Economist, Centennial Asia Advisors

Nicholas Chia

Centennial Asia Advisors deliver timely and accurate economic and political analysis to investors, focused on anticipating key turning points that affect the client’s interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Clients include public agencies and central banks, as well as fund managers and investment banks. The company draws strength from its flexibility to tailor products to fit client’s specific interests. It provides detailed macro-economic forecasts, scenario analysis and timely assessments of how specific major economic and political developments may affect a client’s areas of interest. At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way.

Economist

12th Malaysia Plan: Lofty Aspirations, Lacklustre Capacity

Malaysia’s Budget 2022: Longer-Term Challenges Remain Unaddressed

Malaysia: Further Export Deceleration Will Hurt but Things Could Improve Thereafter

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>First, the main policy thrusts post-Covid will be aligned with the 12<sup>th</sup> Malaysia Plan which will be released at the end of this month: public health, technology, sustainability and the people’s welfare will be prominent areas of focus in this coming budget, with the first two sectors likely to be the biggest gainers.</li>
<li>Second, expect more clarity on medium-term fiscal consolidation plans. The government is likely to be coy for now on possible tax increases given the impending elections but will signal its keenness to bring the deficit down at a gradual pace.</li>
<li>Third, fiscal largesse involving higher social spending is probably unavoidable given that we expect a general election to be called within the next 9-12 months.  </li>
<li>Finally, we see efforts being made to improve the quality of spending to strengthen the multiplier effect of discretionary fiscal spending.</li>
</ul>


First, the main policy thrusts post-Covid will be aligned with the 12th Malaysia Plan which will be released at the end of this month: public health, technology, sustainability and the people’s welfare will be prominent areas of focus in this coming budget, with the first two sectors likely to be the biggest gainers.
Second, expect more clarity on medium-term fiscal consolidation plans. The government is likely to be coy for now on possible tax increases given the impending elections but will signal its keenness to bring the deficit down at a gradual pace.
Third, fiscal largesse involving higher social spending is probably unavoidable given that we expect a general election to be called within the next 9-12 months.  
Finally, we see efforts being made to improve the quality of spending to strengthen the multiplier effect of discretionary fiscal spending.


Malaysia: Four Things to Look Out for in Budget 2022