the most important takeaway from the May 2018 election wasn’t about who won the election; it was about the rakyat knowing that it was possible to and that we actually held the power to democratically change governments in peaceful ways
Tthe countries that can address the political economy of business in Southeast Asia — historically a family affair — will be best placed to capitalise on the investment story of Southeast Asia
But if we can hold off zombie interest groups for public policy, learn not to put human beings on pedestals, but simply take what their best and wisest decisions are for ourselves, while respecting our own mental health and that of everyone around us, maybe we’ll get through 2025 alright.
CREDs cannot just be about the vibes. Credibility, and therefore trust, cannot be earned overnight and merely through words
But the broader point is that we need more Malaysian companies whose moat goes beyond “cost advantage”
in reality, Malaysia’s main problem is not so much that costs are getting higher — this is true everywhere. Our main problem is that incomes are not rising as quickly and this is where the bulk of our attention should be
And so, here is a list of eight (completely arbitrary number) “indie” public goods that we think would make Malaysia — or in some cases, at least our immediate neighbourhoods — a better place to live for all.
Whatever happens with global politics following the year of elections — especially with the US presidential election — navigating the waters of global policy means navigating “swamps, deserts and chasms”.
if we really believe in the reforms or the development goals we wish to achieve, we have to hold fast, keep to the process, stay coordinated as a team, be willing to choose what’s right over who’s who and understand that nation-building is a never-ending journey
As such, as the government prepares for the final round of rationalising RON95 subsidies, it would do well to make “good enough” policy decisions — which is how life and evolution work anyway — rather than technically perfect policy decisions
We must understand that trying new things means that some will fail, and that what is important is that we must fail in a way that allows us to move forward.
Taking the position as chair of Asean in 2025 requires some prioritisation of what is a national issue versus what is a regional or even global issue. Climate, electrification, food, regional geopolitical security, may be some of these issues, but what else?