With GDP per capita at US$15,085 and the economy expanding at 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, Malaysia is closer than ever to high-income status. But the journey from here to US$20,000 per capita will require more than growth — it demands structural reform, productivity gains, and unwavering institutional quality. Juwai IQI…
BY SHAN SAEED KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — During my visit to Indonesia in April 2026, one observation became increasingly clear: the future prosperity of nations will be determined not merely by their natural resources, industrial capacity, or technological prowess, but by how effectively they develop and deploy their human capital—particularly that of women. Across the…
The Ringgit Is No Longer an Emerging Market Currency. It Is a Regional Macro Hedge. As global macro stress deepens, Juwai IQI Chief Global Economist Shan Saeed argues that the Malaysian ringgit has undergone a structural upgrade that most market participants have not yet fully priced — and that the rest of ASEAN is being…
Reduced geopolitical tail risks after the US-Iran talks are triggering a structural rotation of global capital toward ASEAN, the Gulf and Africa — regions increasingly positioned to anchor the next phase of global growth, says Juwai IQI Global Chief Economist Shan Saeed. By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 – The conclusion…
With the Global Macro Risk Index pointing to a Stress Regime and oil sitting above US$100 per barrel, Juwai IQI Global Chief Economist Shan Saeed argues that the risks of 2026 are not hidden — they are visible, measurable, and continuously repriced. The challenge, he says, is not awareness. It is interpretation. BY TENGKU NOOR…
