Looking Back
REFSA was conceived in 2004 on the need to provide thought leadership, promote open discussions and develop reliable analysis on pertinent issues affecting Malaysians.
Since 2007, we took our advocacy role one step further by becoming a publishing house and since then, we have produced books and publications on important political and socio-economic issues.
In 2016, the Library for Social Democracy was conceived as a brain trust and resource centre to complement the think tank’s research. It has since been one of the few public centre of research for academicians, politicians, researchers and the wider discerning citizens interested in local and global society, politics and economics. It also acts as a public space for educational outreach, as well as to bring the community closer through knowledge sharing and intellectual pursuits.
Throughout the years, we have focused on various areas, most notably democracy, governance and reforms, economy, urban, to name a few. We are also one of the few trilingual think tanks in the nation – our work and media engagements are frequently carried out in all languages – Malay, English and Mandarin.
To this date, we are well represented in discussions, dialogue and engagement with various stakeholders of the nation, and has come to be regarded as a serious participant in the advocacy of progressive ideas towards nation-building.