Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Waste Plastic Imports to Malaysia

In October 2018, Malaysia banned the imports of contaminated plastic wastes in effort to restrict the supply of waste plastics into the country. Despite the ban, data shows that monthly plastic waste imports is beginning to increase. The Pakatan Harapan administration has even flirted with ideas to build at least one incinerator in each state (and we have thirteen of them!).

Khor Reports has consolidated data on waste plastics issues in a dashboard, with information compiled from media reports. This provides an overall view of plastic waste imports and the concerns it has raised for the Malaysian people. The data is as at 27 September 2019, collected by a group of dedicated volunteers over a period of about two weeks.

Out of sight, out of mind, when it really shouldn’t be. Click here for the full post and the dashboard.

Commentary in the South China Morning Post on Malaysia's Trade Economics

In the SCMP, our write up on "Why a coconut boom is bad for Malaysia’s approved permit system"

• The country’s Approved Permit system governing cross-border traders was set up in the 1970s to encourage the Malay majority to participate in industries dominated by ethnic Chinese

• But the scheme is riddled with secrecy and cronyism, critics say, argue, and must face up to reform as Malaysia opens further to international trade

Read Yu Leng’s economic commentary in SCMP, here

Also refer to our other findings:

• Coconut farmers face surging imports in Malaysia, January 9, 2019

• Incinerator plans may soften Malaysia's approach on waste plastics, June 3, 2019

Live radio spot on BFM 89.9 - The Business Station on The Rise of Trade Sanctions for Malaysia

Live radio spot on BFM 89.9 - The Business Station on The Rise of #Trade Sanctions. Khor Yu Leng, Independent political economist, Segi Enam Advisors 21-Oct-19 18:40

We examine the precarious posiiton we may find ourselves in as our country and economy continues to stand between the trade tensions of the US and China.

Produced by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Tasha Fusil

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Kelvin Yee

Tags: Evening Edition, #USChina, #tradewar, #sanctions, #economy, Tun Dr #Mahathir, CEO/Business leaders, Economy, Markets, Politics, News, Current Affairs

Sneak Peek! A Preliminary View (and a Dashboard) for Durians in China

It is up! After a couple of months of mining and examining about 3,300 lines of data, Khor Reports is pleased to present to you our preliminary view of durians in China.

In the post, we talk about the spike in interest for the King of Fruits as well as the possible ramifications of the rather dramatic increase in demand for durians from China. We’ve also thrown in a dashboard of consolidated data which illustrates an overall view regarding the local durian farmscape, products, and China retail indicators—feel free to play around with it!

Click here to read the full post.

#Durian #MusangKing #China #Malaysia #ChinaMalaysia

Malaysia Durian Exports - Market Research Advisory

The NEW Durian Economics of Malaysia: Exports, farms and the competitive landscape by Khor Yu Leng, Sep 2019

Reviews certified supply-chain and farmscape of Malaysia, product competitive landscape in China and its key provinces, public interest in durian and other imported fruits, Thailand export status, and price indicators (farm, export, import and China retail).

A must for those eyeing the export market.

Please contact yuleng@segi-enam.com

In New York Times Article on the Southeast Asia Trash Trade

A mention on #Malaysia #trade in #wasteplastics and concern on #incinerators in "Recyclers Cringe as #SouthEastAsia Says It’s Sick of the West’s Trash" by Mive Ives, 7 Jun 2019, The New York Times. #recycling.

An excerpt from New York Times article, 7 Jun 2019

Climate Change & ASEAN - Review of Recent Policy Issues at the 10th AIPA Caucus

At Parlimen Malaysia last week, I reviewed recent policy issues on #climatechange and #ASEAN. It was a brief lit review. For background, I also had the chance to talk to researchers from Oxford and Cambridge, to drill on certain economic questions.

All ASEAN delegates were concerned on climate risks in the region. Progress and plans mentioned by each country. Including some discussion on #carbontax, with Singapore reflecting on its implementation. Regret on low #carbonprice was noted by Cambodia. #Wasteplastics and #landfill concerns and also caution on #incinerators.

On the sidelines, a good chat with Vietnam expert on #coconuts, farmer income, high yield and #Intercropping options; regret on the income problems for younger rural families in monocrop zones of #oilpalm and #rubber.

Had a chance to meet delegates from most member states, but Thailand and Indonesia not present due to political transitions. Other working group tracks on women, children & trafficking and terrorism.

At the 10th AIPA Caucus, Kuala Lumpur, Jun 2019

Recent Commentaries on Durian

Mulling the economic and price implications of freezing durians, an important change in the Malaysian durian supply chain. Price transparency is an issue. Interviewed for “China to buy US$120 million of durians a year from Malaysia as spike in sales expected after green light on export of whole fruits,” 18 Jun 2019, Tashny Sukumuran, SCMP.

On durian prices and grades. A hefty bill for Malaysia fans? But why are Singapore prices cited as lower? BFM podcast, “WOULD YOU DUIT FOR DURIAN?” Khor Yu Leng, Independent Political Economist, Segi Enam Advisors 04-Jun-19. Produced by Tasha Fusil, BFM.

Big boys getting into Malaysia durian? Property tycoon Lim Kang Hoo connects China players (including Greenland) with FGV Berhad. He also buys Mahathir-linked. Value-added durian products eyes. Durian pizza? “As Malaysia ramps up its durian exports to China, quirky product offerings may be answer to rivalling Thailand’s dominance,” by Khor Yu-Leng, 6 May 2019, SCMP Commentary.

 #durian #Malaysia #China #ChinaMalaysia #BRI

Via Linkedin Profile, other commentaries and interviews in the media are linked here.

Penang Landslide Tragedy (Second with Major Loss of Life)

Recently (and once again), a land use change tragedy in #Penang, #Malaysia. Recent news items (plus an older review by Mongabay, and link to Anil Netto’s blog for more details on Penang land development) immediately below. And at the bottom, a political-economy of #landdevelopment in Malaysia.

• Yahoo, Malay Mail - More groups demand stop to hill slope developments in Penang

• Channel News Asia - Penang landslide: Rescuers recover ninth body, expect to find more victims

• Mongabay - In Malaysia, an island drowns in its own development. Has Penang Island’s growth become a hazard to life?

• Anil Netto’s blog on Penang land and transport development

For a political economy context review, do check out…. May 6, 2018: MALAYSIA: THE POLITICAL-ECONOMY OF LAND DEVELOPMENT (OR THE POLITICS OF FLOODS) BY KHOR YU LENG

This #ISEAS Yusof Ishak seminar should be interesting: Malaysia’s #Flood Catastrophes: Examining the Past, Learning from the Present, and Changing the Future. Date: Monday, 12 November 2018. Fiona Clare Williamson (Assistant Professor in Science, Technology and Society at Singapore Management University) and Ngai Weng Chan (Professor of Water Resources Management at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia).