Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
| Formation | 8 February 2010 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public policy think tank |
| Headquarters | Bukit Tunku, KL |
| Website | www |
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) is a Malaysian libertarian think tank dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy challenges. It was founded on 8 February 2010. IDEAS is headquartered at Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur.
The idea to establish an institute to promote libertarian ideals was first mooted by Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz, and Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad in early 2006, who thought there was a need to promote libertarian (or classical liberal) ideas to Malaysians in a more strategic and organised fashion. The thnk tank's founding is inspired by the vision of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who stated in the 1957 Proclamation of Independence that Malaysia should:
...be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations...
In October 2006 the organisation was registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. The ‘working name’ of the organisation was Malaysia Think Tank London (MTTL), reflecting the founders' operations in London at that time. However, when organising activities in Malaysia, they dropped the word 'London' and used just Malaysia Think Tank (MTT).
In May 2009 the Executive Board decided that all operations would be fully moved from London to Malaysia, after given that sufficient groundwork had been laid. Wan Saiful Wan Jan was appointed as the Chief Executive in 1 October of the same year. After a comprehensive situational review on 14 December, the Executive Board decided to relaunch the organisation as the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), a new name that clearly reflects the areas of their work. IDEAS is currently partnered with the Atlas Economic Research Foundation in Washington, D.C. and receives grants from the International Policy Network and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
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