Concern about the credibility of official statistics is not an unfamiliar tune in Malaysia. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public officials have tugged at official statistics in different directions. Publication: MIERScan, 11 June 2007. Download
Oil prices have been increasing dramatically in recent years. As a result, consumers are forced to endure increased costs for energy and gasoline. Oil prices affect the economy as a whole. Increased oil prices have an impact on costs involved in the manufacturing and transporting of goods; as such, they tend to result in aggravating … Read more
This paper contributes to the debate on the use of temporary controls on capital outflows as a crisis resolution measure by examining the outcome of Malaysia’s radical response to the 1997-98 financial crisis. The analysis suggests that carefully designed temporary capital controls were successful in providing Malaysian policymakers a viable setting for aiding the recovery … Read more
Unit trusts have become an increasingly attractive option for savers, now that bank deposits earn negative returns in real terms, with inflation rates rising above interest rates offered by commercial banks. To be sure, higher returns on investments are not the only reason why one might want to resort to unit trusts. Publication: MIERScan, 20 … Read more
For a country that produces Plans for financial reform, human resource development, industrial development, capital market reform, automobile industry development and knowledge development, besides, of course, the Outline Perspective Plan and the regular Five-Year Plans, it is time that we reflect on the planning process. Author: Nambiar, Shankaran. Publication: MIERScan, 9 January 2006. Download
The size of global Islamic funds has dramatically increased since the incident of September 11. Investments particularly from Islamic institutions and wealthy Muslims have shifted from conventional based funds to Islamic funds. Back in 1999, these funds were estimated at about US$800 million and now up to US$200 billion. It is interesting to know who … Read more
The past several decades have seen much progress made to enhance the economic participation of women in Malaysia. Since the Declaration of the United Nations Decade for Women back in 1979, there has been a growing recognition that women play a crucial role in the country’s economic development. Author: Wong, ChayNee. Publication: MIERScan, 14 August … Read more
Since the introduction of the New Economic Policy 1971-1990 (NEP), Malaysia has achieved outstanding progress in poverty eradication. During this period the poverty incidence has dropped from 52.4 percent in 1970 to 15 percent in 1990. This index remains in a declining trend with the latest figures showing a drop from 8.5 percent in 1999 … Read more
Our obsession used to be about producing at the lowest cost, but we have since passed that stage. Now, it is about increasing productivity, by delivering better quality products and services in the most efficient way by using less labour and capital resources. A commitment towards high productivity will reduce wastages and increase efficiency. Author: … Read more
The end of the colonial era did not mark the end of the close economic and financial relations that had developed among Britain, Malaysia and Singapore. Both Malaysia and Singapore continued to maintain their pegged exchange rate to sterling until June 1973, and to hold the bulk of their reserves in sterling even after the … Read more