Category Archives: Economics

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

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

The economic impact of autism

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 13 April 2017, here. MALAYSIAN-produced film Redha (which was long-listed for the Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards) features Nam Ron as the father of a boy with autism who initially refuses … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Health, Special Needs | Leave a comment

Drop unnecessary rules on business

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 9 March 2017, here. RECENTLY, the government banned the Dego Ride motorcycle service, which is hailed using a smartphone application (like Grab and Uber). The deputy transport minister said in response that “so far, no … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Free small businesses from price controls

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 16 February 2017, here. UNDER the guise of helping the poor, countries under communist regimes in the past imposed one of the most disastrous economic interventions ever: price controls. The results in these countries are … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Can Trump’s policies affect Malaysia?

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Tricia

(first published in theSun on 2 February 2017 here). AT least one of US President Donald Trump’s policies will have an impact on Malaysia. His decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), in which Malaysia would have … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Oil and Gas, Outside Malaysia, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Fighting corruption a decade later

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 5 January 2017, here. THE beginning of the year is as good a time as any to reflect upon the direction the country is heading towards. Ten years ago, Malaysians were just beginning to appreciate … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Bijan the Clown

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Tricia

Once in a land, There lived a funny man, Who wore a jewel-studded crown. But he was afraid of balloons, And even of cartoons, His name was Bijan the Clown. He tried hard to be brave, But he was just … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Poetry, Public Administration, Uncategorized | Leave a comment