Author Archives: Tricia

Reviving UMNO: Party Institutionalization and Coalition Management in Selangor and Malacca

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Tricia

This is my latest publication by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, released on 13 June 2025. The full version can be downloaded here. I did ground research in the states of Selangor and Malacca to investigate the former dominant party UMNO’s party … Continue reading →

Posted in General Politics, Selangor | Leave a comment

PKR Party Elections Will Shape Malaysia’s Political Future

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Tricia

This commentary was first published on ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s platform, Fulcrum, on 23 May 2025 here. The upcoming Parti Keadilan Rakyat elections will influence Malaysia’s political future. The tremendous national attention on the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) elections in Malaysia … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, General Politics | Leave a comment

Abdullah Badawi – An Understated and Underrated Leader

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Tricia

This piece that was co-authored with Dr Francis Hutchinson of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute was first published in Fulcrum on 6 May 2025, here. Abdullah Badawi’s brand melded the best of two worlds, namely rising living standards and technological ambition minus … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, Education, General Politics, Public Administration, Reflections | Leave a comment

Trump’s On-off Tariffs Could Disengage Southeast Asia Further from the U.S.

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Tricia

This was first published on the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada website here on 15 April 2025. The reciprocal tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2 – what he referred to as “Liberation Day” – hit Southeast … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Should Selangor Take Kuala Lumpur Back?

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Tricia

This was first published by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute on its Fulcrum platform on 18 December 2024, here. There is talk of integrating Kuala Lumpur into Selangor again. However, before considering reintegration, the capital’s governance and residents’ needs must be addressed. … Continue reading →

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

Tug of Wealth: Malaysian States Seek a Fairer Deal in Oil and Gas

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Tricia

First published on the Fulcrum platform under ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute on 18 November 2024, here. A potential legal tussle between Sarawak and Petronas has implications for Malaysia’s approach to development and for the country as a whole. In early September, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Federalism, Oil and Gas | Leave a comment

Managing State-Federal Relations: Growing Pressure on the Madani Administration

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Tricia

This was published as a Trends 2024/25 under the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, accessible here. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Since the Sheraton Move in 2020 which led to the fall of the Malaysian government, many state governments in the federation have held their … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Federalism, Public Administration | Leave a comment

SG4 Group: PAS Bid to Consolidate Bargaining Power?

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Tricia

This was first published on Fulcrum here, on 2 October 2024. A new move by four PAS-controlled states to form a joint company is brilliant if seen from the lens of political consolidation. Four Malaysian states – Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Federalism, Public Administration, Religion | Leave a comment

Run For Their Money: Unequal Constituency Development Funds in Malaysia

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Tricia

This was first published in Fulcrum here, on 2 September 2024. Malaysia should consider a Constituency Development Act which would lay out the roles and responsibilities for disbursing constituency development funds to MPs. In July, Malaysian opposition Member of Parliament … Continue reading →

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

Malaysia needs ASEAN to navigate a pathway between ‘the West’ and ‘the rest’

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Tricia

This piece was first published on the East Asia Forum site on 18 August 2024 here. Its editorial, titled “Malaysia mustn’t waste its moment of regional leadership”, also refers to the piece here. As ASEAN chair in 2025, Malaysia has … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, General Politics, International Relations, Outside Malaysia | Leave a comment