Consider This: Rare Earths — Malaysia’s Mine-to-Magnet Ambitions

25 MIN • 11 FEBRUARY 2026

Malaysia wants to move up the global value chain by building a full rare earths industry, from mining to high-value manufacturing ‘mine-to-magnet’. How well do we understand the benefits and challenges of developing the rare earth industry domestically? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Emeritus Dr Tham Siew Yean from UKM’s Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS). She’s also a Visiting Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, a Board Member of ISIS Malaysia, and a Trustee of Khazanah Research Institute.