Category Archives: Federalism

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

Adenan Satem’s Fight for Sarawak

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 19 January 2017 THE passing of Sarawak chief minister, the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem, last week sent political reverberations across the country. Whither Sarawak in the next general election, many asked? How exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in Federalism, Public Administration | Leave a comment

The rise of regional politics

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Tricia

(First appeared in theSun on 14 May 2015, here). THE second biggest piece of news emerging from the UK in the last two weeks (the first being the arrival of Princess Charlotte, according to some social media feeds) was not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, Federalism, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

All policy is local

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 29 January 2015. EARLIER this week, the PAS president’s statement that local council elections would eventually lead to racial riots raised ire among civil society, as well as members of his own coalition party member, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethno-Religious Politics, Federalism, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Making voluntarism legal

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 5 September 2014. I SPENT the Merdeka weekend writing a paper on the choppy relationship between the Barisan Nasional-led federal and Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments. I traced the brief history since 2008 of the many … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Crime, Federalism, General Politics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

The rights of oil producing states

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Tricia

(First published in theSun on 22 May 2014, and can be accessed here). THE Sarawak state assembly recently passed a resolution calling for an increase from 5% to 20% of its oil royalty entitlement, along with seeking more developmental grants from … Continue reading →

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

Penang Port in peril?

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Tricia

Penang Port in peril? Photograph: Ong Ee Lynn The social costs involved in privatisation of public goods have been obvious since this lazy man’s method of nation building became the fashion in the 1980s. In Malaysia, despite huge losses to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Federalism, General Politics | Leave a comment

Decentralisation the way forward?

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Tricia

Decentralisation the way forward? (First published in Selangor Times, on 15th June 2012). At the launch of my book, “States of Reform: Governing Selangor and Penang” last Saturday, three esteemed panelists YB Liew Chin Tong (Member of Parliament, Bukit Bendera), … Continue reading →

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

Water management: Selangor can borrow buckets from Penang

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Tricia

Water management: Selangor can borrow buckets from Penang (First published in Penang Monthly’s inaugural issue in December 2009). The new political situation in Malaysia means greater diversity in how problems are perceived and how they can be solved. Policy competition … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, Federalism, Selangor, Water | Leave a comment