Policy Ideas | Ideas

Policy IDEAS No 12: Malaysian education: What do the poor really want?

Education Policy Ideas Publications By admin|April 15, 2014 |0

This paper is an overview of the results of IDEAS’ nationwide education survey of households in the bottom 40 percent. The average household income of the respondents was RM 919 per month. With over 1,200 households surveyed in six states across M [...]

Policy IDEAS No 11: The Malaysian Trust School Model: It’s good but is it sustainable?

Education Policy Ideas Publications By admin|February 13, 2014 |1

In 2010 Yayasan AMIR and the Ministry of Education (MOE) embarked on the Trust School Programme, which was billed as a pioneering public-private partnership in education for Malaysia. This involved both organisations working together to improve th [...]

Policy IDEAS No 10: Transparency in European public procurement: benefits and lessons for Malaysia

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|January 15, 2014 |0

Malaysia has rather robust procurement regulations that compel agencies to implement the principles of transparency, value for money, and fair dealings in procurement activities. However, there are areas in which Malaysia can improve especially to [...]

Policy IDEAS No 9: Market solutions to education crisis

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|December 10, 2013 |0

The performance of Malaysian students in the PISA 2012 rankings once again left the nation wondering when copious amounts of public expenditure on education would translate to markedly improved results. Malaysian students showed some improvement i [...]

Policy IDEAS No 8: The hardware and the software to overcome a middle-income trap

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|November 5, 2013 |0

No economy has ever been able to sustain membership in the high-income, developed-country league without having first adopted the institutions of secure private property rights and their free, competitive use under the rule of law that treats all [...]

Policy IDEAS No 7: Key failings in the Malaysian public procurement system and how they can be addressed by greater transparency

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|October 1, 2013 |2

The Malaysian government has established an official system of procurement which conforms to a certain extent to international standards. However, Auditor General Reports repeatedly highlight cases of procured goods, services and works that are be [...]

Policy IDEAS No 6: After GE13- Strengthening democracy in Malaysia

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|August 1, 2013 |0

The outcome of Malaysia’s 13th General Election (GE13) is still contested. Some argue that since Pakatan Rakyat won the popular vote, Barisan Nasional therefore does not have the legitimacy to rule. But all political parties entered the election k [...]

Policy IDEAS No 5: Private education for the poor?

Education Policy Ideas Publications By admin|July 4, 2013 |3

Private schools are usually associated with better quality but the cost is usually beyond the reach of the common citizen. However, this study shows that it is possible to introduce key elements of the private system – accountability, parental cho [...]

Fake medicines in Asia

Healthcare Policy Ideas Publications By admin|February 13, 2013 |0

Fake medicines – which are either criminally motivated or the result of lax manufacturing standards – are a worsening problem, particularly in Asia. In some of poorer parts of the continent, up to a quarter of medicines fail quality te [...]

Escaping “middle class capture” in education policy

Education Policy Ideas Publications By admin|February 5, 2013 |0

Children who belong to the lowest income groups suffer the worst consequences of lower quality education. They do not have the advantage of being able to opt for a private education system or a better school outside of the area that they live in, [...]

Boosting MACC independence for greater public confidence

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|July 17, 2012 |0

This Policy Ideas explores negative public perception of MACC’s independence and recommends several steps that can be taken to improve this perception. By learning from the experience of anti-corruption agencies of Hong Kong and Indonesia, IDEAS r [...]

Hung Parliament and Caretaker Government

Governance Policy Ideas Publications By admin|June 15, 2012 |0

In this Policy Ideas briefing paper we explore the steps necessary after an election, especially if there is an uncertain election outcome, or hung parliament. By looking at case studies from 3 mature constitutional democracies – United Kingdom, T [...]