Category Archives: Federalism

The Political Economy of Federal-State Relations: How the centre influences resource distribution to the periphery

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Tricia

IDEAS has just released my policy paper, which can be downloaded here. The media statement released together with the paper is pasted below. IDEAS: The federal government must distribute resources fairly, regardless of political affiliation KUALA LUMPUR, 14 MAY 2020: … Continue reading →

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

What actually happened at the 28th April NSC meeting?

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Tricia

I am trying to reconstruct what transpired at the National Security Council meeting on 28th April, which was chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by all states’ Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers. Were the states consulted? Did they know … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Federalism, Health, Healthcare, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | 1 Comment

Infusing federalism into public health decision-making

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Tricia

First published on Malaysiakini here on 5 May 2020. The federal government’s decision to ease the movement control order (MCO) from May 4 to 12 was abruptly announced just three days earlier, on Labour Day.  Almost immediately, the Sarawak and … Continue reading →

Posted in Federalism, General Politics, Health, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Malaysia’s Federalism Reverts to a Vanishing Past

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Tricia

By Tricia Yeoh, Fellow, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) First published on Asialink, The University of Melbourne, on 6 April 2020, here. The Malaysian government’s National Action Council, set up to address the Covid-19 emergency, held a … Continue reading →

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Under the Movement Control Order, which level of government has the authority to decide what?

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Tricia

As at 4.24pm, Saturday 21 March 2020. Many unverified messages are being forwarded. This short piece is to clarify what can and cannot be regulated and by which authority under the Movement Control Order that will last between 18 and … Continue reading →

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

Reviving the Spirit of Federalism: Decentralisation Policy Options for a New Malaysia

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Tricia

This policy paper was published as Policy Ideas No. 59 for the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Malaysia. It can be downloaded for free here. Introduction Up to 2008, the spirit of Malaysia’s federalism had all but faded, … Continue reading →

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Notes on a New Nation, Day 7

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Tricia

Notes on a New Nation Day 7 Post GE-14 (16 May 2018) and Concluding Thoughts (for now) How apt it is to end the week with what most would consider to be sweet justice. Just seven short days following the … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Elections, Federalism, General Politics, Public Administration, Reflections, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

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

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

The Malaysian Idea

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Tricia

(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 →

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