On 7 Feb Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has appointed five special advisers to assist and advise him in his capacity as Minister of Finance. The special advisory body, which will be led by Petroliam Nasional Bhd adviser Tan Sri Hassan Marican, will be manned by professional groups and economic experts, said Anwar in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 7).

The other four members of the special advisory body are FVSB executive chairman Datuk Ahmad Fuad Md Ali; Sunway University professor of economics Dr Yeah Kim Leng; University Malaya professor of economics Prof Ulung Datuk Rajah Rasiah; and Sarawak Energy Bhd’s chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi. Anwar said the appointed members of the special advisory body will not receive any form of remuneration from the government.

After I read the above from the Edge, I would like to suggest Dato Sri Anwar to appoint Dr Tai Lee Ming who can help Malaysia with his long experience in helping many countries before.

Dr Tai is a Malaysian. He holds a doctorate degree in Development Policy Studies from Japan, and was awarded executive certificates in Public Policy and Public Leadership from Harvard University, USA. He received multiple awards for my professional performance both national and international e.g "Asian Public Intellectuals Japan", "The Outstanding Young Malaysian", "Asian Development Bank's Superhuman Award".

He is currently working at Asian Development Bank, concurrently a visiting lecturer at Peking University, China. He has 20 years of professional working experience in the urban and rural development, transport and social development sectors in 14 countries and maintaining strong business networks in these countries (attached CV). Over the years, he conducted sector policy dialogue with various governments and prepared sector strategies and roadmaps for them, contributing to governments Country Partnership Strategy and Development Plans.

As mission leader in his organization, he led and delivered 10 international development investments (US$1.87 billion in total) in six countries and implemented sector policy reforms for sustainable development results. One of my renowned successful institutional reforms of the Transport Department in India was implemented in Bihar, the poorest state in India. Currently as the Head of the portfolio management unit, he is overseeing 65 development projects portfolio (US$6 billion in total) of China sovereign operations.

As you are aware, the sustainable development of our country is profoundly affected by six global trends—climate change, biodiversity loss, digital transformation, demographic change, labor mobility, and urbanization. To address these issues, his strength is that he can share the knowledge with the newly elected government on the innovative and new development models which successfully implemented in various countries that can demonstrate features for potential adoption, replication, and wider application in Malaysia to further improve the livelihood of our nation. We have long been in the middle-income trap and also recent widespread disruptions across all sectors arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; it is time to gear up to transform the country to high income under your leadership.

Dr Tai Lee Ming’s CV

He holds a doctorate degree in Development Policy Studies from Japan.

EDUCATION Executive Certificate (Public Leadership), John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard

University, USA, Executive Education (2022)

Executive Certificate (Public Policy), John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University,

USA, Executive Education (2021)

Ph.D. [with distinction] (Development Policy Studies), The Graduate School of East Asian Studies,

Yamaguchi University, Japan (2004)

M.A. (International Development), Hosei University, Japan (2001)

B.A. (International Economics), Yamaguchi University, Japan (1998)

TRAINING Performance Based Contracts, IRF Executive Seminar, UK (March 2016)

Workshop on ADB’s Environmental and Social Safeguards, ADB, Philippines (Nov 2004)

Workshop on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), JBIC-JICA-IDC, Japan (Jan 2001)

Workshop on Microfinance for East Asia & the Pacific, WBI-FASID, Philippines (Mar 2000)

ODAP Resettlement Workshop for Donors, WB-ADB-UNDP-JBIC, Vietnam (Mar 2000)

Seminar on Environment and Social Development Consideration, JBIC-FASID, Japan (May 1998)

LANGUAGE English: Excellent; Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka): Excellent; Malay: Excellent;

Japanese: Excellent

AWARDS Superhumans of ADB (2021), Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The Most Outstanding Staff in PRCM (2019), ADB

Vice President Award for Team Work and Multidisciplinary Approaches (2016), ADB

Vice President Award for Client Orientation and Project Processing (2015), ADB

Vice President Award for Achieving Results and Impacts (2014), ADB

The Most Outstanding Young Malaysian (2006), JCI Malaysia

President Special Award (2004), Yamaguchi University, Japan

Asian Public Intellectuals (2003), Nippon Foundation, Japan

The Outstanding Award (2001), Showa Ikeda Memorial Foundation, Japan

Director of Posts and Telecommunications Award (1999), Ministry of Posts and

Telecommunications, Japan

The Outstanding Award (1998), Shimonoseki International Exchange Association, Japan

Minister of Foreign Affairs Award (1997), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

The Outstanding Award (1997), United Nation Association, Japan

Best International Student Award (1995), Sankei Shimbun Ltd., Japan.

Economic and Social Development

Economic analysis for infrastructure investments (benefit/cost, life-cycle cost)

Social and poverty analysis for infrastructure investments

Rural Infrastructure

Asset management and portfolio management

Institutional strengthening and good governance

Environment and Social Safeguards

Environment impact assessment and mitigation measures

Involuntary resettlement and indigenous people assessment and mitigation measures

Business Management

Business administration and operations management

INTERNAL. This information is accessible to ADB Management and staff. It may be shared outside ADB with appropriate permission.

Developing markets and marketing

WORK EXPERIENCE July 2006-Present, Head, Portfolio Management Unit, PRC Resident Mission, East Asia Regional Department, Asian Development Bank 2021-Present, Lecturer, Graduate School of Education, Peking University, China 2022-Present, Committee, Behavioral Insights Student Group, Harvard University, USA

Jan 2003-present, Founder and Chairman, Share Our Love Education Funds, Malaysia 2018-present, Board of Director, SMJK Perempuan Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia 2015-present, Board of Director, SJKC Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia 1997-present, Founder and Board of Director, Asian Children Education Fund Yamaguchi University, Japan 2004-2006, Social Development Specialist (Consultant), Asian Development Bank 2001-2006, Managing Director, True Color Aquatics, Ltd, Malaysia.

January 2000-March 2003, Project Manager, HIV/AIDS Support Project, Malaysia

April 2000-May 2001, Project Manager, Teaching Children with Autism, Malaysia

April 1998-March 2001, Economic Advisor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan

COUNTRIES OF WORK EXPERIENCE China, Japan, India, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Cambodia, Philippines, and Malaysia (14 countries in total)

PROCESSED ADB Ten Projects (US$1,87 billion approved)

LOANS AND TA India: Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (US$200 million), 2019

Bangladesh: Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (US$200 million), 2018

PROPOSALS Nepal: Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (US$100 million), 2017

(as the Mission Nepal: SASEC Roads Improvement Project (US$186.80 million), 2016

Leader) Sri Lanka: Integrated Road Investment Program-T3 (US$107 million), 2015

Sri Lanka: Integrated Road Investment Program-T2 (US$200 million), 2014

India: Rural Connectivity Investment Program-Tranche 2 (US$275 million), 2013

India: Additional Financing for Bihar State Highways Project (US$300 million), 2012

India: Madhya Pradesh State Roads 3 (US$300 million), 2011

Bhutan: Improving the Well-Being of Road Workers (US$0.5 million), 2006

Nine Technical Assistance Proposals (US$8.30 million in total)

India: Institutional Strengthening of the Maharashtra Rural Road Sector for Sustainable

Development (US$1.0 million), 2019

Bangladesh: Institutional Strengthening of the Nepal Rural Road Sector for Sustainable Development (US$1.0 million), 2018

Nepal: Institutional Strengthening of the Nepal Rural Road Sector for Sustainable Development (US$1.0 million), 2017 Nepal: Capacity Strengthening for Sustainable Road Transport (US$0.5 million), 2016

India: Bihar Road Master Plan (US$1.0 million), 2012

India: Road Safety and Public-Private Partnership (US$1.0 million), 2011

India: Madhya Pradesh State Roads Project 3 (US$0.6 million), 2010

BAN: Preparing the Priority Roads Project (US$0.8 million), 2009

BAN: Transport Corridors Project (US$0.9 million), 2007

ADMINISTERED 15 Projects (US$2,878.50 million in total)

ADB-FUNDED Nepal: Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (US$100 million), 2017

PROJECTS Sri Lanka: Integrated Road Investment Program-T3 (US$107 million)

Sri Lanka: Integrated Road Investment Program-T2 (US$200 million)

Nepal: Transport Project Preparatory Facility (US$12 million)

Nepal: SASEC Road Connectivity Project (US$75 million)

India: Rural Connectivity Investment Program-T2 (US$275 million)

India: Rural Connectivity Investment Program-T1 (US$252 million)

India: Rural Roads Sector II Investment Program-T3 (US$130 million)

India: Rural Roads Sector II Investment Program-T4 (US$185 million)

India: Rural Roads Sector II Investment Program-T5 (US$222 million)

India: Bihar State Highway Project (US$420 million)

India Bihar State Highway 2 Project (US$300 million)

India: Additional Financing for Bihar State Highways Project (US$300 million)

India: Madhya Pradesh State Roads 3 (US$300 million)

Bhutan: Improving the Well-Being of Road Workers (US$0.5 million)

Biography

Dr. Tai Lee Ming, the Head of Portfolio Management Unit, PRC Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is overseeing 65 projects portfolio (US$6 billion in total) of China sovereign operations. He has over 20 years of professional work experience in the urban and rural development, transport and social development sectors. As a mission leader in ADB, he conducted sector policy dialogue with governments and prepared sector strategies and roadmaps for them, contributed to governments Country Partnership Strategy and Development Plan. He processed ten international development investments (US$1.87 billion in total) and implemented sector policy reforms for developmental results. One of his renowned successful institutional reforms was implemented in Bihar, India. Dr. Tai has worked in fourteen countries (Japan, China, India, Singapore, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Maldives, Philippines and Malaysia). Currently, he is also serving as the Board of Directors of two educational institutions in Malaysia (SMJK Perempuan Perak, SJKC Perak); and Committee of Behavioral Insights.

Student Group, Harvard University, USA. He is a columnist, and guest speaker in conferences.

Dr. Tai was awarded a doctorate degree in Development Policy Studies from Yamaguchi University, Japan, and awarded executive certificates in Public Policy and Public Leadership from Harvard University, USA. He is a visiting lecturer at Peking University, China, and a guest lecturer at Tokyo University, Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University, Shimonoseki City University, Yamaguchi Prefectural University, Japan, and The New School University, USA. He is a recipient of multiple awards for his excellent performance both in the academic and non-academic areas including "Asian Public Intellectuals Japan", "The Outstanding Young Malaysian", "ADB's Superhuman Award", etc. Also, Dr. Tai is a philanthropist and passionate about education. Over the last 20 years, he founded four education foundations (Asian Children Education Fund Yamaguchi University Japan, Share Our Love Education Fund 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 Malaysia) and supported more than 2,000 poor children in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia to complete their primary and secondary education. He has also adopted two orphanages (Pertubuhan Pengurusan Pusat Jagaan 1 Malaysia, Rumah Anak Anak Yatim Dan Miskin “Anning” Ipoh) in Malaysia by providing them food subsidy. Prior to joining ADB, Dr. Tai was the first foreigner hired by the Japanese Government billateral aid agency, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Tokyo as an economic advisor.

Also it is easier for him to facilitate with China in that way. He does not need any salary, He just want to offer some good suggestions for the country's growth. Too much political disruption in Malaysia caused the country stagnant in the middle income trap for long. Neighbouring countries have done better nowadays, it is time to move forward.