Pakatan Harapan swept into power in Malaysia’s historic 14th General Elections in May 2018. Led by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the coalition had campaigned against corruption and the rising cost of living for Malaysians, and promised urgent reforms in its comprehensive election manifesto. Since then, the new government has announced significant initiatives on the political, administrative and economic fronts. It brought together bipartisan support in Parliament for a landmark amendment to the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age to 18 years, from 21 previously, and implement the automatic registration of voters.
At the same time, it continues to face strong pushback from Malay-majority opposition parties, UMNO and PAS, and civil society groups. A sense of uncertainty hangs over the ruling coalition’s unity and Malaysia’s economic outlook, given the global disruptions wrought by ongoing US-China strategic and economic tensions. Nevertheless, behind the scenes, fundamental policy reforms are being formulated and put in place to improve Malaysia’s fiscal position and restructure its economy, including its financial sector.
Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid is a key player in these initiatives, as Economic Adviser to Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohamad. At the IPS Corporate Associates Breakfast Dialogue, he will discuss the government’s approach on fiscal policy, inequality and affirmative action, and its efforts to curb corruption and enhance the ease of doing business in Malaysia. Dr Muhammed is the author of The Colour of Inequality: Ethnicity, Class, Income and Wealth in Malaysia (2014), a ground-breaking study of Malaysia’s economic development policy and the challenges of inequality in the country. It explores possible policy interventions to ensure that economic growth is equitably shared so as to ensure a stable and prosperous society.
The discussion will be chaired by Prof. Danny Quah, Dean and Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.