Stronger states, greater progress
By Neil Khor
September 2010 THE FEDERAL-STATE SYMBIOSIS
Centrally-controlled finances and economic development policies can only take Malaysia so far. Fifty years into our nation building programme, it is certainly time to rethink the old developmental model. Decentralising power can unleash a wave of innovativeness that will benefit all levels of government.The recent spat between the Penang Chief Minister and the State Development Officer heated up an issue that most people think about but dare not discuss – more autonomy for Penang. Always the bellwether state, Penang holds...
Neil Khor
has recently completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge. He is co-author of Non-Sectarian Politics in Malaysia: The Case of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (2008). This article first appeared in Malaysiakini.com on October 6, 2010.
