On Sunday, May 5, Malaysians go to the polls.  For the first time in our history, in the 56 years since Merdeka, we have a real choice in choosing who to grant the privilege of governing us. Which coalition will you choose? The incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN), which is the only federal government that all [...]

I have been asking Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters this question in recent days. Their consistent answer has been, “What is the alternative?”  This goes all the way from lay supporters to the BN candidates themselves.  While doing my weekly marketing in SS2 on Sunday, I bumped into the BN candidate on her campaign rounds and [...]

This is a statement by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) released on Thursday, 21 March 2013.  (Read Part 1 here) — The perception manipulation and deception surrounding the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) masks much more than the mediocre economic growth and dodgy math that we spotlighted yesterday. Today, we draw attention to [...]

This is a statement by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) released on Wednesday, 20 March 2013. ————- We are dismayed to find perception manipulation and deception still surrounds the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). The mainstream media today is full of praise and claims of excellent performance and transformation. This is exactly the [...]

This is a statement by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) released on Thursday, 13 December  2012. ——– REFSA says J.P. Morgan’s praise of the ETP is misplaced, invites clarification Global investment bank J.P. Morgan recently released a report in which it said, “Positive structural changes are underway with economic rebalancing through the [...]

This is a statement by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) released on Friday, 12 October  2012.  —————- We write to rebut Dr Lim Teck Ghee’s assertion that “There is little empirical research to back up what has become an increasingly popular line of argument” that blanket subsidies such as for cheap petrol [...]

This is a joint-statement by IDEAS (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) and not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) released on Friday, 28 September 2012. —————- Budget 2013: The shocking explosion of federal government subsidies IDEAS and REFSA are shocked that the federal government subsidy bill for 2012 is now expected to hit [...]

This is an opinion published by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) on 25 September 2012. ——————- The world is not black and white. Even for the colour blind, there are shades of grey (indeed, as many as ahem, Fifty Shades of Grey!). One of the first things we learn as we grow [...]

This is a media statement published by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) on Wed, 29 August 2012, in conjunction with Malaysia’s 55th year of Independence on 31 August.  In the run-up to our 55th Merdeka Day celebrations, the federal government has been particularly keen on reminding Malaysians of all it has done [...]

This is an opinion published by not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) on Monday, 13 August 2012. Whistleblower or Lawbreaker: Does the end justify Rafizi Ramli’s means? The click of handcuffs upon the wrists of Rafizi Ramli and former bank clerk Johari Mohamad in the wee hours of 1 August was a rude [...]