Dear readers,
I’ll get straight to it: The Malaysianist will be increasing subscription prices.
From October 1 this year, these will be the new rates:
Monthly: US$8 (~RM33)
Yearly: US$80 (~RM337)
Founding Member: US$100 (~RM422)
The price revision follows a review to ensure the newsletter remains an independent voice tracking money and power in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
To that end, this year I have added Southeast. There’s also Brainjam for founding members.
Then there are the usual News, ideas, and everything in between editions, as well as scoops, analyses, features and commentary, which have come to define the coverage of The Malaysianist as you know it today.
As always, the newsletter will be purely supported by subscriptions, meaning I won’t be taking any advertising or sponsored posts.
That’s the goal anyway: subscription-driven journalism without all those annoying ads or being beholden to a corporation.
The money I earn will go to not only keeping this space and me alive, but also allow me to pay my designer for more art pieces, commission other writers or hire extra editorial hands, and expand the offerings of the newsletter.
With the revised price, what every subscriber gets:
All newsletters including Southeast.
What founding members get:
Everything above, plus:
Brainjam: messy notes, unpolished intel, and early experiments
Founders’ brief: the annual performance review/impact report, laying bare what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next.
In the pipeline is a podcast, but I’ll cross that bridge when that day comes.
Podcasting consumes resources, even for an MVP (there’s actually a minimum quality threshold to meet before publishing).
The newsletter also offers referrals and group subscriptions, which help offset costs to some extent.
For now, September’s a good month for me to keep building The Malaysianist in the hopes of convincing you to stay or upgrade.
I’ll be reminding both new and existing readers about the price hike regularly until it takes effect in October.
Below is a Price Hike Q&A that I hope answers all your questions:
Why the change?
When I revived this project last year, I was charging US$5/month (US$50/year, US$60 founding member).
In that time, the scope has grown far beyond what I envisioned. But the price hasn’t kept pace.
This adjustment ensures The Malaysianist can keep digging, keep publishing, and keep growing, without bowing to advertisers, investors, sponsors or even legal threats and lawsuits.
Why now?
Because the mission has expanded. Covering both Malaysia and the region properly takes time and resources. This keeps the work sustainable.
How much are prices going up?
Monthly: from US$5 → US$8
Yearly: from US$50 → US$80
Founding: from US$60 → US$100
Why the jump?
The new prices are meant to last. I could have gone for a smaller raise now and another one in 2026.
Instead, I’ve set a price that better reflects the value of the work and helps me stretch every ringgit for as long as possible.
I’m already subscribed. Do I need to do anything?
No. Your current plan continues until renewal. When you renew after October 1, the new price applies.
If you don’t want to renew, then you can unsubscribe and hop back on anytime.
Can I lock in the old price?
Yes, upgrade or renew before October 1 and you’ll carry your current rate through your next cycle.
What’s the added value?
A growing scope: from Malaysia-only to Malaysia + Southeast Asia.
Founders get Brainjam + the annual impact report — an inside look at how The Malaysianist is run.
How does this compare to others?
The Economist charges anywhere between RM65 and RM77/month (~ US$17) for their digital package, while regional newsletters or publications run anywhere between US$8 and US$16/month.
At US$8/month, The Malaysianist remains accessible while delivering original, independent reporting, commentary and analyses.
I hope you’ll continue with me on this journey for work that’s free and fearless.
Subscribe or upgrade today 👇🏾
I’ll see you tomorrow with a new Southeast edition, followed by News, Ideas and Everything in Between.
Talk to me
Have a burning question or a tip-off? You can always reach me at: emmanuel@themalaysianist.com.