Global Immersion – Malaysia: Development, Dynamism, and Diversity

Malaysia offers a unique example of economic transformation. Our course explores the country from three lenses: development, dynamism, and diversity. Within a single generation of its 1957 independence, Malaysia progressed from “poor” to “upper-middle income” status. Its GDP per capita, now third highest in Southeast Asia, is supported by a thriving middle class. Its economy has diversified from reliance on agriculture and commodities to a broad range of industrial and service sectors. Part of the ASEAN regional alliance, Malaysia has deep trade ties not only in Southeast Asia but also with China, India, the US, and the EU. Malaysia has remarkable diversity. While a majority of the population is of Malay or indigenous ethnicity, roughly a quarter of the population is of Chinese descent and nearly 7% is of Indian descent. These unique demographics add to the linguistic, cultural, and social dynamism of Malaysia. Some of the questions that we examine include: • How has Malaysia achieved and sustained its economic growth? • What initiatives were taken to diversify the economy from agriculture and commodities to a broad range of manufacturing and services sectors? • How does Malaysia collaborate (and compete) with its neighbors in Southeast Asia? How does it engage with China and India? • In what ways has diversity been a source of strength for Malaysia? In what ways has it introduced challenges? • What is the landscape of major Malaysia-based institutions across sectors? • What role do government-linked companies (GLCs) play in Malaysia’s economy? • How have the Ministry of Finance, central bank (Bank Negara Malaysia) and Securities Commission collaborated on strategic plans to grow the country’s finance sector? • What role might Malaysia and the ASEAN region play in students' post-CBS careers and personal lives?