People-centred Asean the way forward

The recent 34th Asean Summit emphasised the importance of advancing partnership for sustainability to achieve a people-centred, people-oriented and forward-looking Asean Community that leaves no one behind in the rapidly changing regional and global environment.

In preparing for the 35th Asean Summit in Bangkok and related summits, like the Asean Plus Summits and the East Asia Summit, Malaysia must punch above its weight with the region’s most experienced and longest serving leader, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, leading the way. Malaysia must aim to be a middle power in international diplomacy and a regional leader in championing regional cooperation and closer integration.

The Asean Summit should review the 4Cs of Asean that have been the bedrock of its strength over the past decades: community, connectivity, charter and centrality.

While the master plans have been formulated for Asean connectivity, Asean still faces gaps in implementing the infrastructure, information technology and seamless connectivity as enunciated in the first and seecond Asean master plans for connectivity.

Connectivity is more important than ever to bridge the development divide and to better connect Asean with the world. A digital Asean requires better connectivity. Asean also needs more highways, railways and ports to accelerate regional connectivity.

A Need for An Industry-led TVET

The Kingsley Strategic Institute organised its first Malaysian TVET Forum on 24th January 2019 to discuss issues faced by Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Experts on the subject matter and stakeholders from the industry spoke extensively of the matter and recommended ways to bring Malaysian TVET forward.

A common theme emerging throughout the forum was that TVET needs to become industry-driven. There are gaps in practicality and relevancy between what is taught within TVET institution and what is needed by employers. The main factor is due the fact that TVET trainers themselves lack the practical skills and experience from industry. To correct this, industries should partner with TVET institutions and allow classes as well as practical training to take place at their premises. This will allow practitioners from the industry with the hands-on experience to mentor and teach TVET students directly. Not only will this reduce the cost of TVET training (which industries should take the initiative to bear, as they will otherwise need to invest in retraining graduates anyway), it will also increase the employment chances of TVET students due to the direct links forged with these industry partners.

The 2019 World Chinese Business and Economic Summit

The World Chinese Business & Economic Summit (WCBES) is an annual international forum. It’s purpose is to improve business linkages and connectivity between China and the world, providing a platform for high level discussions on global and regional events in relation to China’s rise as a world leading economy.

This year the Forum is re-branded as the World Chinese Business and Economic Summit (WCBES) to refocus on the importance of business as a driver of sustainable economic growth and as builders of bridges across communities, nations and cultures. The partnership between Government, Business, Think Tanks and Scholars is a key priority for the WCBES which provides a meeting of minds for Entrepreneurs, Strategists and Government Officials.

Common vision for shared prosperity

The recent announcement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the new economic model based on “shared prosperity” is much welcomed and a refreshing change. This new economic model, if implemented well and with fairness and justice, will give hope to Malaysians who all aspire for a better shared future. In fact, this shared prosperity model can be the new common vision for Malaysia beyond Vision 2020.

To achieve this vision of shared prosperity, I believe the following key factors must be emphasised and given priority..

KSI Review - May 2019

We are pleased to present the May edition of the KSI Review containing excerpts of events by the Kingsley Strategic Institute between January to May 2019.

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TOWARDS A NATIONAL INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC POLICY (NISEP)

The Kingsley Strategic Institute (KSI) calls on the Government and the Economic Action Council to introduce a National Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Policy (NISEP) to better prepare Malaysia to face the challenges of a VUCA World (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous).

The VUCA World requires new thinking, new strategies and new policies.

We propose that the National Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Policy (NISEP) comprises five key strategic thrusts: