December 22, 2013
PKR’s Institut Rakyat: Think Tank for Better Policies
by Koh Jun Lin(02-21-13)
PKR has launched its new think-tank today with the aim to help them make policies that are “directed towards social justice and a sustainable future”.
In addition, it would also run programmes to educate youths on being more effective in their activism.
The think-tank, dubbed ‘Institut Rakyat’, features many prominent thinkers in its eight-member advisory panel.
These include former UN Research Institute for Social Development Board member and economist Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Dr. Maznah Mohamad of NUS, constitutional law expert Azmi Sharom, Malaysia CEO of the Year 2010 award winner Stanley Thai, and media Professor Zaharom Nain.
“They are the ones, with their expert advice, professional experience, intellectualism and scholarly experience, who will give directions to the think tank,” said Institut Rakyat director Wong Hoy Cheong.
“We need evidence-based policies, not policies that are created, and then followed by ‘evidence’ pulled out of thin air to support it.” Other notable figures in the institute include suspended Bank Islam economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajuddin who serves as the institute’s research consultant, and former Maybank CEO Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah who serves as a director.
The institute is chaired by PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her former deputy and senator Dr. Syed Husin Ali. Although PKR-linked, Wong said the institute is dependent on donations from well-wishers and does not receive any funding from neither the party nor any government.
‘Offering critical analysis and commentary’
Meanwhile, the PKR de facto leader said the institute would be independent despite its relationship with his party during his keynote speech at the launch event in Subang.
“The paramount role of a policy studies institute is to offer critical analysis and commentary in order to influence them to meet the requirements of good governance. The establishment of this institute, being affiliated with PKR, grants the risk of being reduced to a self-serving mouthpiece.
“Hence it is of the greatest consequence that it should be independently run and that it performs the task it is set out to do in its charter, which among others is to advise and critique without fear or favour.
“To remain true to this, it must listen to the voice of the people. It must promote the culture of separation between the ruling political coalition from the government – and I am anticipating an imminent victory, God willing,” Anwar (above) said.
He added that young leaders in the party have long lobbied with the party’s ‘old guard’ for a party-linked think tank just as other parties have done, but with freedom to do its own research.
“This is a rather unique event in my political experience, which is that I have to succumb to the pressure of the youth from time to time to create new institutes and new ideas,” he said while thanking those involved in the lobbying.
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
Rubbish pkr mb ask rakyat to drink lombong water.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone
A new think tank by PKR is an interesting move. It has in its ranks some prominent individuals and academics, making it a credible think tank. Congratulations and may it contribute to the formulation of policies that will benefit the rakyat. It will probably work closely with Institut Kajian Dasar (headed by PKR’s Khalid Jaafar0, Penang Institute (headed DAP’s Zairil Khir Johari) and PAS Research Group (headed by Dr Zulkefley Ahmad). –Din Merican
It another page on this blog about BEST LEADERS AND BEST POLICIES, it was mentioned we are never short of policies.
What makes quality policies is effective/efficient EXECUTION:
4% planning 96% execution.
Tan Sri Wan Azmi as board member.Wow?
_________________
Tan Sri Wan Azmi is a very talented businessman and a public intellectual with a low profile. He cuts across the political divide, motivated by the ideals of public service.–Din Merican
Whats wrong with lombong water if treated properly? Lombong water may be cleaner than river water in present times. Anyway how many lombongs left?
I grew up on untreated lombong water.
Lots of progressive Malaysian academicians and intellectuals would be glad to work on projects for this think tank, I’m sure.
(Some may have to do this silently in the background because they hold appointments in politically repressive, govt-controlled public universities).
A Malaysian “Brain Trust” in the making.
PKR think tank staff and policy analysts must free themselves of the shackles of neoliberalism and “free market fundamentalism”.
Be pragmatic (but guided by social democracy’s ethics of promoting social justice, coupled with following principles of economic efficiency) and not ideological, please.
I am in total agreement with MGM (MattewGoldMan), now we have accomplished the 4% let PR effect the 96% fairly and diligently. But Anwar, please don’t influence the Think Tank and you must at all costs ensure its independence.
PR see you in PJ in the coming months. God bless 1Malaysia (PR version not the BN variety) Kudos to whoever proposed this tank, this the new order.
Phua,
Brain Trust is a perfectly put!
We are not short of thinkers. We are short of people who can tirelessly drive policies. For execution, We need more people like Khalid Ibrahim.
Political Think tanks? Neutral? Unsupported? No such thing.
All such entities are biased and have agendas that are sympathetic to their a priori cause. Most of them end up as Lobby Agents, not very different from the huge Lobby Groups that afflict and stymie Western Democracies.
MattG’s comment above is laudable, as policies often get lost in translation. Administrators’ often get conflicting and confused messages and morelikely than not, end up paralyzed.
Such think-tanks should ideally be under One roof (provided, it’s properly constructed – not with collapsing roofs or leaky pipes) to offer advice to the Cabinet, the Economic Council etc then down to the Ministries and Agencies, through the Ministers who act as Gate Keepers to such initiatives.
They can also function somewhat like Proactive Watchers. Implementation by the civil service is monitored by results attainment, not rhetoric. Pemandu was tasked to such matters, but somehow it got way-laid.
Think-tankers should not be confused with septic tankers with all sorts of turds thrown in. There are already too many superfluous agencies in Government, which resemble Cold Storage Facilities for dysfunctional lackeys. Their first task is to identify, then sapu these into the garbage bin.
One of the reasons why the present administration is looking rather jaded, frayed and stained, is that every ruling politico wants a say, for their own self-interests – without the
conviction to do the right thing. Some deputy ministers even have the audacity to demand free board and lodging for their great grandfather’s grand-niece during overseas junkets.
Dato,
I am very impressed with the composition of the board. I think TS Wan Azmi is the icing on the cake, no disrespect to the others, though.
I don’t mind donating a dollar or 2. Perhaps, to those in the know, may wish to share with me the board acc. no.
Thanks.
How much do we pay these people to think for us??
Tq din for the good info on institut rakyat. i wonder how can i join..
Bean; wasn’t it said they live on charity like endowment funds?
Thinkers are aplenty. All chiefs in Pentagon,
Who are his warriors on the ground to execute policies accurately..
Is it possible to have energetic and clean people in their 40s without self-interest to run the grounds?
Didn’t know Malaysia have a Pentagon? Last I know was a Jalan Padang Tembak. That’s why Bijan and Zahid Hamidi pandai tembak, tapi tembak kosong.
I am still waiting PR proposal for post PRU13 future Cabinet Line Up!!!
these people should not think for us but they have to think of ways to make our lives simpler.
good policies are invaluable and rare, but bad plicies are like sand on the beach. if they produce good policies their reward would be the good wishes of the people.
for the execution of an idea we need people who don’t think but do what they are told to do. otherwise the original idea will be diluted and lost.
an engineer who designs and builds a car pays extra attention to the methods of its manufacture. designing and planning a car takes five to ten years.
designing and making policies that is acceptable to millions of people is much more complex and difficult than designing cars.
planning is the most important part of the process.
in Germany they say, a work well planned is done in half the time.
I am still waiting PR proposal for post PRU13 future Cabinet Line Up!!! – Harrun
First the person needs to get elected. Whats the point of a future Cabinet line up when come PRU 13 thecabinet member did not get nominated or elected. Angan angan mat jenin
semper fi
our new malaysian citizens don’t know our history, these group grew up believing the history cooked up by umno-bn which says that they made Piped water available for all malaysians since 1946.
the lombong water or water from mining pools used as reservoirs were the chief source of clean water for rural folks. all one has to do is to dump a few sacks of chlorine spending chemical into it once a month. that water is cleaner and tastes better than our tap water of today.
just like Syabas a company called Veola in France is holding the french public to ransom. they increase the prices and decrease expenditure on maintainence of the distribution network to make a higher profit.
sorry I couldn’t find an English version.