Author Archives: Tricia

Whose cause is Bersih’s?

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 3 September 2015, here. MANY of my urban, middle class friends and relatives went for their first ever rally last weekend, joining tens of thousands on the streets of Kuala Lumpur in a festive parade, … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Elections | Leave a comment

A prime minister’s powers

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 13 August 2015, here. THE news of the prime minister having removed the attorney-general and deputy prime minister; promoting the Public Accounts Committee chairman; and transferring several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers shocked many people. … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, General Politics, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Why media freedom matters

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 30 July here. THE three-month suspension of The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge Weekly newspapers by the Home Ministry is a chilling reminder of a government that silences any form of critical questioning. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Culture, Literature, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Taking back liberal

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Tricia

(first published in theSun on Thursday, 9 July 2015, here) AT an IDEAS public forum last weekend on whether or not Malaysia is ready for a liberal political party, it was evident that all three of the panel speakers acknowledged … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberalism, Philosophy, Religion | Leave a comment

Nothing to hide

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Tricia

(First published in theSun on 11 June 2015, here). IN our A-Level English literature classes, we used to describe Shakespearean comedy as “someone else’s tragedy”. Such is the case of the most recent public relations disaster to have befallen our … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, General Politics, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Waking up to an old, brewing crisis

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Tricia

(First published in theSun on 28 May 2015, here). MALAYSIANS have finally woken up to the cruel plight faced by refugees and migrant workers following the consecutive events of the last few weeks. The most disconcerting has been the discovery … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Human Rights, Public Administration | Leave a comment

On the 11th Malaysia Plan

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Tricia

Bloomberg Malaysia interviewed me today on the 11th Malaysia Plan that is due to be tabled in Parliament on Thursday, 21st May 2015. This is the final 5-year plan before Malaysia is due to achieve Vision 2020 five years from … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Debate on the TPPA

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Tricia

IDEAS organised a debate on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) on 28 March at the Kuala Lumpur Teaching Centre, Nottingham University. It was a rich debate by two gentlemen, both whose views I respect very much. We got the audience … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Leave a comment

Australia-Malaysia Youth Forum 2015

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Tricia

I had the privilege of giving some introductory remarks recently on 14 May 2015 at the Australian High Commission, with whom IDEAS jointly organised an Australia-Malaysia Youth Forum 2015.  ** Good morning to HE Rod Smith, PSM, Australian High Commissioner … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Economics, Outside Malaysia | Leave a comment

The rise of regional politics

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Tricia

(First appeared in theSun on 14 May 2015, here). THE second biggest piece of news emerging from the UK in the last two weeks (the first being the arrival of Princess Charlotte, according to some social media feeds) was not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, Federalism, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment