Scenario Builders, data collectors, collators and analysts. In a survey of the top global think-tanks of 2008, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) has carved a name for itself as a credible private think-tank in emerging among the top 25 in Asia in 2008.The ranking was based on the findings of the Think-Tanks and Civil Societies Programme by the University of Pennsylvania, the United States.
China's Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) topped the rankings list, followed by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) and India's Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).
"Of the 653 Asian think-tanks, we are 25th. I think this is an achievement to be proud of. Although a small institution, we are able to make a global impact," MIER executive director Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ariff Abdul Kareem told Bernama in a recent interview.
He said the institute has been doing a lot of work not only for the government at both the state and federal levels, but also the private sector and international bodies such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap).
Mohamed Ariff, who is stepping down from his position on Dec 31 after having helmed MIER for 12 years, said it had become an institution that is being recognised.
"I am pleased to say that our forecast has been very good. We may not hit the bull’s eye all the time but it has not been that far off. We are credible and establishing a good name," he added.
On why he was stepping down now and not waiting for the institute's silver jubilee in two years’ time, Mohamed Ariff said he had been around for a long time after having joined the organisation in June 1997.
He was previously a lecturer at Universiti Malaya.
He dispelled any notion that he was pressured to leave, saying it was purely voluntary
"It has been a long time. It is enough. Although it was a lot of stress, I enjoyed doing what I did," he said.
Having gone through two recessions and turbulent times together with the institute, he said the challenge for MIER had been to stay "alive".
"Because we are a self-financing institution and an independent think-tank, we have to say things in such a way that we don't sound anti-establishment. At the same time, we also want to be very objective," he explained.
According to Mohamed Ariff, his frustration and greatest challenge was during the last financial crisis.
"The local press was interested in positive news. The foreign press, on the other hand, wanted negative stories. We tried giving a balanced picture but were sometimes quoted out of context," he said.
He said one of the MIER's objective is to keep the people informed so they can arrive at their own decisions.
Mohamed Ariff was also encouraged by the feedback from the business community which showed that MIER was doing a great job and this is evident from them becoming members and attending its events.
He highlighted that MIER is governed by a board of trustees and by people who are working for the national interest.
"We are encouraged by all this. We are thus able to walk the tightrope, balancing ourselves through turbulent times, making comments that are useful and constructive and which can be an input into decision making while providing an alternative view", he said.
MIER is an independent, non-profit organisation devoted to economic, financial and business research that serves as a think-tank for the government and the private sector.
With the departure of Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ariff Abdul Kareem, my guess is MIER will go down from the totem pole of the top ranking think-tanks of the world due to political gravity.
Wanna bet?
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