Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
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Non-profit organisation Public policy think tank | |
Legal status | Institute |
---|---|
Headquarters | Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur |
Location | |
Region served | Malaysia |
Chairman | Tan Sri Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria |
President | Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz |
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Tricia Yeoh |
Website | www |
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) is a Malaysian think tank dedicated to promoting solutions to public policy challenges. It was founded on 8 February 2010. IDEAS is headquartered at Jalan Hang Lekir, Kuala Lumpur.
History
The idea to establish an institute to debate public policy ideals was first mooted by
...be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations...
In October 2006, the organisation was registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. The ‘working name’ of the organisation was Malaysia Think Tank London (MTTL), reflecting the founders' operations in London at that time. However, when organising activities in Malaysia, they dropped the word 'London' and used just Malaysia Think Tank (MTT).
In May 2009, the Executive Board decided that all operations would be fully moved from London to Malaysia, after given that sufficient groundwork had been laid. Wan Saiful Wan Jan was appointed as the Chief Executive in 1 October of the same year. After a comprehensive situational review on 14 December, the Executive Board decided to relaunch the organisation as the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), a new name that clearly reflects the areas of their work. IDEAS is currently partnered with the
In 2010, a joint University of Pennsylvania–United Nations University index called the 2010 Global Go-To Think Tank Report ranked IDEAS as the 18th best new think tank in the world and the second best new think tank in Asia.[3]
Wau Bebas Logo
IDEAS’ logo is the wau bulan that flies freely in the sky – hence its name “Wau Bebas” or the Kite of Freedom. The traditional Wau Bebas motif symbolises IDEAS’ belief that the principles of Rule of Law (Kedaulatan Undang-Undang), Limited Government (Kerajaan Terhad), Free Markets (Pasaran Bebas), and Free Individuals (Individu Merdeka), are deeply rooted in Malaysia’s tradition and heritage.
Their task is to rediscover these truly Malaysian values and to re-present them to contemporary Malaysian society so that their heritage will help Malaysia to prosper in a globalised world. A wau is only complete and functional when it is rooted to the ground via a string, depicting our call for abidance to the rule of law within a small, limited state.
Philosophy
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Rule of Law
Limited Government
Limited Government: The government is an institution to which citizens delegate the authority to rule. It is that delegation that gives government its power. But the government is a powerful institution and it can easily become a dangerous one, especially when it coerces citizens into obedience, subverting the very people who bestowed upon them the authority to rule. To prevent such coercion, the powers of the government must be limited, usually through a written constitution that both enumerates and limits executive power with checks and balances.
Free Market
Individual Liberty
Individual Liberty: Society or ‘the collective’ is in reality a collection of individuals. Each individual must respect the dignity of other individuals regardless of race, religion or gender. This means respecting the differences between people and not trying to impose uniformity. It also implies that individuals have both rights and responsibilities, such as the right to be respected by others, and the responsibility to respect others.
References
- ^ a b Yong, Teresa (21 August 2010). "Cultivating minds with fresh ideas". New Straits Times. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Archived from the originalon 6 January 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ^ "2010 Global Go-To Think Tank Report" (PDF). University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.