Author Archives: Tricia

An Open Letter to Dato’ Seri Najib Razak

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Tricia

First published on the IDEAS website on 4 August 2017 here. Dear Sir, Last week you gave an outstanding speech to international investors at the Invest Malaysia 2017 conference. I am sure many were impressed with the economic achievements that have been … Continue reading →

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

The next govt’s reform agenda

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 20 July 2017, here. SUDDENLY it is election season again, with political parties optimising on the month-long Raya celebrations to test the waters of which leaders attend whose open houses. Of course, the most significant development … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Ethno-Religious Politics, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

The untold story of the Teoh Beng Hock case – Final Part

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Tricia

First published on The Malaysian Insight here, on Tuesday 18 July 2017. THE taxi feels like it is about to fall apart, as Beng Hock’s father takes me for a spin around the neighbourhood in the car that has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Personal, Selangor, The Cause | 2 Comments

The untold story of the Teoh Beng Hock case – Part 2

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Tricia

First published on The Malaysian Insight here, on Monday 17 July 2017. THE air was thick with the smell of incense, grey smoke rising against the green, hilly backdrop of the Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih. It was a particularly … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Personal, Selangor, The Cause | Leave a comment

The untold story of the Teoh Beng Hock case – Part 1

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Tricia

First published on The Malaysian Insight here on Sunday, 16 July 2017. “WHAT would you say to Beng Hock if he was alive today?” Up till this question, Soh Cher Wei, the wife of Teoh Beng Hock, had maintained a … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Human Rights, Personal, Selangor, The Cause | 1 Comment

Reviewing Malaysia’s Corruption Record

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 6 July 2017. NOT many Malaysians are aware that we are a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the first globally binding international anti-corruption instrument. The treaty requires its member countries to … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Outside Malaysia, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Taxing federal-state relations

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 22 June 2017. Earlier this month, the Sarawak state government decided to quit the Malaysian Tourism Board, following the federal government’s introduction of a new tourism tax that would affect all hotels across the … Continue reading →

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

Long road to university autonomy

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 8 June 2017 here. LAST week, the minister of higher education said that Malaysia’s public universities are expected to record a rise in the QS World University Rankings this year. If this is true, then … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

A tougher business environment

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 25 May 2017, here. THIS time of the year is when the Treasury begins its consultation process, collating feedback to prepare the annual budget to be tabled in October, for the following year. Over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Liberalism | Leave a comment

Reviewing Malaysia in Troubled Times

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 11 May 2017, under the title of “Let’s start with income distribution”, here. “THE absence of good institutions and transparency in public undertakings, government procurement, and … the design of public policy has the potential … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Public Administration | Leave a comment