Featured in the Media – Page 6 – Asia School of Business

KUALA LUMPUR 9 Julai – Seramai 892 pekebun kecil bebas berjaya sijil RSPO (Rundingan Meja Bulat Minyak Sawit Mampan) dengan sebahagian daripada mereka mencatat purata peningkatan hasil sebanyak 20% hingga 25% dalam tempoh dua hingga tiga tahun dan sehungga 35% dalam tempah tiga hingga empat tahun.

Pencapaian itu adalah hasil pelaksanaan Program Pekebun Kecil P&G yang dinyatakan dalam Laporan Impak Lestari (CSS) 2025 yang diterbitkan oleh Asia School of Business dengan kerjasama MIT Sloan baru-baru ini.

Menurut laporan itu, seramai 407 pekebun kecil bertauliah telah menerima premium berkaitan kelestarian sebanyak AS$68,175 dari tahun 2021 hingga 2024.

“Program itu juga berjaya memperkasakan komuniti di Johor melalui penubuhan dan sokongan kepada PERTANIAGA iaitu persatuan yang dipimpin oleh pekebun kecil bebas yang kini mempunyai seramai 892 ahli, dengan 38% daripada barisan kepimpinannya terdiri daripada wanita.

“Persatuan itu kini menjadi model untuk tadbir urus inklusif dan berkesan di peringkat akar umbi,” menurut laporan tersebut.

Kecemerlangan yang berjaya dicapai melalui program tersebut juga melibatkan kelestarian alam sekitar melalui pengurusan sisa, pemantauan tanah gambut dan penjejakan bahan kimia yang mampan.

Selain itu, program CSS turut menyokong lebih 1,100 ladang dalam melaksanakan Amalan Pertanian Baik yang selari dengan dasar RSPO dan NDPE.

Laporan itu memaklumkan sebanyak 1,106 ladang bertauliah telah dijejaki dan disahkan melalui program tersebut sekali gus meningkatkan ketelusan dan mempersiapkan pekebun kecil untuk mematuhi peraturan global seperti Peraturan Penebangan Hutan Kesatuan Eropah (EUDR).

Program Pekebun Kecil P&G adalah kerjasama antara Asia School of Business, syarikat Procter & Gamble (P&G) dan Yayasan Temasek.

Ia bertujuan mempromosikan Amalan Pertanian Baik dan Mampan, serta menyokong pengeluaran minyak sawit mampan yang diperakui dalam kalangan pekebun kecil bebas di Malaysia.

Ketua Program Iklim & Kehidupan Lestari, Yayasan Temasek, Heng Li Lang berkata, laporan itu membuktikan kepentingan sokongan dan kerjasama berterusan dalam membantu pekebun kecil membina sumber pendapatan yang lebih berdaya tahan dengan amalan pertanian yang lebih baik.

“Kami berbesar hati kerana dapat menyokong pendekatan yang bukan sahaja mengangkat martabat pekebun kecil, malah turut mengurangkan kesan pengeluaran minyak sawit terhadap alam sekitar dalam jangka masa panjang,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif & Dekan Asia School of Business, Professor Joe Cherian berkata, laporan itu memberi penekanan terhadap kepentingan kerjasama antara institusi akademik dan industri dalam usaha mengangkat martabat komuniti yang kurang mendapat perhatian.

“Ia menunjukkan bagaimana pensijilan, sama ada RSPO atau standard kemampanan negara berupaya memupuk perlindungan alam sekitar dan memacu ketahanan ekonomi yang tulen dalam kalangan pekebun kecil.

“Kami berbesar hati dengan kerjasama antara Asia School of Business, P&G dan Yayasan Temasek yang telah terjalin sejak sekian lama dan berjaya mencapai kejayaan yang berimpak tinggi.

“Kami tidak sekadar memfokuskan kepada aspek pensijilan, malah turut meraikan perubahan sebenar yang dibawa kepada kehidupan dan komuniti pekebun kecil,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu, Pengarah CSS, Professor Asad Ata pula berkata, laporan tahun ini menunjukkan bahawa impak pensijilan tidak hanya melibatkan pekebun kecil sahaja, tetapi turut melibatkan keluarga, komuniti, dan alam sekitar mereka.

“Pekebun kami kini menjadi jurucakap kepada Amalan Pertanian Baik dan Mampan, daripada pengurusan sisa dan tanah gambut, hinggalah kepada pengurusan nutrien tanah yang lebih baik mengikut kitaran penanaman masing masing.

“Kami bercadang mahu mengembangkan model inklusif ini ke seluruh kawasan lain di Malaysia, dengan kerjasama rakan penganjur dan penaja yang berkongsi matlamat serupa,” katanya.

Malaysia adalah negara pengeluar minyak sawit kedua terbesar di dunia dengan lebih 275,000 pekebun kecil bebas yang turut menyumbang kepada industri tersebut.

Berbeza dengan pekebun kecil tersusun, pekebun kecil bebas mengurus ladang kecil secara individu dan mempunyai akses yang terhad kepada ilmu pengetahuan, teknologi dan bimbingan.

Laporan Impak CSS 2025 yang penuh boleh diakses di sini.

Originally published by DagangNews.

The P&G Center of Sustainable Small-owners (CSS), has released its Impact Report 2025, marking five years of sustained progress in empowering Malaysia’s independent smallholders and promoting sustainable palm oil practices.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, the CCS is at the Asia School of Business, established in collaboration with MIT Sloan, which aims to elevate smallholder livelihoods while driving sustainable palm oil production through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), certification, and innovation.

Globally, smallholders produce over 40% of the world’s palm oil, yet remain underrepresented in formal supply chains due to barriers in certification and access to knowledge.

In Malaysia, where independent smallholders account for 17% of producers, their inclusion is critical to national sustainability, economic resilience, and global ESG objectives.

Structured around five key pillars—Community Empowerment, Livelihood Improvement, Environmental Sustainability, Sourcing Responsibly, and Thought Leadership—the CSS programme has achieved significant outcomes. To date, 892 smallholders have attained RSPO certification.

Many have seen yield increases of up to 25% within three years, and as much as 35% within four. A total of 407 certified farmers have collectively earned USD68,175 in sustainability-linked premiums between 2021 and 2024.

On the community front, the CSS-backed formation of PERTANIAGA, a farmer-led association in Johor, has empowered 892 members, with women occupying 38% of leadership roles.

In terms of environmental impact, over 1,100 farms have adopted Good Agricultural Practices aligned with RSPO and NDPE guidelines, particularly in waste and chemical management.

The programme has also made strides in digital traceability. More than 1,100 certified farms have been verified, laying the groundwork for compliance with global regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). CSS is currently developing a mobile application to track sustainability efforts at the plantation level, in collaboration with local collection centres.

In addition to practical outcomes, CSS contributes to the global palm oil discourse through research, publications, and training. Over 3,145 farmers have been trained in Good Agricultural Practices. Two practical guides have also been published to support wider adoption of sustainable methods.

Francis Wiederkehr, Sustainability Program Director at P&G Chemicals, highlighted the human stories behind the impact: “From Encik Rosli, a marathon-running farmer beating yield averages, to Puan Hamisah, a retired civil servant advocating for women in agriculture—these stories reflect real transformation.”

Temasek Foundation’s Head of Climate & Liveability, Heng Li Lang, noted, “This report demonstrates how consistent support uplifts livelihoods while reducing the environmental footprint of palm oil.”

Asia School of Business President Professor Joe Cherian underscored the importance of academic-industry partnerships in enabling real change. CSS Director Professor Asad Ata added, “We celebrate certificates, but more importantly, the change they unlock in families, communities, and ecosystems.”

Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, has over 275,000 independent smallholders. The CSS model aims to scale its impact nationwide, creating a more inclusive, sustainable future for the palm oil industry.

Read the full report: HERE.

Originally published by Energy Asia.

The Centre of Sustainable Small-owners (CSS), a collaboration between the Asia School of Business, Procter & Gamble (P&G), and the Temasek Foundation, has released its CSS Impact Report 2025, highlighting five years of transformative work supporting independent smallholders in Malaysia’s palm oil industry.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Asia School of Business, established in collaboration with MIT Sloan, is home to the Centre for Sustainable Small-owners (CSS), which aims to elevate smallholder livelihoods while driving sustainable palm oil production through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), certification, and innovation.

The programme’s progress aligns with broader global environmental and social sustainability goals.

Smallholders contribute over 40% of the world’s palm oil supply, yet they often remain excluded from formal supply chains due to barriers such as lack of certification, limited traceability, and restricted access to training and resources.

In Malaysia, independent smallholders make up around 17% of palm oil producers and represent a critical, yet often overlooked, link in the supply chain. The CSS programme targets this group, turning policy intentions into tangible impact at the grassroots level across five key pillars: Community Empowerment, Livelihood Improvement, Environmental Sustainability, Responsible Sourcing, and Thought Leadership & Advocacy.

To date, 892 smallholders have been RSPO-certified, with some achieving yield improvements of 20%–25% over two to three years, and up to 35% over four years. A total of 407 certified smallholders received US$68,175 in sustainability-linked premiums between 2021 and 2024.

The programme has also helped establish and grow PERTANIAGA, an independent smallholder-led association in Johor that now boasts 892 members—38% of whom are women in leadership roles—fostering inclusive and effective governance at the local level. Over 1,100 farms have adopted sustainable practices including waste management, chemical tracking, and peatland monitoring in line with RSPO and NDPE policies.

In advancing traceability and compliance with global regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), 1,106 certified farms have been digitally traced and verified. CSS is also developing a traceability app to further track farm-level data in collaboration with regional collection centres.

On the knowledge front, the Centre has trained over 3,145 farmers in sustainable practices and published two practical guides to support smallholder education. These tools, grounded in the Centre’s research, contribute meaningfully to the global knowledge base on smallholder-led sustainable agriculture.

Behind these statistics are powerful stories of resilience. Encik Rosli, a marathon-running farmer, has outpaced national yield averages, while Puan Hamisah, a retired civil servant, now champions the role of women in sustainable agriculture.

“These journeys show how access to knowledge, support and inclusion can empower leadership and bring about generational change,” said Francis Wiederkehr, Sustainability Programme Director at P&G Chemicals.

Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate & Liveability at Temasek Foundation, added, “We are proud to support an initiative that uplifts smallholders while contributing to a more sustainable palm oil ecosystem.”

Professor Joe Cherian, CEO and Dean of the Asia School of Business, underscored the value of academic-industry partnerships. “This report reaffirms the importance of shared responsibility in building resilient communities.

“Certification—whether RSPO or aligned with national standards—can serve as a vehicle for both environmental stewardship and economic growth.”

Echoing this sentiment, Dr Asad Ata, Director of CSS, said, “We celebrate certificates, but more importantly, we celebrate the change they unlock for lives and communities. Our farmers are now the advocates, taking the lead in practices like waste and nutrient management within their communities. We aim to scale this inclusive model across Malaysia with support from aligned partners.”

Malaysia, as the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil, is home to over 275,000 independent smallholders. Unlike organised smallholders under government or estate schemes, these farmers often operate on small plots with limited access to institutional support.

The CSS programme continues to bridge that gap—ensuring that even the smallest contributors can play a leading role in making Malaysia’s palm oil sector more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready.

The full CSS Impact Report 2025 is available at this link.

Originally published by SME.Asia.

この記事の3つのポイント

アジアの高等教育機関は柔軟性を中心原則とすべきだ
高齢化と不確実性の元で生まれる学習ニーズに応えよ
アジャイルな生涯教育の実現で日本とアジアは共に変革を

マレーシアから日本にいたるアジアの高等教育制度は、なぜ欧米の高等教育制度と違っているのだろうか。アジアの高等教育制度は、欧米と同様、柔軟性を中心原則にすべきだ。これは経済・金融用語で言う、「オプション」を所持することに似ている。

　つまり不確実性が解消された時点で、オプションの所有者に意思決定の権利を与えるものだ。この考え方は、不確実性の下における戦略的な意思決定と強く共鳴する。そして日本の科学、工学技術、および政策コミュニティーでは既に高く尊重され、理解されている領域でもある。

教育の柔軟性は、厳格な締め切り、画一的な評価、および固定された時間的または地理的構造の制約を取り除くことで、学習行程を拡充し、その長期的価値を増大させる。この制約がないことで、学問的かつ専門的な道筋や進歩が、個々人のペースや目的によって導かれ、どの進路もそれぞれ独自の到達点へとつながっていくのである。

　経済学で言えば、この概念は「パレート効率フロンティア（Pareto efficiency frontier）」に近い考え方だ。リソースと機会が割り当てられ、全体として最も効率的なポイントでトレードオフすることになる。

　柔軟性は、職歴、投資、および政策形成を含む、生活の多くの領域で、固有の価値をもっている。その一つの重要な理由は、不確実性がわれわれの未来を形作るということである。不確実性が、世界経済の予測、円の交換率、もしくは予期せぬ人生の出来事の見込みのいずれに関わることであっても、結果を予測するわれわれの能力は、本質的に限られている。

　予測不可能ということは、日本では特に実際的な意味をもっている。人口統計学的な変化、労働力不足、急速な技術の発展は、伝統的なキャリアパスの見直しを迫り、そしてその延長として、教育モデルの再評価を促している。

日本人は生涯学習が経済的に必要

人口のほぼ29パーセントが65歳以上で、就労年齢人口も減少する中、日本では、生涯学習はもはや任意の選択ではなく、経済的に必要なものになっている。ロボット工学、高齢者介護、グリーン・テクノロジー（環境保全技術）、およびサイバーセキュリティーのような高度成長部門は、すべて大規模な技能の再習得を必要としているが、日本の今の高等教育は、その厳格なスケジュールと学際的な選択肢が制限されていることで、ニーズをうまくサポートできていない。

　同時に、雇用状況も変化しつつある。企業はハイブリッド勤務計画、デジタル雇用の基盤、社内人材の流動性をより強調している。従業員、特に若い世代は、より多くの柔軟性、継続的な成長、およびより良い仕事と生活の統合を提供する職歴を求めている。

　日本における伝統的な雇用は、長い間一つの組織で生涯役割を果たすことを意味したが、この変化は顕著だ。教育機関は、こうした専門が深まりかつ個人的なニーズを反映する学習経路を提供することによって、対応しなければならない。

　日本は、要素で切り分ける学習カリキュラムと成人教育を通して、柔軟性のある学習を促進し始めているが、非伝統的な学生の参加は低いままである。学部生のうち25歳以上の占める比率は米国の16％に対し、日本では2％未満にとどまっている。

　高等教育制度の入学者のうち女性は49％を構成するが、経済協力開発機構（OECD）平均の56％を下回っており、さらにSTEM（科学・技術・工学・数学）分野に進むのは女性のうち7％にすぎない。

Read the full article HERE.
Originally published by Nikkei Asia.

Oleh Dr Pieter E. Stek dan Dr Asad Ata

Peraturan Pembasmian Hutan Kesatuan Eropah (EUDR) dan implikasinya terhadap minyak sawit Malaysia telah mencetuskan perdebatan hangat.

Daripada menyebelahi mana-mana pihak, adalah lebih produktif untuk menilai isu ini dari sudut penetapan piawaian.

Malaysia mempunyai sejarah yang panjang dalam membangunkan piawaian kelestarian sendiri untuk minyak sawit, dan menggabungkan pendekatan inovatif ini ke dalam EUDR boleh membuka jalan kepada strategi pelaksanaan yang kolaboratif dan saling menguntungkan.

Penetapan piawaian jarang mendapat perhatian umum, namun kesannya sangat meluas. Piawaian mengurangkan kos transaksi, mengukuhkan kepercayaan antara pembeli, dan mewujudkan padang permainan yang adil untuk

Ia memacu inovasi teknologi dan menyebarkan amalan terbaik. Lihat sahaja piawaian HACCP yang memastikan keselamatan makanan, piawaian emisi Euro 5 yang mengawal pencemaran kenderaan di Malaysia, atau pensijilan ISO yang menetapkan penanda aras dalam pelbagai industri.

Walaupun tidak sempurna, piawaian lazimnya mendorong kepada kecekapan dan pertumbuhan ekonomi.

Namun, proses penciptaan dan pelaksanaan piawaian tidaklah seobjektif yang disangka. Ia sering dikawal oleh sekumpulan kecil pakar teknikal yang keputusannya mungkin dipengaruhi oleh pemikiran berkumpulan atau pertimbangan politik.

Walaupun berpaksikan sains, piawaian juga dibentuk oleh dinamik kuasa kerana negara-negara memperjuangkan piawaian yang menguntungkan industri masing-masing.

Akibat tidak sengaja, khususnya terhadap golongan terpinggir, sering timbul daripada piawaian yang kelihatan baik niatnya.

EUDR ialah satu contoh yang relevan. Peraturan ini, yang kelihatan mudah, bertujuan menangani perubahan iklim dengan mengharamkan import barangan yang dikaitkan dengan penebangan hutan.

Niatnya murni: menangani punca ekonomi penebangan hutan. Namun, pelaksanaannya berisiko mengenepikan pekebun kecil di Malaysia yang memainkan peranan penting dalam rantaian bekalan minyak sawit negara.

Nasib Pekebun Kecil

Sektor minyak sawit Malaysia melibatkan kira-kira 250,000 pekebun kecil bebas. Rantaian bekalan mereka beroperasi melalui lapisan peraih yang mengumpulkan buah daripada pelbagai pekebun untuk dibekalkan ke kilang.

Sistem ini, walaupun dinamik, meluas dan sebahagian besarnya tidak formal, seringkali tidak telus.

Peraih mengutamakan kerahsiaan komersial, menyukarkan pengesanan sumber. Walaupun ladang besar boleh menunjukkan pematuhan kepada EUDR dengan lebih mudah, pekebun kecil menghadapi pelbagai halangan, meskipun mereka tidak secara langsung menyumbang kepada penebangan hutan.

Penyelidikan menunjukkan bahawa kebanyakan pekebun kecil tidak meluaskan tanah ke kawasan yang baru ditebang hutan, dan mereka sering mengurus tanah dengan kepelbagaian biologi yang lebih tinggi berbanding ladang berskala besar.

Namun, mereka bergelut dengan penyimpanan rekod dan pelaporan, terutamanya di kawasan pedalaman yang kurang akses kepada teknologi dan pendidikan.

Akibat tidak langsung EUDR adalah jelas: pekebun kecil berisiko disisihkan daripada rantaian bekalan bukan kerana pencemaran alam sekitar, tetapi disebabkan halangan sistemik.

Pensijilan MSPO

Menyedari keperluan kepada kelestarian yang inklusif, Malaysia memperkenalkan pensijilan Minyak Sawit Mampan Malaysia (MSPO) pada tahun 2015.

Tidak seperti piawaian Meja Bulat Minyak Sawit Lestari (RSPO) yang lebih ketat, MSPO direka bentuk agar boleh dicapai oleh pengeluar tempatan, terutamanya pekebun kecil.

Salah satu inovasi utama MSPO ialah pendekatan wilayah (territorial) terhadap pensijilan, dengan membahagikan negara kepada 162 Kluster Minyak Sawit Mampan (SPOC).

Setiap kluster mempunyai Sistem Kawalan Dalaman (ICS) untuk memantau dan menyokong pekebun kecil dalam kluster tersebut dan dikendalikan oleh Pengurus Kumpulan yang juga pegawai Tunjuk Ajar Nasihat Sawit (TUNAS), yang membantu petani mengamalkan amalan mampan.

Model ini mengalihkan fokus daripada pematuhan kepada pembangunan keupayaan. Secara prinsipnya, sistem SPOC juga boleh digunakan untuk memantau penebangan hutan, dan seterusnya membentuk laluan pematuhan kepada EUDR.

Sistem SPOC menyediakan rangka kerja yang inklusif, mengutamakan pendidikan dan penambahbaikan berperingkat berbanding pengasingan. Ia mengiktiraf bahawa kelestarian adalah satu perjalanan, bukan status binari.

Bagi pekebun kecil, pendekatan ini menawarkan laluan pensijilan yang lebih mudah tanpa menjejaskan mata pencarian mereka.

Pendekatan Wilayah yang Saksama

Malaysia harus memperjuangkan pendekatan wilayah, seperti SPOC, ketika merundingkan pelaksanaan EUDR. Dengan pendekatan wilayah bagi kawasan berisiko rendah dengan penebangan hutan minimum, pekebun kecil boleh dianggap patuh secara automatik.

Pendekatan wilayah ini munasabah berdasarkan struktur geografi penanaman sawit. Kilang minyak sawit hanya menerima buah dalam radius pengangkutan tertentu, kerana buah sawit perlu diproses dalam masa 24 jam.

Demi kepraktisan dan ekonomi, pengangkutan lebih daripada 50 hingga 100 km biasanya tidak berdaya maju, bergantung kepada kualiti infrastruktur.

Ini bermakna kilang yang jauh daripada kawasan penebangan hutan tidak mungkin menerima buah dari sumber tidak mampan. Pemantauan elektronik tambahan di jalan utama juga boleh mengelakkan kemungkinan berlakunya ketirisan.

Bagi kawasan berisiko tinggi atau pengeluar besar, model hibrid boleh dilaksanakan. Kawalan tambahan dan penyimpanan rekod akan dikenakan di mana perlu, dengan ancaman sekatan menyeluruh kawasan bertindak sebagai pencegah terhadap penebangan hutan haram.

Pendekatan setempat ini mengimbangi matlamat alam sekitar EUDR dengan realiti ekonomi petani kecil.

Pendekatan wilayah juga membuka peluang kolaborasi. Dengan membenarkan rundingan semula dan pengawalseliaan bersama, EUDR boleh menggabungkan kepakaran tempatan dan menangani cabaran di lapangan.

Sistem SPOC Malaysia sudah pun menawarkan rangka kerja berskala untuk pemantauan penebangan hutan dan pengesanan sumber. Dengan memanfaatkan infrastruktur sedia ada ini, EU boleh memastikan pematuhan tanpa menghukum pekebun kecil secara tidak seimbang.

Pengkritik mungkin berhujah bahawa pendekatan wilayah mengurangkan kebertanggungjawaban dan boleh mewujudkan gangguan pasaran. Namun, kebimbangan ini boleh ditangani melalui strategi berfasa.

Dari masa ke masa, sistem boleh beralih kepada pengesanan di peringkat ladang apabila teknologi dan keupayaan petani meningkat. Model hibrid ini memastikan tindakan segera sambil membina asas untuk kelestarian jangka panjang.

Yang penting, pematuhan wilayah mengiktiraf tanggungjawab bersama antara pengawal selia dan pengeluar. Ia selari dengan prinsip inklusiviti dan kesaksamaan, memastikan golongan terpinggir tidak terbeban secara tidak adil oleh piawaian yang direka di koridor birokrasi yang jauh.

Matlamat anti-penebangan hutan EUDR adalah terpuji, tetapi pelaksanaannya mesti disesuaikan dengan konteks tempatan yang pelbagai. Sistem SPOC Malaysia di bawah MSPO menawarkan rangka kerja kawal selia yang realistik.

Malaysianisasi EUDR

Dengan menerima pendekatan “Malaysianisasi” terhadap EUDR, EU boleh mengimbangi matlamat alam sekitar dengan pertimbangan praktikal, memastikan pekebun kecil kekal dalam rantaian bekalan global yang mampan.

Akhirnya, pendekatan berteraskan tempatan bukan sahaja mewujudkan piawaian yang lebih adil; ia juga memupuk kerjasama sebenar, mendorong pematuhan yang bermakna, dan menyokong kelestarian jangka panjang.

Pendekatan ini menunjukkan bagaimana penetapan piawaian boleh melangkaui kepakaran teknikal dan politik kuasa untuk mencipta penyelesaian yang benar-benar adil dan berkesan.

Dalam dunia yang saling berkait, kelestarian mestilah menjadi usaha bersama yang menghormati realiti tempatan sambil berusaha ke arah impak global. Malaysianisasi EUDR bukan sekadar seruan untuk peraturan yang lebih baik; ia adalah seruan untuk pendekatan kelestarian yang lebih inklusif dan saksama

Originally published by Bernama.

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Other stories we covered:

Strait of Hormuz potentially shut: With the US’ decision to join Israel in its attacks on Iran, the Iranian Parliament has approved the decision to shut the Hormuz Strait. With Washington warning that this would be “economic suicide,” we talk to Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law and Governance at Taylor’s University about the geopolitical implications of the potential closure.
Should refugees be allowed to work?: President of the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has stated that integrating refugees into the formal workforce can benefit the country on multiple fronts. However, refugees in Malaysia cannot legally seek employment. We spoke to economist Dr Melati Nungsari who is also Deputy CEO of the Asia School of Business and Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Employers Federation.
Foreign workers frustrated with living conditions: In light of the Bukit Mertajam riots last week in which foreign workers were frustrated with their hostel warden collecting fines, Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim said the ministry will level repercussions against operators that fail to comply with acceptable housing conditions. We talk to Glorene Das, executive director of Tenaganita for better insights into the situation and about the conditions foreign workers live in.
Malaysia shortlisted for World’s Best School Prize: SK Putrajaya Presint 11 (1) were shortlisted for developing an app called “Helpie” that engages the students in fun games and that help their mental health. We talk about their innovative creation, the team behind it, and schools having open conversations about mental health.

Listen to the full interview below.

Originally published by BFM.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — It is time for us to discuss the changing landscape surrounding refugee rights and protection worldwide and Malaysia’s potential to be a leading nation in this landscape. Earlier this year, the UN Refugee Agency proclaimed that severe funding cuts at the agency are putting refugees at increased risk for harm and danger.

The United States, previously a beacon of hope for refugees worldwide, has suspended its Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) under President Donald Trump’s second reign, which began in January of this year. This programme – the largest refugee resettlement programme in the world – was the main funnel through which refugees in Malaysia could gain permanent resettlement. This leaves us with the question: so what now?

Malaysia’s informality has been a blessing to the approximately 190,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. Though they are incorrectly and unfairly lumped with “illegal migrants”, and though their rights are limited, refugees do have mobility across geographical areas in the country and are not confined to refugee camps, and they can access paid opportunities in the grey economy. The fact is that all working refugees in Malaysia contribute to the Malaysian economy as hidden (and typically exploited) labour.

These are the important facets of refugee life here that are good, but there are negative sides to the coin: fear and danger of arrests, no access to affordable healthcare or education, and the constant feeling of impermanence and lack of legal status – belonging neither here nor there. This impermanence, however, is vanishing into a state of “fixedness”.

Despite being a non-signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention, Malaysia has allowed refugees in on humanitarian grounds. Although Malaysia’s stance has always been that we are an intermediate host country, this is no longer accurate. The reality is that for the past 20 years, only 7.1 per cent of refugees registered with the UN Refugee Agency in Malaysia were resettled abroad. Out of those resettled in 2024, UN data show that 76.3 per cent went to the United States. With this door now closed, resettlement out of Malaysia is increasingly unrealistic as a “durable solution”.

The presence and permanency of refugee communities can no longer be ignored without severe consequences – not only for individual refugees, but also for the coherence and continued prosperity of Malaysian society. Keeping a growing population estranged and increasingly hopeless on the fringes of society is unjust and unsustainable, and there is much to gain from improving long-term inclusion opportunities.

President Trump’s severe funding cuts for international bodies, including the UN Refugee Agency, present another challenge to the status quo for Malaysia and its refugee community. These cuts have led to significant downsizing and underfunding of existing programmes, including efforts to support the Malaysian government in formulating and implementing a comprehensive policy framework for refugee reception and support. So how can Malaysia move forward?

In this piece, we will suggest three steps that Malaysia can implement within existing laws and policies. We want to emphasise that the discussion on whether or not to ratify international conventions should not stand in the way of practically providing a dignified life for those under our care.

Based on extensive research among refugee communities in Malaysia, we suggest the following three steps to improve the quality of life for the refugees who are already here and have nowhere else to go:

First, increase the inclusion of refugees and other undocumented populations in lawful employment. Legislation is already available in the IMM13 Visit Pass and work permit system and the National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 23 – all that is needed is coherent implementation. This will increase living standards for a significant part of the Malaysian population, reduce exploitation, and broaden the state’s tax base. In 2019, an IDEAS study estimated that, if granted the right to work, refugees could contribute around RM3 billion to Malaysia’s annual GDP by 2024. Additionally, including refugees in the formal workforce will help reduce labour shortages in sectors like agriculture, construction, and caregiving.
Second, invest in access to education and healthcare for refugees and their children. This is an important step for Malaysia to take to ensure adherence to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), both signed by Malaysia in 1995. Additionally, it will ensure that the next generation of refugees will grow up able and willing to contribute to Malaysian society. Programmes already exist in Malaysia for the most underprivileged children to go to school; these can be extended to include refugee children.
Third, expand partnerships with community-based organisations (CBOs), NGOs, and international organisations to meet refugees’ needs for support. This includes efforts to secure increased international funding for CBOs and NGOs that work with refugee support and rights in Malaysia. As American funding for UNHCR and other international bodies is reduced, the gaps in provision of support will have to be filled.

Recent research shows that refugee and host CBOs are already carrying significant responsibilities for registration and support, and that this type of support will likely be the most sustainable and effective way to move forward. CBOs already have the know-how and the connections to make this happen – they just need the right political and financial support to continue their important work.

Finally, the government must be ready to take up a more important role in refugee status determination and management. In the absence or reduced capacity of a coordinating international body such as the UN Refugee Agency, we need to step up to do more. This is not a problem that will fix itself, and these individuals are not only numbers – they are real people whose lives are in our care.

Furthermore, it is in the Malaysian ethos to care; and we have done exactly that recently with our magnificent national societal response to the ongoing slaughter of the Palestinian people and how every part of the nation – from individuals to NGOs to government officials at the highest level – have condemned the genocide and have worked hard to funnel aid and help to Gaza. We have it in us to do more, to extend the same solidarity and compassion to those seeking asylum here.

The reality is that global resettlement and funding systems are clearly broken, and in the current world order, no one is going to step in and fix them. This means that refugees and host communities in Malaysia all need to adjust to the fact that refugees are no longer a temporary presence. Lofty ideas of a full policy framework or ratification of international conventions should not hold Malaysia back from taking the reins on refugee protection.

Small, pragmatic steps can be taken to promote longer-term protection and integration opportunities. This will improve lives and provide hope for the future – for refugees and host communities alike. Everyone stands to benefit: both refugees and Malaysian society at large.

* Professor Melati Nungsari, Dr Kirstine Rahma Varming, and Shre Maha Manohar are researchers based in Kuala Lumpur who work on topics related to refugee studies and forced displacement.

Originally published by Malay Mail.

In coffee shops, office corridors and classrooms, a new reality is setting in: artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic con- cept-it’s here and it’s reshaping the way we work.

As Al tools become smarter, faster and increasingly integrated into everyday tasks, from automated custom- er service to generative design, the anxiety many feel is understandable. For some, it seems less like an upgrade and more like a warning: the way we’ve always worked may not survive the coming shift.

It’s Not The Whole Job, Yet

According to Asia School of Business Professor of practice (Al & Technology) David Asirvatham, the reality is not as black-and-white as it may seem. “When we take on a job, it actually comprises many tasks,” he said. “Al isn’t replacing entire jobs overnight, it’s gradually taking over parts of them.” That may sound like small comfort, but it’s an important distinction. Al doesn’t appear as a robot demanding your ID and laptop. It starts small: drafting reports, analysing data, suggesting edits.

Yet, the impact builds up fast. Research indicates that within the next three years, Al could take over 30 per cent of workplace tasks, and more than 50 per cent within five to six years. In Malaysia alone, McKinsey estimates that 4.5 million jobs could be displaced or transformed by Al by 2030. Globally, the figures are even more staggering mindset.

AI Won’t Replace You, But Someone Using it Might

Asirvatham, however, urges a shift in mindset. “Al will take your job if you don’t use it. If you use Al, you are safe.” And that is the crux of the matter. The question is no longer whether Al will replace you, but whether you are willing to learn how to work with it.

In reality, Al is already helping many employees become more productive. Generative tools such as ChatGPT, Midjourney and others enable work- ers to produce faster, ideate more creatively and manage complex tasks more efficiently. In medicine, Al assists in diagnoses. In finance, it Asirvatham, however, urges a shift in identifies fraud. In education, it personalises learning experiences.

Real Fears In Repetitive Roles

Still, fears remain, and they are valid.
These concerns are especially acute in sectors that involve repetitive tasks. Manufacturing, services and finance are particularly vulnerable, as Al can often perform such roles more efficiently and at lower cost. It is no surprise that workers in these. fields feel anxious. Asirvatham believes the antidote lies in human-centred skills.

“Critical thinking, creativity, leadership and resilience these are things Al cannot replicate,” he says. “And these are the skills we need to focus on.” He also highlighted the impor- tance of technical literacy-under- standing basic machine learning con- cepts, mastering prompt engineering and knowing how to apply Al tools in context. These should become everyday competencies, not specialised knowledge.

A Role For Business

Businesses, too, must do their part. Many in Malaysia are not yet Al-ready. Data remains fragmented, awareness is low, and there is a shortage of Al talent. Without investment in training. infrastructure and collaboration with academia, even the most advanced tools will yield limited results.

Perhaps the better question to ask is not “Should we be afraid of Al?” but “Are we prepared for it?” Because the future is not man or machine-it is man with machine. As Asirvatham puts it: “If you’re using Al to your advantage, it becomes your assistant, not your replacement.”

Originally published by New Straits Times.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia’s participation in Project Dunbar, a cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative, is a sound move, said Professor of Economics Anella Munro.

She said the participation demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to being at the forefront of regional financial innovation.

“Being part of this project certainly fits into the goal of understanding what it is, developing capacity, considering potential use cases, and collaborating with others, some of whom have experience and some who do not. From an outsider’s perspective, I believe Bank Negara is doing all the right things,” she said in an interview with SunBiz.

Munro said while there are other ways to facilitate cross-border transactions, CBDCs remain a superior option.

“None is really as good as a central bank digital currency because it’s a safe settlement asset, like we use at the wholesale level, and I hope it would help potentially with transparency, speed, and cost.”

She said cross-border payments have traditionally relied on correspondent banking systems, which are slow and expensive.

“What if we had a system that provided a safe settlement asset for cross-border transactions at the wholesale level?”

However, Munro said, with cross-border CBDC implementation, there are a lot of issues about governance.

“It’s more complicated than it seems, due to jurisdictional and legal issues, in addition to technological challenges.

“It’s a sovereign currency, do you want it on the same platform? Do you want it to be used abroad? Borders become irrelevant once you’re on some of these platforms.”

She pointed to stablecoins which could provide a similar kind of service, although they are not as strong as central bank liabilities because they come with a different kind of counterparty risk.

“If stablecoins are very well backed, they could potentially serve as a settlement asset in the system,” Munro said.

She said stablecoins were a disaster a few years ago as they were not properly backed and were considered the Wild West.

“They say they’re stable, but often back themselves with questionable assets. This has changed a lot in the last few years, but the area is still an open question. The regulation has really come in to tame them and make them much more what they say they are.”

The push for CBDCs dates back starting with China’s e-yuan project in 2014. When Facebook Libra came around in 2019, it renewed focus on the area, driven by concerns over big tech potentially controlling global payment systems and private data from social networks.

Munro also highlighted that the fear of privacy issues and the potential for unregulated payments within private networks has led to the current push for CBDCs. “Not only were there privacy concerns, but if a payment system operated within a private network, it could avoid oversight for anti-money laundering and other regulations, which was a significant problem.”

Originally published by The Sun.

近日，马来西亚亚洲商学院（Asia School of Business）首席执行官兼院长约瑟夫・谢里安（Joseph Cherian）发表了，深入探讨教育灵活性的价值，并强调亚洲高等教育体系应具备独特的灵活性，以适应快速变化的世界。

约瑟夫・谢里安指出，在生活的各个领域，灵活性都具有内在价值，而这种价值源于未来结果的不确定性。以劳动力市场为例，中国人力资源和社会保障部预测，到 2025 年，受自动化、人工智能与绿色转型加速影响，超过 55% 的岗位将需要重新培训或技能提升。中国就业市场正迅速演变，高端制造、人工智能、医疗健康与可再生能源等领域的人才需求急剧上升。同时，企业和求职者的需求也在不断变化，这些都凸显出教育系统跟上时代变革步伐的紧迫性。

为满足这些需求，中国已启动《教育现代化 2035》等战略计划，致力于完善终身学习体系，并将数字工具融入课堂教学。通过 “国家智慧教育平台” 和 AI 驱动的学习解决方案等政府举措，积极推动更灵活、包容的教育模式，培养适应未来经济的人才。

当前全球事件的不可预测性，使得传统教育系统面临挑战。那些无法适应个人需求与兴趣的教育模式，容易导致部分人被边缘化。不过，这种不确定性也为亚洲国家在教育领域带来了合作契机。约瑟夫・谢里安强调，“教育灵活性” 理念意义重大，允许学习者自主规划学习旅程，将大幅提升教育整体价值。间隔年、模块化学习与非同步课程等，都是教育系统为适应多样化需求做出的灵活调整。

在亚太地区，适应性学习结构的必要性日益受到认可。许多知名学府已采用灵活模式，支持学生暂停学业、探索跨学科领域或远程修课。全球多所顶尖大学，如麻省理工学院、康奈尔大学和耶鲁大学，也积极拥抱数字化与在线学习转变，为远程学习者提供优质课程。在东南亚，亚洲商学院推出的 “敏捷持续教育”（ACE）模式，让学习者可按自身节奏积累学分，还能转换为全日制或非全日制学位课程，为攻读研究生学历提供便利。

教育灵活性不仅助力个体成长，还能帮助雇主培养适应性强的员工队伍，推动社会形成终身学习文化。领英《职场学习报告》显示，94% 的员工表示，若公司愿意投资其学习与发展，他们更愿意长期留任，充分体现了教育适应职业发展轨迹的重要性。

约瑟夫・谢里安表示，随着亚太地区教育系统的发展，应始终聚焦教育质量与可及性。敏捷学习方法、可叠加课程与模块化学位等创新方式，预示着学习将成为一段持续、适应性的旅程。亚洲及全球教育机构已在为这一转型奠定基础，拥抱教育灵活性，将构建起支持学习者每个阶段的生态系统，为充满不确定性的未来做好准备。

Originally published by Zhihu.
Also published in Sohu, Baidu and Weibo.

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