Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia

Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia Malaysia's premier think-tank, focusing on objective and independent research.

Catch Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said’s closing keynote and fireside chat with ISIS Malaysia Executive Chairman Datuk Prof...
07/08/2026

Catch Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said’s closing keynote and fireside chat with ISIS Malaysia Executive Chairman Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah at PRAXIS 2026, happening on 18 August 2026 at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur.

Witness their conversation alongside many others with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and civil society to realise new “north stars” for Malaysia at PRAXIS 2026.

🔗 Do not miss your last chance to register! Registrations are still open at praxis.isis.org.my.

Malaysia is developing an AI Governance Bill in tandem with the country’s goal to become an AI nation by 2030. As the AI...
06/08/2026

Malaysia is developing an AI Governance Bill in tandem with the country’s goal to become an AI nation by 2030. As the AI industry matures, advocacy for compliance to the bill is critical to safeguard Malaysians, especially in aspects of data stewardship, accountability measures, and effective redress.

To drive this initiative forward, ISIS Malaysia, Centre for Responsible Technology and MyDIGITAL Corporation in partnership with AI Malaysia and Malaysia Centre4IR co-hosted a roundtable on AI Governance Bill focused on ‘shaping compliance. Opening the session, ISIS Malaysia Executive Chairman, Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, emphasised a whole-of-government approach to strengthen responsibility and accountability essential for the vitality of an AI-nation.

Following this, AI Malaysia Berhad provided a comprehensive presentation on the proposed Bill, outlining the overarching approach, key areas under regulation, principles of compliance and implementation, and parameters of usage.

The roundtable brought together a diverse ecosystem of participants, including practitioners, governing authorities and civil society experts joining in-person and virtually. We engaged in a necessary discussion identifying challenges in the Bill’s implementation along with readiness and cognisance of stakeholders for eventual compliance. We would like to extend our gratitude to all delegates, partners and experts for their participation to drive Malaysia toward a safer AI future.

What should progress mean after high income? What might a hopeful future Malaysia look like? What shared goals can organ...
05/08/2026

What should progress mean after high income? What might a hopeful future Malaysia look like? What shared goals can organise the national imagination for the next chapter of development?

Reimagine the future of Malaysia’s progress and be part of the conversation at PRAXIS 2026, happening on 18 August 2026 at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur.

Swipe left to browse our programme.

🔗 Redefine a new shared horizon for Malaysia. Register now at praxis.isis.org.my.

When ASEAN was founded in 1967, Southeast Asia was a poor and fragile region. Six decades later, the bloc has grown into...
04/08/2026

When ASEAN was founded in 1967, Southeast Asia was a poor and fragile region. Six decades later, the bloc has grown into the world’s fifth largest economy. From electronics to textiles, ASEAN member states play a major role in global value chains, punching above their weight in foreign investment and trade.

Today, however, ASEAN finds itself in an existential quandary. Free and open trade, a critical part of the region’s developmental journey, is no longer a given. Rising protectionism, geopolitical rivalry and supply chain fragmentation have made economic resilience a strategic imperative. Under Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN last year, strengthening intraregional trade became a headline priority towards a single integrated market and production base by 2045.

The challenge is that intra-ASEAN trade has remained stubbornly low for decades. Its share of total trade in ASEAN has steadily declined over the past 15 years – from 24% in 2010 to 20% in 2024 – despite countless frameworks and declarations to promote economic cooperation. What does the future hold for the ASEAN dream of peace, progress and prosperity?

In his latest policy paper, Jaideep Singh examines why intra-ASEAN trade has fallen short of expectations and why this matters. The paper explores the structural barriers constraining intraregional trade and outlines a roadmap for deeper economic integration. Ultimately, ASEAN must move beyond the current hodgepodge of non-binding frameworks if it is to build agency and autonomy in a fragmented world.

Read more here:
https://www.isis.org.my/2026/07/27/deepening-intra-asean-trade/

This paper was developed from the PRAXIS 2025 session on ‘Malaysia and ASEAN in the next-generation trading order’, with special thanks to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Malaysia for the partnership.

We are honoured to have Dr Katherine Trebeck deliver the expert keynote address at PRAXIS 2026, happening on 18 August 2...
31/07/2026

We are honoured to have Dr Katherine Trebeck deliver the expert keynote address at PRAXIS 2026, happening on 18 August 2026 at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Trebeck is a political economist, writer and advocate for economic system change. She is also a strategic adviser to the Centre for Policy Development and teaches at the University of Edinburgh.

Catch her alongside policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and members of civil society at PRAXIS 2026, where stakeholders come together to reimagine Malaysia’s “north stars”.

🔗 Be part of the room that defines what comes next. Register now at praxis.isis.org.my.

How do we better utilise and develop valuable land around transit infrastructure for smarter urban growth? On Tuesday mo...
29/07/2026

How do we better utilise and develop valuable land around transit infrastructure for smarter urban growth?

On Tuesday morning, ISIS Malaysia researcher Ahmad Farhan and Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) Malaysia assistant vice-president Faris Faizal sought to answer the question during the roundtable discussion titled ‘Charting a path for transit-oriented development (TOD) in Malaysia’. The session opened with welcoming remarks by ISIS Malaysia Executive Chairman, Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, who set the stage on Malaysia’s mobility and connectivity landscape.

Farhan presented findings from his latest research note, touching upon challenges posed by existing zoning codes, coordination between stakeholder institutions alongside the need for accountability mechanisms and incentives for TOD developers.

Meanwhile, Faris provided insights on placemaking, the importance of purposeful development surrounding transit infrastructure and RAC’s design philosophy in TODs.

Bringing together city council representatives, urban planners and civil society, the roundtable produced a fruitful discussion on the inherent public-good value of TODs and the non-negotiables in their development. We would like to thank all delegates for sharing their expertise and contributing to the discussion.

🔗 Read the full research note here: https://www.isis.org.my/2026/07/27/actualising-transit-oriented-development-in-malaysia/

What if high income is not an end, but a starting point?Malaysia is likely to cross the World Bank’s high-income thresho...
28/07/2026

What if high income is not an end, but a starting point?

Malaysia is likely to cross the World Bank’s high-income threshold soon, bringing within reach a national goal that has shaped the country’s development imagination for more than four decades. Yet, as that milestone approaches, the more important question is no longer whether Malaysia can arrive, but what kind of society we seek to become thereafter.

So what should progress mean? What shared goals can organise the national imagination for the next chapter of development? To find out, join us at PRAXIS 2026 where policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and civil society reimagine new visions of progress together.

🔗 Register now at praxis.isis.org.my.

What do the youth of Malaysia hope to see in their future? As Malaysia’s younger generation inherits the country’s futu...
23/07/2026

What do the youth of Malaysia hope to see in their future?

As Malaysia’s younger generation inherits the country’s future, we gathered members of the cohort for our pre-PRAXIS 2026 programme and empowered them to express their ideas of how the nation can reimagine progress in the decades ahead.

Hence, we partnered with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Closing The Gap, Malaysia programme and Teach For Malaysia to engage young Malaysians from ages 11 to 17 to capture their vision, ideas and aspirations in the forms of letters and drawings.

The artworks will be showcased at the upcoming PRAXIS 2026 conference on 18 August, where conversations held will dive into key inquiries like: what should progress mean after high income, what might a hopeful future Malaysia look like, and what shared goals can organise the national imagination for the next chapter of development?

Join policymakers, practitioners and civil society to articulate credible “north stars” for Malaysia, and to translate them into near-term choices.

🔗 Learn more about PRAXIS 2026 and register for the conference at praxis.isis.org.my.

ISIS Malaysia is pleased to host delegates from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak for a courtesy visit. Repres...
17/07/2026

ISIS Malaysia is pleased to host delegates from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak for a courtesy visit.

Representing the university’s School of Research and academic faculty, the delegates presented on the potential of Sarawakian efforts in economic, social, and environmental research, in alignment with the university’s Research Masterplan 2030 and the state’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy.

The dialogue session also explored future research collaborations with ISIS Malaysia, particularly in areas such as critical technologies, geopolitical resilience and the care economy.

We thank the delegates from Swinburne University Sarawak for spending their Thursday morning with us, and we look forward to deepening our partnership with the School.

Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia hosted a forum on ‘Combating extremism: an Emirati pers...
10/07/2026

Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia hosted a forum on ‘Combating extremism: an Emirati perspective’ featuring Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee, UAE Federal National Council.

Following opening remarks by Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, HE Dr Ali Rashid shared unique insights on the United Arab Emirates’ experiences and perspectives on counterterrorism (CT) and preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE). His accounts explored how the regional context in West Asia has shaped the Emirates’ approach to the matter, and the importance of state and community actors in combatting extremism.

He highlighted the need to cooperate and learn from one another, along with a holistic approach on engaging young people through education and the promotion of coexistence, mutual respect and humanistic values.

We would like to extend our gratitude to HE Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi for his valuable presence, and to the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Kuala Lumpur for the wonderful collaboration.

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