Written by YAM Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, Founding President of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).
Trump’s reckless and illegal conflict with Iran will continue to disrupt economies and societies for much longer than initially expected
AS I am prone to get fat these days, I’ve become more particular about Raya indulgences, so as to not waste calories. This is especially true after having lost four kilogrammes during the fasting month, having carefully “closed my rings” (users of a certain electronic watch brand will relate) daily – although sometimes fellow congregants at the mosque wondered why I was going around the grounds after prayers!
Thus despite my complaint in my last article about government and GLC open houses being cancelled – and for sure, there’s an equally strong view about the need to save fuel costs, especially when these corporate gatherings resemble a collective migration of the same horde of people several times a day – it is pleasing to be able to enjoy, in controlled quantities, my favourite recipes for lemang (with the right amount of burn on the circumference), ketupat (fried ‘til crisp on the vertices, evoking memories of Rayas spent in Terengganu), rendang (neither too wet nor dry, with meat chunks neither too big nor small), fried chicken (the knobbly bits must be perfectly seasoned), satay (we’ve discovered a fantastic new supplier in Mambau), and of course apam balik (there are now so many copycats of the famous Seri Menanti brand, but only the original has the correct batter-to-corn-and-nut ratio).
The other reason to be abstemious about calories is that the calendar is getting too full for sport. Even though I try to play at least two racquet games (out of squash, tennis, padel and pickleball) per week, my prediction of 2026 being a busier corporate year is bearing fruition.
Of course I will remain committed to the non-governmental and civil society organisations, but my in-tray now has a bigger proportion of board papers, audit reports, IPO prospectuses and circular resolutions.
I have missed this. Transitioning from the world of public policy into an aluminium can manufacturing company in 2012 was hard work yet fascinating: all the analyses about government regulations and their impact on the economy is absorbed in a different way when one also has a responsibility to shareholders.
Explaining disruptions to supply chains because of regional conflicts only goes so far to investors who want to see growth: somehow you have to find a way to import materials, make products and satisfy customers in a timely and profitable way.
Naturally, each one thinks they are more important than the others!
As I re-engage with this landscape, including manufacturing, financial services and film production, now even more imbued with technological concerns such as artificial intelligence and customers’ reliance on social media, I have found that Malaysians are now generally much more aware of how political and diplomatic events in the national, regional and international realms affect business.
Think tanks and humanitarian agencies around the world have already had to adjust to budget cuts in the last year because of the impact of the US President’s shift in priorities – something that has negatively impacted thousands of people in Malaysia who have lost access to aid and services.
Unfortunately, President Donald Trump’s reckless and illegal war against Iran will continue to disrupt economies and societies much more, necessitating difficult choices for national leaders.
Thus, the Prime Minister tries to explain as best he can the fact that subsidies will have to be adjusted because of the Middle East war – while negotiating with Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to Malaysian ships – as companies revisit Covid-19 calculations of staff working from home, and inevitably, some employees wonder about their futures if their contracts won’t be renewed.
Sadly, despite bluster about the objectives of the war being nearly completed, with the end only a few weeks away, it is more likely that the conflict will continue in some form for months or years to come; with the disruption from five weeks of conflict already requiring significant time and money to fix.
For the thousands who have lost loved ones, of course, even that is impossible.
No matter how hard one tries to understand and contribute to building better government institutions and a strong and vibrant business environment, there are times when one truly feels dwarfed by the immensity – and injustice – of events outside one’s control.
At such times, returning to what we cherish the most – our families, our traditions and our comfort food – reminds us of the humanity that we’re trying to protect for everyone.
This article was featured in The Start, 3 April 2026
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of IDEAS Malaysia. All opinions are the author’s own.
Global order stands on the brink
Global order stands on the brink
Written by YAM Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, Founding President of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).
Trump’s reckless and illegal conflict with Iran will continue to disrupt economies and societies for much longer than initially expected
AS I am prone to get fat these days, I’ve become more particular about Raya indulgences, so as to not waste calories. This is especially true after having lost four kilogrammes during the fasting month, having carefully “closed my rings” (users of a certain electronic watch brand will relate) daily – although sometimes fellow congregants at the mosque wondered why I was going around the grounds after prayers!
Thus despite my complaint in my last article about government and GLC open houses being cancelled – and for sure, there’s an equally strong view about the need to save fuel costs, especially when these corporate gatherings resemble a collective migration of the same horde of people several times a day – it is pleasing to be able to enjoy, in controlled quantities, my favourite recipes for lemang (with the right amount of burn on the circumference), ketupat (fried ‘til crisp on the vertices, evoking memories of Rayas spent in Terengganu), rendang (neither too wet nor dry, with meat chunks neither too big nor small), fried chicken (the knobbly bits must be perfectly seasoned), satay (we’ve discovered a fantastic new supplier in Mambau), and of course apam balik (there are now so many copycats of the famous Seri Menanti brand, but only the original has the correct batter-to-corn-and-nut ratio).
The other reason to be abstemious about calories is that the calendar is getting too full for sport. Even though I try to play at least two racquet games (out of squash, tennis, padel and pickleball) per week, my prediction of 2026 being a busier corporate year is bearing fruition.
Of course I will remain committed to the non-governmental and civil society organisations, but my in-tray now has a bigger proportion of board papers, audit reports, IPO prospectuses and circular resolutions.
I have missed this. Transitioning from the world of public policy into an aluminium can manufacturing company in 2012 was hard work yet fascinating: all the analyses about government regulations and their impact on the economy is absorbed in a different way when one also has a responsibility to shareholders.
Explaining disruptions to supply chains because of regional conflicts only goes so far to investors who want to see growth: somehow you have to find a way to import materials, make products and satisfy customers in a timely and profitable way.
Naturally, each one thinks they are more important than the others!
As I re-engage with this landscape, including manufacturing, financial services and film production, now even more imbued with technological concerns such as artificial intelligence and customers’ reliance on social media, I have found that Malaysians are now generally much more aware of how political and diplomatic events in the national, regional and international realms affect business.
Think tanks and humanitarian agencies around the world have already had to adjust to budget cuts in the last year because of the impact of the US President’s shift in priorities – something that has negatively impacted thousands of people in Malaysia who have lost access to aid and services.
Unfortunately, President Donald Trump’s reckless and illegal war against Iran will continue to disrupt economies and societies much more, necessitating difficult choices for national leaders.
Thus, the Prime Minister tries to explain as best he can the fact that subsidies will have to be adjusted because of the Middle East war – while negotiating with Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to Malaysian ships – as companies revisit Covid-19 calculations of staff working from home, and inevitably, some employees wonder about their futures if their contracts won’t be renewed.
Sadly, despite bluster about the objectives of the war being nearly completed, with the end only a few weeks away, it is more likely that the conflict will continue in some form for months or years to come; with the disruption from five weeks of conflict already requiring significant time and money to fix.
For the thousands who have lost loved ones, of course, even that is impossible.
No matter how hard one tries to understand and contribute to building better government institutions and a strong and vibrant business environment, there are times when one truly feels dwarfed by the immensity – and injustice – of events outside one’s control.
At such times, returning to what we cherish the most – our families, our traditions and our comfort food – reminds us of the humanity that we’re trying to protect for everyone.
This article was featured in The Start, 3 April 2026
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of IDEAS Malaysia. All opinions are the author’s own.
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