Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

Malaysia’s Budget 2022: Longer-Term Challenges Remain Unaddressed

Malaysia: In a Middle-Income Trap of Low Growth Despite Sustained Fiscal Deficits

Malaysia: Imminent Political Realignments Raise Uncertainty over Electoral Outcomes

Battle Lines Drawn As BABA Builds Out First/Last-Mile Capacity; But Who Will Fund 75+ Bn CNY CapEx?

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

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<li>Prime Minister Ismail Sabri’s 12<sup>th</sup> Malaysia Plan set out an ambitious roadmap. The planned budget is MYR400bn, a stark increase from the previous MYR260bn in the 11MP. He touted attracting investments, increasing household incomes, and boost human capital with a focus on digitalisation. The reform agenda for the next 5 years looks to be very hopeful.</li>
<li>But the plan seems more like an ambitious wish-list rather than an actual roadmap. It does not try to resolve some of the same, structural problems, such as a focus on bumiputra policies, and a notable lack of measures for transparency and accountability. The lack of details is also not promising, and the 12MP is poised for under-execution.</li>
</ul>


Prime Minister Ismail Sabri’s 12th Malaysia Plan set out an ambitious roadmap. The planned budget is MYR400bn, a stark increase from the previous MYR260bn in the 11MP. He touted attracting investments, increasing household incomes, and boost human capital with a focus on digitalisation. The reform agenda for the next 5 years looks to be very hopeful.
But the plan seems more like an ambitious wish-list rather than an actual roadmap. It does not try to resolve some of the same, structural problems, such as a focus on bumiputra policies, and a notable lack of measures for transparency and accountability. The lack of details is also not promising, and the 12MP is poised for under-execution.


12th Malaysia Plan: Lofty Aspirations, Lacklustre Capacity