Category Archives: Economics

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

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

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

Reducing illicit trade

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Tricia

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 →

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

Why the budget speech is not enough

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Tricia

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

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