IN THE
SPOTLIGHT
The impact of COVID-19 on the Youth in Malaysia – a survey report
Based on a survey carried out in May 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 crisis, this report highlights the impact of COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns on Malaysian youth. It is clear that the youth are more vulnerable to such crisis, with different age groups of youth experiencing different difficulties. Read the full report to find out more.
Budget 2021: Ushering in the New Economic Paradigm
Budget 2021 will need to incorporate measures to ensure the survival of the economy in the short term, while balancing this with the creation of good jobs and a stronger social safety net, to lay the foundations for a dynamic economy in the future. Â
As a nation, we can’t be flying blind forever
Few in Malaysia are serious about policy discourse. It is understandable for a poor nation but unusual for a middle-income nation with a relatively well-educated population such as Malaysia. The consequence of not having serious policy discourse is that policies are made on the fly and often based on personal preferences, whether genuine or being swayed by interest groups or partisan considerations. There are some explanations.
Memikirkan semula GLC/GLIC di era kapitalisme pemegang taruh
There are three fundamental questions that we need to consider when it comes to government-linked corporations (GLCs) and government-linked investment corporations (GLICs). First, should the State get involved in the economy? Second, should the GLCs/GLICs, which are essentially agents of the Malaysian State, act as if they were private actors Third, what purpose should GLCs/GLICs serve in the new era of stakeholder capitalism? Article in Malay.
Spurred by pandemic, group calls for greater data openness
A group comprising researchers, civil society groups and think tanks have called for the government to be more forthcoming about the data it controls, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the long run, they urged the government to engage with the research community and data scientists to formulate a comprehensive legal and policy framework that will strengthen Malaysia’s data governance and ensure citizens’ right to information.
REFSA Reflections: Episode 3 – The GLC Dilemma
The Director’s Commentary – REFSA proudly launches a new podcast series on the economy, delving deeper and going behind the scenes into our ideas, publications, and positions. Listen to our third episode focusing on GLCs and how they fit into the fabric of our society on Apple podcast and Spotify.
[Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy x REFSA Forum] COVID-19 Vaccines: Doubts, Myths and Facts
Despite surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health indicating that at least 2/3 of respondents are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, there is a significant proportion that remain hesitant or even opposed towards the existing vaccines. This may even include healthcare professionals, members of parliament and learned members of society. This forum is intended to provide a platform for discussion and an opportunity for queries to be raised and address by those concerned.