Author Archives: Tricia

In the contest for power, Malaysia’s resurgent states stake a claim

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Tricia

First published in New Mandala on 24 April 2018, here. The era of dominant federal government may be over as leading states push for greater autonomy, resisting a centre compromised by scandal and policy drift. Ahead of Malaysia’s 14th general election … Continue reading →

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

Travel inconveniences and work exigencies may discourage blue-collared Malaysians from returning home to vote

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Tricia

First published on Channel NewsAsia on 17 April 2018, here. Commentary: Travel inconveniences and work exigencies may discourage blue-collared Malaysians from returning home to vote  Tricia Yeoh Train and bus tickets are in shortage, suggesting that many blue-collared Malaysians may … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, General Politics | Leave a comment

Government knows best

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 29 March 2018, here. IN April 2009, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak famously pronounced that “the era where the government imposed excessive controls and adopted the attitude of ‘government knows best’ is over”. He also said … Continue reading →

Posted in General Politics, Liberalism, Philosophy | Leave a comment

Malaysian opposition presents younger array of leaders, amid unhealthy political culture

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Tricia

First published on Channel NewsAsia on 3 March 2018, here. Commentary: Malaysian opposition presents younger array of leaders, amid unhealthy political culture Tricia Yeoh Where political culture traditionally favours seniority and age, the opposition has demonstrated efforts to groom and … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, General Politics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

A new civil society-political relationship?

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 1 March 2018 here. OVER the last few weeks, speculation has been rife that several prominent civil society leaders will be making the leap into active politics. This was first prompted by Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Elections, General Politics, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Independent Institutions Needed Now

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 15 February 2018, here. AS the nation gears itself up for the 14th general election, it is inevitable that political parties will try to woo their electorate with promises. And try they should, to display policies … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Elections, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Sustaining public healthcare

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Tricia

A version of this article first appeared in theSun here, on 18 January 2018. IT is said that you get what you pay for. The more expensive the product or service, conventional wisdom assumes that the quality of the product or … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare, Public Administration, Reflections | Leave a comment

Policy and Persuasion

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 21 December 2017. OVER the last few months, I had the privilege of teaching a class of final year undergraduate students at Nottingham University the 101 of public policy. This seemed to be a perfect … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Administration, Reflections | Leave a comment

Are civil servants the biggest winners in Malaysia’s 2018 budget?

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Tricia

First published on Channel NewsAsia’s website here, on 19 November 2017. Many say Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 2018 budget brought cheer to Malaysian civil servants who form an important voting bloc in an election year. Tricia Yeoh discusses how much … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, General Politics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

A wider asset declaration scheme

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Tricia

First appeared in theSun here, on 23 November 2017. IT is encouraging that 30 opposition parliamentarians recently agreed to declare their assets under a programme initiated by PKR body Invoke, many declarations of which can already be downloaded by the public … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment