
Households, Demography & Public Wellbeing
Understanding demographic transitions, household dynamics, and wellbeing indicators to inform evidence-based policies for Malaysia's diverse population.

Malaysia's demographic landscape is undergoing significant transitions that shape social and economic futures. Our research examines rapid population aging and its implications for healthcare and pension systems, declining fertility rates and changing family structures, inter-ethnic relations and social cohesion mechanisms, healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas, and education quality gaps affecting human capital development.
As Malaysia strives to enhance public wellbeing across all communities, we analyze household income patterns and cost of living pressures, mental health challenges and support systems, nutrition transitions and non-communicable disease burdens, social protection adequacy for vulnerable groups including B40 households, and mechanisms for promoting social mobility while preserving cultural diversity across Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous communities.
As Malaysia strives to enhance public wellbeing across all communities, we analyze household income patterns and cost of living pressures, mental health challenges and support systems, nutrition transitions and non-communicable disease burdens, social protection adequacy for vulnerable groups including B40 households, and mechanisms for promoting social mobility while preserving cultural diversity across Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous communities.
KRI shares insightful commentaries on current topics to encourage discussion, but these do not represent KRI's official views.

Views
Mar 2, 2026
When do Men Care? Insights on Care, Crisis and Masculinities during COVID-19
This article examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic led to lasting changes in men’s participation in unpaid care. While men’s involvement increased during the pandemic, the shift was largely temporary, with women continuing to bear the majority of care responsibilities. The findings highlight the need for gender-inclusive care policies that promote men’s continuous involvement in care.

OP-ED.
Mar 2, 2026
When do Men Care? Insights on Care, Crisis and Masculinities during COVID-19
This article examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic led to lasting changes in men’s participation in unpaid care. While men’s involvement increased during the pandemic, the shift was largely temporary, with women continuing to bear the majority of care responsibilities. The findings highlight the need for gender-inclusive care policies that promote men’s continuous involvement in care.
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Views
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 2)
Part 2: Building a New Architecture Explores the financial fragility of a world without a US deficit, urging Malaysia to pivot toward regional industrial integration and financial self-insurance to survive.
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OP-ED.
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 2)
Part 2: Building a New Architecture Explores the financial fragility of a world without a US deficit, urging Malaysia to pivot toward regional industrial integration and financial self-insurance to survive.

Views
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 1)
Part 1: The Crisis of the Export-Led Model Analyzes how US tariffs and the ART dismantle Malaysia's export-led model, arguing that new constraints on autonomy trap the nation behind a balance of payments wall.

OP-ED.
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 1)
Part 1: The Crisis of the Export-Led Model Analyzes how US tariffs and the ART dismantle Malaysia's export-led model, arguing that new constraints on autonomy trap the nation behind a balance of payments wall.
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Views
Dec 19, 2025
Finding Meaning in Education: The Journey of Entrepreneurship, Learning, and Creativity
The article reflects on entrepreneurship, education, and creativity as journeys rather than destinations. It talks about the “Myth of Arrival,” emphasizing meaning over material success. True learning lies in transformation and creativity emerges from inner experience as a means of self -expression. Success is redefined as continual growth and imaginative exploration.
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OP-ED.
Dec 19, 2025
Finding Meaning in Education: The Journey of Entrepreneurship, Learning, and Creativity
The article reflects on entrepreneurship, education, and creativity as journeys rather than destinations. It talks about the “Myth of Arrival,” emphasizing meaning over material success. True learning lies in transformation and creativity emerges from inner experience as a means of self -expression. Success is redefined as continual growth and imaginative exploration.
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Demography
Financialisation & Indebtedness
Poverty & Social Mobility
Education
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Ageing, Fertility & Demographics
Income, & Consumption
Society
Taxation
Junianto James Losari
Eleanor Wikstrom
Dr Roza Hazli Zakaria
Stephanie Hsu
Tan Hui Hui
Kelvin Ling Shyan Seng
Khairin Ilaina Mohamed Amin
Govind Nirav Rao
C. Hari S. Shankar
Afifah Ahmad
Elisabeth Chan Wen Yi
Nurrdinan Serena Amer Sharaffudin
Nurhanina Zaharin
Dr Amirah 'Aisha Badrul Hisham
Nur Hannani Abd Ghafar
Tehleel Nazir
Yee Suet Ee
Balqis Athirah Azhar
Shukri Mohamed Khairi
Nurul Farhana Abdul Shukor
Aidil Farhan Jasrie Arman Sany
Amirah Syazwani Ahmad Junaidi
Dinie Joshry Shaqeel Prakash
Ts Dr Amirah Aisha Badrul Hisham
Professor Joseph Eugene Stiglitz
K. Kuhaneetha Bai
Nadia Malyanah Azman
Siti Maisarah Zainurin
Ndongo Samba Sylla
Malini Elango
Aqeel Khaldun
Belinda Liew Ai Ching
Muhammad Khairulamri Muhammad
Nicholas Khaw
Nur Zulaikha Atiqah Mohd Zahril
Dr Diana Abdul Wahab
Dr Umawathy Techanamurthy
Bryan Yeoh Quan Jin
Wan Manan Wan Muda
Alyssa Chua Lee-Yen
Goh Ming Jun
Mohan Mahadeva
Yap Chun Hao
Syafa Sakinah Mustaffa
Ammar Hanania Hazli Izma
Dr Yunus Yasin
Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir
Professor Emeritus Dr Tham Siew Yean
Datuk Hisham Hamdan
Khazanah Research Institute
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Tan Mei Yi
Emir Izat Abdul Rashid
Lim Han Hsuen
Ida Madieha Abdul Ghani Azmi
Musaddiq Adam Muhtar
Nur Adilah Hamid
Chakrin Utit
Bach Nguyen Luong
Zainab Ali Ahmad
Kusairi Mohd Noh
Rokiah Alavi
Ibrahim Kabiru Maji
Illisriyani Ismail
Intan Nadia Jalil
Abdulla Ibragimov
Siti Nooraznie Abdul Rahim
Fatimah Mohamed Arshad
Dr Mohd Yusof Saari
Pierre Sauvé
Tan Theng Theng
Charissa Lee Yi Zhen
Yap Gin Bee
Tan Kar Man
Junaidi Mansor
Alia Muhammad Radzi
Yeu-Mynn Yeung
Prof. Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda
Tan Zhai Gen
Umi Maisarah Kamis
Shukri Mohamed Khairi
Wong Ee Kin
Dr Wan Khatina Wan Nawawi
Maia Hollins-Kirk
Grace Loh Wan Chi
Keelea Shaye Linsuau Soh
Hui San Chiam
Goh Hao Yi
Daniel Filippi
Azlin Natasha Mohd Ghazali
Balqis Athirah Azhar
Dr Sarena Che Omar
Aqeel Khaldun (University of St Andrews)
Aidil Iman Aidid
Nurul Farhana Abdul Shukor
Nur Thuraya Sazali
Yugendran Rajaendran
Putera Daniel Hakeem
Siti Aiysyah Tumin
Laventhen Sivashanmugam
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Discussion Papers
Dec 17, 2023
Case Studies of Hospital Digitalisation: Lessons for Electronic Health Records in Malaysia


OP-ED
Dec 17, 2023
Case Studies of Hospital Digitalisation: Lessons for Electronic Health Records in Malaysia
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Digital Divide
Ilyana Mukhriz
Dec 17, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
Discussion Papers


Discussion Papers
Dec 1, 2023
Putting Patients First: Principles for Future-Facing Electronic Health Records in Malaysia


OP-ED
Dec 1, 2023
Putting Patients First: Principles for Future-Facing Electronic Health Records in Malaysia
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Ilyana Mukhriz
Dec 1, 2023
Dec 1, 2023
Discussion Papers


Discussion Papers
Jul 31, 2023
Connecting the Last Mile: Solutions for Rural and Remote Communities


OP-ED
Jul 31, 2023
Connecting the Last Mile: Solutions for Rural and Remote Communities
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Rachel Gong
Jul 31, 2023
Jul 31, 2023
Discussion Papers


Views
Jun 12, 2023
Moving on to Digitalising Patient Health Records


OP-ED
Jun 12, 2023
Moving on to Digitalising Patient Health Records
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Ilyana Mukhriz
Jun 12, 2023
Jun 12, 2023
Views

Views
May 23, 2023
Challenges Arising From Digitalising Health Records

OP-ED
May 23, 2023
Challenges Arising From Digitalising Health Records
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Jun-E Tan
May 23, 2023
May 23, 2023
Views


Views
Mar 27, 2023
Digitalised Health Records: Does Malaysia Need It?


OP-ED
Mar 27, 2023
Digitalised Health Records: Does Malaysia Need It?
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Ilyana Mukhriz
Mar 27, 2023
Mar 27, 2023
Views


Working Papers
Dec 23, 2022
Fresh Graduate Adversities: A Decade’s Insight on the Graduate Tracer Study


OP-ED
Dec 23, 2022
Fresh Graduate Adversities: A Decade’s Insight on the Graduate Tracer Study
Education
Dr Mohd Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim
Dec 23, 2022
Dec 23, 2022
Working Papers


Working Papers
Dec 2, 2022
Wages as Power: Models of Institutionalised Wage Bargaining and Implications for Malaysia


OP-ED
Dec 2, 2022
Wages as Power: Models of Institutionalised Wage Bargaining and Implications for Malaysia
Wages & Gig Work
Economic Growth & Structure
Society
Income, & Consumption
Nithiyananthan Muthusamy
Dec 2, 2022
Dec 2, 2022
Working Papers


Discussion Papers
Sep 29, 2022
The Looming Global Food Crisis: An Overview


OP-ED
Sep 29, 2022
The Looming Global Food Crisis: An Overview
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Nik Syafiah Anis Nik Sharifulden
Sep 29, 2022
Sep 29, 2022
Discussion Papers

Quote Of The Day
Universities are under attack for being too theoretical in educating students which leave in turn; graduates who are apparently ill-prepared for the ‘real world’.
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Views
December 17, 2025
Remarks on the purposes of a university education: Can theory be distinguished from practice?
Universities are under attack for being too theoretical in educating students which leave in turn; graduates who are apparently ill-prepared for ‘practice’ or the ‘real world’. This article is an attempt to explore and address basic assumptions of the university curriculum and the context in which universities (in the West) have developed since the middle of the nineteenth century which saw the expansion of what has come to be known as the ‘modern’ university. This is because the university, through time, has always had to absorb and accumulate changing aspirations-and perhaps also the presumptions- of successive generations and not surprisingly, it has also come to disappoint them. What this short piece hopes to do is to stimulate dialogue on an issue of public discourse that has directly and indirectly shape the way we think about university education in Malaysia.
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Interwoven Pathways: The Care and Career Conundrum in Women’s Empowerment
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