Professor Yeah Kim Leng

Prof. Yeah Kim Leng

Professor Yeah Kim Leng

  • Professor and Director, Economics Studies - Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia
  • 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 红杏视频 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, a lead consultant at an economics consultancy services subsidiary and a former external member of the central bank鈥檚 Monetary Policy Committee. 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 President of Malaysian Economic Association (MEA) and was recently appointed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia as one of five advisers in the Policy Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister (PMAC).

 

 

Research Interests

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

Notable Publications

Selected Publications

  • Empowering Communities for Sustainable Financial Well-Being in Malaysia (Co-Edited with Siew-Voon Soon, Mohammad Mafrukhin Mokhtar, and Chee-Wooi Hooy). Universiti Malaya Press, 2024. (ISBN: 978-967-488-353-9). 
    - Book Chapter: "Concluding Insights: Empowering Malaysian Communities for a Future of Sustainable Well-being" (Co-Authored with Siew-Voon Soon and Chee-Wooi Hooy) in the above book.
  • "Towards a Soft Landing: How ASEAN Can Mitigate a Global Recession Amidst Trump's Tariffs" (Co-Authored with Shandre Mugan Thangavelu). JCI, 红杏视频 University. April 2025.
  • Policy Paper: "Trump鈥檚 Reciprocal Tariffs and Economic Resilience in ASEAN: Malaysia鈥檚 Critical Role as ASEAN Chair" (Co-Authored with Shandre Mugan Thangavelu). JCI, 红杏视频 University. April 2025.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2020), 鈥楾he Economic Voting Puzzle of Malaysia鈥, Spotlight on Research 4, 红杏视频 University.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2020),  鈥楳alaysia鈥檚 2021 Budget Aims to Sustain Recovery Momentum and Kickstart Post-pandemic Rebuilding of the Economy鈥, ISEAS Perspective Issue No. 147.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng (2020), 鈥楽ome aspects of forestry and economic development in Malaysia: past and present鈥, 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) 鈥淢alaysia鈥檚 Tax System: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward鈥 , Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Tax Research Foundation and 红杏视频 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 鈥淢alaysia鈥檚 GE-14: Missed Signs or Late Surge鈥, 27-28 September 2018, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
  • Yeah, Kim Leng. (2018). Malaysia鈥檚 Budget 2019: The New Government鈥檚 Fiscal priorities, Challenges and Opportunities. ISEAS Perspective, 80, 1鈥8.

  • Yeah, Kim Leng. (2017). Domestic Demand-driven Growth: Analytical Perspectives and Statistics Needed. Advances in Economics and Business, 5(3), 109鈥128.

     

Selected Speaking  Engagements

  • Webinar Speaker: 鈥淕lobal Trade Pulse: US Tariffs & What鈥檚 Ahead for China, ASEAN & Malaysia.鈥 Organised by 红杏视频 Group. July 30, 2025.
  • Panelist: "The Role of Fiscal Policy in Preserving Macroeconomic Stability and Safeguarding the Well-being of the People" at the Fiscal and Economy Forum, Ministry of Finance, Malaysia. June 24, 2025.
  • Judge & Moderator: AMEU Economics and Finance Challenge 2025 on "Growth of Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion," organised by the Association of Malaysian Economics Undergraduates (AMEU). June 21, 2025.
  • Panelist: MIDA Retreat 2025 Panel Session on "Future Ready Malaysia鈥擳he Next Chapter With MIDA," organised by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). May 23, 2025.
  • Panelist: "A Sustainable Tax System 鈥 Fiscal sustainability of APAC countries" at the 8th Asia Pacific Regional Conference, organised by the International Fiscal Association (IFA) Malaysia. April 29, 2025.
  • Speaker: "Global and National Economic Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Malaysia鈥檚 Automotive Industry" at the Perodua Annual Conference 2025. February 19, 2025.
  • Speaker: "Food Prices Increase - Fallacy of Cartels or Monopoly?" at the Competition Symposium 2025, organised by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC). January 16, 2025.
  • 2024 Engagements (Past)
    Panelist: ESG Malaysia Conference Panel Session on "Is the Reduction of Fossil Fuel Subsidies a Prerequisite for Malaysia鈥檚 Long-Term Economic Competitiveness?" December 5, 2024.
  • Speaker: "Malaysia's High-Income Drive: Short and Medium-term Growth Prospects and Challenges" at the KPMG Tax and Business Summit 2024. November 6, 2024.
  • Speaker: Forum on National Census on Oil and Gas Industry. Topic: 鈥淪ustainable Futures - Navigating the Evolution of Energy - An Economist鈥檚 Perspective,鈥 organised by the Department of Statistics Malaysia. June 6, 2024.
  • Panelist: "Rising Tides: Geopolitics and Geoeconomics in a Global Context." March 2, 2024.

Professional Associations

Affiliations

  • Deputy President of Malaysian Economic Association (MEA)
  • Former Bank Negara鈥檚 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