[Talk] Empowering Penang: The Case for Greater Decentralisation

Details:

Title: Empowering Penang: The Case for Greater Decentralisation

Speakers: YB Gooi Hsiao Leung & Prof. Wong Chin Huat

Moderator: Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Date: 14 August 2025

Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Venue: Conference Hall, Penang Institute

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Abstract

As Malaysia continues to evolve within a federal framework, the question of how much power should be devolved to state governments remains critical — especially for progressive and economically vibrant states like Penang. While calls for decentralisation are not new, the urgency for reform has grown in the face of uneven development, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and growing demands for local autonomy. This forum brings together two prominent voices to explore the structural and political pathways toward meaningful decentralisation in Malaysia. Prof. Wong Chin Huat, a leading scholar on federalism, democracy, and electoral systems, will provide a deep dive into the institutional reforms needed to empower states. Joining him is YB Gooi Hsiao Leung, ADUN for Bukit Tengah and former Member of Parliament, who will share practical insights from his experience navigating both state and federal governance.Together, they will examine:

• The current limitations of Malaysia’s federal system.
• Why decentralisation matters for Penang’s future.
• Legal, political, and fiscal reforms needed to empower state governments.
• How states can lead the charge for a stronger, more democratic Malaysia.

This forum is organised in conjunction with the reactivation of the Select Committee on Federal-State Relations in the Penang State Assembly.

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About The Speakers

YB Gooi Hsiao Leung, Chairman of the Select Committee on Federal-State Relations, ADUN for Bukit Tengah and former Member of Parliament for Alor Setar and legal practitioner.

Prof. Wong Chin Huat is a political scientist at Sunway University working on electoral system, parliamentary democracy, federalism and ethnic politics. Before that (2012-2019), he was the head of Political Social Analysis and fellow at Penang Institute. He is a member of Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA). He writes political commentaries in English, Malay and Chinese.

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About The Moderator

Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng (黄基明博士) has been studying the process of nation-building in Asia and analyzing Malaysian politics over the last three decades. He was appointed Executive Director of Penang Institute in 2017.

He received his Ph.D. in Sinology from Stockholm University, Sweden. Before returning to the region, he worked at Ericsson Electronics in Sweden for 22 years during the heyday of that company’s mobile phone era, while studying in Stockholm University. Courses that he taught at Stockholm included Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy and General Knowledge of China. His major academic interests were in Language Philosophy and Ancient Chinese Political and Strategic Thinking

He joined Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (now ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) in 2004, becoming its Deputy Director from 2011 to 2017.

He writes regular opinion pieces for regional and global mass media on Malaysian matters and regional matters. These have been compiled in seven separate volumes. Many of these works can be accessed at (www.wikibeng.com). He was Visiting Associate Professor at the City University of Hong Kong (2009-2012); Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Southeast Asian Studies (2009-2011); He is the Founder-Editor of Penang Monthly and ISSUES (Penang Institute) and ISEAS Perspective (ISEAS). He is also Series Editor for Trends in Southeast Asia (ISEAS).

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