Author Archives: Tricia

Reducing illicit trade

First appeared in theSun here, on 9 November 2017. WHILE it is positive that Malaysia is projected to be the world’s 24th most powerful economy in the world by 2050, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced two months … Continue reading

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Why the budget speech is not enough

First published in theSun on 26 October 2017 here. THE prime minister presents the budget each year in Parliament with great fanfare. Although the speech – and its accompanying budget documents – does lay out a roadmap of what the country’s … Continue reading

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

Malaysia’s general elections, an uphill battle for the opposition

Commentary: Malaysia’s general elections, an uphill battle for the opposition (First published on Channel NewsAsia, 22 October 2017, here). Najib Razak has yet to call the elections. Tricia Yeoh explores the challenges and likely strategies the ruling Barisan Nasional party … Continue reading

Posted in Elections, Ethno-Religious Politics, General Politics | Leave a comment

Catalonia’s lessons on federalism

(First published in theSun on 11 October 2017, here). ON Oct 1, the Spanish region of Catalonia – in which its capital Barcelona is located – held its second independence referendum in three years. The Catalan government announced that the official … Continue reading

Posted in Federalism, General Politics, Public Administration, Selangor | Leave a comment

The Malaysian Idea

(First published in theSun on 14 September 2017, here). WHEN we come together to celebrate Malaysia Day on Sept 16 each year, what is it that we really celebrate? Are we celebrating a united nation that has brought all races, regions … Continue reading

Posted in Federalism | Leave a comment

Ideas of Freedom

First published in theSun on 31 August 2017, here. OVER the last four years, I am proud to have been part of a young, dynamic team of people working hard to produce research-based ideas and policy proposals at a local, independent … Continue reading

Posted in Liberalism, Personal, Reflections, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

An Open Letter to Dato’ Seri Najib Razak

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

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

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

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

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