SERI is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to advancing evidence-based policies that bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots and building a more inclusive society that enables all Malaysians to thrive.
POLICY BRIEF
State Government Without Opposition in Terengganu
August 2023
The recent state elections marked a momentous occasion for Perikatan Nasional (PN) as it achieved a historic clean sweep by securing all 32 seats in Terengganu's state assembly. This resounding victory is seemingly emblematic of the "green wave" engulfing Malaysian politics. This scenario materialises when a single political party holds sway over both the legislative and executive branches of a state, leading to limited or minimal representation from alternative parties. While this setup offers certain advantages, such as expedited decision-making procedures, it also brings about certain drawbacks that could potentially impact the democratic health of the state.
Politics
Starlink and Democratizing Connectivity
July 2023
Starlink, a company operated by SpaceX, is a high-speed, low-latency satellite internet provider, coordinating a large constellation of operating satellites to deliver connectivity to disconnected and remote areas globally. SpaceX operates in over 50 countries through its network of more than 4,500 satellites and hundreds of gateways. It operates on direct-to-consumer subscription based service model as well as through a reseller network. At the consumer level, it is operated via a self-installable small dish and a compact router box.
Technology
Heatwave Unpreparedness: A Critical Analysis of Malaysia's Disaster Management Gap
May 2023
Malaysia is grappling with severe heatwaves, highlighting a critical gap in the country's disaster management preparedness. While commendable efforts have been made to address floods and other natural disasters, heatwaves have received comparatively less attention. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, it is essential to assess Malaysia's readiness in managing heatwaves and identify urgent gaps. In this article, we will delve into the details of heatwaves—defining their characteristics and exploring how Malaysia currently deals with them. We will also draw a parallel with the existing flood management system and mechanisms in place. By examining these two aspects, we aim to shed light on the disparities in attention and resources allocated to each disaster type.
Climate Change
Securing Malaysia’s Digital Future: Cyber Threats and Opportunities
December 2022
The substantial increase in connectivity and data generation, the explosion of the number of connected devices, and the rapid take-up of technologies such as cloud computing, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) are fundamentally changing the way organizations do business and how governments provide public services and engage with citizens.At the same time, with every new system or device that is connected to the internet, the scope for cyber-attacks grows, as do the consequences of successful attacks. As cyber-attackers become ever more sophisticat ed in their operations and cyber-criminals ever more ambitious, policymakers are responding with increasing agility and innovation.
Technology & Society
How Can Malaysia Implement Digital Technology in Election
November 2022
Aligned with the Malaysian government's aspirations for digital transformation, this policy brief discusses the potential for digitising the election process, particularly through the implementation of e-voting. E-voting could result in a faster and more efficient voting system, reducing human error, improving the voting experience, increasing voter turnout by remote voting, preventing fraud and increasing accessibility. In the course of doing so we will look at existing electronic voting technologies, analysing how different countries implement e-voting and its potential adoption in Malaysia.
Economy
Technology & Society
How can we improve Malaysia's election process?
August 2022
Since the last general election in 2018, Malaysia has undergone a further three elections all occurring at the state level. The elections of Sabah, Melaka and Johor all had different factors and trigger points, but all occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first election in Sabah causing another outbreak that eventually resulted in Malaysia’s second nationwide lockdown.
Government
Flash Flood in Baling: More Questions than Answers
March 2022
In the past year, at least eight states in Malaysia have experienced severe flash floods. These occurrences are warning signs of the extreme changes the climate is experiencing, requiring swift and immediate action. Recently, the flooding in Baling, Kedah was reported to be its “worst ever” flood, killing gumtree individuals and causing many others to be displaced. A village in Baling known as Kampung Hangus experienced RM 550,000 in losses. While there has been much speculation of human interference being the primary trigger, the Kedah government is still waiting on reports of investigations of the flood and water surge. Meanwhile, MetMalaysia predicts thunderstorms for at least another week in July.
Environment
Minimum Wage: Understanding the issues
March 2022
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an economic slowdown, resulting in worldwide job losses and pay cuts especially for low-wage workers. While inflation and living costs have soared in Malaysia, the average monthly wage has fallen. All over the world, there have been many calls to increase minimum wages. To help Malaysian workers cope with the challenges of the pandemic, the government is expected to implement a minimum wage of around RM 1,500 a month by the end of 2022.
Flood Management for Selangor
January 2022
Urban flooding is unforeseen and has broad impacts, from the disturbance of everyday life to the spread of waterborne diseases. As it is commonly associated with climate change, the poor are hurt the most by urban flooding, for their capacity to prepare and rebound from damages is significantly weaker than other classes.
30 September 2021
With the opening of Malaysian schools being postponed once more to at least October, parents and educators alike continue to be concerned about the effects of school closures on the academic performance and mental wellbeing of students. This article will discuss the short-term effects of these closures, and then take it a step further to predict the long-term effects on our existing socioeconomic gaps.
Contact Tracing: Issues and Shortcomings in Global Efforts
10 June 2021
Contact tracing has become a key feature of effectively combating the COVID-19 pandemic, a tactic virtually present in all countries. Despite its importance and centrality to the relief effort, many countries have struggled with a basic technique to track and trace the virus. In public health, contact tracing is the process of identifying persons who have come into contact with an infected person, and the subsequent collection of information about these contacts (places visited, additional contacts).
Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint
23 March 2021
The SERI Digital Dialogue Series brings together government leaders, leading experts, researchers, and technology organizations to share their views in a series of discussions that serves as a platform for relevant industries and sectors in order to advance digitalization in Malaysia. Malaysia’s Prime Minister, YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin launched the Malaysia Digital Economy MyDigital blueprint on February 19th 2021. It is a key part of the government's plan to "transform Malaysia into a digitally-driven, high income nation and a regional leader in digital economy." Through this plan, by 2025, the digital economy is expected to contribute 22.6% to the country's GDP. At the same time, the blueprint aims to create 500,000 job opportunities in the digital economy.
Cybersecurity: Protecting Privacy, Identity & Property
3 December 2020
The world is witnessing the exponential growth of technology. Growth of digital technology illustrates how much humanity has achieved in terms of improvement and innovation which allows us to work seamlessly and virtually in real time. The digital age has made technology a critical tool for Malaysia’s economic, social, and political development. However, utilisation of technology pervades the lives of individuals, businesses, and governments in both positive and negative manners. Hence, the steady increase in reliance on internet connectivity parallels the increased need for cybersecurity.
Unlocking Blockchain
19 November 2020
While Blockchain is the underlying distributed ledger technology that powers Bitcoin and other digital currencies, it is far more than a platform or tool for cryptocurrency. Over time, blockchain technology has evolved to be of use by any enterprise seeking a decentralized substitute for traditional system architecture. Blockchain is creating a paradigm shift in how individuals, businesses, and governments interact, enabling secure and trusted transactions.
While blockchain technology is still in its infancy, there have been several applications, especially in financial services and public sector which evidences that blockchain technology is revolutionary. Undeniably, with developments in the digital sector, adoption of this technology has become necessary for Malaysia to grow as an accountable and transparent digital economy.
Digital Upskilling: Dissecting the Challenges and Opportunities Malaysia Faces in Embracing Digital Disruption
22 October,2020
The SARS-COV 2 virus has created an extraordinary health and economic crisis for countries around the world. This pandemic has unleashed and deepened the existing multitude of divides, reminding us of the need to further dissect the healthcare and socio-economic challenges faced by Malaysia; most of which are systemic in nature.
As the country works to protect lives and livelihoods, the digital world and related connectivity become all the more urgent and relevant, particularly in relation to providing skills development opportunities and social protection for the most vulnerable among us.