Welcome to my profile.

My life’s curiosity is understanding how underdogs survive and thrive against much powerful forces. Early legal training (Queen Mary, Certificate of Legal Practice, Tommy Thomas & Co) taught me how institutions work, and my criminology and social science studies at St Antony’s College, Oxford gave me insight to why the weakest in society commit the worst deeds.

In my 20s, I have spent the most time thinking-writing about how power works, specifically in Malaysia, where I come from. Most of my work during this period could be found on the largest English- and Mandarin-news portals, MalaysiaKini and Sin Chew Daily. My academic papers are mostly on ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, with a complete list on Google Scholar.

My work has appeared on Bloomberg, CNN, WaPo, Nikkei, SCMP etc in most formats. I now write monthly columns for CNA.

I have also published a non-fiction on Malaysian underdogs, called Sang Kancil: How Ordinary Malaysians Beat the Odds, with Penguin Random House SEA, that was a national bestseller and prize-winner (Best International Titles 2023-2025, Fan Yew Teng Independent Writing grant).

The point of understanding is to effect change. Since university, I have organised student movements against corruption (Malaysian Progressives UK), conducted policymaking classes for early-career professionals (Polisi Lab), and developed summer camps for high-potential school leavers.

My proudest moment was serving my country as the Policy Advisor to the Minister of Economy (Malaysia), where I worked on flagship policies relating to innovation (AI, startups, chips) and structural reforms (progressive wage, anti-corruption, agriculture, special economic zones, energy transition). Papers I've written have been presented to the Cabinet, Parliament, and the highest councils chaired by the Prime Minister.

Of all progress levers, technology seems to have the greatest promise as society’s equaliser. I have led the commercial and strategy efforts of a data analytics startup I helped transform (serving 1,000+ SMEs), and for public-listed technology firms (Asia’s jobseekers and global AI infrastructure).

Now, I am most interested in AI policy, specifically AI infrastructure and its returns to Global South economies. Inevitably linked to this is how non-aligned middle-states navigate great-power conflict. I have finished an AGI Strategy course with BlueDot Impact (London) and will be commencing a few AI research and policy fellowships.

I now also write a Substack that has a weekly newsletter, called Progress Papers, and other experimental thoughts in AI, politics, and how to live a better life.

Outside of work, I enjoy A24 films, observing small miracles (e.g. flowers’ bloom; my first job at 15 was a florist!), and admiring the greatness of LeBron James.