Malaysia Day 2024: The country’s path forward

Meanwhile, Ian Yee, journalist and co-founder of The Fourth, who has made significant strides in Malaysian journalism through his dedication to investigative reporting envisions a future where investigative journalism is supported by a broad base of Malaysian citizens. The Gen.T alumni emphasises the need for public investment in journalism to ensure that it continues to drive meaningful change and hold power to account.

“It is such a critical ingredient of a healthy society,” Yee explains, “not just by exposing problems but by advocating solutions and driving positive change as well.” He stresses the importance of public investment in journalism to ensure its continued role in driving meaningful change and holding power to account.

Yee reminds fellow journalists of their crucial role: “Never forget our role as the fourth estate. We have the ability to speak truth to power and make things better for others.”

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Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram offers a critical perspective on Malaysia’s economic and social landscape. He defines independence as more than the end of colonial rule, emphasising the need to address persistent economic and social inequalities that continue under neo-colonial structures.

Jomo reflects on key moments in Malaysia’s journey since independence, such as the establishment of the Rukun Negara and the New Economic Policy. However, he notes that challenges in nation-building persist, partly due to “the resurgence of ethno-populism fuelled by perceptions of ethnicity, religion and its surge in the West.”

“The 1960s saw the creation and redefinition of Malaysia. With Tun Razak’s ascendance, he proposed the Rukun Negara and New Economic Policy to forge national unity with the peninsular in mind. By the mid-1980s, there was growing dissent in Sabah and Sarawak, but the main proposals in response have been piecemeal. Hence, the challenges of nation-building remain with us, not only because of the lingering problems of the 1963 confederation but also because of the resurgence of ethno-populism fuelled by perceptions of ethnicity, religion and its surge in the West,” he says. 

He goes on to address the ongoing challenges, saying: “Besides addressing ethno-populism, worsened by policies meant to address it, we are in a difficult situation economically. Internationally, the rich countries no longer prioritise peace and growth. This has terrible consequences for developing countries in the global south, especially the poorest. As the world remains dominated by rich nations, their policies have huge consequences for the rest of us. The US and other rich nation central banks raised interest rates two and a half years ago, hurting vulnerable businesses the world over and extending the stagnation the world economy faces.” 

Jomo warns that global environmental issues, including climate change, are exacerbating these problems. “We are in mortal danger without quite recognising the enormity of the threat.  Worse, the rich nations ignore their own policy commitments for geopolitical reasons. Meanwhile, the world accelerates towards breaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold over pre-industrial levels within less than a decade. This is likely to have disastrous consequences for vulnerable tropical nations like ours.”

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However, Professor Joy Jacqueline Pereira, a principal research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative, who has been at the forefront of climate change advocacy, envisions Malaysia playing a critical role in addressing environmental challenges. She advocates for a collaborative approach involving scientists from various disciplines to strengthen environmental sustainability and disaster resilience.

“I look forward to a Malaysia with a sufficient critical mass of scientists from multiple disciplines including physical, socio-economic, health and life sciences, working in the government, non-government and private sectors, collectively strengthening climate resilient development and environmental sustainability in the country and the region,” Pereira states.

She commends Malaysia’s efforts in addressing climate change, noting the country’s emission reduction targets and policymakers’ recognition of the need to transition away from fossil fuels. “I applaud our policymakers for their wisdom in recognising that we need to plan our nation’s transition away from fossil fuel in every sector, to remain competitive and minimise stranded assets in our country,” she says.

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