Modern Dreams
Modern Dreams

Author: Beng-Lan Goh

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 2018-05-31

Total Pages: 231

ISBN-13: 150171919X

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A fascinating ethnographic study of the cultural politics of urban redevelopment in Kampung Serani, one Penang community, in the 1990s. Through interviews, newspaper reports, and other records, Goh considers changing notions of culture, ethnic identity, and urban space.

The Way Forward
The Way Forward

Author: Mahathir bin Mohamad

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 133

ISBN-13: 9780297842293

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In the five essays that comprise this book, the Malaysian Prime Minister reflects on the successes and failures on government policy since independence, explianing why the country has achieved extraordinary racial harmony and economic growth.

Care Relations in Southeast Asia
Care Relations in Southeast Asia

Author: Patcharawalai Wongboonsin

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2018-11-26

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13: 9004384332

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Care Relations in Southeast Asia: The Family and Beyond, edited by Patcharawalai Wongboonsin and Jo-Pei Tan, examines the care relations and transactions within and beyond the family network across three middle-income Southeast Asian countries, namely the Federation of Malaysia, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the national and sub-national level. On the national level, changes and continuity in care relations along the changing demographic, socio-economic and political contexts of each country are addressed. On the sub-national level, the complex dimensions of care relations are analyzed by looking at the attitude towards and practice of elderly and child care within, between and beyond the family system. These regional analyses are based on merged data of three most recent family surveys in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok Metropolis, and Hanoi. Alternative and innovative policy recommendations for current and future challenges are also offered. Contains contributions by: Asmidawati Ashari, Ki Soo Eun, Tengku Aizan Hamid, Rahimah Ibrahim, Thuttai Keeratipongpaiboon, Nguyen Huu Minh, Pataporn Sukontamarn, Jo-Pei Tan, Tran Thi Minh Thi, Kua Wongboonsin and Patcharawalai Wongboonsin

Malaysia
Malaysia

Author: John Hilley

Publisher: Zed Books

Published: 2001-10

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9781856499187

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Malaysia is an increasingly important player. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is now Asia's longest-serving leader. This work on Malaysian politics offers an analysis of the Mahathir project, examining how Mahathir has, over 20 years, translated the basis of the ruling bloc's legitimacy from one of coercive domination and ethnic card-playing into a more consensual form of hegemonic support. It argues that Mahathir has made considerable progress in building consent. Since the 1997 economic crisis and purging of Mahathir's former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, new problems have appeared within the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and its leadinf g party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). As Mahathir seeks to rebuild ideological support other parties have mounted a counter-hegemonic alternative to the prevailing project. This book provides an understanding of these contending forces and the new engagement of ideas taking place within Malaysia's changing political landscape.

Malaysia’s Student Loan Company
Malaysia’s Student Loan Company

Author: Wan Saiful Wan Jan

Publisher: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

Published: 2020-04-14

Total Pages: 41

ISBN-13: 9814881686

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The Malaysian National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) was set up in 1997. Since then, it has accumulated a massive debt amounting to RM40 billion in principal plus RM13 billion in interest. All these are guaranteed by the Malaysian government. It is now the biggest provider of student loans in the country and continues to play a very important role in catalysing socio-economic mobility, especially among the ethnic Malays which is the majority community in the country. However, the business model employed by PTPTN is irrational and unsustainable. It borrows from the financial market at, on average, 4 to 5 per cent, and lends to students at 1 per cent. No serious effort has been made to revamp this model, and all public discussions around it have been driven by political populism. The biggest challenge is the low repayment rate. This problem has been ignored because Malaysian politicians of all colours have wanted to maintain popularity. Collecting debt is certainly not popular. PTPTN, under a new leadership since mid-2018, gathered and developed ideas on how to reform their organization. These ideas have been presented to various levels of government, including to the Cabinet in early 2020. PTPTN must be reformed to avoid its debt from inflating further. Whether the Malaysian government has the much-needed political will to push through the reforms is a question yet to be answered.