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: Muhyiddin's Hold On Power Increasingly Tenuous

Malaysia: Growing Despair As Covid-19 Crisis Spirals Out of Control

ASEAN as Epicentre of the Covid Crisis: Malaysia Worst Off, Indonesia Improving

Political After-Shocks From Covid-19 Loom Large

Malaysia: Could a COVID Explosion Presage a Political Crisis?

Asian Political Risks Continue to Creep Up

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.

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Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

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<li>The King met political leaders last week and has convened a special meeting of the country’s traditional rulers for this week. The government’s handling of the pandemic has aroused a general resentment against the political class while years of institutional decay have brought the political system to a fragile point. Several scenarios are possible.</li>
<li>Prime Minister Muhyiddin is reportedly unlikely to secure a parliamentary majority if the state of emergency is lifted and a parliamentary session is convened. He may resort to radical gambits to stay in power, including an extension of the emergency.</li>
<li>Another scenario is that parliament is called into session and Muhyiddin loses power. In that case, there could be an early election – which will probably be won by the former ruling party UMNO in alliance with the Islamist party. Or Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim might be able to prove a majority and finally win power. There is a small but material chance, though, of a bad scenario in which social resentments are triggered and unrest results.</li>
</ul>


The King met political leaders last week and has convened a special meeting of the country’s traditional rulers for this week. The government’s handling of the pandemic has aroused a general resentment against the political class while years of institutional decay have brought the political system to a fragile point. Several scenarios are possible.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin is reportedly unlikely to secure a parliamentary majority if the state of emergency is lifted and a parliamentary session is convened. He may resort to radical gambits to stay in power, including an extension of the emergency.
Another scenario is that parliament is called into session and Muhyiddin loses power. In that case, there could be an early election – which will probably be won by the former ruling party UMNO in alliance with the Islamist party. Or Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim might be able to prove a majority and finally win power. There is a small but material chance, though, of a bad scenario in which social resentments are triggered and unrest results.


Malaysian Politics Could Be Heading To A Bad Place