Malaysia

Overview

Malaysia lands at #40 of 72 on the Cooked Index — #40 Most Cooked. The clearest fault line runs through political institutions: political polarization (Polarization 60/100) is worse than 40% of countries tracked. Economic policy isn't far behind — income inequality trails 78% of the field. And housing policy rounds out the picture: housing cost burden (25% cost-burdened by housing) sits worse than 31% of countries. Same scoreboard, different departments.

At 25/100, Malaysia is 2 points below the median of 27 across all 72 countries (higher = more cooked). Performance is lopsided: political polarization ranks worse than 40% of countries, while billionaires hoarded (17 billionaires) is the closest thing to a bright spot — and it still only beats 38% of the field. Strip away the country name and you're really looking at a political institutions problem.

Sources: V-Dem + Global Peace Index (2025) · World Bank — Gini Index (SI.POV.GINI) (2018–2022) · OECD Affordable Housing Database (HC1.2) (2024)