MEDIA STATEMENT
16 RESEARCHERS AWARDED MASA’S GRANTS
1 AUGUST 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: – Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (MASA) continues to play its role as a leading policy research institute by supporting the production of high-impact research that contributes towards the country’s socioeconomic development.
Through the MASA Policy Development Programme Cohort-3 (MPDP 3.0), MASA is committed to ensuring that research findings are utilised as part of practical and relevant solutions in addressing Malaysia’s strategic challenges.
MPDP 3.0 is a continuation of the success of the programme first introduced in September 2021. To date, MPDP 1.0 and MPDP 2.0 have produced 57 high-quality policy papers, focusing on solutions to critical issues, particularly in the context of national economic recovery and development.
All these are reflections of the initiatives and aspirations, inspired by the 8th Prime Minister and Chairman of MASA, Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin bin Hj. Md. Yassin.
MPDP researchers have produced studies across various strategic areas, including multidimensional poverty, education for the B40 group, sustainable urban planning for low-income communities, regional inclusivity in Sabah and Sarawak, social enterprise models for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), green economy potential and food security.
Other strategic areas of studies include empowerment of the ecotourism sector, climate change, health preparedness and crisis resilience, addressing learning loss, business acceleration, affordable housing and social protection.
This year, a total of 16 research proposals have been selected out of 145 submissions by researchers from 26 public and private universities nationwide.
MPDP 3.0 adopts a more strategic and high-impact approach, focusing on the theme “Bumiputera Empowerment and Shared Prosperity.” In line with its mission as a national think tank, MASA remains committed to forging strategic collaborations in research and national policy development.
Each selected research project will receive a grant of up to RM10,000, aimed at adding value to existing policies and serving as a check-and-balance mechanism to ensure effective implementation. The outcomes of these studies are expected to make significant contributions to Bumiputera economic development agenda.
This third cohort also builds on MASA’s earlier efforts which include advancing the aspirations and goals of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 and the publication of the Bumiputera Socioeconomic Report: Current Analysis, which serves as an important reference for the in-depth analysis of critical Bumiputera issues within the national development framework.
The full list of recipients is available at https://institutmasa.com/masa-policy-development-programme-3-0/
Well done to all recipients of the MPDP 3.0 research grants.
Congratulations and best wishes!
AZRIL MOHD AMIN
Chief Executive Officer
Institut Masa Depan Malaysia
