To deal with economic insecurity, the Malaysian state needs to confront some old assumptions and intervene with the aim to create a virtuous cycle of higher pay, higher technological adoption and higher productivity. A sustainable increase in wages has to be achieved through a sustainable…
Nearly 30 percent of Malaysians polled by Gallup in 2018 felt that they did not have enough money for food, while 23 percent reported not having sufficient money for shelter. These are two very essential measurements of economic security or the lack of. These are…
If we get it right and at the same time get our acts together, when we look back 10 years down the road, 2023 may be remembered as the beginning of Malaysia’s second take-off. If we fail, our country will continue to stagnate as we…
The Malaysian economy is at a crossroads. Indeed, Malaysia as a nation is at a crossroads. The most important question concerning the Malaysian economy is the presence of a huge “educated underclass” in our midst. Malaysia has a relatively well-educated population, with a tertiary education…
On 2 July 1997, Thai baht was attacked by speculators, which triggered the Asian Financial Crisis. Everything in Malaysia and Asia changed after that day. My life, along with that of the entire generation, changed too. I was 20 then and couldn’t comprehend what the…
I attended the Progressive Alliance conference titled “Asia’s Social Democratic New Deal for Peace, Democracy, Recovery, Sustainability” in KL over the weekend. The conference was officiated by DAP Secretary-General Sdr Anthony Loke. DAP International Secretary Sdri Jennie Lasimbang and the Conference Convenor Sdr Howard Lee…
This morning, I asked a supplementary question in the Johor State Assembly to the EXCO for Housing and Local Government Dato’ Haji Mohd Jafni bin Md Shukor on the question of housing. Housing is a major concern raised by many ADUNs. The Speaker bundled 5…
Yesterday, Asia woke up to US Federal Reserve 0.75% rate hike, the largest since 1994. The Fed is trying to battle the highest inflation in four decades or so. Whereas the rest of the world, particularly Asian economies, will have to deal with inflation AND…
I read with great amusement Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong’s response to my earlier statement about traffic congestion. Wee in an interview with China Press on 30 May was quoted as saying that too many vehicles, about 33 million of them, on the…
I am stunned that both current Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and convicted former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak are bringing back the idea of introducing the goods and services tax (GST) for Malaysia. The regressive tax proposal has been pushed by…