Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia

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DIFFERENT THINKING … Truly in awe with this group of panelists - Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob, Prof Jomo KS, Prof Mahendhiran Nair and Dr Muhammed Khaled - for the Multidimensional Poverty discussion on 20 November at Sunway University. The panelists rejuvenated my knowledge on poverty. It was enriching and provided me the nuances on the various aspects of the topic. TAN SRI SULAIMAN MAHBOB: One of the “guru” of poverty in Malaysia traced the historical journey of poverty study based on his 20 years as the former Director General of Economic Planning Unit and more than 10 years attached to MOF. He narrated the historical journey of poverty study by Prof Unku Aziz and his “sarong index” perspective, looking into the established local ecosystem. Tan Sri Sulaiman accomplishments in the civil service of Malaysia is a well known fact among the young generation of civil servants. PROF JOMO KS: His narrative in understanding poverty derived from an appreciation and recognizing the importance of traditional culture, connecting it to multidimensional poverty. By invoking the role of “bidan kampung”, he stated that this resulted in low infant and maternal mortality rates. He gave several other examples that were related to poverty eradication of the nation, linking it to the understanding of our local systems. PROF MAHENDHIRAN S.NAIR: It was an absolute pleasure to listen to his work on Mentari Project with the B40 community. The team works on the standard and established domains of multidimensional poverty (health, education, housing and income). The Mentari Project team established an excellent rapport with the local community by connecting with the “ketua kampung” or local leaders. This act has resulted in efficient and effective responses in their activities. Again, the traditional cultural perspective of connecting with the people made the project successful. DR MUHAMMED KHALID: is an individual who would call a spade a spade. His critical overview of the various policies in Malaysia has invoked much broader understanding of the weaknesses of policies and the need to review them. NOORUL AINUR: I delved into the statistics of poverty from the databases of different agencies. I elaborated the need for policymakers to collaborate and not work in silo besides integrating the various databases as one source. There is also a need to gender sensitised the ecosystem to achieve a gender balanced policies for the benefits of women. The moderator Danial Rahman is as always awesome with his own thought provoking ideas on poverty.

We were delighted to co-host "Multidimensional Poverty in Malaysia: Key Challenges & The Way Forward" with Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute and IGSC - Sunway Institute for Global Strategy and Competitiveness . Our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed panellists Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob, Prof. Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Prof. Mahendhiran Sanggaran NAIR, Dr. Muhammed Abdul Khalid and Professor Tan Sri Noorul Ainur Mohd. Nur, Ph.D., along with our moderator Danial Rahman for their invaluable contributions to the session. Some key takeaways from our speakers: 1. Multidimensional poverty requires multifaceted solutions to prevent wasteful overlaps and reduce silos; 2. Understanding the local context is key towards identifying the causes and solutions to multidimensional poverty in Malaysia; 3. Collaboration between government, academia, industry and citizens is central towards solving the issue. We thank all who attended the session and look forward to more enlightening discussions in the future. Stay tuned for more events!

The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit kicked off yesterday in Peru, where world leaders will bid farewell to United States President Joe Biden and chart the way forward amid the uncertainty of Donald Trump's electoral victory. Prof Shandre Thangavelu, Head of the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University, tells CNA’s Asia Now what to expect from the meeting between United States President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, which is set for Saturday on the sidelines of the summit. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gKRkM3eW

The Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia (JCI) proudly shares Prof. Shakila’s recent insights on Bernama Radio and Astro AWANI, where she analysed the dynamics of the U.S. elections. Drawing on her earlier review of Ruling America: A History of Wealth and Power in a Democracy, she discussed how the longstanding influence of the ruling elite often sidelines the broader will of the struggling masses. Prof. Shakila pointed out that Trump’s success came from his ability to connect with a wide array of voters. The discussion highlighted pressing questions on democracy, power, and the voice of the people. #ElectoralCollege #RulingElites #Establishment #Democracy #RuleByThePeople #publicpolicy #SunwayUniversity

Malaysia faces unique challenges in tackling poverty on multiple fronts. Join us as we explore these dimensions and discuss actionable strategies for creating a more equitable future. Our expert panel will shed light on critical issues affecting communities across the country and potential pathways to improvement. Moderator: Danial Rahman, CEO, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) Speakers: - Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob, Board Member, Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) - Prof. Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Research Advisor, Khazanah Research Institute - Prof. Mahendhiran Sanggaran NAIR, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Sustainability), Sunway University; Fellow, Academy of Sciences Malaysia & CPA (Australia) - Dr. Muhammed Abdul Khalid, Research Fellow, Institute of Malaysian & International Studies, UKM - Tan Sri Noorul Ainur Mohd. Nur, Ph.D., Professor of Practice, Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University Date: 20 November 2024 Time: 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM Venue: Sir Jeffrey Cheah Hall, Level 4, Sunway College RSVP now: https://bit.ly/RSVP_201124 This event is brought to you in partnership with the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) and IGSC - Sunway Institute for Global Strategy and Competitiveness See you there!

***Budget 2025: Prioritizing Sustainability for a Resilient Malaysia*** In a recent article in The STAR, Prof. Kim Leng Yeah from the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, Sunway University shares his insights on Malaysia’s Budget 2025, highlighting its significant commitment to sustainability. From increased allocations for environmental initiatives to the push for renewable energy and green financing, Budget 2025 represents a forward-looking approach to balancing economic resilience with climate action. As Malaysia continues its journey toward net-zero by 2050, Budget 2025 sets a crucial foundation for sustainable growth and long-term environmental stewardship. #Budget2025 #Sustainability #ESG #Malaysia

This Deepavali as we celebrate the victory of light over darkness and unity over division, may it remind us of our shared purpose in building a more inclusive and resilient society. Warm wishes for a joyous, and prosperous Deepavali filled with light, love, and lasting peace! #Deepavali2024 #FestivalOfLights #JeffreyCheahInstitute #JCI #CommunityUnity

The Jeffrey Cheah Institute (JCI), Sunway University had the honour of hosting a distinguished delegation of Chinese scholars led by H.E. Dr. Xu Bu, former Ambassador of China to ASEAN and current member of the UN Secretary-General's High-level Board on Effective Multilateralism. We had an engaging and productive discussion on key topics, including Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, China-Malaysia trade and ASEAN relations, as well as Sunway University as a potential destination for future students. The delegation included: Professor Xin Qiang, Director of the Center for Taiwan Studies and Deputy Director of the Center for American Studies, Fudan University; Dr. Bai Lian-lei, Convener, China International Engineering Consulting Corporation; Mr. Ren Xiangyu, Third Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China; and Ms. Wu Xiaoping, First Secretary, Embassy of the People's Republic of China (Malaysia). Thank you, Prof. Shandre Thangavelu, Prof. Weng Marc Lim, Dr. Tze Ying Sim, Dr. Stella Ong Kim Yoke, LEE SZE THER, Prof. Kim Leng Yeah and Dr. Keat hoe Yeoh, for your valuable contributions and insights at today’s meeting. It was a meaningful exchange, strengthening ties and exploring exciting avenues for collaboration. #BRI #ChinaMalaysiaRelations #ASEAN #JCI #SunwayUniversity #SustainableDevelopment

Prof. Shakila Yacob recently facilitated a session on "History Informed Public Policy," engaging senior government officers from the various ministries. This session was organsied by the International Institute of Public Policy & Management (INPUMA), University of Malaya Key insights from the session included: **A gap in historical knowledge among participants, reinforcing the importance of history in shaping effective public policy. **Many officers preferred a generalist approach, gaining varied experiences across ministries, though there were concerns about the depth of expertise in specific areas. **A notable lack of mentorship in participants' careers, a stark contrast to the mentor-mentee relationships seen in past decades. **An urgent need for improved collaboration between civil servants and political leaders, as their current disconnect could hinder Malaysia’s progress. **A lack of familiarity with the Madani framework, a key pillar of national policy, signaling the need for greater engagement with its principles. History is crucial in shaping informed governance strategies. #PublicPolicy #Leadership #CivilService #Mentorship #MadaniFramework #HistoryInformedPolicy #Governance #JCI #SunwayUniversity