UKM academic Anis Yusal Yusoff and former CIMB Group chairperson Nazir Razak are seeking public feedback on how to reform Malaysian democracy.

In a recent press statement, the duo put out the call as part of their joint research project titled “Making a Better Malaysia”.

According to its website, the “independent research project” aims to examine “the fundamentals of Malaysia's current governance and democratic structures in order to envision a better Malaysia moving forward”.

The initiative also seeks to answer the following questions:

1. Based on events of the last three years, since GE14, is Malaysia a nation in crisis or are parts of the system in crisis needing reform? If so, which parts?

2. Is democracy itself in crisis and is the Malaysian model still suitable?

Members of the public can offer their feedback via the Making a Better Malaysia website or email ([email protected]).

The project began in September and is expected to run for six months.

Researchers have already consulted politicians, legislators, academics, the private sector, regulators, civil society and members of the media.

Anis is the former deputy director-general of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC), a task force set up under the former Pakatan Harapan administration.

Nazir is the son of Malaysia’s second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein. His older brother is the country’s sixth prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.