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Category: Internet & Technology

The Biotechnology industry is expanding at an exciting and brisk pace. Like no other industry today, biotechnology offers the market potential for highly attractive products that have economic as well as environmental benefits. Biotechnology is poised to reduce the use of pesticides, increase farmers’ revenues, and improve the nutritional quality of food.

Author: Musalmah Johan. Publication: MIERScan, 31 July 2006. [Download]

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Category: Internet & Technology

Should e-commerce be regulated by governments, or should it should be allowed to be "self-regulated" by the forces of the free market. Economies work more efficiently when they are free from governmental interference. In this regard, a classical economist Adam Smith claims that an individual pursuing his self-interest by engaging in commerce is "led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention." This "invisible hand" is said to guide individuals to achieve greater collective wealth. Smith felt that the idea of the "invisible hand" applies to the realm of international commerce as well as to domestic commerce. However, Smith did not argue against government regulation in all instances. There are certain limited areas of economic activity where governmental regulation is necessary (to protect individual rights, for example). Smith also believed that it is permissible for governments to tax commercial activities, as long as the tax is collected on the basis of earned revenue.

Author: Samirul Ariff bin Othman. Publication/Conference: MIERScan, 19 November 2007. [Download]

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Category: Media Freedom
This paper addresses the subject of media control in Malaysia under the Barisan Nasional (BN--National Front) regime, the coalition of ethnically-based political parties that has ruled the country since independence. As Hughes notes in her introduction to this issue, the dominant liberal discourse on democratization often views the mass media in fairly functionalist terms as an agent of democratization, particularly at times of regime transition or crisis. Existing studies of the media industry in Malaysia, however, have long since concluded that any incipient democratizing tendency within the media has long since been subverted by extensive formal and informal control, thus contributing to the entrenchment of the regime.  Author: Brown, Graham.  Publication: Pacific Affairs, Mar 22, 2005.  [Download]
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Category: Media Freedom

The article focuses on the films of Malaysian Director Yasmin Ahmad and highlights her cosmopolitan sensibility in making Islamic film. Among her films that became the focus of a talk show debate on national television station were "Mukhsin," "Sepet and Gubra: Cultural Corruptors?," and "Muallaf." Most of her films have an Islamic representation, an Islam that is idealistic for being liberal, moderate and accommodating others. [Download]

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Category: Health Care
By investigating the development process of Malaysia’s healthcare policy and various mode of healthcare privatization, this article aims to outline the behavior and triangular relationship of state, interest groups and civil society which form the basic network of healthcare policy.
 
Since the launching of its privatization policy in the early 1980s, Malaysian Government has gradually opened up the once public hospital dominated and non-profitable organization supplementing healthcare market for private investment. Related policies include: (1) encouragement for private hospital and private medical insurance business; (2) corporatization of government hospital, such as IJN and teaching hospitals; (3) introduction of full payment system in the public hospitals; (4) setting up of private wing or commercial accounting department in the government hospitals ;(5)contracting out non-medical services, such as medical store and health support services. [Download]
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