The economy remains the topmost voter concern in the upcoming general elections. BFM host Melisa Idris mediates this riveting panel discussion between REFSA executive director Teh Chi-Chang and ISIS Malaysia senior director Steven CM Wong. Listen to the podcast for an extended version of the broadcast, as these two economists dive into Malaysia’s economic policies over [...]

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration declared that the Budget 2013 is “people-first”. Does our country’s financial plans for next year really tick with the beats on the streets? REFSA’s executive director Chi-Chang and BFM hosts Caroline Oh & Umapagan Ampikaipagan had a vibrant chat with everyday Malaysians on the Budget they really want. Listen [...]

Budget 2013 will be tabled on 28 September this year, but do Malaysians understand the ins and outs of our country’s finances? REFSA’s director Teh Chi-Chang’s new book “The Dark Side of the Budget” combines cartoons and everyday English to break down the jargonistic bulk of Malaysia’s economy, explaining where our money is going and [...]

The 2nd and final part of “REFSA’s Critique of the ETP” on BFM89.9 finally saw a face-to-face discussion between our executive director Chi-Chang and PEMANDU’s Chris Tan, director of the Electrical and Electronics NKEA. Listen to the podcast below (or get it here) for the lively debate between Chi-Chang and Chris Tan to judge for yourself on whether [...]

Missed “REFSA’s Critique of the ETP (Part 1)” on BFM 89.9 on 13 March 2012 , or hoping for another listen? Click on the podcast below, or get it here. Chew on the perspective of Dr Ong Kian Ming as he takes on the questions of BFM hosts Caroline Oh and Ezra Zaid, breaking down and evaluating the much-touted ETP [...]

Malaysia has overspent RM43 billion last year. How much debt does that translate to for every Malaysian? Countries like Indonesia and South Korea suffered worse hits in the global economy crisis than Malaysia. How did they rise up beyond us to become more competitive in the international market? What can we learn from them? Stimulus [...]

Budget 2012, announced on 7 Oct 2011, has received both bouquets and brick-bats for its goodies-galore bent. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib’s “election budget” and its populist generosity on handouts, subsidies and civil servants’ pay  may appeal to those who directly benefit but is being chided by economists and analysts for presenting unsustainable solutions to [...]

Teh Chi-Chang, Executive Director of Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) discusses how consumers can be adversely impacted by the recent MAS-AirAsia tie-up. Under the comprehensive collaboration framework, Khazanah, which has a 69.5% stake in MAS, will take up a 10% stake in AirAsia through Tune Air, while the latter will acquire 20.5% of MAS. REFSA [...]

Originally posted in BFM website: http://www.bfm.my/current-affairs-120711-teh-chi-chang-refsa.html Recently in the news report “IPPs do not benefit from gas subsidy”, the Minister of Energy, Water and Green Technologies Datuk Peter Chin, along with Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s chief operating officer, Azman Mohd, had reportedly said that Malaysia’s average electricity tariff s 47.31 sen per kWh is gas prices [...]