Category Archives: Public Administration

Paying it backward

(first appeared in theSun on 15 October 2014, here). AMIDST the media frenzy that surrounds the budget each year, not many pay attention to the supplementary budgets. Did you know that the government spends billions of ringgit that is outside the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Govt and civil society: The gap widens

First published in theSun here, on 26 September 2014. AN Asian civil society summit I attended in Jakarta recently discussed the oftentimes tenuous relationship between government and civil society in countries within the region. Civil society in many of our neighbouring … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Human Rights, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Making voluntarism legal

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

Shedding light on public procurement

First published in theSun here, on 21 August 2014. ONE of the many criticisms against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) that Malaysia is negotiating to sign alongside 11 other countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region is that procurement by government and state-owned … Continue reading →

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

Why more information is better

First published in theSun here, on 25 July 2014. WHAT both MH370 and MH17 have shown us is that accurate and timely information being provided to the public is absolutely crucial, and this is surely a lesson that must be extended … Continue reading →

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

Push for a better quality of life

(First published in theSun on 5 June 2014, and can be accessed here). AS I prepared for my presentation to the prime minister last week on what the government can do to enhance Malaysians’ quality of life during the Ministry of … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Crime, Economics, Public Administration, Water | Leave a comment

The rights of oil producing states

(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

Politics in Policy

(First published in theSun on 13 March 2014, here.) AT the time of writing, it would be more than 60 hours since Malaysian air traffic control lost contact with the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. For the past few days, … Continue reading →

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

Much ado about Selangor

(First published in theSun on 30 January 2014, here). NOT half a year has gone by since the 13th general election, and already interesting developments are taking place in the state of Selangor. Just this week, Kajang assemblyperson Lee Chin … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, General Politics, Public Administration, Selangor | Leave a comment

Let’s get our numbers right

Let’s get our numbers right First published in theSun on 1st January 2014, here. Tricia Yeoh is the chief operating officer of a local, independent think-tank. She wishes everyone a happy and crime-free 2014.  THE last week of the year is … Continue reading →

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