abnormal: Rethinking Security amid COVID-19

Will it be business as usual for security as countries across the globe continue to fight against COVID-19? What are the developments that have...

Navigating Through the Storm: What Does COVID-19 Mean for Indonesia’s Regional...

Indonesia is facing difficulties to suppress the number of COVID-19 infections due to limited medical equipment, infrastructure and human resources. With a depressed state...

Cambodia’s COVID-19 Responses: Preventive and Responsive Measures

Cambodia has been doing relatively well in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, more regional and international cooperation is needed, especially since the...

The Philippines and the “New Normal”

The struggle against COVID-19 in the Philippines is expected to be extended, with the peak of the pandemic yet to be reached. How then...

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Laos

Like many countries around the world, Laos is grappling with the impact of this global pandemic. While an effective government response seems to have...

Teaching in the Age of the “New Normal”

State-mandated closures of learning institutions have brought conventional learning to a halt in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. The need to...

Repairing Fault Lines Revealed by COVID-19

While the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed fault lines in ASEAN integration and cooperation, there have also been indications of permanent disruptions and new adjustments...

Has the Pandemic Disrupted Vietnam’s Chairmanship of ASEAN?

COVID-19 has compelled Vietnam to recalibrate some of its agendas and priorities as ASEAN Chair this year. What are the pressures faced by Vietnam...

Myanmar: The COVID-19 Situation Report

Some have criticised Myanmar for its perceived lack of preparedness in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. But is this grounded in reality, and how...

Thailand’s COVID-19 Crisis and Prospects

Thailand has seen a lot in recent years – coups, curfews, demonstrations, violence in the streets and forced airport closures. But the second largest...

China blames US hawks for risking ‘new Cold War’

Thomas Daniel was quoted by Nikkei Asian Review By CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer,  24 May 2020 SHANGHAI -- China's foreign minister on Sunday argued that political forces...

Posers on constitutional position

ALL crises produce heroes or bystanders. Malaysia’s frontline workers of the Covid-19 catastrophe were rightly applauded as national heroes by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...

How will the Covid-19 outbreak affect Budget 2021?

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...

Building resilience, adaptability vital

ON April 3, as Covid-19 was spreading around the world, Cyclone Harold made landfall in Vanuatu, a small island state in the middle of...

COVID-19 highlights the plight of Malaysia’s refugees

Malaysia’s COVID-19-induced Movement Control Order (MCO) has caused severe hardships for refugees and asylum seekers in the country. Most work informally and earn daily...

We’re already in a global recession: here’s what we can do

Download as PDF For those still unsure, let’s be clear: we are currently already knee-deep in a global recession. All around the world, lockdown measures,...

Virtual parliaments: Can they become a reality?

Today will be our first Parliament sitting since December 2019 and there has been a lot of discussion about parliamentary processes in the time...

Digital surveillance: Privacy, data ecosystem and effectiveness

By Dr Moonyati Yatid, Farlina Said and Tengku NurQistina The role of technology in aiding our daily lives has grown rapidly since the imposition of lockdowns...

Digital surveillance: Privacy, data ecosystem and effectiveness

By Dr Moonyati Yatid, Farlina Said and Tengku NurQistina The role of technology in aiding our daily lives has grown rapidly since the imposition of lockdowns...

Digital surveillance: Privacy, data ecosystem and effectiveness

By Dr Moonyati Yatid, Farlina Said and Tengku NurQistina The role of technology in aiding our daily lives has grown rapidly since the imposition of lockdowns...

Malaysia’s political crisis could worsen coronavirus and economic challenges

Harris Zainul was quoted in CNBC Malaysia’s parliament sat for the first time this year on Monday and was supposed to debate motions that include...

Malaysia is beating coronavirus, so why should Muhyiddin be worried?

Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post The country, once the worst hit in Southeast Asia, is now relaxing measures after a...

Online Parliament – Why not

Produced by: Hezril Asyraaf Presented by: Kelvin Yee, Hezril Asyraaf Researcher Ryan Chua was on BFM Radio's Evening Edition commenting on what needs to be done...

Effective Middle Powers in Asia Pacific

IN an article I wrote, titled "Rise of the Rest" (ISIS Focus, 2017), I argued that the changing international order in the Asia Pacific...

Malaysia’s slick politics of oil

The deal announced last week between the state of Sarawak, Petronas and the federal government reflects pragmatic choices on all sides – as Sarawak accepted the...

Mekong nations face growing threat to food security amid claims China’s...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Drought, erratic water levels along 4,300km river are disrupting rice yields and fish catches, raising...

Democracy in ‘Malaysia Terbaru’

MAY 9 — Two years ago to this date, 12,299,514 Malaysians had braved the humid climate,extended waiting times, and weekday voting to perform their...

State defiance lacks legal basis

Doubts over the conditional MCO are understandable but when states go their own way, even when in good faith, they risk facing civil suits. NINE...

Looking beyond digital trade boon

WITH the Movement Control Order (MCO) being relaxed starting yesterday after 47 days of strict movement control, looking back, we have seen how instrumental...

No easy roads to take even for e-commerce amid Covid-19

After recording its first case of the novel coronavirus on January 25, 2020, and the bump in cases following the occurrence of the tabligh cluster in...

No easy roads to take even for e-commerce amid Covid-19

After recording its first case of the novel coronavirus on January 25, 2020, and the bump in cases following the occurrence of the tabligh cluster in...

Clarity needed before discussions moving forward can take place

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...

Malaysia shouldn’t use coronavirus as an excuse to reject Rohingya refugees

Fear of forced relocation and the coronavirus pandemic in refugee camps are fuelling new waves of Rohingya refugees Malaysia should not turn them...

Malaysia shouldn’t use coronavirus as an excuse to reject Rohingya refugees

Fear of forced relocation and the coronavirus pandemic in refugee camps are fuelling new waves of Rohingya refugees Malaysia should not turn them...

Religion, reason can go hand in hand

RELIGION is one of the most potent forces of human civilisation. It satisfies our innermost needs and reflects our deepest yearnings. Nearly 84% of...

Points for policymakers when tackling a crisis

WITH Covid-19’s exponential spread threatening entire populations, the role of government during this pandemic has undoubtedly, and understandably increased. This role, among others, includes determining...

Covid-19: Is Indonesia a time bomb?

A recently viral TV interview brought to surface a question that many have pondered upon: Will the Covid-19 crisis in Indonesia become a time...

Has the Pandemic Accelerated the Growth of Technology?

The global health crisis has opened the door for a bigger role of technology, assisting efforts in fighting COVID-19 and helping citizens adapt to...

Managing inbound Rohingya: Malaysia’s longstanding refugee situation takes on added urgency...

By Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin and Thomas Daniel Read in PDF Malaysia is once again bracing for an apparent surge of displaced Rohingya arriving by boat. A...

Managing inbound Rohingya: Malaysia’s longstanding refugee situation takes on added urgency...

By Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin and Thomas Daniel Read in PDF Malaysia is once again bracing for an apparent surge of displaced Rohingya arriving by boat. A...

Prioritising mental well-being in the time of Covid-19

As lockdowns in various parts of the world continue, it seems that mental health is emerging as a global issue with reports of increasing...

On the Unemployed Frontline: Malaysia’s Youth and Covid-19

Article by Bridget Welsh and Calvin Cheng first appeared on MalaysiaKini on 18 April 2020  Download as PDF While we rightly think of vulnerable communities as the poor,...

Digital Trade: A Boon During the MCO and Beyond

By Dr Juita Mohamad and Farlina Said Throughout the COVID-19 MCO, digital trade has been a boon in not only connecting businesses to consumers, but...

Digital Trade: A Boon During the MCO and Beyond

By Dr Juita Mohamad and Farlina Said Throughout the COVID-19 MCO, digital trade has been a boon in not only connecting businesses to consumers, but...

Expanding the Military’s Role?

The MAF has been deployed since 21 March to help patrol and enforce the MCO in response to COVID-19. At the time of writing,...

Expanding the Military’s Role?

The MAF has been deployed since 21 March to help patrol and enforce the MCO in response to COVID-19. At the time of writing,...

Expanding the Military’s Role?

The MAF has been deployed since 21 March to help patrol and enforce the MCO in response to COVID-19. At the time of writing,...

A Healthy Frame of Mind for National Security

Incorporating security elements in the fight against COVID-19 is essential, but Malaysia’s national response should not be constricted to that paradigm alone. While its...

Media freedom and fake news during the time of COVID-19

The likening of the fight against COVID-19 to a war should neither be a rationale for war-time measures, nor a free hand to muzzle...

A Post-MCO Mental Health Landscape for Malaysia

By YAM Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah and Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin The MCO has brought lessons and silver linings for the mental...

Health Insecurity and Its Impact on Refugees in Malaysia

Refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia have always struggled with a lack of identification and healthcare. How have these issues impacted the Government’s response...

Health Insecurity and Its Impact on Refugees in Malaysia

Refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia have always struggled with a lack of identification and healthcare. How have these issues impacted the Government’s response...

Present constitutional dilemmas

EXCEPTIONAL crises call for exceptional responses. However, in a democratic society, the measures adopted must preserve human dignity and show fidelity to the Federal...

Compliance: Too difficult of a pill to swallow?

Compliance: Too difficult of a pill to swallow? In past health security crises, the military and police have played a role to mitigate and solve...

Compliance: Too difficult of a pill to swallow?

Compliance: Too difficult of a pill to swallow? In past health security crises, the military and police have played a role to mitigate and solve...

2020: ASEAN’s Annus Horribilis

By Zarina Zainuddin and Muhammad Sinatra illustrate Southeast Asia might be facing its greatest external challenge since the foundation of ASEAN.  Interestingly, it did not emanate...

2020: ASEAN’s Annus Horribilis

By Zarina Zainuddin and Muhammad Sinatra illustrate Southeast Asia might be facing its greatest external challenge since the foundation of ASEAN.  Interestingly, it did not emanate...

Crisis Proofing Malaysia

Malaysia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has lessons for both the Government and the rakyat to consider. What are some improvements that can be...

The economics of a coronavirus pandemic

The outbreak of COVID-19 in addition to movement control measures will have a devastating impact on the Malaysian economy. A large, decisive, two-stage economic...

Making the invisible visible: Faces of poverty in Malaysia

Article by Bridget Welsh and Calvin Cheng first appeared on MalaysiaKini on 4 April 2020 Download as PDF COMMENT | For many, the movement control order (MCO) is one...

Evaluating the BPN/BSH cash transfers in the ​Prihatin​ stimulus package

Download as PDF The PN administration announced the Prihatin economic stimulus package (Pakej Ransangan Ekonomi Prihatin Raykat) on 28 March 2020, exactly one month after...

Put refugees in national database

CONCERNS surrounding undocumented refugees and asylum seekers have surfaced as Malaysia attempts to grapple with the spike in coronavirus cases. In such dire circumstances, the...

Malaysia’s Infodemic and Policy Response

The COVID-19 infodemic has shown that content needs to be regulated. The continued reliance on Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233...

Logistics – the other front in the war on COVID-19

“Amateurs discuss tactics; professionals discuss logistics” is a quote often attributed to Napoleon. Whether one is managing a battlefield, multinational business, soup kitchen or...

Potential threats of technology amid the Covid-19 crisis

When China first alerted the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the new coronavirus Covid-19 on December 31, 2019, it was already growing at an...

Locked Down and Locked Up: Domestic Violence during the Pandemic

As the implementation of movement restriction measures disrupts our daily lives, governments are compelled to respond to the high demand for support as domestic...

Preparing for a New Normal

Governments around the world have had to scramble to find ways to manage an unprecedented crisis with varying levels of success. While Malaysia has...

Covid-19 is a reminder of our relationship with Nature

Article by Alizan Mahadi and Nazran Johari which appeared in Malay Mail 28 March 2020 One of the few pieces of seemingly good news to come out...

Covid-19 is a reminder of our relationship with Nature

One of the few pieces of seemingly good news to come out in these troubling times is what might be called the return of...

COVID-19 in Malaysia: Economic Impacts & Fiscal Responses

Views expressed in this article is the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the view of the Institute of Strategic and...

Pandemic rules and the law

The Covid-19 crisis engulfing the nation (and the rest of the world) calls for drastic measures to prevent the spread of the affliction, trace...

The other victims of the Coronavirus: Multilateralism and regional cooperation

Economies, travel, healthcare systems, communities and lives are not the only wreckage that COVID-19 is leaving in its wake. Predictably, the virus has begun...

Curing the COVID-19 Information Disorder

Due to COVID-19’s novelty and pandemic status, false information, which thrives on fear and uncertainty, have flourished. This has led to an information disorder on...

Healing a fractured body politic

A lot of political juggling is required when a coalition forms a Cabinet. But what matters now is meeting the people’s expectations. WHATEVER reservations we...

About sustainability, regulation and consumer demand

EVEN as Malaysia and Indonesia work towards combating misperceptions behind anti-palm oil products from grocery store shelves, anti-palm oil campaigns in Europe continue to...

An overturning of popular will

The dizzying chain of political developments have raised a number of monumental constitutional issues. THE unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and...

Drastic rethink needed for military

The inaugural Defence White Paper (DWP) and the public relations blitz that followed indicate ambitious plans to improve the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and...

Asian countries pledge ‘regional solidarity’ with China over coronavirus outbreak

Mr Thomas Daniel was interviewed and quoted in an article on Arab News on the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Coronavirus Disease...

Trump’s trade deal poses new dangers to Southeast Asia

After two years of alternating between tense escalation and fleeting periods of calm, the United States and China reached a preliminary phase one trade deal in...

Royal rule amid leadership change

AS long as a prime minister continues to enjoy the stable support of a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat, his position as Prime...

Analysis: Braving Brexit and beyond

IT seemed like such a good idea at the time – a unified Europe, prospering through trade within itself and collectively with the rest...

Nurturing ingenuity and innovation

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...

The Malaysian Economy: One Decade in Review

Download Infographic The Malaysian Economy: One Decade in Review How the Malaysian economy has changed over the last decade in 11 charts Photo: Image by Walkerssk from Pixabay Graphic design by...

If the new coronavirus doesn’t get you in Malaysia, fake, racist...

Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Misinformation about the virus has become so pervasive that Malaysia’s health minister warns it’s a...

Improving the access to justice

Decentralisation is necessary and traditional and modern, legal and non-legal, judicial and non-legal techniques must be nurtured. THE administration of justice is the firmest pillar...

Book capital: A formula for change

THE people of Malaysia must not let disheartening developments elsewhere in the world dampen the optimism of 2020. A number of programmes have been...

We should unite on climate action

Article by Alizan Mahadi and Nur Syahirah Khanum which appeared in New Straits Times 20 January 2020 THE year 2019 saw greater action from all over the...

Everywhere and Nowhere: Cybertroopers and the battle for democracy

The utilisation of propaganda often has been hand-in-hand with politics since time immemorial. But with new tools – such as social media platforms, big...

Trading Troubles: The US-China trade tensions and its impacts on Malaysia...

Trade wars can have widespread negative impacts on the global economy, weighing down on global growth and investment, while increasing uncertainty and market volatility....

Trash Talk: Is waste emerging as a new security threat?

In 1991, former chief economist of the World Bank Lawrence Summers caused a stir when he laid out an argument that the economic logic...

Making Heads or Tails on Arms: Technology and Defence Spending

The undetermined future of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) remains a concerning indicator for the state of global nuclear disarmament and arms control....

ASEAN’s Mid-Life Crisis in An Age of Geostrategic Flux

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has come a long way since its founding in 1967. The organisation now encompasses almost all Southeast...

Old troubles in the new decade

A version of article was first published in the New Straits Times on 14 January 2019 under the title “Many Hurdles Amid Great Growth”   BY...

Youth Unemployment in Malaysia & the Region

This article was first published in the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF) Japan SPOTLIGHT January/February 2020 Issue. Full Issue: https://www.jef.or.jp/jspotlight/latestissue/ Article Link: https://www.jef.or.jp/journal/pdf/229th_Special_Article.pdf   Context In recent decades, world governments...

Youth Unemployment in Malaysia & the Region

This article was first published in the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF) Japan SPOTLIGHT January/February 2020 Issue. Full Issue: https://www.jef.or.jp/jspotlight/latestissue/ Article Link: https://www.jef.or.jp/journal/pdf/229th_Special_Article.pdf   Context In recent decades, world governments...

ASEAN, Pandangan Indo-Pasifik, dan Upaya Mendamaikan Kawasan

Mr Thomas Daniel was interviewed by Harian Kompas (Indonesian daily) which appeared in Kompas, 26 December 2019 View in PDF Oleh KRIS MADA,  26 December 2019 Laporan Akhir Tahun ASEAN,...

Malaysia to play mediator role?

A WEEK into 2020 and we are already witnessing a possible war in the Middle East, between an unpredictable United States president and a...

Buletin AWANI Khas: Iran lancar serangan udara mensasarkan tentera AS

Mr Thomas Daniel was briefly interviewed on Astro Awani last week about tensions in the Middle East last week – just after the killing...

Soleimani killing: what is Malaysia’s aim in call for Muslim unity?

Mr Thomas Daniel was quoted by the South China Morning post for an article titled “Soleimani killing: what is Malaysia’s aim in call for Muslim...

Apec needs new vision

THE Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) mechanism is very much part of the regional architecture. It was established in 1989 and is now 30 years...

Build bridges and dismantle walls

In 2020, Malaysia needs more efforts to strengthen intercommunal harmony and fight hate, extremism and ignorance. A TUMULTUOUS year has come to a close and...

Keeping up with the challenges

We have made great strides in protecting basic human rights and freedoms, but there are always threats to counter. We fight best when we...

Going beyond the ballot box

BY most measures, democracy is thriving in Malaysia. Nonetheless, triumphs in voter turnout and youth suffrage notwithstanding, it is important to remember that democratic...

Going beyond the ballot box

BY most measures, democracy is thriving in Malaysia. Nonetheless, triumphs in voter turnout and youth suffrage notwithstanding, it is important to remember that democratic...

The Mental Health Handbook

As we are in the last month of the decade, it is worth envisioning the road ahead for mental health in Malaysia. During the Mental...

Sosma can’t be above Constitution

OUR Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and the superior courts have the power to review and invalidate any executive or legislative...

There is more that binds us

IN a previous article, the author explored the background, scope and key issues that defined the trilateral relationship between Asean, Australia and New Zealand. Also...

Chance to accelerate growth

ON the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China last month, President Xi Jinping emphasised to its cheering crowd that “there is no...

Europe, the next global superpower?

FEW countries can claim that their domestic politics also determines the state of the international community. Besides the US, the two most prominent countries that...

Schools must promote constitutional literacy

Despite the importance of the Federal Constitution, Malaysians don’t know it well. It’s time to properly and fully educate the young on its principles...

Asean and the dammed Mekong

CONVERSATIONS on Asean in recent years have largely revolved around its community- building initiatives, its master plan on connectivity, its positioning vis-a-vis the United...

BFM PODCAST: RCEP Goes Ahead without India

Presented by: Lyn Mak, Julian Ng, Wong Shou Ning India finally got off the fence to firmly in the No side for RCEP. Calvin Cheng, Research...

BFM PODCAST: A World With More Walls

Produced by: Kelvin Yee, Loo Juosie Presented by: Kelvin Yee, Aiman Rashad, Kam Raslan We discuss an AFP report which looks at how nationalism seems to...

Trump Melemahkan AS

Oleh KRIS MADA,  1 November 2019 KTT Asia Timur dimanfaatkan para mitra ASEAN untuk menunjukkan komitmen pada kawasan. AS melepaskan kesempatan itu setelah Donald Trump...

Charting way forward for Asean, Australia and NZ

A CASUAL examination of Asean’s Dialogue partners often sees China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and recently, India receive more publicity and recognition...

Let us be the change we want to see

OUR nation is going through some turbulence in the areas of race and religious relations. Not a fortnight passes without some incident or the...

BFM PODCAST: Where Is Malaysia Now With India?

Produced by: Lee Chwi Lynn Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Kelvin Yee A trade body in India has urged its members not to import Malaysian palm...

Environment can threaten health, security

SUSTAINABILITY and environmental issues caught the headlines globally and in Malaysia last month. In New York, as part of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly,...

BFM PODCAST: THE SOCIAL RETURN OF SUBSIDIES

Presented by: Lyn Mak, Wong Shou Ning A number of new initiatives were proposed under Budget 2020, including an expansion of the Bantuan Sara Hidup programme...

Opening the windows of our mind

THE pre-eminence and official position of the Malay language is deeply entrenched in our Constitution. Article 152(1) prescribes that the national language shall be...

Powerful portrayal of mental illness

The release of Joker on Oct 3, during Mental Health Awareness Month and a week before World Mental Health Day today, is timely. The film highlights the...

BFM PODCAST: TRADE WAR GAINERS AND LOSERS IN MALAYSIA

Produced by: Noelle Lim Presented by: Noelle Lim Calvin Cheng, Researcher at the Economics, Trade and Regional Integration division of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS),...

Economic growth stifled

IT has been more than two years since the United States first launched investigations into China’s trade and intellectual property. Since then, four different...

Overhauling foreign policy to get our priorities right

NEITHER failure, overachievement nor decisions made through Malaysia’s foreign policy have attracted numerous mixed reactions from both at home and abroad. While no one expected...

At 70, China cheers its past as world braces for its...

Mr Thomas Daniel was interviewed in the following Nikkei Asian Review article. BEIJING -- China has much to celebrate as it marks the 70th anniversary...

Have knowledge of the Constitution

SIXTY-TWO years into independence, knowledge of our supreme Constitution’s glittering generalities is woefully lacking in our society. Not only ordinary citizens but students at all...

Nation-building in the Net Age

THE future of Malaysia is in technology — in recent weeks Malaysia celebrated Malaysia Day, Merdeka and also announced the approval of the National...

Bridges of friendship across the sea

We in the peninsula must learn from our borneo brothers and sisters the art of communal living, in which they are far better than...

Riding the Gojek wave amid litmus test of perceptions

IT seems that the energetic Youth and Sports Minister is poised to go after big-ticket items this year. Having played an instrumental role in lowering...

Should the government extend retirement age?

After a one-year hiatus, the proposal to extend the retirement age beyond 60 has resurfaced. Once again, the government responded to external pressure that the...

We need to talk, Malaysia

It is, once again, August 31. Like clockwork, the public and private sector machinery has been churning out narratives to drive up patriotism among...

Way forward in regulating hate speech

DUE to the technological advancements today, Malaysia faces an ever changing threat landscape that could undermine Malaysia’s internal socio-political dynamics. Further complicating matters is...

Time to stand up and be counted

A lot more has to be done to improve human rights in our country. Malaysians need to band together to subdue undemocratic forces in...

Is Malaysia benefitting from the US–China trade war?

It has been almost a year since the first round of US tariffs were imposed on US$34 billion worth of Chinese imports. Since then,...

Future-proofing Malaysia

ECONOMIST Douglass North once identified institutions as “the rules of the game in a society”. They set the agenda for a nation to come...

Hong Kong in decline

TWO generations ago cheap goods from Hong Kong were labelled simply “Made in Hong Kong,” but their poor quality soon made that embarrassing. For marketing...

At 60, Parliament is due for reforms

The law-making body is the central pillar of our democracy, and yet it legitimates rather than legislates. THE hallowed institution of our Parliament turns 60...

China’s rising maritime clout

JULY 12 marked the third anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision in the case brought by the Philippines against China’s claims in...

Climate Resilient Growth May Be Our Only Option

IN 1988, former National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist James Hansen raised the alarm on climate change by telling a ...

Tertiary studies on the cusp of change

A HIGH-LEVEL committee of the Education Ministry is conducting a detailed study of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) to recommend more...

Turkish template on equal education access for all kids

MALAYSIA hosts some 170,000 refugees and asylum seekers, 44,880 of them below the age of 18. Despite a policy preventing migrant workers bringing their children...

Turkish template on equal education access for all kids

MALAYSIA hosts some 170,000 refugees and asylum seekers, 44,880 of them below the age of 18. Despite a policy preventing migrant workers bringing their children...

‘1984’ still holds sway

Seven decades ago, Eric Blair, or better known by his pseudonym George Orwell, published “1984”. Considered today as a classic of dystopian fiction, terms...

Future Proofing Malaysia’s Democracy

JULY 3 — Malaysia is bucking global trends of retreating democracies and declining voter turnouts. In fact, it recorded an improvement in...

Boundaries, Rules, Interests and Goal of Nation-building

AFTER 30 years in the public policy arena, I have concluded that the burning problems afflicting global communities, including those in ...

Peaceful Process a Sign of Political Maturity

INDONESIA’S 2019 General Election, which saw a rematch between incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and challenger Prabowo Subianto, offers a few takeaways that are perhaps...

YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia’s Keynote Address...

33rd Asia Pacific Roundtable Keynote Address by YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on “A New Malaysia in a Changing Regional Order”

Beefing Up Cybersecurity

THE concept of middle power is one fraught with relativism, where the power projected is in relation to another state or,...

Championing Palm Oil’s Cause

A RECENT European Union (EU) plan proposing to restrict palm oil in its biofuel programme has once again put the palm oil industry into...

The Frog That Boiled

FOR decades, Malaysia’s racial-religious fault lines have been the playground of the politically privileged. And why not? They have been proven rallying points for...

Technological rivalry, international politics and cybersecurity

US President Donald Trump’s recent Executive Order and the placement of Huawei on the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Entity...

What it will mean to have India in APEC

APEC, or the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, was established in 1989 as a forum for regional economic cooperation for countries within the Asia Pacific...

Rising Threat of Stimulant Drugs In Malaysia

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) have overtaken opioids as the drug of choice for drug users in Malaysia. Is the country well-equipped to respond to this rising threat? What are the implications for treatment and rehabilitation?

Rising Threat of Stimulant Drugs In Malaysia

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) have overtaken opioids as the drug of choice for drug users in Malaysia. Is the country well-equipped to respond to this rising threat? What are the implications for treatment and rehabilitation?

Back To The Past?

Mahathir Mohamad’s return as Malaysia’s prime minister has brought important shifts in foreign policy priorities and partnerships from that of his predecessor Najib Tun...

Environmental Reforms for Malaysia Baru

The narrative on Malaysia’s environment policy has always been about preservation and conservation. Post May 9, we need another noun in our policy vocabulary to rebuild the country – restoration.

The Non Evolution of Malaysia’s Public Sector

While Malaysia has gone through different phases of political, social and economic development over the years, the underlying organisational structure and functions remain predominantly the same today. In light of the historic election results in May 2018, public organisations have evolved into a permutation of regulatory capture that is reactive rather than proactive in adapting to changing times.

Debt & Despair

In a Thursday evening press conference on 24 May 2018, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng confirmed that government debt and liabilities at end-2017 was in excess of RM1 trillion. Within hours, Malaysians all over the country dutifully resumed a longstanding national tradition: complaining about the state of public finances. But how serious is the Malaysian government’s debt?

Sarawak: Promises Kept or Broken?

Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, has found herself in uncharted waters. For the first time in history since the formation of Malaysia, the...

Reality Check: The End of Identity Politics?

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is perceived to be more multiracial and practising less racial politics than the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition it unseated....

The (Non) Evolution of Malaysia’s Public Sector

In the early years of Malaysia’s independence, the wholesale changes to the government machinery in achieving the aspirations of the New Economic Policy (NEP)...

Southeast Asia’s Democratic Option

For the past half century, East Asia has been a crucible of change demanding global attention because of its promise. Most notably, countries in...

Becoming Malaysia Baru

Much has been said about “Malaysia Baru” and, more often than not, the concept has been discussed in terms of the destination – Malaysia...

A ‘New’ Terrorism Threat in ‘New Malaysia’

Malaysia’s Terrorism threat must be addressed at community level to prevent resurgence of groups such as Islamic State The concept of Malaysia Baru or New...

India in APEC: Views from the Indo-Pacific

Today things look very different. India has gone looking East to acting East. Its economic and strategic interests are pulling it closer to East Asia. Its economic reforms are further opening up its economy and trade and investment are now crucial pillars of its economic strategy.

Why we should not follow by example

IN determining the desirable traits of a “good” leader, oftentimes what you get is a far cry from the idealised figures one would anticipate....

Do Not Take Our Peace Dividend for Granted

THE last few months have been interesting for both professional and casual observers of Malaysia’s defence sector, mainly because of the upcoming Defence White...

How Deep is the State?

THE Rome Statute has been explained until only two kinds of people can now insist it is “incompatible” with the ...

Combining Defence Diplomacy and Foreign Policy to Project Malaysia as a...

The concept of middle power is one fraught with relativism, where the power projected is in relation to another state or, in a multilateral...

We Need a United Voice on Synthetic Drug Strategy

AMPHETAMINE-type stimulants (ATS) require the development of a health response so that they are no longer viewed and addressed as a public security issue. ATS...

We Need a United Voice on Synthetic Drug Strategy

AMPHETAMINE-type stimulants (ATS) require the development of a health response so that they are no longer viewed and addressed as a public security issue. ATS...

A clearer grand narrative for better days ahead

MARCH 13 — For theatre-goers, the Ola Bola musical was a return to past glory days when Malaysia ranked among the top footballing nations...

Exit the Middle Income Trap

ACCORDING to the World Bank’s calculations, Malaysia will soon join the league of high-income nations between 2020 and 2024. Despite such a promising outlook,...

Time for Better Ties

AS the new Pakatan Harapan administration was being sworn in on May 10 last year, some anxiety stirred...

Race, religion and rhetoric ramp up in ‘New Malaysia’

After recouping the Semenyih state legislative assembly seat, it comes as little surprise that the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic...

Not the Last Samurai

EARLIER this month, the Finance Ministry announced that the government had successfully priced 200 billion yen (RM7.3 billion) worth ...

The case for a ‘better safe than sorry’ policy

LAST week, environment ministers from around the world met at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, with one of its agenda being to...

Creativity, a priority in national agenda

A KEY ingredient that constitutes a strong nation lies in the hands of its well-informed citizens. This implies that a populace is knowledgeable, well-developed...

Should Malaysia Take Back Daesh Returnees

The ongoing assault on Daesh's last bastion in Baghouz by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has displaced thousands of people, especially Daesh foreign fighters. These fighters might seek avenues to return to their countries of origin. Malaysia should decide whether taking back its nationals is in her national interest or not.

Malaysia’s Anti Fake News Act 2018

The Anti-Fake News Act (AFNA) entered into effect in March 2018, just before the 14th General Elections in May 2018. Following Pakatan Harapan's electoral victory, the Parliament passed the bill to repeal the AFNA to fulf ill its manifesto promise. However, the Senate rejected it in September 2018, preferring to amend than repeal the controversial legislation. The question is, what now?

Deflation in Malaysia: What does it mean for the Malaysian economy?

Last week, Consumer Price Index (CPI) data indicated that consumer inflation was -0.7 percent lower in January compared to a year ago. We’ve entered...

Staying the course with Malaysia Baru

FOLLOWING the 14th General Election last year, there were widespread — some would say, excessive — feelings of elation. It was as if a...

Revitalising rural Malaysia

IN 1948, Mahatma Gandhi envisioned that the future of India lay in its 700,000 villages. Thanks to rural employment schemes and agricultural prosperity, India...

How Asean think-tanks see the inter-Korea peace process

Southeast Asia is making global headlines this week with the second US-North Korea Summit, in Hanoi. “Asean as an organisation has nothing to do with...

No calm before election storm

MORE than ever since the latest military coup of 2014, Thailand seems likely to stagger towards a scheduled election. ...

The Future is Rural, Too

It is convenient to think we now live in the age of urban triumph. In 2018, about 55 percent of...

The Unintended Impact of Protectionism

THE year 2018 had kicked off with the United States signalling a rise of tariffs on Chinese imports. Between 2012 and 2016, US partner...

Disruptions in Rakhine State and Its Implications to Malaysia

Against a rapidly changing global environment, societies are now having to deal with a host of challenges to their security and way of life....

Data privacy laws: Malaysia has a long way to go

THE promise of the Internet — as an accelerator of education, knowledge and growth — is being deliberately exploited by certain ...

Tech threat to democracy

Perhaps the first truly global social media trend of 2019 is the #tenyearchallenge. Taking the online world by storm, the challenge entailed users posting...

Vibrant political developments in 2019

WHAT are several developments in Southeast Asia’s political sphere that are worth looking forward to in the next six months? The first on the radar...

Experts agree COC will take time

.about-the-author, .postauthor-wrap {display:none;} The South China Sea’s Code Of Conduct (COC) will likely be on the agenda at this week’s ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat,...

More Clarity Still Needed

JUST when everyone seemed inured to shocking details about 1MDB, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporters appeared to have come up with more. Investigative...

No Silver Bullet for Fake News in a New Malaysia

With the watershed May 9 general elections having swept into power the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act (AFNA)...

Disinformation: Economic Loss and Short-run Gains

Since the 2016 US Presidential Election, the term ‘fake news’ has come to the forefront. The Trump administration had widely used the...

Whither post-Vision 2020?

IT has been eight months since Pakatan Harapan formed the federal government. Although the PH government has elucidated much of its short-term...

Long and Difficult Process

WHAT a difference a year makes. Just 12 months ago, few Malaysians expected the political tsunami that swept the country. Many...

Keeping the World on Edge

THE shape of the world, or more specifically the world’s mess, would start to come into focus around the first quarter of 2019. Britain’s...

Seeds of Change

THE agriculture sector needs to increase food production by 70 per cent in order to adequately “feed” the global population in 2050. This...

Tackling Radical Messages

“THE pen is mightier than the sword”, is a popular saying, depicting the possibility of how a couple of words on a page can...

Democracy is the Winner

EARLY last Monday morning an earthquake hit Taiwan’s coast, registering 6.1 in Penghu county. The resulting tremors swiftly spread to Hong Kong....

Understanding Malaysia’s approach to the South China Sea dispute

Article by Elina Noor which appeared in “In the wake of Arbitration : papers from the Sixth Annual CSIS South Sea Conference. Edited by Murray Hiebert, Gregory B Poling and Conor Cronin, CSIS, January, 2017”. pp. 18-29.

Asean-South Korea Ties – Cooperation Peace, Prosperity

SOUTH Korea’s New Southern Policy (NSP) is based on the “3Ps” of People, Peace and Prosperity. Overarchingly, the NSP seeks to elevate South Korea’s...

Bigger Thriller in Manila

NOW that the quartet of Asean-related summits is over for the year, so should the niggling criticisms. At least they should – more important...

Growing risks to the Asean economy

IN 1997, the devaluation of the Thai baht marked the start of a crisis that decimated many Asian economies. By the end...

‘America First’ is More Than a Phrase

WHILE much has and will be made of President Donald Trump not attending the Asean, East Asia summits in Singapore this week, the United...

2019 Budget : Deeper Reforms Are Needed

AFTER much anticipation, Pakatan Harapan’s maiden budget as the Federal Government was finally unveiled. There are clear winners in the budget such as the...

When Realities Hit the ‘Road’

JUST 11 weeks into his election victory, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan has already had to accomplish a task that seriously tests his...

2019 Budget : Decisive and Pragmatic

THE budget to be tabled today will be by a government of 24 weeks in office. While there are personalities who have had federal...

Another Chance to Resolve Thai Issue

SINCE 2014, Malaysia has facilitated a number of dialogues between the Thai government and Mara Patani, an umbrella of separatist groups in southern Thailand....

Renewing Ties Between Malaysia and Thailand

THE nuances that contribute to the delicate relations among Asean members deserve greater acknowledgement, especially when such nuances are often misunderstood. Each set of bilateral...

G2 Becomes More Pivotal

US-China relations are of great concern to much of the world, particularly this region, whether or not Washington and Beijing seem to realise it....

Complaints About Foreign Meddling in American Elections are Hypocritical – for...

If there is one country that has interfered with elections and the choice of leaders around the world more than any other, it is...

Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan RMK11 on Agenda Awani

On October 18, Dr Hezri Adnan was on Astro Awani, Agenda Awani with Kamarul Bahrin dissecting the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan...

Indonesian Elections: Getting Realistic About Milennial Votes

With the campaign period kicking off in September, much attention is now directed at the prospects of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto...

Telling the real from the fake

DESCRIBED as “devastatingly handsome” and “every woman’s dream come true”, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un was named the sexiest man alive. Most would have realised that...

Hopes for Peace Remain

IN Thailand’s “Deep South,” largely Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, Thai citizenry, communities, neighbourhoods and even families have been torn by intractable, decades-long violence....

Focus on the Family to Fight Radicalisation

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 Irony Deepens

IN worsening the climate for a colossal trade war between the world’s two biggest economies, the US slapped new sanctions on China three days...

Pressure mounting to ratify CPTPP

RECENTLY, Singapore became the third nation to ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after Mexico and Japan. Malaysia’s future in the...

Some Regional Realities

BEFORE the current US-China “trade war” there was the mutual escalation of tensions between the US and China on this region’s high seas. However,...

Myanmar’s Eternal Shame

THE problem with tracing the origins of Myanmar’s current massacres of its Rohingya people is that the starting point goes back many years. Myanmar’s campaign...

Making BR1M Work

WHILE the Pakatan Harapan government has promised to continue the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) unconditional cash transfer programme for at least another year, its...

Who Will Win the 2019 Presidential Election?

IN Michael Vatikiotis’ book Blood and Silk, Javanese dewaraja (divine kings) are described to have derived their legitimacy not only from their possession of...

ASEAN Centrality to Play Bigger Role

The US-China trade war will have an impact on the international order . The debate surrounding major power competition has consistently revolved around the dynamics...

Look Beyond Government to Boost Multilateralism

As the role of states wanes, countries that provide space and incentives for non-state actors stand a better chance at achieving meaningful progress. AMIDST the...

Eliminating Child Marriages Requires a Shift in Mindset

THE topic of child marriage has once again thrust Malaysia into the spotlight, especially after the social media uproar over the marriage between an...

Evolution of Malaysia-China Relations

Article by Bunn Nagara which appeared in www.china.org.cn, 8 August 2018 Since 1974, a sort of mythology has grown up around how Malaysia's current strong...

Malaysia’s May 2018 General Election and Foreign Policy

Article by Thomas Daniel which appeared in Asia Pacific Bulletin (Number 433),East-West Center, August 7, 2018 The 14th Malaysian General Elections (GE14) held in...

Whither the Trade War?

FOR further proof that China’s planners don’t always get it right, look no further than the current trade war with the United States. According...

The Public Must Fight Too

THE advent of social media platforms has revolutionised the means of communication as everything is made possible with a single click. You can now...

Key issues impacting Malaysia’s security outlook

Throughout its modern history, Malaysia has faced a variety of security issues impacting its threat perception. These were a mix of both external and...

A Legitimacy Crisis

TRADE technocracy is on the brink of a crisis as the United States-China trade war continues to brew. Dissatisfaction over trade policies, particularly in...

More Than Talkfests

TOP meetings of political leaders are supposed to mean something important and special. However, such meetings of leaders at their respective peaks, or summits, tend...

Cyberspace invaders

Article by Elina Noor appeared in MalayMail, 17 July 2018 ...

Private sector boost for agriculture

WEATHER-RELATED disasters linked to climate change have contributed to the rise in food insecurity. The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in Southeast...

Time for East Asia

AS an indication of how out of touch some international pundits of Asia are, they still call North-East Asia (China, Japan and...

Future is About Attracting Market-led Technologies

MANY Malaysians, including this author, were caught off guard with the recent announcement that the government wants to start another car project. There is...

Heeding the Realities

THERE is a pattern and a rhythm in global markets that, when acknowledged and heeded, can yield profits – but when denied or confronted...

India Must Boost Depth and Durability of ASEAN Ties

Article by Thomas Daniel which appeared in New Straits Times, 20 June 2018 IT has been four years since India adopted its “Act East” policy...

Issues Impacting Malaysia’s Maritime Security Policies and Postures

Introduction This paper aims to address key issues that impact Malaysia’s maritime security policies and postures. In order to comprehensively outline ...

Cybersafety in Asean

ASEAN is stepping up efforts to address cybersecurity issues as it is increasingly becoming important. Cybersecurity advocacy in Asean is largely fronted by Singapore...

What Indonesia Can Learn from Malaysia’s Election

The commemoration of Indonesia’s 20th year of Reformasi in May this year coincided with Malaysia’s new chapter in democratization and governance. In the 14th...

Trump, Kim Summit Ends with Signing of Joint Declaration

All eyes were on the Capella Hotel in Singapore, the location of the historic summit between the President of the...

Peace for Korean Peninsula?

AT 9am tomorrow at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, United States President Donald Trump will be the first sitting US president to...

Non-Western Eurasia Rises

THE week that was ended with a significant non-Western event often ignored or misunderstood by the West: the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit....

Can ASEAN be counted on when it matters?

The concept of centrality has seen a resurgence in use during the past few days, featuring prominently in the speeches...

Mahathir stress tests Malaysia-Singapore relations

KUALA LUMPUR - Relations between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are being put to the test as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ...

Art of the Korean Deal

NO sooner had US and North Korean officials raced towards a first-ever summit than they competed to pull away from it. Is anyone in...

Consumption Taxation Will Eventually Return

Tax (GST) would be zero-rated effective June 1, partially fulfilling a promise made by the new administration on the campaign trail. While GST has...

The Trust Deficit in AVs

Article by Dr Moonyati Mohd Yatid which appeared in New Straits Times, 15 May 2018 AS we welcome technology into our lives, so does...

The Storm Continues

WHETHER it was a tsunami or tidal storm, GE14 hit Barisan Nasional for six, a blow so severe that its members, leaders...

Fumbling and Stumbling

THE Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has a term for operations that backfire: blowback. This happens when a field project stumbles and produces an untoward,...

Building Trust in Cyberspace

THE world of tomorrow promises to be data driven, arguably even more so than today. The advent of the Internet of Things and cloud...

Tough Fight for Jokowi

WITH Malaysia anticipating the 14th General Election next month, Indonesia is also gearing up towards this ritual of democracy that would determine the nation’s...

Specialised drug court?

DRUG abuse is a global problem which has serious socioeconomic and public health impact. Countries differ in tackling the problem, but the United States...

Specialised drug court?

DRUG abuse is a global problem which has serious socioeconomic and public health impact. Countries differ in tackling the problem, but the United States...

Skies Darken Over Syria

AS if on schedule, US missiles backed by British and French forces attacked Syria yesterday, one year and a week after similar...

Tackling Protectionism

ONCE again, global trade is witnessing the protectionism’s moment in the sun as the political tide in advanced economies seems to move towards greater...

SST, A Net Loss to Consumers

THE idea to abolish the Good and Services Tax (GST) is mired in confusion. First, there was an idea to “zerorise” it, but this...

A Godless Society Runs The Risk of Failing to Understand its...

With religious apathy on the rise in Europe, current and future generations might fail to appreciate their heritage and a common language of cultural...

Reducing Stigma for Addicts

An article published last month revealed that the number of students who tested positive for substance abuse is on the rise, with school children...

Misunderstanding ASEAN

“SO when is China going to join Asean?” a foreign news editor asked me in the early 1990s by way of introduction...

A long Election Season Looms for Indonesia

The year 2018 will be an eventful year for Indonesian politics. In June 2018, 171 regional areas will simultaneously take to the...

Liberal Democracy isn’t Finished, but its Advocates Need to Understand its...

After Vladimir Putin’s latest resounding victory in the recent Russian presidential election, and the removal of barriers to long-term office-holding for China’s Xi Jinping,...

Rohingya Policy Needed

SINCE violence broke out in Rakhine State, Myanmar, in August, 600,000 to 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, scattered across camps and their...

Four Eyes Over Korea

AS seems most appropriate, an extraordinary event arrived in an unusual fashion. Finally, the North Korean leader and the US president agreed to a...

The Disappearing Sense of Shame Once Felt at Consorting with Extremists...

If they are to avoid denunciation and prove themselves heirs to a kinder, more inclusive tradition, conservative parties must do all they can to...

Your Face as Big Data

Years ago, spies, moles and secret agents using facial recognition glasses were only scenes in sci-fi films. Recently, it became reality when Chinese policemen...

Struggle Against Extremism Must Continue

THE consecutive fall of Islamic State strongholds in Raqqa and Marawi four months ago produced some respite in the global fight against terrorism. This,...

Trapped by History

WHEN BBC’s Stephen Sackur interviewed American cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker on Hardtalk three nights ago, the discussion might have appeared dry and dull. That...

Big Data for Social Recovery

BIG Data drives marketing today. Global brands are realising big gains from Big Data analytics by influencing consumer behaviour. Amazon, one of the first...

No One Factor Behind Radicalisation

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...

How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Soros Way

George Soros is at it again. The billionaire American financier famous – or more properly, infamous – for "breaking the Bank of England" in...

Double Standards as Norm

Many countries can do a lot better than look to the rich and powerful among them which observe only the law of the jungle...

Set Up Review Body

WHEN the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) was deregulated in 2009, oversight of foreign investment into Malaysia’s strategic sector was left under the purview of...

The Global Appetite for Political Disruption Remains Undimmed

They said a real estate mogul with an implausible bouffant and a reality television show could never become US president. They said that a...

How Do We Deal With The Unknowable Future?

ON the last leg of our journey to attaining the status of an advanced nation that is inclusive and sustainable by 2020, Transformasi Nasional...

Davos On More Time

SO another month has ended for the world in Davos and another year for Davos in the world, the international talkfest held...

Choosing to Eat Healthy

“EAT a variety of foods within your recommended intake” — this warns us that moderation is the key to healthy eating. Assuming that one...

Bumpy Road Ahead: Excise Tax Cut Not Practical

ABOUT a month ago, this writer argued that Malaysians are slowly shifting away from buying motorcycles and entry-level cars to mid-range ones. It appears that...

Multipolarity Sets In

ONE phrase captures the complex and often baffling world of international relations today: a shift towards multipolarity. This growing reality is experienced more than it...

Disruption is the New Change

Article by Elina Noor which appeared in New Straits Times, 9 January 2018. THE start of the year is usually a time for forecasts and...

The Folly of Making Predictions (or, what we got wrong in...

If 2017 was a year of political turbulence and upset, it was perhaps not surprisingly also one in which many predictions proved false. Underlying...

Cash programmes and poverty alleviation

MANY weapons have been wielded in the war against poverty. In ancient Rome, the first ever documented social assistance programme, or alimenta...

Rise of the machines: is Malaysia ready?

“WATCH robot builder construct house in two days.” “New robotic drill performs skull surgery 50 times faster.” “The Washington Post’s robot reporter has...

Working with Robots

EVER since the German concept “Industry 4.0” was coined as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the term has become a buzzword penetrating...

Impact of Climate Change on ASEAN International Affairs: Risk and Opportunity...

Summary: This study examines the implications of climate change for international affairs in Southeast Asia and for ASEAN as a...

Stop politicising Malaysia-China relationship

CHINA is an emerging economy unlike any other before it. No emerging economy has appeared on the world scene with the range and breadth...

Towards High-income, Not Low-cost Nation

OCTOBER 27 — The Department of Statistics’ latest report on Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey saw Malaysian households’ income ...

Don’t Expect 2018 Budget to be Panacea to All of Nation’s...

The 2018 Budget, set to be tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Oct 27 (Friday), will be the last...

South China Sea: Can Asean, China Find Convergence in Dispute?

THE temperament of the territorial dispute in the South China Sea between the multiple claimants has generally improved compared to a year...

When Abe’s Dreams Come True

Exit polls indicate that Shinzo Abe has won a landslide victory in Sunday’s snap polls. The Japanese government coalition led by his ...

Drug rehabilitation: more love is needed

THIS author’s previous article (“It’s not enough to say no to drugs” —NST, March 28) defined drug abuse as a health and social issue...

No One-size-fits-all Model for Battling Drug Addiction

CHECKS and balances play an essential role in the treatment of drug abuse and addiction. However, without clear and proper processes in...

Business is business

NETIZENS have taken to social media over the past weeks regarding the recent investments announced during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit...

Smart Farming Is The Way To Go

WHEN the country gained its independence, agriculture, in particular rubber, was one of the twin pillars of the economy.   From the 1960s...

Cyber Threat: Are we ready?

IN 2016, CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) reportedly detected attempts of intrusions in several local servers some of which belong to Malaysia’s Critical National Information Infrastructure...

Stop Bickering: 60 Years of Malaysia-Indonesia Ties

The month of August was marked not only by the celebration of Independence Day by three member states – namely Singapore, Indonesia...

How Can Politicians Gain Trust?

Courting votes through gifts and promises, a practice called clientelism, is a common trait shared by many democratic societies. This ...

ASEAN Must Deliver Results

THE month of August is regarded as the month of “independence” by citizens of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. But, how many of...

Three Things to Expect from Tillerson’s Visit to Kuala Lumpur

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is visiting the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia for a series of regional meetings to broaden and...

IMF Forecasts Growth to Continue Into Next Year

THE International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook Update (July) sees the global pickup continuing for the rest of the year...

A Common Regional Identity

IN the past five decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has seen an alphabet soup of agreements and blueprints shared...

Rather Than Move On, Let’s Learn from Divisive Jakarta Election

In the wake of Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s election defeat and subsequent conviction, there is a pressure to “move on” from the...

Decriminalising Drug Use Offers Glimmer of Hope

THE topic of drug addiction is almost always paired with negative views, depending on one’s understanding of the depth of the...

Is Labour Mobility Enough?

AMIDST rising protectionist sentiments worldwide, Asean, turning half a century in August, continues its integration towards achieving a people-centred, people-oriented...

Embrace Automation

MANY, if not most, workers in the world believe that globalisation and free trade hurt jobs and reduce incomes. It has not...

Does ‘hand-holding’ in Innovation Work?

MALAYSIA’s focus on innovation has been substantial, especially since the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), with the birth of many agencies and ...

Food Security in Cities

BY 2050, 66 per cent of the world’s population is estimated to reside in urban areas. While cities strive to urbanise, the...

Curbing Child Pornography

THE growing prevalence of information and communication technology (ICT) in the daily lives of even children entails an urgent awareness of the opportunities and...

It’s not Enough to Say no to Drugs

MALAYSIA’S National Drug Policy has seen encouraging results in the last decade due to the introduction of harm reduction programmes. These programmes consist of needle...

It’s not Enough to Say no to Drugs

MALAYSIA’S National Drug Policy has seen encouraging results in the last decade due to the introduction of harm reduction programmes. These programmes consist of needle...

Can Change be Upsetting?

ONE of the easiest words to roll off our tongues in any language is the word “change”. People talk about it all the time,...

The Hope of to Have Hope

“Why do we need unity if we are at peace?” some may ask. Admittedly, symptoms of disintegration are not widespread, but a society that...

Set Sights and Standards Higher

In 2050, Malaysia will not be the same country. In the coming three decades, the forces of change and societal evolution...

They Deserve Work Rights

Employment programme is much welcomed after years of delay Recent announcements by ministers indicate that the pilot programme that would see up...

Changing Landscape of Terrorism in the Region

THERE are three developments that might prove influential in shifting Southeast Asia’s terrorism landscape this year and beyond. These are ...

Thriving in Digital World

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change” — a...

Rescuing Economic Forecasting

Barely a week after New Year’s Day, Bank of England’s chief economist Andy Haldane admitted to his profession’s failure of ...

Let Us Not Fall for ‘Post-truth’ Politics

At the entrance of a respected university that I passed a few weeks ago, while on vacation, was a large signboard...

The Role of Parliament in Security Sector Governance in Malaysia

Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Nurul Izzati Kamrulbahri and Mohd Syahir Naufal Mahmud Fauzi. “The Role of Parliament in Security Sector Governance in...

Clear Refugee Policy Needed

The latest outbreak of violence in Rakhine state of Myanmar against the Rohingya community has once again highlighted one of Southeast ...

Key Issues and Dilemmas for Brunei and Malaysia in the South...

Overview and focus In the wake of the tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)...

Racing for Bigger Share of the Digital Economy

When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the global icon Jack Ma of Alibaba Group as Malaysia’s new digital economy adviser...

Masa Hadapan lndustri Koko

Pada peringkat global, sebanyak 95 peratus penghasilan koko disumbangkan oleh pekebun kecil dari negara dunia ketiga. Ivory Coast pengeluar koko terbesar dunia sekitar 35...

Can e-Learning Replace Classroom Experience?

THE first device in electronic learning, called “Automatic Teacher”, was invented in 1924. Unfortunately, the creator, Ohio State University ...

Jakarta’s Game of Thrones Enthralls

Malaysia-Indonesia ties have been on a quiet, even keel for most of this year. Even the destruction of Malaysian fishing boats...

No Magic Formula to Remedy Conflicts

It is worth noting that this year’s Malaysia Day in Kuala Lumpur had been a peaceful one compared with last year. Unlike...

Unlocking the Culture of Innovation

Over the past decades, creativity and innovation have become critical skills in unleashing novel ideas and inventions to keep up with...

Forced Migration Still a Big Problem in Asia

THIS week, there are two significant global meetings that aim to address forced migration - the first-ever United Nations Summit or High-Level Meeting on...

Clearing the Air on Our Basic Right to Clean Air

As the smog engulfs the region, many have questioned whether we are doing enough to hold those responsible accountable. The challenge is that resolving the...

Feeling the Pinch of the Transition (Part 2)

AUGUST 17 — In the first part of this article the authors argued the reasons behind the apparent increase in cost of living in...

Language Not Deciding Factor of a Good Film

Earlier this month, we had a ruckus over the decision made by the Malaysia Film Festival (FFM) to have the categories for...

Feeling the pinch of the transition (Part 1)

AUGUST 11 ― This article refers to a write-up by Syed Jamal Zahiid entitled “Feeling the pinch? It’s not just because of...

The Terror is Not Over

IN a period where a failed coup attempt, a global fever over virtual monsters, and an international tribunal’s ruling on a...

Navigating the Technological Revolution

Imagine a world where computers grow the food we eat, drones construct our buildings and robots diagnose our illnesses. It may sound...

Stemming the Flow of Islamic State’s Messages

AS we head rapidly towards mid-2016 and beyond, where do we stand on the issues of radicalisation and terrorism? In the...

Is Negative Income Tax the Solution?

Most countries in the world have adopted some form of progressive taxation, following the conventional wisdom that “the rich should be ...

Healing the Wounds of War in Sri Lanka

Does political stability have an effect on the plight of refugees? If a country has been plagued by decades of infighting, can...

Nilai Secawan Air Bersih

Walaupun sektor pertanian menyebabkan peningkatan GHG, perubahan iklim turut memberikan ancaman terhadap jaminan keselamatan makanan. Hubung kait ini tidak dapat dielakkan kerana pertanian memerlukan...

Why We Should Care About Rohingyas

It is almost a year to the climax of last year’s Rohingya refugee crisis, the aftermath of a crackdown by Thai...

Inclusive Policies Boost National Unity

In recent years, we have witnessed growing polemics relating to race and religious issues. Certain groups claiming exclusivity to the word...

Trapped by How We Think

THERE is a popular Internet meme of half a human face that, as you look at it, constantly switches from frontal to side views....

Be the Agent of Change You Want to See

The New Year is a time when many of us make resolutions. These are basically promises to ourselves to place more...

A New Climate of Cooperation

Last Saturday, the Paris agreement on climate change was struck and hailed as a historic turning point towards averting a climate ...

More Than Just About Regional Disputes

Given the ongoing fallout of Chinese land reclamations in the South China Sea and the recriminations from other littoral states and external...

China Unlikely to Join TPP

AS the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations progress, so too has China’s assessment of the trade agreement. The perception that the ...

‘Project Mausam —A Preliminary Assessment of India’s Grand Maritime Strategy from...

Onset of ‘Maritime Asia’ Maritime travel, trade and even conquest have historically been part ...

Beijing Must Alleviate Concerns

A SPATE of initiatives announced over the last two years has seen China working towards greater influence in the strategic security and trade...

Iran Nuclear Talks a ‘Win-win’ for US

THE March 24 deadline of a framework agreement on Teheran's nuclear programme is fast approaching. Two incidents this month have been very telling about...

Project Mausam Part 2

This paper is the second part of an essay on India’s Project Mausam. While Part 1 focused on the nature of Project Mausam, this...

Expected Results Will Take Time

MALAYSIA-INDONESIA TIES: Both countries want closer collaboration in political, economic and cultural spheres There was a significant absence of public fanfare at...

Project Mausam Part 1

This paper is the first of a two part essay on India’s Project Mausam. Part I focuses on exploring the nature of Project...

Domestic Pressure to Shadow Jokowi’s KL Visit

Indonesian President cannot afford to be seen as weak especially in dealing with foreign governments. THE upcoming official visit to Malaysia by...

A Sustainable World by 2030

WHAT can we do today for a better world in 2030? What are the development goals that will chart a path to...

Raising Literacy on Sustainability Issues

EL Nino is reported by the World Meteorological Organisation to have 60-88 per cent likelihood to be fully established between now and...

Happy to be Rich

Has your life been 4.7 per cent better within the last three months? If the economic indicator in the form of gross...
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