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Malaysian Economic Association (MEA)

The Malaysian Economic Association (MEA) or Persatuan Ekonomi Malaysia (PEM) was
founded in 1962 by professional economists from the University of Malaya, the public sector

and industry. MEA’s objectives are to stimulate public interest in economics, to encourage
the study and discussion of economic problems with special reference to Malaysia, to provide

a means for persons interested in economics to exchange ideas, to issue an economic review
and other publications, to undertake such economic activities as MEA deems appropriate for

the furtherance, promotion and execution of its aforesaid objects, and to collect or otherwise

acquire sums of money for educational, scientific and charitable purposes and to establish and
maintain foundations for such purposes. MEA is affiliated to the Federation of ASEAN

Economic Associations and the International Economic Association.

MEA regularly organizes luncheon meetings and seminars on economic issues of current
national interest. The biennial Economic Convention and annual Post-Budget Panel

Discussion are among its many well-known activities. MEA also arranges for professional

teaching of economics courses to the private sector. Twice a year, MEA publishes jointly
with the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, a biannual

academic journal, the Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies (previously Kajian Ekonomi

Malaysia). In addition, MEA publishes conference proceedings and occasional papers as well
as regular newsletter, the Ekonomika, for its members.

Members include academics and a growing number from private organizations in the

industrial, banking and public sectors. To strengthen the activities of MEA and to extend
membership, the Northern Branch was established in Penang in 1974. It has also been the

tradition of MEA to select prominent Malaysians for its Roll of Fellows which includes

former Prime Ministers Y.A.B. Tun Abdul Razak and Y.A.B. Tun Hussein Onn, and a
former cabinet minister Y.B Tan Sri Khir Johari.
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