BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  How to Build a Prosperous ASEAN

How to Build a Prosperous ASEAN

Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, Chairperson, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

23-Jan-25 15:00

How to Build a Prosperous ASEAN

A couple of days ago, in a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) outlined economic challenges facing Southeast Asia and strategies to create an equitable region. The memorandum was received by one of the special officers to the PM.  

We discuss the various challenges and opportunities ahead for ASEAN with Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj who is the Chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM). 

We Discuss: 

  • The biggest political and economic challenges currently plaguing the ASEAN region, from the decline in government revenue, suppressed wages and the climate crisis. 

  • Problems with institutions like the World Bank, IMF and WTO, and alternative strategies. 

  • How can ASEAN develop their internal markets and productive capacities? One of the reasons we rely so heavily on FDIs is because we have no choice due to our productive capacities. 

  • Why it’s important to develop a sense of regionalism and for ASEAN nations to negotiate with foreign powers (i.e. China and BRICS) as a unit. 

  • Unequal development in ASEAN and how it prevents economic cohesiveness in the region. As we know, Singapore is one of the most developed economies in the world; Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the likes are perhaps middle economies; Myanmar continues to endure tremendous hardship – there’s an ongoing civil war/revolution.

Image credit: Shutterstock (background)

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  politics,  government,  international,  economy

Tags:  multipolarity,  the bigger picture,  beyond the ballot box,  asean,  malaysia,  southeast asia,  regionalism,  regional mobility,  social democracy,  wealth distribution,  wealth inequality,  economic inequality,  economic growth,  capitalism,  neoliberalism,  foreign direct investments,  fdi,  government revenue,  fiscal policy,  taxation,  tariffs,  poverty,  neocolonialism,  brics,  multipolar world,  regional politics,  geopolitics,  free trade, 


Latest Podcasts




Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) Roti Boy founder Hiro Tan joins us to share his incredible journey from making pau as a child to a pivotal turning point at Wisma Sentral that sparked a regional franchise.

12:00 PM

Just For Kicks

(REPEAT) We return from the international break, raring to go ahead as the pundits look ahead to Matchweek 4 of the English Premier League, including the Manchester derby on Sunday.

1:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

(REPEAT) Kam Raslan and his two guests, Michael Gong and Ahmad Yazid to talk about the appeal of action sports, the joy of missing out and what was it like growing up back then.

2:00 PM

Ringgit & Sense

(REPEAT) Idham Idris, Director of Corporate Treasury Investment Services at Wealth Vantage Advisory talks about financial goals in your 40s and 50s.

2:30 PM

The Property Show

(REPEAT) Patrick Au, CEO of VYROX discusses how the smart home technology has evolved over the years.

3:00 PM

Best of The Bigger Picture

(REPEAT) We speak with Nalini Elumalai, one of the key coordinators of the Gerakan Mansuh ISA rally in the mid-2000s, about the struggle to abolish the draconian law and the lessons learned along the way.

4:00 PM

Best of Evening Edition

(REPEAT) We speak to Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Dato' Johari bin Abdul about the Indonesian protests and what it says about parliamentary accountability.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

This episode of People Fixing The World focuses on a new method of farming that is helping the farmer’s community in Malawi.