What Malaysia has to change to keep up with its neighbours

(Aug 3): In Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin is canvassing ideas to "future-proof" a country he warns has trailed its counterparts for decades.

"If we’re not ready for the next 30 years, then the stakes are high," the Youth and Sports Minister told business leaders in June. "We’ve spent the last 20 to 30 years chasing and trying to catch up with other advanced countries. If we don’t future-proof Malaysia and plan it from now, then we’re going to spend the next 30 years catching up as well."

For businessman Lim Wee Chai, that means Malaysia must speed up a move to more value-added production. While the country has shifted focus -- from tin and rubber industries that were the bedrock of the colonial economy to the electronics factories and palm oil plantations of today -- the transformation needs to go further, he said.

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