Professor Yeah Kim Leng

Prof. Yeah Kim Leng

Professor Yeah Kim Leng

  • Professor and Director, Economics Studies - Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia

Biography

PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Hawaii; MBA, University of Hawaii; Bachelor of Science degree in forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Professor Yeah is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Economic Studies Programme at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry and a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics. His research interests span development economics, monetary economics, capital markets and industry studies. These topics reflect his previous experiences as an economic analyst at a national policy think-tank, a chief economist at a credit rating agency and a lead consultant at an economics consultancy services subsidiary. His current project at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute focuses on tax systems and structures and their effects on fiscal sustainability, economic growth and income inequality. He is currently the Deputy President of Malaysian Economic Association (MEA) and a former external member of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.

Research Interests

  • Development Economics
  • Monetary Economics
  • Capital Markets and Industry Studies

Notable Publications

  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2020), ‘The Economic Voting Puzzle of Malaysia’, Spotlight on Research 4, Sunway University.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2020),  ‘Malaysia’s 2021 Budget Aims to Sustain Recovery Momentum and Kickstart Post-pandemic Rebuilding of the Economy’, ISEAS Perspective Issue No. 147.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2020), ‘Some aspects of forestry and economic development in Malaysia: past and present’, Economic History of Malaya Project.Ariff Mohamad and Yeah, Kim Leng (2019). Taxation, Fiscal and Monetary Policies: A Bottom-Up Perspective in Ariff, M. and K.L. Yeah (Eds) “Malaysia’s Tax System: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward” , Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Tax Research Foundation and Sunway University Press
  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2019), Economic Dynamics and the GE-14 Surprise: Statistics, Realities and Sentiments, in The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge?, Francis E Hutchinson, Lee Hwok Aun (editors), Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng. (2018). Economic Dynamics and the GE-14 Surprise: Statistics, Realities and Sentiments. Paper presented at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak-Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Conference on “Malaysia’s GE-14: Missed Signs or Late Surge”, 27-28 September 2018, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng. (2018). Malaysia’s Budget 2019: The New Government’s Fiscal priorities, Challenges and Opportunities. ISEAS Perspective, 80, 1–8.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng. (2017). Domestic Demand-driven Growth: Analytical Perspectives and Statistics Needed. Advances in Economics and Business, 5(3), 109–128.

Professional Associations

Affiliations

  • Deputy President of Malaysian Economic Association (MEA)
  • Former Bank Negara’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Member
  • Trustee of the Malaysian Tax Research Foundation
  • Member of the National Consumer Advisory Council at the Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs