Fri, Jul 14, 2017

Policy Matters

Others

Policy Matters - Facing up to ringgit fluctuations

Posted on 14 December 2016 - 07:24pm

Shankaran Nambiar

SECOND Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani has emphatically stated that currency volatility is an intrinsic part of the market mechanism and cannot be denied.

He has said that, "if we want to be a developed country we cannot peg our currency, we cannot impose capital controls because if we do this now we will be left far behind and no one will invest here".

Policy Matters - Malaysia in a post-TPP world

Posted on 30 November 2016 - 10:24pm

Shankaran Nambiar

THE Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) can be put to rest. It seems so, at least for now.

If there is a flicker of hope, it comes from the talks that Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had with United States President-elect Donald Trump during his visit (Nov 17-18) to the US. It is not clear if Abe managed to convince Trump about the need for the TPPA during their meeting.

Policy Matters - A broad and thin spread of generosity

Posted on 3 November 2016 - 06:50pm

Shankaran Nambiar

HOW does one characterise Budget 2017 in one sentence? Perhaps, as a budget that offers a little bit to a lot of people. Because there is a fair sprinkling of incentives to a wide range of stakeholders.

Therein lies the budget's strength and its weakness.

There are two fronts that challenge the economy. One comes from domestic sources, and the other from the external sector.

Policy Matters - Entrepreneurship – the game changer

Posted on 3 October 2016 - 07:40pm
Last updated on 3 October 2016 - 08:00pm

Shankaran Nambiar

WHEN Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar speaks, he simply rocks.

His presentation at the International Blue Ocean Symposium bristled with energy.

Policy Matters - Does Russia’s eastern economic forum matter?

Posted on 5 September 2016 - 09:54pm

Shankaran Nambiar

VLADIMIR Putin had successfully conducted the first Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) last year. The forum – the second was held at Vladivostok on Sept 2-3 – is leveraged on the Far East which is rich in metals (diamonds, tin, gold, tungsten) and houses industries that are centred around mining and the processing of non-ferrous metals.

Policy Matters - BNM governor steps ahead of the curve

Posted on 20 July 2016 - 07:36pm
Last updated on 20 July 2016 - 09:10pm

Shankaran Nambiar

DATUK Muhammad Ibrahim, the new governor of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), in an unexpected move cut the overnight policy rate by 25 basis points. With this surprise slash, Muhammad has established his stamp on the role that BNM can be expected to play under his leadership.

Most analysts thought that there would be a rate cut towards the end of the year.

Policy Matters - Why individuals matter

Posted on 13 July 2016 - 06:46pm

Shankaran Nambiar

BREXIT indicates that there can be limits to regional integration. National politicians and top-level policymakers can have a vision that is not in congruence with that of ordinary citizens.

Even among the peoples of a country there can be a diversity of views, views that might be at variance with those held by top leadership.

Policy Matters - Russia eyes more active role in Asean

Posted on 23 June 2016 - 07:48pm

Shankaran Nambiar

RUSSIA has long had an eye on Asean, although the intensity of interest may not have had the force it now has. In all probability the keenness may rise in the years to come.

Policy Matters - Has Mahathir missed the mark?

Posted on 17 April 2016 - 07:35pm

Shankaran Nambiar

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s former prime minister, seems to have missed the mark with the Citizen’s Declaration that he has so vigorously supported.

The bulk of the declaration is directed at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his alleged wrongdoings in connection with 1MDB. Therein lies a fatal flaw.

Policy Matters - Why India should move closer to Asean

Posted on 10 February 2016 - 07:56pm

Shankaran Nambiar

ALTHOUGH India has long had an interest in Asean, this has taken a new dimension with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's accession to power.

The increased interest in Asean has shifted from a "Look East" policy to an "Act East" strategy.

The extent of India's involvement in Asean can be discerned from the wide-ranging issues that are being been covered.