Yanuar Nugroho
Campaign rhetoric from all the candidates aside, the developmental challenges awaiting Indonesia’s next president need fresh thinking and brave action. Will the right people get in?
Sharon Seah|Mirza Sadaqat Huda
Sharon Seah and Mirza Sadaqat Huda examine Laos’ potential role in leading regional energy interconnectivity in ASEAN.
Lee Hwok-Aun
Malaysia is gearing up for 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress. To help make it more substantive and constructive, the Anwar Ibrahim administration should take on board seven suggestions.
Francis E. Hutchinson
Malaysia’s recent cabinet reshuffle sheds some light on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s thinking about his cabal of coalitions and cliques.
James Chai
The Dubai Move sought to entice Gabungan Parti Sarawak to switch sides. At its core, the ill-fated move misunderstands what the coalition stands for.
Nguyen Khac Giang
Recent rumours of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s ill health and even death were greatly exaggerated. However, the speculation highlighted the weakness of the Party’s thinking and preparation for the inevitable political succession.
Wai Moe
Things are not going well for the ruling junta in Myanmar, no matter how hard it tries to ignore the bad news on the battlefield.
Norshahril Saat|Sharifah Afra Alatas
Mahathir Mohamad’s controversial remarks about race relations in Malaysia has put the impetus on the incumbent administration to elucidate a coherent vision of Malayness and multiculturalism.
Wang Zheng
China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative has made significant strides in Southeast Asia. All countries in the region have received DSR investments, with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia taking the lion’s share. However, China faces multiple challenges in pushing the DSR forward, including the growing tensions between the state and private tech companies domestically as well as intensifying US-China technological rivalry and risks of tech bifurcation.
Napon Jatusripitak
Thai democracy might have suffered some setbacks after last year’s elections. But civil society organisations and their efforts to hold the government accountable underscore the kingdom’s democratic potential.