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TBY talks to Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Michael O.K. Yeoh, CEO and Director of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), on recent initiatives, the Center for Public Policy Studies, and the organization's goals.
BIOGRAPHY
Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Michael O.K. Yeoh is CEO and Director of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI). He is also Founder Vice-Chairman of CPPS. He was appointed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia to be a Member of the National Unity Consultative Council, the Advisory Board of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and a Commissioner in Malaysia’s Competition Commission. He was appointed by the Malaysian Government to be Malaysia’s Representative with Ambassador status on the ASEAN High Level Task Force on Connectivity. He graduated in Economics and Accountancy from Australia’s Monash University and has undertaken senior executive programs at Harvard Business School and Aresty Institute of Wharton School. He was conferred a Doctorate in Law by the University of Nottingham.You recently organized an event on the One Belt, One Road Initiative. What is the importance of this initiative for bilateral relations between China and Malaysia?
One Belt, One Road is important, not only in terms of bilateral relations between China and Malaysia, but also regionally. The ASEAN Summit has adopted a master plan on connectivity, which spells out the various plans that ASEAN needs to focus on in terms of air, rail, road, and sea transport. The China initiative of the Maritime Silk Road helps us to achieve the connectivity master plan.
What conclusions were drawn from your recent 19th Malaysian Banking Summit entitled “Banking in a New Regional Landscape with ASEAN Economic Integration" and, how will the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) impact the banking sector?
Our Banking Summit is an annual conference organized to bring together the leading bankers in the country to look at the state of banking in Malaysia as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. In 2015, the banking sector has to address a number of issues. The economy has a number of challenges, and there is a need for the banking sector to continue to be able to support what the business community needs in terms of financing and loans. At the same time, the AEC will require the region to come up with a regional financial architecture that will allow banks in different countries to be able to move freely as established branches and operations in the other Asian countries.
Why was the Center for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) established by ASLI?
The main purpose for the Center is to have an independent approach to public policy studies, and we have an extensive engagement with the business community, as well as with NGOs, to identify their areas of concern in terms of public policy, based upon which we develop our research, and make submissions and proposals to the government on a wide range of key issues. We look at a number of challenges, including inclusive development, human rights, sustainable growth, as well as education and human capital development.
Inclusive development is one of the research focuses of the CPPS. What can be done to ensure the benefits of Vision 2020 are enjoyed by all members of society?
By 2020, the government envisions Malaysia to be a fully developed nation, and what is important is that there has to be equitable distribution to be able to reduce inequalities and to be able to look at the problems of poverty and how we can reduce that at rural and urban levels. The emphasis on inclusive development will help promote a more equitable society.
What are your key objectives for ASLI?
We will continue to look at a number of conferences that we provide, and conduct extensive research on topics such as gender issues and the participation of women. We also want to look further at Asian integration, and what has been achieved after the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. Every year, we organize an important ASEAN Leadership Forum in April.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Inside Perspective
Y.A.B. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister, Malaysia
Y.A.B. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on the broad picture for Malaysia's future, its regional obligations and role, and the importance of constant improvement and development.
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Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs , Belgium
TBY talks to Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Belgium, on the potential for trade growth, the impending FTA with the EU, and Malaysia's role as gateway to the South-East Asian market.
read articleFocus: Chairmanship of ASEAN
In The Driver’s Seat
Malaysia's chairmanship of the world's seventh largest economy, ASEAN, marks a high-water mark for the organization. With a population of 600 million people and GDP of $2.4 trillion, the 10-nation trading bloc is implementing the final action lines of the blueprint to create a fully-integrated ASEAN community.
read articleFocus: Middle Income Trap
Danger Up Ahead
Under the leadership of Tun Mahathir in the 1990s, Malaysia set out its vision to become a developed nation by 2020—defined by achieving a per-capita income of $15,000—however, the country's rate of growth in recent years has slowed leading to fears that it may be heading into a middle-income trap.
read articleInterview
Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli, Group Managing Director & CEO, RHB Banking Group
TBY talks to Dato' Khairussaleh Ramli, Group Managing Director & CEO of RHB Banking Group, on Malaysia's prominent role in promoting Islamic finance worldwide, and the challenges the country faces in the sukuk market.
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Dato’ Dr. Adnan Alias, CEO, Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia (IBFIM)
TBY talks to Dato' Dr. Adnan Alias, CEO of the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia (IBFIM), on supporting the bonds segment, training Malaysian workers, and the country's prominent role in global Islamic finance.
read articleFocus: Islamic Finance
It’s All About the Sukuk
Malaysia continues to assert its position as a world leader in Islamic finance. Accounting for around 67% of global sukuk issuances, Malaysia is the largest sukuk issuer in the world. It is a pioneer in the Islamic finance industry, as the first country to issue sovereign sukuk in 2002 and to list an Islamic real estate trust (REIT) on its Stock Exchange in 2006.
read articleInterview
David Fike, President, General Insurance for Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad
TBY talks to David Fike, President of General Insurance for Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad, on the evolution of the company, Malaysia's strategic importance, and upcoming opportunities for the insurance industry.
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Maen Razouqi, Vice President and General Manager , Brunei, Malaysia & Philippines for Schlumberger
TBY talks to Maen Razouqi, Vice President and General Manager of Brunei, Malaysia & Philippines for Schlumberger, on investing in the future, leveraging foreign partnerships, and the factors of success for operating in Malaysia.
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Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff, President & CEO, Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)
TBY talks to Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff, President & CEO of the Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), on pursuing growth in the high technology sector, increasing the economic role of high technology exports, and establishing Malaysia as a regional leader in the aerospace industry.
read articleFocus: E&E
Plug & Play
At the forefront of Malaysia's manufacturing sector is the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry. E&E has been highlighted as one of the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) under the government's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to propel Malaysia into a developed nation.
read articleInterview
Y.B. Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Minister , Industrial Development for Sabah,
TBY talks to Y.B. Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Minister of Industrial Development for Sabah, on moving towards sustainability in Sabah's industrial sector, attracting outside investors, and increasing connectivity within the wider region.
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Y.B. Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Minister , Special Tasks for Sabah’s Chief Minister’s Department
TBY talks to Y.B. Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Minister of Special Tasks for Sabah's Chief Minister's Department, on future government policy, investing in infrastructure, and spreading economic prosperity.
read articleInterview
Datuk Mohd. Basri Abd. Gafa, President, Federation of Sabah Industries
TBY talks to Datuk Mohd. Basri Abd. Gafar, President of the Federation of Sabah Industries, on the state of industry in Sabah, supporting new business development, and the future of the region within the ASEAN economic network.
read articleInterview
Y.B. Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister , Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah
TBY talks to Y.B. Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah, on developing tourism in the face of environmental concerns, tax restrictions, and challenging macroeconomic trends.
read articleFocus: E-Government
Stream That Line
In a drive to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector delivery, which is one of the supporting policies under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the government of Malaysia is increasing the number of services available to the public online.
read articleInterview
Y.B. Datuk Joseph Entulu Anak Belaun, Minister , Prime Minister’s Department of the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU)
TBY talks to Y.B. Datuk Joseph Entulu Anak Belaun, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department of the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), on upgrades in the public services sector, overcoming challenges to modernization, and big data.
read articleFocus: The Role of PPPs
All The Best
Since the introduction of the 1981 Malaysian Incorporated concept, which set out a new approach to national development based on the notion of joint ownership of the country by the public and private sectors, the country has seen a steady rise in the number of public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
read articleInterview
Ahmad Shahizam bin Mohd Shariff, CEO, Pantai Operations Division of Parkway Pantai
TBY talks to Ahmad Shahizam bin Mohd Shariff, CEO of Pantai Operations Division of Parkway Pantai, on Malaysia's strategic position in their global operations, how to boost medical tourism, and collaborating with higher learning institutions.
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Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Michael O.K. Yeoh, CEO, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI)
TBY talks to Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Michael O.K. Yeoh, CEO and Director of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), on recent initiatives, the Center for Public Policy Studies, and the organization's goals.
read articleFocus: Halal Tourism
A Welcome Host
With 5.6 million Muslim tourist arrivals in 2014, roughly 20% of all visitors to Malaysia in 2014, and the number one position on the Global Muslim Travel Index 2015, halal tourism is a fast-growing niche market that is poised to drive the country's already well-established tourism industry.
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