Research 2023

UMNO celebrates its 77th anniversary, which is coming two days after the fifth anniversary of its routing from power in the May 9, 2018 general election. First, we talked about the state of affairs UMNO is in, and what it needs to do to remain relevant. Then, we heard from our listeners, and whether they see a future for UMNO.

Nearly 45% of respondents agreed with PMX that the government should stop electricity subsidies for those in the T20 category and those with high electricity consumption.

The result of the short poll showed 260 out of 420 respondents (61.9%) agree with the proposal to increase employers’ EPF contribution to 20%.

The recent removal several UMNO top leaders notably Khairy Jamaluddin, Noh Omar and the suspension of Hishamuddin Hussein may not bode well for the image United Malay National Organization’s (UMNO) but to some factions within the party, it was the necessary move to ensure party stability and secure its position in the current unity government.

According a recent ground survey conducted by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP) from end January to early February, 2022, MCA/BN received a performance rating on average of 3.29 compared with 2.80 for Perikatan Nasional and 2.75 for Pakatan Harapan. The survey is based on sample size of 1,240.

Economic recovery is highly uneven with the burden of adjustment disproportionally falling on service sector, self-employed workers, aged 25-34. Cumulative jobs destructed far exceeds jobs created in service sector, although manufacturing sector has already entered recovery phase with positive net jobs created. Existing schemes like PenjanaKerjaya and Program Subsidi Upah won’t be effective, as mobility remains restricted and non-eligibility denies assistance. i-citra and loan moratorium programmes, while easing liquidity constraint, weakens the poor’s capacity to recover. What they need is temporary but recurring income support.

Kebelakangan ini, ramai pihak telah menyuarakan kegusaran lantaran jumlah penerima vaksin COVID-19 di negara ini yang masih rendah dan kadar vaksinasi yang perlahan. Mobiliti untuk mempercepatkan Program Imunisasi COVID-19 Kebangsaan (PICK) masih menjadi pertikaian dengan pelbagai kritikan dilemparkan termasuk ekuiti bekalan vaksin yang dilabel sebagai monopoli kerajaan. Dengan kadar penularan kes yang tinggi saban hari, langkah kawalan terbaik mempercepatkan lagi kadar vaksinasi untuk mencapai kadar imuniti kelompok (‘herd immunity’) yang memerlukan sekurang-kurangnya 80% populasi Malaysia menerima dua dos suntikan vaksin COVID-19.

The pandemic has reduced economic activity, lowered incomes and increased unemployment for the vast majority of Malaysians and consequently, how much the government can realistically collect in tax revenues. Due to the mass uncertainties created by the pandemic, GDP and revenue projection becomes harder and more speculative the longer the COVID-19 virus and restrictive measures exist.

INSAP researcher Michelle Low analyses the latest C19 lockdowns, detailing growing Malaysian frustration, anguish, and worsening state of mental health over weaknesses in managing the pandemic and she has suggested learning from successful lockdowns in Italy, Taiwan, South Korea and New Zealand to the government. The writer articulates creating a heat-map to HIDE to help Malaysians better navigate hot-spots.