Recovery Initiatives in Adverse Economic Climate:
The Malaysian Economic Stimulus Package

 

If we gauged the upheavals of the current financial crisis, panic selling of stocks coinciding with the collapse of financial institutions beginning with those in the USA, and later in Europe, would register. The role of government is key; putting together ‘rescue packages’ to stabilize teetering financial systems. Leaders of the G20 group of rich and emerging economies met in Washington, DC in November 2008, and London in April 2009, in a united attempt to combat the global slump. Critics would have the public believe that despite unprecedented stimuli and investment, the biggest risk is still that government efforts would be insufficient. Malaysia has recently unveiled its very own economic stimulus package designed to stem the tide of domestic economic decline. In light of this commitment towards steadying the Malaysian economy in turbulent financial waters, the key questions remain; how would the rescue package fare? Would it realistically generate and sustain continuous growth?

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Programme

9.45 am -   Registration
10.00 am - Introduction by Chairman, Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Mohamed Ariff
                  Executive Director, Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER)
10.10 am - Analysis of the current measures against instruments used in the 1980s
                  by Dato’ Dr. R. Thillainathan, Director of Asia Capital Reinsurance Malaysia S.B., &    
                  Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Economics & Administration, Uni. Malaya
10.40 am - Chinese stimulus package as a benchmark? by Dr. Cheong Kee Cheok,
                   Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Economics & Administration, Uni. Malaya
11.10 am -  Q & A Session
11.45 am -  Closing remarks by Chairman
12.00 noon - Refreshments

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SPEAKERS PROFILES

Dato’ Dr. R. Thillainathan

A holder of a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics, and a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Bankers (FIBM), Dato’ Dr. Thillainathan, is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Malaya. In addition, he is also holding the position of Honorary Professorial Fellow with Monash University and he has a long and distinguished career. His career and contributions included such distinctions as Executive Director of Genting Berhad for 5 years, and he currently retains Directorships of some publicly listed business entities, including, Petronas Dagangan Berhad, Bursa Malaysia Berhad, Asia Capital Reinsurance Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., and Genting Berhad. Illustrious additions to an already outstanding array of personal achievements showcase, Dato’ Dr. Thillainathan was formerly serving as the President of the Malaysian Economic Association (PEM), and Chairman of the Federation of ASEAN Economic Associations. Most notably, he has lent his services and expertise to the Malaysian Government in a broad scope, including amongst others, the National Economic Panel, Capital Market Advisory Council, the Tax Review Panel, the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) and the Economic Commission of the Government of Malaysia and its Commission’s Working Group.

Dr. Cheong Kee Cheok

A graduate of the University of Malaya and he went on to obtain his PhD at the London School of Economics, Dr. Cheong Kee Cheok, is currently Adjunct Professor and formerly Dean at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya. He spent 16 years at the World Bank in the capacity of Economist and subsequently Senior Economist. He was later appointed Coordinator for China and Vietnam in the Economic Development Institute, now the World Bank Institute. After returning to Malaysia in 1997, he continued as consultant for the Bank and UN agencies. His work has taken him to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and North Korea among other Asian countries. His research interests include: economic development, regional development, transition economies, employment and poverty, and econometric modeling. His book Asia Resurgent: Transformation, Growth and Integration was published by the University of Malaya Press in 2006.

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REGISTRATION FEES (payment upon entrance)
Public/ HELP Alumni: RM10 Student/ Senior Citizen: RM5

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