PDI-P’s Conundrum: To Nominate or Not to Nominate Ganjar Pranowo?
Made Supriatma
The jostling for Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election has begun, putting a tough choice in front of the biggest political party in parliament.
Articles
Malaysia’s Anti-hopping Law: Some Loopholes to Mull Over
Sze Fung Ng
Malaysia’s new anti-hopping law took effect on 5 October, five days before it was announced that the country’s Parliament would be dissolved. The law seeks to respect the mandate of voters, but it is not without faults.
Vietnam Wants to Impose News Uniformity Even in Cyberspace – at What Cost?
Dien Nguyen An Luong
Hanoi’s move to impose uniformity for print and online news media compels big technological companies to participate in taking down content that is objectionable to the authorities, but this is likely to backfire since the Vietnamese public's appetite for alternative news remains strong.
Religious Dress in Schools Polemic and Indonesia’s Philosophical Vacuum
Max Lane
The popularity of a recent image lamenting the wearing of conservative dress, particularly headscarves, by girls in Indonesia’s state schools have highlighted philosophical tensions in society and politics, with no easy answers.
UNCLOS and Thailand: Security, Prosperity and Sustainability
Somjade Kongrawd
Despite being a party to UNCLOS only in 2011, the Convention has served Thailand well. But UNCLOS should be updated in light of emerging maritime issues such as climate change.
What We Measure Shapes What We Become: Moving Beyond GDP towards Comprehensive Well-Being
Putu Geniki L. Natih|Maria Monica Wihardja
Measurement of development goals should clearly encapsulate societal values and goals. Advancements should be measured in terms of human well-being, which intrinsically also includes environmental sustainability, not just production and consumption.
Merge or Die: How Chart Pattana Kla Reflects a Sea Change in Party Dynamics
Napon Jatusripitak
The merger between the Kla and Chart Pattana parties is a logical outcome of Thailand’s new electoral rules, which will benefit bigger entities at the expense of smaller, party-list driven ones. The new rules mean that more of these mergers should be expected.
Malaysia’s Electoral Cycle – Now Two-Level Chess?
Francis E. Hutchinson
Only a small number of Malaysian states are likely to hold their state elections in tandem with the national election. This might not be a bad thing, since more attention might be put on local issues and the quality of state governments.
When Abstention Speaks Volumes: Thailand’s Turnaround in the UNGA
Ian Storey
Thailand’s decision to abstain from the latest United Nations General Assembly resolution on rejecting Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories raises doubts about Bangkok’s commitment to international laws and norms.
When Tourism and Sustainable Agriculture Make Good Bedfellows
Prapimphan Chiengkul
Climate change poses serious challenges to the world’s food system. Implementing sustainable practices can help bolster climate resilience in agricultural production.