Category Archives: General Politics

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 →

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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 →

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

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Tricia

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

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Tricia

(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

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

Integration the world over

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 16 March 2017, here. IN August 2015, I visited France at a time when the Syrian refugee crisis was just unfolding, causing much uncertainty and consternation. The discussions I had with academics and policy analysts … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethno-Religious Politics, General Politics, Human Rights, Language, Liberalism, Outside Malaysia, Religion | Leave a comment

Minorities in an age of distrust

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Tricia

(First published in theSun newspaper on 1 October 2015, here). OVER the last week I spent in Paris under invitation of the French Foreign Ministry, almost every academic and official I met raised the refugee crisis and migration as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethno-Religious Politics, Religion | Leave a comment