Sections
| Title |
|---|
| Table of Contents |
| Overview 2 |
| Catalyst 2 |
| Summary 2 |
| Key findings 2 |
| Malaysia's ties with China have strengthened, but authoritarianism poses a threat to democracy 2 |
| The country has seen FDI growth, but high household debt burden is a problem 2 |
| The country gives importance to healthcare, however restricted freedom continues to be a problem 3 |
| While technology exports are on the rise, the shortage of skilled labor needs immediate attention 3 |
| Malaysia is open to foreign investment, but there is still lack of patent protection 4 |
| The country has effective environmental laws, but increasing presence of transboundary haze is a major challenge 4 |
| PESTLE highlights 4 |
| Political landscape 4 |
| Economic landscape 5 |
| Social landscape 5 |
| Technological landscape 5 |
| Legal landscape 5 |
| Environmental landscape 6 |
| Key fundamentals 7 |
| Key Facts and Geographic Location 16 |
| Key facts 16 |
| Geographical location 17 |
| PESTLE Analysis 18 |
| Summary 18 |
| Political analysis 19 |
| Overview 19 |
| Current strengths 19 |
| Malaysia-Australia relations 19 |
| Supportive Government Policies 20 |
| Current challenges 20 |
| Poor performer in establishing democratic institutions 20 |
| Territorial dispute over Sabah 20 |
| Controversy over 1MDB 21 |
| Future prospects 22 |
| Improving bilateral ties with Singapore 22 |
| Improving bilateral ties with China 23 |
| Future risks 23 |
| Rising dissatisfaction among ethnic minorities 23 |
| Growing authoritarianism 23 |
| Economic analysis 25 |
| Overview 25 |
| Current strengths 25 |
| Consistent economic progress/success 25 |
| Safe haven for the investors 25 |
| Current challenges 26 |
| Rising household debt 26 |
| Future prospects 26 |
| Ambitious economic plan 26 |
| Meeting long-term energy needs 27 |
| Tourism Plan 27 |
| Encouraging SMEs 28 |
| Future risks 28 |
| Inefficient bureaucracy 28 |
| High government debt 28 |
| Social analysis 29 |
| Overview 29 |
| Current strengths 30 |
| Strength through diversity 30 |
| Improved life style 30 |
| Improvement on the HDI 30 |
| A young society 30 |
| Priority to healthcare 31 |
| Current challenges 31 |
| High youth unemployment rate 31 |
| Unequal distribution of income 31 |
| Restricted freedom 31 |
| Future prospects 32 |
| Ambitious Education Sector Reforms 32 |
| Fight against terrorism 33 |
| Resolving the issue of food security 33 |
| Future risks 34 |
| Human rights violations 34 |
| Technological analysis 35 |
| Overview 35 |
| Current strengths 35 |
| Strong digital infrastructure 35 |
| Progress in innovations 36 |
| Incentives for R&D activities 36 |
| High technology exports 36 |
| Increased Internet penetration 36 |
| Current challenges 37 |
| Low competitiveness of the industry 37 |
| Low talent in ICT industry 37 |
| Vulnerable to cybercrime 37 |
| High piracy levels 37 |
| Future prospects 38 |
| Digital Malaysia initiative 38 |
| Ambitious plan to develop ICT industry by 2020 38 |
| Opportunities for Startups - technology based industries 38 |
| Future risks 38 |
| Skilled labor shortage 38 |
| Legal analysis 40 |
| Overview 40 |
| Current strengths 40 |
| Improvements in the corporate governance code 40 |
| National competition policy 41 |
| Openness to foreign investment 41 |
| Current challenges 41 |
| Lack of patent protection 41 |
| Restrictive internet law 41 |
| Future prospects 42 |
| Improvement in ease of doing business 42 |
| Future risks 42 |
| A lack of transparency in legislative processes 42 |
| New security law 42 |
| Environmental analysis 43 |
| Overview 43 |
| Current strengths 43 |
| Great bio-diversity 43 |
| Effective environment laws and signatory to international pacts 43 |
| Establishing environmental courts 44 |
| Current challenges 44 |
| Transboundary haze 44 |
| Increasing deforestation 44 |
| Future prospects 45 |
| Efforts towards the development of renewable energy 45 |
| Shift towards sustainable greener growth 45 |
| Future risks 45 |
| Bauxite mining creating health hazards 45 |
| Lack of integration of sustainable development in sectoral policies 46 |
| Political Landscape 47 |
| Summary 47 |
| Evolution 47 |
| Structure and policies 49 |
| Key political figures 49 |
| Structure of government 49 |
| Federal government 49 |
| State government 49 |
| Key political parties and alliances 49 |
| Composition of government 51 |
| Key policies 51 |
| Key policy areas 51 |
| Social policy 51 |
| Foreign policy 52 |
| Performance 52 |
| Governance indicators 52 |
| Outlook 53 |
| Economic Landscape 55 |
| Summary 55 |
| Evolution 55 |
| Structure and policies 56 |
| Financial authorities and regulators 56 |
| Stock market 56 |
| Key policies 57 |
| Performance 58 |
| GDP and growth rate 58 |
| GDP composition by sector 60 |
| Agriculture 61 |
| Industry 62 |
| Services 63 |
| Fiscal situation 63 |
| Exports and imports 64 |
| Current account 65 |
| External debt 65 |
| International investment position 65 |
| Foreign direct and portfolio investments 65 |
| Credit rating 65 |
| Monetary situation 65 |
| Interest rate 65 |
| Inflation 65 |
| Employment 67 |
| Outlook 67 |
| Social Landscape 68 |
| Summary 68 |
| Evolution 68 |
| Structure and policies 68 |
| Demographic composition 68 |
| Age and gender-wise composition 68 |
| Urban/rural composition and migration 69 |
| Religious composition 69 |
| Education 70 |
| Healthcare 71 |
| Healthcare services 71 |
| Social welfare 71 |
| Social welfare policies 71 |
| Performance 71 |
| Healthcare 71 |
| Income distribution 72 |
| Education 72 |
| Outlook 73 |
| Technological Landscape 74 |
| Summary 74 |
| Evolution 74 |
| Structure and policies 74 |
| Intellectual property 75 |
| Performance 76 |
| Opportunity sectors 76 |
| Telecommunications 76 |
| Outlook 77 |
| Legal Landscape 78 |
| Summary 78 |
| Evolution 78 |
| Structure and policies 78 |
| Judicial system 78 |
| Structure of the system 78 |
| Tax regulations 79 |
| Taxation 79 |
| Individual income tax 79 |
| Corporate tax 79 |
| Withholding tax 79 |
| Goods and services tax (GST) 79 |
| Corporate governance 79 |
| Performance 80 |
| Effectiveness of the legal system 80 |
| Outlook 80 |
| Environmental Landscape 81 |
| Summary 81 |
| Evolution 81 |
| Structure and policies 81 |
| Environmental regulations 81 |
| Participation in global efforts, agreements, and pacts 82 |
| Performance 82 |
| Environmental impact 82 |
| Outlook 83 |
| Appendix 84 |
| Ask the analyst 84 |
