Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

PK Basu has 35 years experience covering Asia's economies and markets (equities, fixed income and currencies), including 20 years covering the global economy. He was Chief Economist (SE Asia & India) at Credit Suisse First Boston for 5 years, and Chief Asia (x-Jpn) Economist at Daiwa Securities for a similar period. Among other roles, he was global head of research at Maybank Kim Eng, Malaysia equity research head and chief ASEAN economist at Macquarie, Chief Economist at ICICI Securities, ASEAN economist and Asia sector strategist at UBS and the first chief economist at Khazanah Nasional (where he was co-head of research, and led all agri-business initiatives). PK Basu started his career in the Asia Service of WEFA (Wharton Econometrics) in Philadelphia in 1990, rising to be Director of their Asia Service in June 1994. 
PK's book, "Asia Reborn: A continent rises from the ravages of Colonialism and War to a New Dynamism" won the Tata Literature First Book Award (non-fiction) for 2018. It is the first single chronicle of the modern economic and political history of the whole of Asia (from Iraq and Turkey to Korea and Japan, and everything in between), told from an Asian perspective.

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

Malaysia: PM Anwar Ibrahim Has a Lifetime of Experience to Deliver Unity & Progress

Anwar’s Cabinet Deftly Balances Policy and Political Imperatives

Malaysia: Anwar Well-Positioned to Spur Economic Recovery as Capital Flows Back

Malaysia: PH Is Stronger in West Malaysia, but Sabah-Sarawak May Hold Final Cards

Malaysia Boleh: Democracy Wins Big as Malaysia Chooses a Multi-Racial Compact

Battle Lines Drawn As BABA Builds Out First/Last-Mile Capacity; But Who Will Fund 75+ Bn CNY CapEx?

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>Although Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) won a plurality as we expected, the Islamist PAS unexpectedly emerged as the largest Malay party, winning 49 seats (vs UMNO's 26 and Bersatu's 24).</li>
<li>PH could attempt to form coalition with the Borneo Bloc (28 seats) plus a few smaller parties. A stabler alliance would involve PH joining PAS, given their leaders' ABIM pasts. </li>
<li>PN and BN could attempt to cobble an alternative alliance with the Borneo Bloc, but the latter will be wary of PAS being the largest party in it. Uncertainty ahead! </li>
</ul>


Although Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) won a plurality as we expected, the Islamist PAS unexpectedly emerged as the largest Malay party, winning 49 seats (vs UMNO's 26 and Bersatu's 24).
PH could attempt to form coalition with the Borneo Bloc (28 seats) plus a few smaller parties. A stabler alliance would involve PH joining PAS, given their leaders' ABIM pasts. 
PN and BN could attempt to cobble an alternative alliance with the Borneo Bloc, but the latter will be wary of PAS being the largest party in it. Uncertainty ahead! 


PH Wins a Narrow Plurality, but PAS Is the Single Largest Party: Uncertainty Ahead