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Khazanah Research Institute

Khazanah Research Institute 201301030471(1060301-U) is a not-for-profit organization.

16/06/2026

As housing becomes an increasingly important driver of wealth accumulation and social inequality, understanding its impact on individuals, families, and societies has never been more critical.

On 4–5 June 2026, our Director of Research, Dr Suraya Ismail, participated in the ENHR Cambridge Workshop, Families, Housing, and the Asset Society, held at the University of Cambridge. Organised by the European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) in collaboration with the Lab for Interdisciplinary Spatial Analysis (LISA), the workshop brought together international scholars and researchers to examine the links between housing, family dynamics, and the growing role of property ownership in shaping wealth and inequality.

As the opening keynote speaker, Dr. Suraya presented “Home Ownership and Housing Inequalities in Malaysia: How Institutional Arrangements and Social Norms Shape Market Outcomes.” Her presentation explored how institutional arrangements and social norms influence housing outcomes in Malaysia, contributing to broader discussions on the role of housing systems in shaping social and economic inequalities across different societies.

12/06/2026

Subsidi membentuk cara kita membuat keputusan harian?

Selama berdekad, subsidi bahan api bukan sekadar mengurangkan kos, ia membentuk pilihan isi rumah, daripada pemilihan pengangkutan sehingga ke lokasi rumah. Apabila sesuatu dasar sudah lama menjadi norma, perubahan tidak boleh berlaku secara mendadak.

“Kalau beli rumah di Elmina, ramai tak fikir pun tentang pengangkutan awam... kerana dekat situ takda public transport.”

Menurut Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, reformasi subsidi perlu dilaksanakan secara beransur-ansur kerana keputusan yang dibuat oleh isi rumah hari ini banyak dipengaruhi oleh struktur insentif yang telah wujud sejak sekian lama.

Tonton KRI OpenTable Podcast Episod 7 di saluran YouTube Khazanah Research Institute. Klik pautan di sini: https://youtu.be/Hy3RFnR6rZo

11/06/2026

Food security in Southeast Asia is increasingly shaped not just by crises, but by deeper structural dependencies in global trade.

Our researchers, Teoh Ai Ni and Nik Syafiah Anis highlight how countries like Malaysia remain heavily reliant on imported food and key agricultural inputs, with supply chains often concentrated in just a few supplier countries. This makes the region vulnerable to disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, and climate-related shocks. All of which can quickly travel through interconnected global systems and affect prices and availability.

The study for the discussion paper titled "The Geoeconomics of Food Dependencies in Malaysia/Southeast Asia" also situates this within broader US–China geoeconomic competition, where food trade and supply chains can become part of strategic leverage. It calls for “cooperative self-reliance” within ASEAN, strengthening domestic production while improving regional coordination and resilience rather than relying on isolation or protectionism.

Catch the full discussion on Astro AWANI YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/d5qwRtVRd0k?si=3f69yEHvlKLcSbQv

10/06/2026

What if resilience is less about standing alone and more about standing together?

When we talk about food security, we often focus on production, imports, and supply chains. Yet during our visit to Kelantan, we were reminded that resilience is also built through proximity.

Nelayan Tulen communities show how strong food systems depend on close connections between people, markets, and livelihoods. Families support one another, local markets keep food moving, and communities adapt together when faced with challenges.

Their experience raises a broader question: should food security be viewed not only through the lens of self-reliance, but also through cooperation?

In an increasingly uncertain world, stronger systems may not come from building bigger walls, but from strengthening connections between neighbouring states.

Because resilience grows when trust is close, resources are shared, and support is never too far away.

Proximity creates trust. Sharing creates resilience. Cooperation creates security.

Read the full discussion paper via our website here: https://www.krinstitute.org/publications/the-geoeconomics-of-food-dependencies-in-malaysia-southeast-asia

09/06/2026

Sampai bila Malaysia mahu bergantung pada arang batu sedang negara lain berlumba beralih kepada tenaga yang lebih mampan?

Krisis tenaga global semakin meruncing sampai bila kita mahu bergantung pada arang batu?

Ketika dunia berdepan gangguan bekalan tenaga dan harga minyak yang tidak stabil, Malaysia turut merasai tekanannya. Walaupun kita mempunyai pilihan seperti solar dan biodiesel, peralihan ke tenaga baharu masih perlahan kerana kebergantungan kepada arang batu dan dasar yang tidak konsisten.

Penasihat Penyelidik, Jomo Kwame Sundaram, menjelaskan bahawa Malaysia sebenarnya mempunyai banyak alternatif tenaga yang boleh dimanfaatkan. Namun, cabaran utama bukan pada teknologi, tetapi pada pelaksanaan dasar dan keputusan ekonomi yang masih memihak kepada sumber tenaga lama.

Tonton perbincangan penuh di saluran Youtube Berita RTM di sini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TraK-IsKz1U

08/06/2026

"Sustainable regional growth begins with coordinated planning and inclusive development."

On 21 May 2026, KRI hosted the Urban Policy Circle on Cities and Regional Development: The Political Economy of Megaprojects for Economic Growth, featuring Professor Hyun Bang Shin of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), moderated by Dr Suraya Ismail.

The event brought together policymakers, planners, and implementing agencies. The session explored the role of megaprojects in shaping urban and regional development while examining the political, economic, and institutional factors that influence their outcomes. Participants exchanged perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of large-scale development initiatives, and their implications for urban well-being, regional growth, and long-term sustainability.

The discussion highlighted the importance of coordinated planning, cross-agency collaboration, and evidence-based policymaking in fostering more inclusive and resilient cities and regions. Insights from the session will contribute to KRI’s ongoing research and policy work on urban development and regional corridors in Malaysia.

KRI is grateful to Professor Hyun Bang Shin and all participants for sharing their expertise, perspectives, and experiences during the discussion.

06/06/2026

Malaysia Perlu Ada Kedaulatan Teknologi, Kemahiran Sendiri dan Kerjasama Dengan Negara Serantau.

“TLDM beli (misil pertahanan) daripada Norway. Lepas itu Norway kata ‘tidak!’.
“Kami tak mahu bekalkan” walaupun dah tandatangan perjanjian.“

Tonton rakaman KRI Opentable Podcast Ep.7: “Bolehkah Malaysia Keluar Daripada Perangkap Gaji Rendah?” di saluran Youtube Khazanah Research Institute.

Klik pautan di sini: https://youtu.be/Hy3RFnR6rZo

04/06/2026

Malaysia actually tried to reduce oil dependency decades ago.

Escalating US–Iran tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have once again exposed Malaysia’s continued vulnerability to global energy shocks. Although Malaysia is an energy producer, the country still imports a significant share of its crude oil from the Persian Gulf, leaving it exposed when global supply chains are disrupted and prices spike.

Our researcher, Azfar Hanif Azizi, highlights that while past diversification policies did reduce some dependence on oil, progress in renewable energy and alternative transport systems has been too slow to meaningfully cushion today’s shocks.

This current situation is a reminder that long-term investment in energy resilience, public transport, and diversified energy sources is no longer optional, but critical for Malaysia’s future stability.

Read the full views article via our website here: https://www.krinstitute.org/publications/from-the-outside-in-us-iran-geopolitics-and-malaysias-energy-vulnerability

01/06/2026

The US-Iran-Israel conflict didn’t begin in 2026, it is the latest chapter in a much longer history of “intimate enmity”.

Decades of US–Iran tensions, shaped by interventions, revolution, sanctions, and competing narratives over security and sovereignty, continue to define one of the most volatile fault lines in global politics. Today, that enmity is no longer regional. Disruptions around critical routes like the Strait of Hormuz ripple through energy markets, global supply chains, and inflation pressures far beyond the Middle East.

What began as political rivalry has evolved into a system-wide economic shock amplifier.

Our deputy director of research, Yin Shao Loong mentions that at the same time, Israel’s regional strategy and shifting alliance structures have further intensified instability, reinforcing cycles of escalation where military action and economic consequences are tightly intertwined. The result is a Middle East where historical grievances and modern strategic ambitions constantly reshape global risk.

Read the full discussion paper via our website here: ⁠https://www.krinstitute.org/publications/the-intimate-enmity-iran-and-the-west-an-examination-of-the-causes-and-consequences-of-the-us-israeli-war-on-iran

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Level 17, Mercu UEM, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral
Kuala Lumpur
50470

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+60327056100

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http://www.KRInstitute.org/

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