Compass MARCH 2016 ISSUE #2

The compass MARCH 2016 ISSUE #2

IN THIS ISSUE

The Challenge of Our Time Sustainability

Islamic State The Threat In Malaysia

The South China Sea Manouevring for Influence

Kiasu and Kiasi The Case of the Singapore Election

SUNWAY UNIVERSITY (KPT/JPT/DFT/US/B15) A member of the Sunway Education Group

Tel. (03) 7491 8622 Email. [email protected] Web. sunway.edu.my

Owned and governed by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (800946-T) 02 TABLE OF CONTENT Feasible? Is SustainableDevelopment PAGE 16 ESSAYS ‘Better’ Malaysia The G25andItsAgendafora PAGE 15 in Malaysia The IslamicStateThreat PAGE 13 Asean EconomicIntegration PAGE 12 HIGHLIGHTS LECTURE PUBLIC The 4 PAGE 10 JCI HarvardConference PAGE 8 Challenge andOpportunity The World EconomyIn2016: PAGE 26 EVENTS CALENDAR Damina Khaira A QuestionofIdentity: PAGE 25 Information AboutTravel Grants J Orang AsliEducation The NeedtoImprove PAGE 21 The CaseOfSingapore Election Kiasu andKiasi: PAGE 18 PAGE 23 Travel Grants PAGE 5 EVENTS KEY IN THISISSUE C effrey th SoutheastAsiaSymposium

heah

Council (IAAC) International Academicdvisory Pro-Chancellor ofSunway University Tan SriRamon Navaratnam (alternate) Negara Malaysia and FormerDeputyGovernor, Bank President Harvard ClubMalaysia Pro-Chancellor ofSunway University Professor Tan SriDatukDrLinSee-Yan Sunway EducationGroup Senior Executive Director, Dr ElizabethLee Psychiatry atHarvard University Anthropology andProfessorof Center; andProfessorofMedical of Harvard University’s Asia Victor andWilliam FungDirector Professor ArthurKleinman Chancellor ofUniversiti Malaya on Southeast Asia; andformerVice- Senior FellowJeffreyCheahInstitute Professor Tan SriDrGhauthJasmon Peking University; Institute, China;andProfessor, Director, NationalEconomicResearch Professor Fan Gang Chancellor, Sunway University Foundation; andFounder Group; Trustee,JeffreyCheah Founder andChairman,Sunway Tan SriDatukSeri DrJeffrey Cheah, Monash University Malaysia Pro Vice-Chancellor andPresident, Professor HelenBartlett Harvard University Emeritus ofPoliticalEconomy, Hitchings BurbankProfessor Institute onSoutheast Asia; Harold Chairman, IAACofJeffreyCheah Professor DwightPerkins Southeast Asia on Royal Patron, JeffreyCheahInstitute The SultanofPerak DarulRidzuan; Sultan AzlanMuhibbuddinShah SultanDrNazrinShahIbni HRH AO

Affairs, SouthKorea and formerMinisterofForeign Professor, SeoulNationalUniversity, Professor Yoon Young-Kwan Earth Institute,ColumbiaUniversity Director ofEast Asian Program,the University ofCalifornia,Davis;and on Southeast Asia; Professorat President, JeffreyCheahInstitute Professor DatukDrWoo Wing Thye Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University Professor GraemeWilkinson Hong Kong Vice-Chancellor, University of Asian Studies,Singapore;andformer Chairman, InstituteofSoutheast National University ofSingapore; Chairman, East Asian Institute, Professor EmeritusWang CBE Gungwu, Sunway University Research Professor, Professor DatukDrTan Tat Wai Development ResearchInstitute and formerPresidentofThailand Former MinisterofFinance,Thailand Dr ChalongphobSussangkarn Vice-Chancellor, LancasterUniversity Professor MarkSmith Government, Harvard University Professor, KennedySchoolof Professor Anthony Saich Indonesia Jakarta; andProfessor,Universitas Strategic &InternationalStudiesin Executive DirectoroftheCenterfor Creative Economy,Indonesia;former Former MinisterofTrade;Tourism& Dr MariElkaPangestu Deputy Governor oftheBankJapan University ofTokyo;andformer Dean, EconomicsFaculty, Professor Kiyohiko Nishimura iitgain ruh t a ed h d-at US-China de-facto the end alliance againsttheUSSR. an to brought disintegration country’s The failed. Gorbachev Mikhail against coup KGB The potential of a US-China Cold War first appeared on appeared first War August 21 Cold US-China a of potential The time inaColdWar betweentheUSandChina. Southeast Asia might again becomeabattleground whether –this is ASEAN supplied for question The weapons powers. major conventional the by with parties fourth and assumes theformofproxythirdis foughtbetween warthat powers major between conflict the weapons, nuclear of age Vietnam, Cambodia, Mozambique, in Angola, Cuba, Bolivia and Afghanistan. In the wars the as such wars, indirect of onwards, conflict between the USSR1949 andFrom the US tookASEAN. thefor form outcome worries” “no a imply not does future the in war US-China a of absence However,the was leaders mad andwellbeyondtherestraint ofhiscolleagues. two the of one least at if only possible US the and USSR the between war rendered development this and On that day, the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb, major powers has taken on a new form since 29 August 1949. surely be almost wrong. will This US is the because and the natureChina of between conflictwar between a of prediction view,this my In States. a United the and expect China between war should ASEAN view, popular this to According existing super-power. the and super-power emerging the between war disastrous 1890s the a was there in cases, both In 1930s. the in Germany Japan of rise the and of rise the of consequences global the popular on based is very relations US-China of one future the about decade, view last the in attended have I that relations US-China on workshops many the In China. and continued States United the the between competition the of intensification from comes threat This (ASEAN). Nations Malaysia andtherest ofthe Association ofSoutheast Asian the use to aseriousemergingone thatdrawsattention threat to to like would I 2015, of thisPresident’sopportunity the Messagetohighlight in (JCI) Asia Southeast on Institute Cheah Jeffrey the at programmes research policy threethe by tank workundertaken Of thethink public

91 hn h Sve Uin mldd fe the after imploded Union Soviet the when 1991 speed railroad connecting Bandung and Jakarta; and the US the and Jakarta; thehigh- and Bandung connecting railroad speed tobuild Japan than offer generous more a made China support; political of Malaysian show a with as Najib Minister golf Prime played Obama President US 1MDB; 2015 China bought a possibly overpriced power station from in why is This people”. influence and friends “win to China and US the of efforts separate the from profit will countries the party state. With US-China tension between at medium-level, ASEAN two- the conflict longstanding a US, the in Republicans and Democrats like is conflict medium-level A the with consistent Sino-US consensusontheinternationalorder. is behavior its as long as devices own its to left be then would bilateral Asia Southeast through means. differences diplomatic resolve to able the be and would China US situation, this In rivalry. between sibling ofcompetition a type brothers a like is conflict low-level A arelow-level there then conflicts, medium-levelconflictsandhigh-levelconflicts. but nations, between conflicts be short-tempered. The inescapable fact is that there will always or short-sighted be to species our however,of capacity occasioned the acknowledge, must One War. Cold a support to nor the people American peoplefearordislikeeachotherenough Chinese the neither importantly, More win. would such aconfrontation and are eachnotsure thathisownside Barack Obama are fully cognisant of the tremendous waste of and Jinping Xi both that say would us among optimists The a that think do I second ColdWar but War, isentirely preventable. Cold second a out rule we Clearly,cannot 2015. November in Lumpur Kuala in meeting issuance of acommunique by the ASEAN Defence Ministers Sea. China non- South the in again resultedwithin ASEAN division same The the over dispute the of made be should one hand and Cambodia on the other about whether the mention on Philippines the and Vietnam between disagreement of because history 45-year its in time first the for statement joint concluding a on agree to failed meeting the 2012, July being in Penh Phnom in the meeting ForeignIn Ministers’ ASEAN is Sea. China War South the Cold over disputes new sovereignty in a hatched that signs worrying are There greater economicprosperity Cold War toanopportunityfor Converting thethreatofanew message President’s Woo Wing Thye

03 ISSUE #2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 04 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE most advanced most Singapore,after countries ASEAN been have two the Thailand, and Malaysia example, country.For each in development economic boost to is reforms of set first The and-branch reforms. require every ASEAN member to undertake two sets of root- ASEAN’s mechanism. transformation intoaunitary economic powerhouse mediation will regional ASEAN the in requests tostrengtheninstitutions andtoparticipate global at leastbegrudginglycountries tobe agreeable to ASEAN’s two the motivate to economies Chinese and US the of health powerhouse. that economic ASEAN has to beimportantenoughfortheeconomic actions unitary a undertake as rise to its ASEAN accelerate will for is front third The US now. the to closer irreversibly ASEAN driving of risk greater the tomake ASEAN against on weighed be to has advantage this that realise China incumbent is therefore greater it It give would influence. that position a future, the quite in power count can political and economic China bigger even an being because on confidently institution regional a of establishment the delay to advantage China’s to generally is It support. active China’s without built be could institution mediation regional this whether is question The institution. mediation regional strong a establish to is front second The Trade World and Court Organization. World example, for mediation, conflict African of mechanisms the global existing strengthen to and Union) Union European the Nations, United the is front to workwithothercountriesandinternationalbodies(like first The fronts. three on together work now must present the in bystander that ASEAN proposes JCI conflict. Sino-US of intensification a be cannot therefore, ASEAN, MUSTWORKTOGETHER ASEAN the for side, conflict tobecome‘hot’. US the or side, Chinese the either takeisa on mistake would it All year. this passages naval and such flights more arrange will likelihood, all the in in US, Island The and TritonParacels. of ADIZ miles the twelve through within sail fly warship jet a military a having by zone The US has signalled its rights to free passage in the disputed declared unilaterallylastyear. it that Sea China South the over (ADIZ) Zone Identification clear signal that China is prepared to enforce the Air Defense a the is missiles anti-aircraft of installation The in Vietnamese. the Island Woodyand Chinese the both by on claimed are which islands, Paracel system missile anti-aircraft an established military Chinese the 2016, February In islands. as perceived world ‘rocks in thesea’andstationedtroops onthe disputed the of rest the what over installations South the in capacity military artificial four least at built China military 2015 In Sea. China Chinese of buildup the is The area where escalation to high level conflict seems likeliest ASEAN totakesidesintheconflict. forcing me’, against are you then me, with not are you ‘if of Cold second War,stance this the adopt would China and US the both because in lose certainly will ASEAN mistress. a and a wife between conflict the like is conflict high-level A Sunnylands, California. 2016, February President in Obama hosted recently,a get-together for ASEAN leaders Morein negotiations. TPP the in Malaysia Vietnamand to exemptions extraordinary granted the badly-needednationaleconomicreforms. the government to defeat by the used interest a arguments groups that the are within of blocking one fruition be can to period time AEC specified bring to implemented member ASEAN an of be must world economic power. For example, the treaty commitment reforms their interactionwillspeed up theemergence of of ASEAN as a sets simultaneously because they are synergistic innature and two These trade adjustmentassistancetothosehurtbyTPP. meaningful any give to government Malaysian the failureof preferential Malaysia’s the (e.g. was intact), left was procurement government of system US the by concessions large unusually the despite Malaysia, in rancorous so been have to debate TPP the for reason The medicine. generic of types experience priceincreases due to the shuttingoutof some would that drugs the on poor the subsidise TPP,to joining displaced workers to new jobs, and, in the case of Malaysia‘s trade adjustmentprogramme tofacilitatethetransitionof a example, for losers, the compensate to programmes fund ASEAN ismorallyobligedtomobilisesomeofthegains integration losers, the of losses economic the exceed will winners the of gains each the that note Because winners. as well as losers in result to will programme important is It the through China with Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership(RCEP). and integration (TPP), economic Partnership embrace Trans-Pacific the through States United they the with integration (AEC), economic embrace Community also should Economic ASEAN the through are embracing tight economic integration witheach other as 2020 members ASEAN while that add by to NAFTAtoday. (AEC). want is I economically integrated Community as become Economic must AEC ASEAN declared the the of achieve objectives of to process ASEAN the in accelerate integration to economic is reforms of set second The between thesetwocountriesandtheUS. gaps development the of closing no been has there the that meaning that 1994, since stagnant been have to States United the of Thailand in and Malaysia in living of standard the of ratios The 1995. since trap middle-income the in caught year liesahead fortheinstitute. exciting An packages. reform country-specific of design the outreach an is programme tothinktanksinSoutheast Asia to collaboratein 2016 in agenda work Institute’s the key in item a Hence, integration. regional deep and development national of goals the achieve members ASEAN help to part its do to able and ready,willing, is JCI research. additional some with designed be can others the and known, already are reform of sets two the of each in measures specific the of JCI is optimistic about the future of ASEAN because a number foundation ofstrong economies. A regionalarchitecture security on the can onlybebuilt construction. economic region-wide for threat opportunity an into US-China the convert should ASEAN that is which economy,strong and, a is defence best the that is prescription JCI an tensions; create to The Community. necessary US-China Economic ASEAN are powerful economically that of reforms the enact escalation to two, the prevent to institutions andtoestablisharegional mediationmechanism peacekeeping global strengthen to one, is, rivalry US-China that response strategic the up, sum To ETC. STRENGTHEN, TO SUGGESTION: OPPORTUNITY AN C i sgetn to suggesting is JCI speculative bubbles elsewhere. recovery,created U.S. had a it underpin helped had it while (QE), Easing to blamefortheworld’scurrent economic problems because Quantitative as partly was crisis 2008 the of wake the in U.S. the by pursued known policy’ monetary ‘unconventional the that explained He bonds. high-quality for except everything sell should investors that Scotland of Bank Royal the from note January 12 a to referring added, WooProfessor semi-panic,” a of middle the in “Wenow are they willface.” unfolding, is that Malaysia and China disaster should reform and shape the future that the of victims passive being of countries if they do not waste this crisis.” Woo said. “Instead Malaysia and China, but that could be good for a few of these including countries, most for lower be will 2016 in “Growth on Sunway UniversityinJanuary2016. Institute Cheah at Forum 2016 Jeffrey in Economy World The told the Asia, Southeast of President Thye, Wing embrace an to Woo Professor growth, 2016 provide sustainable China, more achieve to of reform including countries, for conditions opportunity economic difficult The SLOWDOWN OFFERS OPPORTUNITY FOR REFORM FOR SLOWDOWN OPPORTUNITY OFFERS Professor & KuanWoo Chung-Ming Wing Thye The WorldEconomyin2016 hl te bdec-aiiig aaes f tt banks state gave outloanswithoutriskassessment, hesaid. of managers obedience-maximising the while capacity,excess for regard without investments up ramped governments local and firms state of managers maximising Theobedience- economy. China’s in in firms state-controlled output, boosting of dominance in the of because Japan, effective and U.S. the to contrast was 2008 late in started that macro-stimulus The audience. the the told WooProfessor because too for industry, now heavy in over-capacity policies of ‘bubble’ a creating stimulus long, trouble its in with continued is government economy Chinese The stocks andproperty. in bubbles and deficit, trade U.S. larger a imports, increased money growth would not lead to higher U.S. inflation, but to productive U.S. ‘excessive’ result, global a WooAs capacity,argued. Professor into expand and China economy industrialising international the an draw economic would Reserve that understand globalisation Federal to inAlan failed U.S. he itsorigin when the (1992-2006), had of of 2008 chairmanship Greenspan’s crisis financial U.S. The

05 ISSUE #2 KEY EVENTS 06 WORLD TRADE LINKS 2004 LINKS WORLD TRADE iitr n h iln’ gvrmn, apd rd lns ewe te ol’ mjr cnme i te er sne 2004, since years the in economies major world’s the between highlighting China’sincreasing importancenotonlyglobally, links butregionally. trade mapped government, island’s the in minister planning Taiwaneconomic National former the a of and Chung-Min University ProfessorKuan forum, the at speaking Also ladder onitsown. value-added the up move to Malaysia for difficult it making capital, and labour skilled of mass critical a without Malaysia left has years, 15 last the in flight capital and drain brain of acceleration the addition, the In World2001. joined Tradein it Organization after China to diverted been has investment foreign because Crisis, Financial Asian 1997 the before 7.5% with compared 5%, around to fallen has growth of rate ‘normal’ country’s the out pointed President JCI Turningthe Malaysia, to did inthewholeof20thcentury, Professor Woo said. in the industrial sector and bad loans in the banking sector. China produced more cement between 2011 and 2013 than the U.S. The credit-fuelled investments by state enterprises and local governments continued into 2013, creating lots of excess capacity WORLD TRADE LINKS 2014 LINKS WORLD TRADE rvt bsnse, n aclrt te ye f urbanisation that increases innovation. of type the accelerate and businesses, private large he said, would promote the to growth of small-and medium-size move measures, These Shanghai. and Tianjin to as such cities coastal people allow to registration residentialof system ‘hukou’ its terminate and sector, state the of size the reduce land, rural to privatise markets, needed financial its reform country the that said Woo Professor China, For changes. and technological economic systemtodealwithglobalization the restructure to efforts leading than rather ceiling debt the maintaining and government of size the cutting on focussed mistakenly and are policymakers view, ofinsecurity U.S. his In vulnerability.sense ability awidespread government’s is and problems, the U.S. fix of to the mistrust in public policymaking by that paralysed argue to on went Woo to resist reform. The result bankers. was that U.S. the financiers remained out powerful enough bailed government the because crisis 2008 reduce and accountability, the after initiated reformwas similar no that but speculation, and transparency promote U.S. the to crash, 1929 the implemented after transformational changes in financial that, regulation noted Woo Professor slowdown the by needed todomore toaddress theeconomicchallenges. affected most countries The economies. biggest two world’s the U.S., the and China from emanating and Malaysiawere most atriskfrom economicshocks Taiwan that warned Kuan Professor relations, political and beyond tradetoaddressGoing theimpactofmonetarypolicy “In trade terms, China matters the most in Asia,” he concluded. trade –andimproving theirinfrastructure. all of quarter a about currently – themselves among trade more ASEAN promoting by slowdown China the that counter members recommended meanwhile, Kuan, Professor to anation-widecampaignwelcomeforeign investment. led FDI attracting in 1970) in (beginning Penang of efforts pioneering the of success argued.stunning the example, For the states, boosting economic development country-wide, he would promoteaccountability growth competitionbetween to local Increased initiatives. decentralisation policy of centres multiple create fiscal and administrative climate. on investment compact a newfederal-state the develop must improve country the finally, And to policies economic socio- its in inclusive more be should Malaysia general, In jobs. other to movement facilitate to training worker sponsoring trade TPP, byinstituting including by hurt people the over to assistance adjustment conflict (TPP) needless Partnership Trans-Pacific the the stop should Malaysia Third, engage insocialengineeringandbrainwashing,hesaid. to to be not and acquisition, should skill and thinking creative empower education of objective The 40%. bottom the of capital human the improving on focus should Malaysia Second, companies. private successful up buying of practice of status monopoly government-linked companies the (GLCs) the and ending the ending GLCs’ in example, reining for sector, by state sector private for the of need entrepreneurship urgent the unleash the should Malaysia First, fronts. saw four on reforms Woo Professor Malaysia, For

07 ISSUE #2 KEY EVENTS 08 KEY EVENTS change climate and rivalrypower , big difficulties utial dvlpet cpn wt socio- with change” on27October2015at Harvard University. coping climate rivalry, and power big difficulties, economic development: explores Asia sustainable “Southeast conference one-day the organised jointly Asia Southeast on Institute Cheah Jeffrey the and Center Asia University Harvard The socio with Coping : development sustainable ex Asia Southeast Conference JCI Harvard - economic plores

problems created byclimate change. the world and theneed for new technologies to address the around differently perceived was development sustainable the how discussed of – Institute Research President Development Thailand Tangkivanich, Somkiat atColumbia and Institute Environment, University,the Earth the of for Director Center Sachs, Jeffrey University Harvard the of Schrag, Daniel - speakers Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology threeat Harvard and Director The sustainable. socially of structuring economies in awaythatis ecologically and The second panel highlighted both the necessity and difficulty DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE at theHarvard Kennedy Schooldiscussedtheissues. Anthony and Thye, Saich, Director of Wingthe Ash Center for Democratic Governance Woo Indonesia, Studies, of University Governance in the at Economics International Fellow of Professor Pangestu, Mari Senior JCI Chin, James Partnership andthe Asian Infrastructure InvestmentBank. Trans-Pacific the including architecture, region’s economic the evolving United to attention particular the with China, between and States competition economic ways and the military examined Rivalry” Power in whichSoutheast Asian nationsareto the adapting “Big on panel The RIVALRY POWER BIG Victor andWilliam FungDirector Harvard University’s AsiaCenter Professor ArthurKleinman, of Indonesia. at the Harvard Kennedy School and former Finance Minister Times, and Muhamad Chatib Basri, Ash Center Senior Fellow of author and University, Hitchings University, Harold Tan Sri Lin See Yan, Perkins, Research Professor at Sunway Dwight Burbank Professor of Political Economy were Emeritus, at Harvard speakers The the across evident recommendations forthefuture. was competitiveness panel inboththeirhistorical analysis and their policy economic to education of importance critical the on nations. Aconsensus contemporary economic trajectories of Southeast Asian The thirdhistorical and the panelexaminedboth ECONOMIC CHALLENGES years, coming the knowledge ofkeypolicydebatesinSoutheast Asia. in that, hope academics and policymakerswould collaborate toexpand her expressed Hanna implementation. and design policy in to problems underlying point can data administrative of assessment systematic enrollment andfoodtransfer programme toshowhowa insurance health of studies presentedcase Hanna Indonesia, in fieldwork her on Drawing decision-making. improving to approach this of importance the stressed and interventions, her policy on evaluating to approach evidence-based experimental, elaborated Public School, Kennedy of Harvard the Professor at Associate Policy Hanna, Rema lunch, Over LUNCH WORKING The GlobalEconomyinTurbulent Social SciencesatHarvard University, alsospoke. Medical Harvard School, and Michael the Herzfeld, Ernest E. Monrad Professor of at Psychiatry of Professor Assistant Chen, Hongtu panel. the opened School, Medical Harvard Medical Anthropologyand Professor in the ofPsychiatry University,Harvard at of ProfessorSciences and and of Arts Harvard Asia Center, the of Professor Director of Fung WilliamAnthropology and in Victorthe Kleinman, Faculty Arthur and how tomakedevelopmentmore sociallyinclusive. Asia Southeast in development economic sustainable human dimensionof finalpanelfocussedonthe The PROGRAMMES SOCIAL INCLUSIVE with anevening receptioninhonourof discussions, theconferencediscussions, concluded nd After aday ofpresentationsand Professor Woo Wing Thye, Professor MariPangestu, Professor AnthonySaich andProfessor JamesChin Tan SriJeffrey Cheah. CONCLUSION

09 ISSUE #2 KEY EVENTS 10 KEY EVENTS 4 S EconomicP Asian of the e oe, luig o h rl o Mlyi i atmt to attempts in Malaysia of broker peaceinthetwocountries. role the to alluding noted, he the process as in the case with the Philippines and Thailand,” and security challenges, “neighbours can assist to mediate in member states. Where ten ethnic and religious organisation’s divisions give rise to the social in live who people million 620 than more the of prosperity and peace the for essential was ASEAN that argued Perak of Sultan the address, his In Oxford andHarvard universities,openedtheevent. from graduated who Shah, Muizzuddin Nazrin Dr. Sultan Oxford. outside held been had Symposium the time first the was It expression, and race relations to environmental degradation. Participants discussed issues from art tofreedom of 23-24. March from Institute Cheah Jeffrey the and Asia, East and ASEAN for Institute Research Economic Policy, Economic International of Institute Korea University,the Columbia of the Asian Economic of Panel on (AEP), meeting organised the by the Institute and Earth Institute 20-22; Cheah March from Jeffrey Asia, at Southeast the Asia and Oxford Southeast of Project University by co-organized Studies Symposium, Asia Southeast the conferences; 2015 academic March two 24 for – 20 from University Sunway at gathered countries 25 from students and scholars hundred 450 Some S tudies th A Asian Southeast nnual &32 ymposium Participants andspeakers atthe4thSoutheastAsian StudiesSymposium nd unify andintegrate. Southeast Asia would dependultimatelyonitsownability to of influence global the However, interconnected. highly maritime, colonialism, and of and history its continental to due Eastern both and Western is both which region only is Asia the Southeast history. world in role vital a play to Asia seemingly Southeast positions and to phenomena, historical disconnected coherence gives argued, he framework, This dominance. the to global achieve to Westernpowers enabled led eventually power China and Europe of emergence of Western states and Chinese civilisations, and maritime agrarian the Asia Central and of societies nomadic the between contest The power from the Eurasian core to that its western and eastern edges. argued He world history could be understood as the gradualshiftof lecture. keynote the of delivered University Singapore, National the from Gungwu Wang Professor and political the to economic challengestheyfaced. effectively more respond to group the enable would said he which consensus, by making decision member states toforego theirtraditionalcommitment to He alsocalledforagreater willingnessonthepartof (AEP) anel M eeting

income trap. Lanka, Russia’s economic difficulties and Malaysia’s middle- Sri post-conflict of economics the considered sessions Other Berkeley). California, of (University Eichengreen Barry Malaysia) and Negara Bank of Governor Deputy (former Yan Trade, Mari of Minister (former Pangestu See Elka Lin Indonesia), Thailand), Finance, of Minister (former Sussangkarn Chalongphob Indonesia), Finance, of Minister (former Basri Chatib with done” be to is What Asia; Southeast in growth Among the AEP sessionswasapaneldiscussion on “Slower published in the journal, Asian Economic Papers (MIT Press). are meeting the from papers selected and world, the around importance to Asia. Each meeting involves 40 The AEP Asia meets experts three times from a year to discuss economic issues of Sachs (The Age of SustainableDevelopment), whichconcluded theevent. WhatProspects: Should Keep by UsUpatNight?) andthesecond Jeffrey ThefirstwasLectures. delivered by Economic BarryEichengreen(Global two DistinguishedPublic meeting featured JeffreyCheah The AEP Exerum doluptasesevelit voluptum estia quibusdebit, traditional Malaygongattheopeningceremony Sultan Dr. NazrinMuizzuddinShahhittinga Prof Wang Gungwu(left),oneof the keynotespeakers

11 ISSUE #2 KEY EVENTS 12 PUBLIC LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS omnt bsd n outr areet o giving or agreements voluntary everyone vetopowers,”Dosch saidinhistalk. on based fully-integrated community a establish to possible it’s believe don’t “I legally a of part binding process. was Union European the of relationship closer ever the the that noted and ASEAN, Union, European in alecture comparingtheintegrationexperiencesof Germany,in Rostock Universitat from Dosch Jorn Professor a leadingEuropean academic. to Community,according Economic ASEAN the implement to deadline end-2015 an despite integration, closer towards rather than legallybindingagreements hashindered their progress voluntary to countries ASEAN of commitment The agreements binding legally needs C integration economic ASEAN loser integration

Professor JornDosch -

expanding beyondborders. in interest little with businesses medium-size small-and are of non-tariff rapid barriers and the fact that and most ASEAN companies expansion the China, economies, particularly – markets other in growth ASEAN among complementarity the sluggishgrowth inregional tradeincludinga lack of Dosch explained that there were a number of reasons behind internal of trade wouldbegoingup,butthisisnotthecase,”hesaid. working share was the states integration, of regional group deeper towards the if that expect would “I slightly more than the 21% recorded in 1998, Dosch pointed out. only 26%, only was share the ASEAN in trade, total of 68% about was EuropeanUnion the in trade intra-regional While voluntary called for the creation of a single market for and production base. which AEC, the under proposed opted had it as not far as progressed had had and authority, supranational ASEAN no with hand, agreements other the On a Commission, powerful regional body. European and the rules-based, by enforced was and monitored integration Europe’s noted Dosch agreement soit’sallbasedongoodwill.” There binding. is nostakeholderorauthorityinapositiontoenforce this are agreements impressive these of an none that’s but issues; number, of sorts all on states member Asean by signed agreements 350 about are There binding. legally is nothing but leisure, and time own their at join can “Youin have everyone that formula; x minus 10 the ASEAN, are willingtoimplement,”hesaid. states member the what of reality political the and achieve to what wants of ASEAN vision the between gap a “Thereis a singlemarket. states hadbeentoo ambitious intheirpubliccommitment to “unthinkable” for ASEAN, Dosch concluded that the member Acknowledging that a strong supranationalauthoritywas ambitions, Doschsaid. integration its achieve to Asean for difficult more it made staff 300 also– EuropeanCommission the at 33,000 comparedwith just has organisation the the – of Secretariat weakness ASEAN institutional the as well as ASEAN, of A lackofbroad interest amongthebroader population funded byexternalforces, hesaid. been had sector States.customs the in projects United 2,000 as many the As and Australia Japan, EU, countries the as partners, such trading ASEAN’s by largely driven successes, Nevertheless, some he argued that trade. those improvements with had been been associated bureaucracy the streamlining and had there that particularly intermsofharmonizingcustomsprocedures noted Dosch “There arefewchampions of integration.”

rps (o ok t I a a id f uies corporation. business of would kind Understanding themisastep towards defeatingthem.” a “I as IS talk. at) his look (to in propose said El-Muhammady unique,” it’s “It’s hard to imagine IS as an ordinary terrorist group because group. more likeabusiness corporation thanatraditionalterrorist operated State Islamic that said rehabilitation, terrorist on police Malaysian El-Muhammady,the advised also has who University Malaysia. Islamic International the from lecturer a Muhammady, El- Ahmad to accordingrecruits, new deter and spread its curb organisation terrorist to aiming of governments from approach new a demands kind that “unique” a is State Islamic terrorism to tackling approach anew stateIslamic quires re threat inMalaysia The IslamicState the of features key of Islamic State: number a noted El-Muhammady 4 3 2 1 to jointhem. and non-Arab fighters, estimated to be more than 10,000, of Westerners number significant a attract to ability Its spread itsmessageandwinovernewrecruits. Its use of the Internet and slickly produced multimedia to oil salesandsignificantareas underitscontrol. Monthly income of some US$3 million from black market Senior Leadership Team and setting Director a direction Managing for CEO, a company. business a by a headed of corporation that to akin structure, organisational Its

Ahmad El-Muhammady

13 ISSUE #2 PUBLIC LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS 14 PUBLIC LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS hrceitc: icrt, aaiim a ak f religious of lack a knowledge anddetermination . fanaticism, sincerity, characteristics: He saidrecruits alsotendedtoshare anumberof for three mainreasons: indetention, those with group the to drawn were people suggested El-Muhammady conversations his on Reflecting were through socialmedia,especiallyFacebook. around three quartersofMalaysiansrecruitedcause the to El-Muhammady, to According group. the to connections of suspicion on arrested been have Malaysians 120 than more and Iraq, and Syria of swathes large controls which IS, with fighting be to thought are Malaysians 150 and 100 Between “ 3 2 1 audience. “It’ssomethingsomepeopleare proud of.” the told El-Muhammady name,” brand a like IS make They Personal - Politics - Religion - were underattack wanting to help fellow Muslims whom they felt eln ta Mlyi i “nIlmc and Muslims. “un-Islamic” is against injustices global fight to need a is there Malaysia that feeling okn fr nw ie wehr through whether life, new redemption orforlove. a for looking the world,El-Muhammadysaid. achieving a success rate of about 96%, probably the highest in had programmes proved effective with other groups such as Jemaah deradicalization Islamiyah, andenhancing police’s Malaysian The extremism violent counter rehabilitation programmes. to efforts deepening involvement, terrorist of suspected those detain deal with terrorism, tightening security to detect, disrupt and to framework legal the strengthening - group the with deal to strategy comprehensive a adopt should Malaysia said He extreme violenceanduse ofreligious textstojustify itsacts. its of because threat security a and coexistence, peaceful and to threat ideological Malaysia because its followers reject notions of democracy an poses IS argued El-Muhammady “I would“I propose(tolookat)ISas a kindofbusinesscorporation.” s opeey gis Ilmc ecig. vn o, rural now, Even Malays are askingthesequestions. teachings. Islamic against completely is champion of Islam, how come you are so corrupt. Corruptionthe are you if thinking are people But Islam. of champions UMNO is that in order to win votes they must be seen as the within thinking The affected. personally support being are They BN. to going not are Malays the ringgit, the and in GST fall the prices, rising scandal, 1MDB the With Sarawak. delusional because it’snotgoingtogowellwithSabahand hearts is to champion Islam. But frankly, to me they are being Malay rural win to way the think They Malays. rural the on thirdsmajority, efforts their arefocussing leaders party their two- its lost has government Nasional Barisan the Because How doyouthinkMalaysiagottowhereitistoday? aformer agenda forabetterMalaysia. group’s the Ariffin, on August in Asia Southeast on Institute Cheah Jeffrey Farida the to spoke judge, Court Sessions Noor and ambassador spokeswoman, transparent G25’s and clean champions also government. It religion. judges on and bankers ambassadors, among its membership and sees servants, itself as a former voice civil of counts moderation intellectuals senior Malay of group informal The Shariah review theFederal Constitution. of to the supremacy assert government and offences Malaysian criminal the after 2014 urged of end it the at attention national drew G25 The Malaysia for a‘better’ its agenda The G25and a betterMalaysia, theywilllosethenextgeneral election. ensureto policies have the to right; things make to anything do of policies the in not do they if is feeling My vote. believe their cast can government not elections do general who have people still where We up. more speaking and are More on. people go cannot It optimist. eternal an I’m generally? Areyouoptimistic? What about the direction in which Malaysia is headed, are doingthisforIslam. Weenemies. their arenot we that religiousdepartments the Muslims. All NGOs must be involved and we must convince the especially Malaysians, influence Weto awareness. need we is point raise to have we We’veand up. the it give at cannot keep to got but optimistic, overly I’m say wouldn’t I that there willbeaction? you are confident how situation, current the Given crimes againstthestate,andthatiswrong. into sins personal turning are You altogether. repealed be also would we and recommend that themoralpolicinglawslike‘khalwat’ – the themselves – laws repealed the be or provisions should Constitution Federal the with inconsistent are which laws, those all and enactments, law criminal Islamic the review to and experts Law experts Constitutional Shariah comprising a form committee, to government consultative the want We policing. moral is in interested we’re all that think people now Right teachings. what is Islamic proper the Islam, real the Portray about. This all is Islam compassion. and kindness justice, peace, of religion.conservative a Islam as Promote religiona Islam as of have people perception the change to measures of series In the first place, I would like the government to introduce a What changesdoyouwanttosee? of peace, justice,kindnessandof peace, compassion. ThisiswhatIslam compassion. “Promote Islamasareligion“Promote is allabout.” Dato’ NoorFarida AriffinspeaksatJCI

15 ISSUE #2 PUBLIC LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS 16 ESSAYS` threat, massive dislocations, widening inequalities of income, the sixth great extinction, cities arein danger, food we supplies under world, distracted running powerfully and off course in confused many ways – climate confusing, change, our In f csses icesn pplto, n over-extraction from oceansandlandresources. and population, increasing ecosystems, of greatprocessextinction underwayduetohumandomination faced. then ever but add in these other challenges difficult, of a rapidly urbanising world, a has extraordinarily is alone humanity change Climate challenge complicated greatest, most the is development sustainable speaking, Simply Professor Jeffrey Sachs ? feasible development Is sustainable This is a deep and real concern.” This isadeepandreal “Is iteven“Is conceivable thatwe can getbackoncourse?

Gandhi and by many ofhiscontemporaries in Gandhi andby Africa andin The struggle against European colonial rule, led by Mahatma of change. In the end, the ideas and morality were the underlying forces interests. economic British entrenched and powerful against entirely. and slavery abolished 1833 flew in This and trade, slave cynicism much the of abolished Empire British face the 1807 in the but dealings, dirty in decades few a took It embedded institutionofslavery. William Wilberforce as and William Pitt the Younger took such on the deeply leaders English century, the and nineteenth century early eighteenth kind late its the of In history. first modern the the in movement, was social Empire massive British a the of result in slavery of outlawing The growth). First,consider the endofslavery. of thelasttwocenturies(thetime our modern economic movements transformational greatest the of some sparked Ideas have been transformative throughout history and have cynics. policy public far beyond anything that can be imagined by the hard-bitten on effect an have can They count. is ideas send that would I message important most The change. can things unresponsive, are systems political the if as looks it though Even breakthrough. a the make can we issues, cynicism, these of the despite many on politics miserable that the and confusion the darkness, believe I Development (MDGs). Millennium Goals made the has with world progress the tremendous as Sustainable just the (SGDs), with Goals succeed could Development we how see can We in somefavoured regions oftheworld. the power, solar and costs are already close to the power traditional technologies, at least wind with as cases, many In and where thecostsare absolutelywithinreach. do to how know we that things but fiction, science fanciful infrastructure.not aregrasp, These our within opportunities and smart design and ahead Weplan can cities how shown have nitrogen of fluxes the phosphorous andtheirpoisoningoftheestuaries. reduce agricultural raise and land, that productivity, on technologies tremendously identified economise can We have efficiency. energy can decarbonise the energy system and lead to tremendous to where we need to be. We have identified technologies that ways through ourbackcastingofhowwecangetfrom here specific very identified Wehave hope. up give not Wemust earlier. decades notice on been had we though even Summit, Earth we have in a way frittered away the last 22 years since the Rio because partly left, time limited very have we more. And or expectancy,years life 100 long – a 50 such infrastructurehas There implementation. are on longleadtimesinrebuilding ourinfrastructure because progress and clarity have that hindered Oil Big like interests vested powerful are There of whichneedmajortechnologicaloverhauls. energy,like life infrastructuretransport, supply, food and all tradition to think about. It goes to core areas of our economic a multigenerationalproblem thatweare unequippedby is This systems. complex oftremendous nonlinear, chaotic, in uncertainty are issues These underpinnings. scientific in the the necessaryworldwidepublicliteracy without issues science-based are and problems, complex are These solve its problems peacefully and can live together,because live can and peacefully problems its solve can humanity that is idea important most the and ideas; and rights, human values, about speech a is peace. It 1963. 10, June of on advance this about Speech’ ‘Peace his called is what us bring gave PresidentKennedy to force, not words, It today. challenges Kennedy usedideasand is astoundingandinspiring that our for inspiration us give both They peace withtheSovietUnion. make to quest Kennedy’s F. John President and rights movement civil U.S. the history: changed values U.S. where in history episodes great two since century a half been has It transparency andparticipation. accountability,rights, human including thestandards governance, good of and no harm;” do “first, to commitment the Rule; Golden the including SDGs, like commitment shared share acommon ethical underpinning thatcouldreinforce a religions world’s the that declared and together leaders come religious have world’s the of many that heartening is It ethics. talking global shared a of, for,possibility also need and the about are we SDGs, global to moving about talk we When ideas. these all in ethics of underpinning an is There and prosperous, more justplanet. more safer, a to commitment worldwide a now is development sustainable of idea The SDGs. the of core the at is and WorldBank, the like institutions major of doctrine official idea an now The is poverty extreme time. end can we own that our of ideas key the to us brings This repeatedly pavedtheway forgreat breakthroughs.” have morality and Ideas justice. towards bends it but long, Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is As movement. rights civil the inspired course, of ideas, The on theground. results real into turned have that MDGs the like initiatives major empowering rights, human of reach and recognition the day,expanded every has It world. the changed has it but Human Rights. This moral charter is sadly violated massively Roosevelt, who championed the UN Universal Declaration of The human rights movement followed, led partly by Eleanor power structures were, in the end, completely overwhelmed. played arole sopowerfulthattheinterests andentrenched Ideas beyond. and movement, rights human the movement, rights civil the in many inspired that one is it and age, our end to helping colonialism that weregard asthecorrect moralanswerfor in leadership Gandhi’s is it course, of But, over Indiaand ruleAfrica. to continued have would Empire British the and now forgottenlong been would have Gandhi that 1930 or 1910 by in bet have would One impossible. seemed first at also Asia, justice. Ideas andmoralityhavejustice. Ideas “The arcofthemoraluniverse repeatedly pavedrepeatedly theway for is long, butitbendstowardsis long, great breakthroughs.” great Columbia UniversityPress, 2015. fromis anextract hisbook, ‘TheAgeofSustainableDevelopment’ Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. This article Professor Jeffrey Sachs is a senior adviser to the United Nations and know whatneedstobedone. future survival. We all cherish our children’s futures. And we and well-being our to threat a is it CO2; of million 400 per parts with now air same the breathing today all are we Yes, air. We all cherish our children’s futures. is that And we all inhabit we this small areplanet. We all all breathe mortal.” the same diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most for safe world the basic make help can we common least at differences, our link differencesthose be can resolved. now end cannot we if And attention toourcommon interests andthemeansbywhich “ of way magnificent absolutely an describing thosecommoninterests thatresonates today: had He problems peacefully. our resolve can and interests, common have we and systems, political values, nuclear arms pointed at each other. deep But his message was that of divide Soviet the the and Union, States United the between divide the with grappling was Kennedy needs. common deep our address and to ethics global science shared our and our know-how, technology,our using globally, and peacefully problems solving of way a process, a is also development Sustainable of way a – solving problems.” process a is peace For generation. new each of challenge the meet to changing static, not dynamic, be must must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace concerned. There is no single, all simple key to this peace; no of grand or magic interests the in are which agreements, human sudden institutions, in on evolution a a gradual series a of on on concrete but actions nature, not and human effective in revolution based peace, attainable more a more on instead practical, focus us Let goal. immediate and only our that making by incredulity and discouragement invite merely we but dreams, and hopes of value the deny not do I dream. fanatics and fantasies some which of goodwill and peace universal not of concept am infinite absolute, I the to again. referring it do can seemingly they believe the we solved and unsolvable, often have spirit and reason Man’s “ what dividesus.Kennedysaid: than important more much so is common in have we what Let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct No problem ofhumandestinyisbeyondbeings.

17 ISSUE #2 ESSAYS 18 ESSAYS` igpr ee b is o-hns pplto, n often and population, non-Chinese its by even Singapore in understood widely phrases, Hokkien are kiasu and Kiasi is exactlyhowtheyfeltduring thiselection. that PAPand threat,favour under voters feel the they when referred tolocallyintheHokkiendialectaskiasiandkiasu— Singaporeand theriseoftwokey culturaltraits—commonly half a century of government policy to depoliticise the polity voter.Kiasi/Kiasu Singapore’sthe of politics, electoral After for theparty’scontinueddominance additional explanation have been reasonsgiven for the plausible PAP’s many performance, I While would like to ‘watershed’. offer an a as poll previous elections and prompting many to describe the 2015 of declines the reversing 10%, about by vote popular the of many, after the People’s surprised Action elections Party general (PAP)2015 Singapore’s increased of its results share The Professor JamesChin 2015 election ofS case The C : matter norms ultural ’s ingapore oiial. ic te cno dsigih ewe the between distinguish cannot they Since government the politically. (fear) kiasi argue, would I super- Singaporeans, the of PAP. Ordinary by-product the by direct established environment competitive the are traits two These especially inbusinessorschool, andremain number one. as true success, achieve is to can reverse they all The do will lives. well—Singaporeans their in failure of chance the reduce and risk avoid to measures extreme take to willing Collectively,opportunities. or risks as Singaporeansareseen taking of fear zone, comfort one’s of out stepping never life, describes Kiasu is closely related, ‘fear of losing’, in any aspect of one’s death’, of cautious. and timid afraid, overly cowards, as ‘afraid Singaporeans Kiasi, famous behave. a Singaporeans even was There how reflect to 1990s the in cultural Kiasu’, character, psyche. ‘Mr strip comic key nation’s the as in themselves traits Singaporeans by to referred

in 1965. China from come and howitwasfortunatethat Singapore hadleftMalaysia had father his how relating by directly Swee Lim card PAP’sSay,kiasi/kiasu the Manpower.played for He Minister the by given speech a was campaign the One ofthemostwidelyreported andread newsitemsduring the voterstowards thePAP. State. The uncertain global economy also, apparently, pushed Islamic by posed threat the to due Singapore of security the a singlepartysince1965).Votersby were alsoworriedabout governed been has that country a in result’ election ‘freak (a win actually might they that possibility a was thereseats, 89 all contesting opposition the with that worried were Koh, to according voters, security.The over uncertainty and results showing werehe termedfreak people’sfearofwhat election 2015 the strong to PAP’s key in as identified he factors performance the Twoof GE. PAP’s of analysis insightful an gave Koh, Tommy intellectuals, public Singapore’s of One when itcomestotheirgovernment. kiasi are Singaporeans doubt little is There dominance. its that will use state machinery to put down any opposition to party no-nonsense a as seen is PAP The government. PAP these collectively, the Takenof fearful be to 1990s). Signaporeans many caused have the actions to 1960s for the City’ of ‘Fine most the as known widely antisocial was (Singapore gum of, punishment strict chewing and littering jaywalking, graffiti, as such behaviour and towards, harsh attitudes adopted government the space, non-political the In for vote to minister PAP a ‘enlightened self-interest’. by market. directly the told on were prices Voters better fetched hence and desirable more as seen were renovated were that Estates upgrading. no was there election, an PAPlost the where constituencies voted to power in the constituency concerned. In contrast, in was party the if renovations internal for subsidies offer and lifts new install housing), public Singaporeansin of live 80% than (more flats high-rise old renovatePAP to the promised 1990s, the In elections. during votes attract to incentive damages. an huge winning often PAPthe Third,as infrastructuredevelopment uses regularly Times, Financial the and Journal StreetWall Asian the Tribune, Herald International including the now defunct Far Eastern Economic Review, the both have Loong, leaders. Hsien been successful inactions against foreign publications Lee PAP son, by his and Yew defamation Kuan Lee for were successfully Juan, sued Soon Singapore, Chee both in and figures Jeyaretnam opposition Benjamin Joshua famous most two The opposition against suits defamation members andforeign media. of use the Second, courts. the of approval the secure to having without threat security the a deems that government the anyone is detain to here used be point can ISA The Communist. a was he claimed government the because all years- 9 additional an for arrest years without 23 charge for or detained trial. was He was who later Singaporean placed a under Poh, house Thye Chia to go fact in should title prisoner,that political longest-serving world’s the was Mandela Act Nelson think Security many While Internal (ISA). the First, examples. three take Let’s fear isnotunfounded. political PAP.This the fear also PAP,they and government return thePAP topower. fear that Singaporeans would kiasu (‘lose out’) if they did not The PAP campaign was full of clear messages to reinforce the worse off. crystal up ended have easily could people its and country the when was message Lim’s state. clear—the PAP wasresponsible forSingapore not‘losing’ have island who the Malaysians to former migrated fact, Singaporean in of are, today one-third Chinese about and from racism suffer Malaysia institutional in Chinese The Chinese. Malaysian Lim’s words rang especiallytrue whenitcame to the behaviour’. lack of social grace, and for engaging in rude and ‘uncivilised their Singaporeansfor by criticised areregularlyfromChina Chinese China. in Chinese the to superior economically and socially be to Singaporeanthemselves Many believe Chinese His words easily resonate with a vast number of Singaporeans. Lim SweeSay, MinisterofManpower, Singapore …(Lucky) I would beMalaysians,Heng separate in1965, todayyou and ifwe… SoIamthinking, didn’t only separate So we hadnochoice,we could Malaysia belongstothe Malays. as thetenetofMalaysia is: Sowe can’tstayinMalaysia, equal… ofrace—onethatisregardless oflanguage,nation regardless Mr Lee Kuan Yew wanted a Malaysia because separated, Then in1965, Singaporeand ah!... (Lucky) Hengmight beaChinesecitizen. boat toSingapore,todayI If myfatherhadnottaken that

19 ISSUE #2 ESSAYS 20 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS n tee a a osblt, let rmt oe ta the that one, remote a albeit possibility, a was there theconstituencies and all in candidates fielded opposition the different—completely was scenario the election, 2015 the In check onthePAP. a a certainnumberofopposition MPstoparliamentkeep day.nomination sending about thus was election actual The on government to returned been PAPalready the had since lose’ not ‘could they knew voters The kiasu-ness. and kiasi the opposition. That strategy removed a large amount of the day whenhalfoftheseatsinparliamentwentuncontestedby nomination on election the PAPwon’ the ‘ - there really not In all previous elections, the risk of the PAP losing power was preservation or preserving what you have now is paramount. mentality,a wrong.such or Under right is who not out, self- losing not about is kiasu-ness and kiasi of rule ultimate the earlier,PAP. mentioned the As of fate the over uncertainty and fear of level the was answer simple The 2015? to prior elections, previous in PAP’sthe had why decreasedvote popular election every in present were norms kiasi/kiasu If votes itneededtoincrease itsshare ofthevote. additional the it gave factors these but win, to going always PAPwas The favour. its in balance the PAPtip the helped threatthe terrorismuncertainty,economic with of faced and the securityandeconomic future ofSingapore inaregion These cultural norms combined with a scare campaign about needed toincrease itsshare ofthepopularvote. it boost additional the PAP the gave norms, cultural kiasu politicisation ofSingaporeans combinedwiththekiasiand de- the factors, underlying However,the arguethat would I PAP’svotes. the on impact positive a had election) last the since changes policy Loong, Hsien Lee of appeal personal the Yew, gerrymandering, Kuan Lee by of death identified the senior citizens, to factors payments the celebrations, SG50 of the as many (such others that doubt no have I sometimes have which flared intoviolence. community, Chinese the against and Malaysiathere isahistoryofethnicdiscrimination region.Worse,non-Chinese a in located is Indonesia both in island Chinese ethnic majority the that fact the from comes Although it is not said, it is widely understood that the threat hostile region. are constantlyreminded that theyare surrounded by a Singaporeans years. 40–50 of age the until reservistsremain they Police that After Force. Defence Civil SingaporeSingapore the or Force, Forces, Armed Singapore the in service required to undertaketwo years of compulsory military security are men Singaporean All made concerns. core nation’s the has of one government the independence, Since The fourthemeswere: 4 3 2 1 The regionandtheworldfaceanuncertainoutlook. and leadtotaxincreases; The opposition’s economicplanswillruintheeconomy the bleakregionalandglobaleconomicoutlook given threat under is prosperity economic Singapore’s threats posedbyISterrorists; Singapore, asasmallnation,isvulnerabletosecurity at theJeffrey CheahInstituteonSoutheastAsia. of programme governance the in University Fellow Senior also Tasmania.is Institute, He Asia Director, is Chin James Professor Chin)Volume 105,Issue2(March), 2016 The 2015SingaporeIssue: Editor: James Elections; Guest General Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs (Special Depoliticised PolityandtheKiasi/KiasuVoter”,Swing: TheRound of thepaper“The2015SingaporeThis isanabridgedversion with combined kiasi/kiasu-ness willremain animportanttooltowinvotes. fear of element the future, foreseeable the For overnight. happen not will this change, cultural all like However, existence. of form stressful less a pursue they as lives their suit not does culture kiasi/kiasu competitive the adopted. For example, younger Singaporeans may decide that Kiasi/kiasu will also not work when new cultural norms are with bettertalentthantheopposition. PAPthe majorityofSingaporeans isstillseenby astheparty The well. performed never has opposition the where is This prosperity. economic current their maintain can least very the at or life, better a them give can think they party which to according vote others to many like key Singaporeans are elections; issues butter and bread viz. true, holds always saying old day,the the of end the at that, argue could One the region. in pre-eminence economic Singapore’s restore to alternative an for votes ensurepopulation will the kiasi/kiasu of norms same very the – prosperity economic and living of standard rising contract—constant social is the PAP fulfil to the able that longer no convinced are Singaporeans When no. is answer the Obviously, unassailable? be will PAP the norms exist, cultural kiasi/kiasu as long as that mean this Does mentality kickedinstrongly attheballotbox. kiasi/kaisu the outlook, economic uncertain an and threat terrorism the with Combined so- result). election’ (the ‘freak called government a become and win might opposition to beresponsible andaccountable. them if there are any inform concerns. They also to count on the school school the for and for, cared be to children their expect They leadership. school the and teachers the in trust their place they - were children young these as as - especially boarders school, to children their send parents When even seemparticularlyurgent. missing in a remote area, were the search at the beginning did not young children seven Considering reacted. officials, government and school, the which in way the for also but The incident was shocking – for the heart-breaking outcome, their homevillages. from away hours two about Musang, Gua of interior the in Temiar (Orang Asli) pupils at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pos Tohoi 11and children,seven The between aged wereold, years all without foodorwater. Only disappeared. and days 47 after emaciated discoveredand survived; weak two Kelantan of jungle remote the in In August, seven young children ran away from their school Kate Mayberry people original ofM education the ; better Aslideserve Orang ihs omsin hv fr er dcmne te many the documented shortcomings. years for have commission, human rights Malaysia’s Suhakam, Orang and for - Center (COAC) Concerns the Asli notably – NGOs years. many for so is failingthechildren oftheOrang Asli andhasbeendoing far deeper. The crux of the matter is that Malaysian education committee problems with the provision special of education to the Orang the a Asli but go boarders, Asli Orang said facing issues the into look has will Education of Ministry The lay theblameonchildren andthecommunity. parents’misery,the school. to Adding to therewereattempts the fromreceived they letters threatening and accusatory the an the parents’ anxiety abouttheirchildren was compounded by Tohoi, in Pos at but action, than supply rather are transfers with abuse resolved short and violence of in reports where system sometimes education are principles Those alaysia ’s

21 ISSUE #2 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 22 ESSAYS` the situation: improve to changes following the make must Ministry The 5 4 3 2 1 COAC’s ColinNicholas. to according holistic” and “multi-faceted is learning of system traditional Asli’s Orang The culture. this with work and Orang Asli, the of life of way and culture the All teachersassignedtoremoteschools mustunderstand and isolatedfrom theirculture. parents their from separated be not should particular, in children, school Primary work. can initiatives such shown refugeeshave Orang and including Asli groups, projectsCommunity vulnerable villages. for home their to closer educated be must children Asli YoungOrang Malaysia. of rest the in schools of activities and curriculum the in included the are people Ensure indigenous schools. country’s the in of culturelives own their of more to Ensure Orang Asli and indigenous children are exposed leaders andparents. community the with collaboration around in needs, designed Asli’s Orang curriculum special a Develop the eightteachersisOrang Asli. of Orang Tohoi,one Pos not profession.At the into for get to Asli fast-track a develop and teachers, become to Asli Orang more encourage must government The do more tomeettheiraspirations. a useful education for their children; and the government can deserve, and want, families These people. indigenous other education programmes for theOrang Asli and Malaysia’s improving on study a begin will JCI year, coming the Over their because out drop families cannotafford thefees. to forced been have Some homes. longhouses often live in school hostels hours away from their in SarawakandSabahwhere children from indigenous schools remote to applied be also should suggestions These 7 6 year. parentsmanner sothat canprepare foreachnewschool timely a in provided be must aid assistance This financial required. the providing and schooling Asli Orang to attention’ ‘special giving to government the commits Address the delays in financial aid. The 11th Malaysia Plan dcto. ht s o tu. t o Thi te parents the Tohoi,simply wanttheschoolstobeclosertheirvillages Pos At true. not is That education. the assumption that Orang Asli are uninterested in problems ofOrang Asli schoolingare dismissed with the often Too leaders. community and parents Consult . of riceinVietnam. fortification Acid Folic on research further for 2016 in grant and Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School will use the Health Public of School Chan T.H. Epidemiology,Harvard of Professor Associate Michels, B. Karin Asia. Southeast in and Khaira fieldwork vital undertake Damina to grant the used Soderborg students Seth doctoral Harvard 2015, In The firstexchangestookplacein2014. in theUnitedStates. University Harvard and Malaysia, University Monash and the Sunway Education Group, including Sunway University academic exchange between academics, scholars and staff of for opportunity Cheah an Jeffrey provide The Grants Travel Travel Grants The JeffreyCheah available ontheJCIwebsite,www.jci.edu.my. and is information year.Further a JCI twice invited are applications by coordinated is programme Grants Travel The economic growth. to furtherhisresearch intoglobalisationandsustainable of Professor grant University,a awardedMonash also at was Economics Herath, Gamini Learning. and Teaching in Center of for Bok Derek Harvard the at Dean to practices best investigate travelled to Crosling, 2015 University, Sunway Glenda at Professor Quality Malaysia, From

23 ISSUE #2 ESSAYS 24 JEFFREY CHEAH TRAVEL GRANTS SOME RECENT RECIPIENTS OF THE JCTRAVELGRANTS: OFTHE RECIPIENTS SOME RECENT Harvard University Seth Soderborg, PhDcandidateinGovernment, Harvard University Damina Khaira,PhDcandidate in Anthropology, Harvard University Graham Moyer, BA Candidate, Harvard University Lina Verchery, PhDCandidate, Harvard University Rachel Leng,MA candidate, Monash UniversityMalaysia Koh GeokMay, PhDStudent, Monash UniversityMalaysia Liyanage DevangiHanamikaPerera, PhDstudent, Monash UniversityMalaysia Dr. LeeHooi Yean , Associate Professor, Monash UniversityMalaysia Prof GaminiHerath,Professor, Sunway University Prof GlendaCrosling, DeanofQuality, Sunway University Prof PohChitLaa,Distinguished Professor, Monash UniversityMalaysia Ms. LavanyaVijayasingham, PhDCandidate, NAME/ AFFILIATION Monash UniversityMalaysia Dr. V. Santha A. Vaithilingam , Associate Professor, Monash UniversityMalaysia Ms LiewJie Ying, PhDStudent, RESEARCH TOPIC RESEARCH LivingwithChronic IllnessinMalaysia A CaseStudyofMalaysia Creative Performance Among UniversityStudents: Social NetworkTechnology, DynamicCapabilities,and Neighborhood Associations and ElectoralPoliticsinIndonesia Longhouse Community Storytelling andNostalgia:The Experienceof Aging ina Malaysia compared totheUS – aninvestigationintotheinfluence ofartonpublicpolicyin Residency inShaliniGanendraFine Art GalleryinPetaling Jaya Venerable HsuanHua To conductethnographicfieldworkfordissertationon Malaysia andTaiwan The Circulation ofMahuaCulturalProducts across Unravelling theSinophoneMalaysianExperience: Asia’s RisingInequality? Can Trade LiberalizationandBetterGovernanceMitigate in PISA? Mind theGap:WhatExplainsMalaysia’sUnderperformance Economic IntegrationinEast Asia Driven andHigh-IncomeEconomy Smart LearningEcosystemtoLeap-Frog to An Innovation- Development (SD)andGrowth of Asia Research Networkingon Globalization, SustainableEconomic Harvard University Practice attheDerek BokCentre forTeaching andLearningat Learning from theMost Accomplished: InvestigatingBest To explore research collaborationsinVirology programme

a response tothat. ways, some in is, work doctoral Her alive. was she when life her about more learn not did she regretsgrandparent, a lost have who people many like and, - lived once grandmother her where was fieldwork her doing is she where longhouse mother–the was extremelyKhaira closetohermother’s more aboutindigenouscommunities, genderandrace.” was I felt I time marginalized, too, and long so I’ve always been drawn to learning a For people. particularly marginalized me, among interested always have identity of Issues up. growing confusing very always was that lines racial on based identified or classified be to tend you where Malaysia like society a “In University. Khaira Sunway to belonged,” visit I a during where said and was I trying who always understand was to I background, mixed a from “Coming to listening and their stories. lives everyday their about more learning will spend the year living among the largely elderly residents, whereSarawak in she longhouse recentlya Khaira to moved storytelling among the older Jewish community in on California, Myerhoff Barbara anthropologist American of work the religion.and Inspiredpreoccupiedethnicity by country with She hasspentmuchofherlifequestioningplaceina Grants, Travel Cheah in Born Jeffrey often feltlikeanoutsider, research. eveninmulticulturalMalaysia. her about the us Malaysia to aPunjabi father andIbanmother, to Damina Khaira, has of spoke Khaira, Damina recipient Ms 2015 A KhairA Damina of identity: A question to startwritingherdissertation. 2016 in Harvard University,to Oxford returns from Masters a and Lumpur Kuala in University Islamic International the her fund from helping law in degree a has who Khaira, Sarawak. in fieldwork ambitions, research her realising her to crucial been has Grant Cheah Travel Jeffrey the says Khaira my sensesare sharperwhenI’mthere.” like feel I movement. and texture much so observe, to space much so slowly.There’s so by go to seems Timerefreshing. quite It’s other. each to talking time spend people phone; a uses one No interest. of places document and research my do course, of and, meditate read, to world the in time the all “Being there encourages me to slow down,” she said. “I have as mobilephonesandtheInternet. also relieved of the other temptations of 21st century life such and is in bed by 9pm. As the longhouse is so remote, Khaira is Khaira - longhouse the for water collecting Kuching. - rises sun the as up gets from boat by hour an and road by hours There are about 40 families living in the longhouse, about five for healthcare agenciesand forthegovernment.” rural in areas while staying the young migrate to population the cities; that’s a older huge issue the have You now. Asia across place taking phenomenon a it’s because - elderly the also importanttodoworkonmarginalized communitieslike past, make sense of that past and subsequent changes. But it’s – inthatit’spartofmetryingtoreclaim somethingfrom the personal it’s ways, some In questions. these her asked had I “I always wished I had known more of her,” she said. “I wish Damina Khaira

25 ISSUE #2 JEFFREY CHEAH TRAVEL GRANTS 26 EVENTS CALENDAR Prof BarryEichengreen AndTheRecession, Uses–And Misuses–OfHistory Dinner Talk: HallofMirrors: The Great Depression,The Great Prof Rajah Rasiah andProf Woo Wing Thye Malaysia’s Role Webcast: and AsianEconomicCommunity(AEC) Prof Jeffrey Sachs Sustainable Development Jeffrey CheahDistinguishedSpeakersSeries:The Age of Prof Woo Wing Thye Feng,Prof Wen Vincent Hai, Wong Wai Sangand Prof DwightPerkins,Prof Prof GhauthJasmon, DaHsuan Workshop: Achieving Excellence in MalaysianUniversities 24 March24 2015 23 March 2015 Dr. MuhamadChatibBasri Prof. Mari Pangestu,Dr. ChalongphobSussangkarnand Southeast Asia:What IsTo BeDone Asian EconomicPanel Conference: SlowerGrowth in March23 –24 2015 Prof BarryEichengreen Economic Prospects: What ShouldKeep Us UpatNight? Jeffrey CheahDistinguishedSpeakers Series:Global 21 March 2015 Integrating SoutheastAsia Oxford SoutheastAsianSymposiumThe 4th. Year ofASEAN -22March20 2015 17 March 2015 MARCH 2015 23 January2015 15 January2015 JANUARY 2015 Inclusion &ConsumerEmpowerment InternetFinance,Financial Meeting: MarketConduct, Asian ShadowFinancialRegulatoryCommittee(ASFRC) Education Workshop, 17 March 2015 of Macau),andHaiWen (PekingUniversity) at (Harvard University), Feng DaHsuan(University Minister’s Office), Dwight Sang (Prime Perkins Woo Wing Thye (JCI),Vincent Wong Wai Professor Woo Wing Thye,Vincent Wong Wai Sang,Professor DwightPerkins, Professor GhauthJasmon,Professor DaHsuanFeng,Professor Wen Hai

Cheah Travel Grant Public Lectures byHarvard University recipients ofJeffrey Prof JamesChin Datuk ZaidLiewChinTong, Ibrahim,YB IvanpalSGrewa and Public Forum: The MalaysianParliament: ReformsandBarriers 28 April201528 APRIL2015 JUNE 2015 14 September2015 SEPTEMBER2015 14 August2015 3 August2015 AUGUST 2015 June201529 17 June2015 15 June2015 Dato’ SaifuddinAbdullah Dato’ Dr. Vaseehar Dr. Hassan, AhmadFarouk Musaand Public Forum: The DilemmasofMalayPolitical Leadership Tan SriLinSee-Yan Book Launch: The GlobalEconomy:InTurbulent Times Syed AkbarAli the CollapseofIslamicCountries Webcast: AConversation onMalaysia,theClubofDoomand Ahmad ElMuhammadyandProf JamesChin Implications forNationalSecurity Public Forum:inMalaysia: The IslamicState(IS) 25), Dato’NoorFarida Ariffin Agenda (co-organised foraBetterMalaysia, withGroup of Public Forum: StandingTall Against Extremism: The G25

and Kate Mayberry Tengku NurulAzianTengku ElmariePotgieter Shahriman, Public Forum: Testing Times: ReformingMalaysia’sSchools Harvard University AsiaCenter),heldatHarvard University Power Rivalry, andClimateChange(co-organised bythe Big Difficulties, Development: CopingwithSocio-Economic Conference: SoutheastAsiaExplores Sustainable 14 January2016 JANUARY 2016 2011 December 2015 DECEMBER 9 November 2015 9 November 2015 4 November 2015 015 2 NOVEMBER 27 October2015 2015 OCTOBER Kuan ChungMingandWoo Wing Thye Public Forum: The World Economyin2016 Prof JamesChinandProf JoernDosch Economic Community(AEC) Public Forum: AEuropean Perspective ontheASEAN Prof JamesChinandProf JoernDosch Book Launch: Post-Mahathir:ADecadeofChange? International andComparative University Education, Malaya) Malaysia (co-organised withtheCentre forResearch on Seminar: Strengthening theHigher EducationSectorin Southeast AsiaSymposium Tan SriJeffrey Cheahatthe4 Professor Woo Wing Thye,Vincent Wong Wai Sang,Professor DwightPerkins, Professor GhauthJasmon,Professor DaHsuanFeng,Professor Wen Hai All ourpublicevents canbefoundonJCIYoutube channel: www.youtube.com/user/JeffreyCheahInst 5

JCDSS: Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished SpeakersSeries JCDSS: Jeffrey Cheah th Prof Mari ElkaPangestu Dinner andtalk:ReimaginingSoutheastAsia Climate Change Rivalry, Problems,Big-Power Domestic Socio-Economic and Conference: EastAsiain2016: Searching forSolutionsto Dr. Maszlee Malik andProf JamesChin Webcast: ISISinMalaysia Renaissance Front) (inCollaborationMustafa Akyol, withG25andIslamic Public Forum: IsPolitical IslamaThreat toDemocracy? Uncertainties Through Innovation Public Forum: Universities toSurvive theCurrent and Prof Marnie Hughes-Warrington Prof Karen GhauthJasmon, Welsh, Prof Graeme Wilkinson Sunway University) (co-organised withtheCentre forHigherEducationResearch, Seminar: MobilisingDiversity toAchieve Academic Excellence’ 24 March24 2016 March24 2016 7 March 2016 MARCH 2016 4 February 2016 FEBRUARY 2016 January201628 25 January2016 25 January2016 YB Charles Santiago, Prof CharlesSantiago, SufianJusohaandProfYB JamesChin Webcast: TPPA andMalaysia

27 ISSUE #2 EVENTS CALENDAR JEFFREY CHEAH INSTITUTE ON SOUTHEAST ASIA In August 2013, The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and Harvard University signed agreements to establish at Harvard, two Jeffrey Cheah Professorships of Southeast Asia Studies (SEA) and the Jeffrey Cheah Travel Grants following a gift of USD6.2 million by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF), the largest social enterprise in Malaysia.

In conjunction with the gift, the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia (JCI) was established in early 2014. The JCI will act as a catalyst in promoting Southeast Asian studies and as an attractive hub to develop and upgrade academic standards of teaching and research in the Sunway Education institutions and in the region.

ABOUT THE JEFFERY CHEAH INSTITUTE ON SOUTHEAST ASIA ABOUT THE JEFFERY CHEAH INSTITUTE ON SOUTHEAST ASIA ABOUT JEFFREY CHEAH FOUNDATION The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation is the first-of-its-kind in Malaysia within the field of private higher education, modeled along the lines of one of the oldest and most eminent universities in the world, Harvard University. The ownership and equity rights of the Sunway Education Group’s learning institutions, namely, Sunway University, Monash University Malaysia (jointly owned with Monash Australia), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sunway College, Sunway TES and Sunway International School and others have officially and legally been transferred to the Foundation, valued at more than RM720 million.

Governed by a distinguished Board of Trustees, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation have to-date disbursed more than RM210 million in Scholarships to thousand of deserving students.

The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation was launched on 18 March 2010 by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, in the presence of its Royal Patron, H.R.H.The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj. For more information on Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, http://jeffreycheah.foundation.

CONTACT US PRESIDENT PROFESSOR WOO WING THYE Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia Email: [email protected] Sunway University DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT’S OFFICE No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, JOYCE TANG 47500 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Email: [email protected] Malaysia DIRECTOR, GOVERNANCE STUDIES PROGRAMME Tel: (603) 7491 8622 Ext: 7522 Professor James Chin

DIRECTOR, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL PROGRESS PROGRAMME www.jci.edu.my Professor Leong Choon Heng jci.edu.my facebook.com/jci.seasia SENIOR FELLOW youtube.com/user/jeffreycheahinst PROFESSOR TAN SRI DR GHAUTH JASMON DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC STUDIES PROGRAMME Professor Yeah Kim Leng 28