Malaysia’s Budget 2026: Fiscal Reform or Fragility?
Tricia Yeoh
Malaysia’s 2026 budget continues fiscal reforms but exposes structural fragilities such as heavy operating costs and rising debt. These factors may threaten long-term fiscal stability.
Articles
Will the East Coast Son Rise Again? Shafie Apdal and Sabah’s 2025 Election
Vilashini Somiah
Shafie Apdal, long hailed as champion of Sabah’s East Coast, may need to offer more than his “Sabah first” slogan to secure victory in the upcoming state election.
Why Did Indonesia Decide to Buy China’s J-10 Fighter Jet?
Ian Storey
Indonesia’s recent announcement that it was considering buying the China-made J-10 fighter raises more questions than answers.
Trump’s Whirlwind ASEAN Visit: Any Substance Behind the Show?
Stephen Olson
Beyond the pomp and pageantry of Trump’s visit to Southeast Asia, some aspects of America’s policies towards the region have become clearer.
To Lam’s Foreign Policy Leadership in the “Era of National Rise”
Hoang Thi Ha|Pham Thi Phuong Thao
Since assuming power in August 2024, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam has pursued bold reforms with urgency. Economic diplomacy has been a central focus, aimed at mobilising international resources for economic restructuring and technological upgrading. He has also engaged Washington, traditional partners China and Russia, and other major powers with equal vigour, pursuing pragmatic multi-alignment to advance national interests.
Restoring Multilateralism: Can Regional Cooperation Arrangements Fill the Void?
Jayant Menon
With the US backing out of multilateral trade deals, there is a possibility that the EU could link up with two expansive networks – the CPTPP and RCEP – to form a mega trading bloc.
Trump’s Tariffs Will Withstand the Supreme Court
Stephen Olson
A decades-long governance evolution in the US has vested the Executive Branch with tremendous power when it comes to trade.
47th ASEAN Summit: Steadiness Amid Shifting Tides
Joanne Lin|Melinda Martinus|Kristina Fong Siew Leng
Joanne Lin, Melinda Martinus and Kristina Fong examine the outcomes of the 47th ASEAN Summit and assess Malaysia’s achievement as the ASEAN Chair.
Conservative and Religious: Filipino Evangelicals Go MAGA
Lisandro E. Claudio|Aries A. Arugay
American conservatism and evangelicalism have found their way into the Philippines.
Towards a New Flying Geese Model in Southeast Asia
Marco Kamiya
Southeast Asian economies and other Asian countries are grappling with tremors in industrial structures due to tariffs and supply chain disruptions. It would be helpful to revisit the Flying Geese model to understand industrial transformation and development.