The idea to establish an institute to promote libertarian ideals was first mooted by Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz, Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad in early 2006, who thought there was a need to promote libertarian ideas to Malaysians in a more strategic and organised fashion. The think 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: 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, 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. 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, 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. In 2010, a joint University of Pennsylvania–United Nations University index called the 2010 Global Go-To Think Tank Report ranked IDEAS as the 18th best new think tank in the world and the second best new think tank in Asia.
Wau Bebas Logo
IDEAS’ logo is the wau bulan that flies freely in the sky – hence its name “Wau Bebas” or the Kite of Freedom. The traditional Wau Bebas motif symbolises IDEAS’ belief that the principles of Rule of Law, Limited Government, Free Markets, and Free Individuals, are deeply rooted in Malaysia’s tradition and heritage. Their task is to rediscover these truly Malaysian values and to re-present them to contemporary Malaysian society so that their heritage will help Malaysia to prosper in a globalised world. A wau is only complete and functional when it is rooted to the ground via a string, depicting our call for abidance to the rule of law within a small, limited state.
