Search result for: "Mahathir Mohamed"


Malaysia’s Confusing Foreign Policy

When Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim announced and personally thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his invitation to personally join the BRICS Summit in Kazan
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Has Anwar Begun His Own Version Of Ops Lalang?


BANGKOK, Thailand-Since the Anwar administration came to power, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been extremely busy since the chief commissioner Azam Baki made a visit to Anwar’s office with a bunch of files, soon after Anwar was sworn in as PM.

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Political Dynasties In Malaysia

BANGKOK, Thailand-The recent appointment of Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar as economic advisor to her father as prime minister has tapped into deep emotion and even ridicule this week.

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The Anwar And Zahid Relationship

BANGKOK, Thailand--There is more than meets the eye to the Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi relationship.

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Malaysia’s Government System Under Pressure In Wake Of Najib Verdict


SACRAMENTO, U.S.--Malaysia’s legal system is under severe challenge from followers of former Prime Minister Najib, who want him freed via royal pardon from a sentence of 12 years in prison on seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust for steering millions of dollars into his own pockets from an offshoot of the failed 1Malaysia Development Bhd. investment fund, which collapsed in 2016 from mismanagement and corruption.

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Is There A Malaysian Deep State?

BANGKOK, Thailand--There has been much discussion about the existence of a deep state within Malaysia. This essay looks at its components. The deep state is not a unified and coordinated mechanism. It is heterogeneous and diverse. It is probably only bound together by a common narrative, sometimes interpreted differently. At different points of time, different aspects of this deep state exercise more power over the others. Other times, there is even conflict between the various elements.

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Who Makes Public Policy In Malaysia?

BANGKOK, Thailand--When Malaysia faced the Asian economic crisis back in 1997, the then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed called on his old friend Tun Daim Zainuddin to head the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) set up under the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to find a solution through the National Economic Recovery Plan (NERP). 

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UMNO’s Battle Royale

BANGKOK, Thailand--While everyone is focused on the electoral battle now going on in Johor, there is another much more important clandestine battle going on. This is the battle for UMNO leadership.

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Malaysia’s Looming Food Crisis

BANGKOK, Thailand--The shortage of McDonald’s French fries earlier this month in Malaysia is symbolic of a much bigger national problem. Many food items are in short supply and subject to rapidly rising prices. 

 
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How Malaysia’s Robber Barons Operate With Impunity

BANGKOK, Thailand--The term robber baron was originally made aware to me by educator and writer Dr Azly Rahman. Robber baron is a derogative US term to describe how the powerful 19th Century American industrialists and financiers made fortunes by monopolizing industries through engaging in unethical business practices, exploiting workers, and paying little heed to the law. 

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Malaysian Group Urges Japan to End Unfair Travel Ban

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--As students, workers, and family members are being continuously and unfairly kept out of Japan, we decided to hold a peaceful demonstration in front of the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia. 

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How The Malay Elite Hijacked Malaysia

BANGKOK, Thailand--With the United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO back in political power with a firm and dominating position to the other Malay-centric political parties, kleptocratic practises are on the rise once again.  

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The Dark Forces Changing Malaysian Society

BANGKOK, Thailand--Malaysia was once a harmonious society, where the different ethnic groups coexisted with a sense of community, and each ethnic group once openly celebrated festivals together. All the ethnic groups were free to express their cultures, and practice their religions without interference. Malaysia had a strong and stable government with a working multi-racial coalition. All of the nation’s citizens were once proud to be Malaysian.

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Bumiputera equity rule highlights catastrophe in public policy

BANGKOK, Thailand--A Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF) letter to the minister of international trade and industry Azmin Ali has highlighted the 51% Bumiputera equity requirement in many types of businesses.
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Who is Anwar Ibrahim?

There has been no other politician in Malaysia who is as polarizing as Anwar Ibrahim. People will usually strongly support him, or strongly dislike him. He has been accused of being a chameleon, telling different audiences, different things, an opportunist, seeking the prime ministerial position, and ‘the boy who cried wolf’, with his aspersions about having a parliamentary majority to takeover government, on a number of occasions.
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Mahathir’s Shattered Legacy


After nearly 75 years in public life, the political career of Mahathir Mohamed appears to be drawing to a close at age 96. As he becomes less relevant amid the country’s current fevered political manoeuvring, it is time to look at what the last four years, with 20 months as prime minister once again, did for his legacy.

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