Ooi Kok Hin
UMNO is daring Pakatan Harapan to expel it from the Unity Government and call for an early election. The party's history suggests it would rather not be the one to quit the coalition.
ASEAN@60 Special Edition
Mari Elka Pangestu
Over the past two decades, since the ASEAN Economic Community was envisioned, ASEAN has benefited from an increasingly open global economy. Its strategy of remaining open to all major economies, attracting investment, integrating into global supply chains and avoiding choosing sides has served the region well, but this model is now under pressure. The intensifying US-China strategic rivalry and tariff wars, export controls and competition over semiconductors and critical minerals are reshaping the global economic landscape.
Ian Storey
A new China-Laos military facility constitutes a significant gain for Beijing. But it will trigger concern among regional countries, in particular Vietnam.
Nuurrianti Jalli
Anthropic intercepted a sophisticated operation potentially offering a commercial service to influence Malaysia’s elections. This must be treated as a systemic risk requiring comprehensive regulation.
Elyssa Kaur Ludher
Across the region, concerns about food security are easing. But the region’s food security is structural, and the risks have to be mitigated.
Lee Hwok-Aun
Genuine Bumiputera empowerment remains a policy priority. Whether and how to use ethnic quotas must be deliberated with clarity and decisiveness.
Policymakers' View
Jari Vilén|Ari Heikkinen
Middle powers in the Indo-Pacific have gone beyond hedging to build strategic space and strengthen resilience. This holds pertinent lessons from Europe.
Arnold Puyok
Abang Johari, the premier of Sarawak, needs to win by a convincing margin at the upcoming state polls. This would give his coalition leverage at the federal level.
Nguyen Khac Giang|Dien Nguyen An Luong
The Communist Party of Vietnam has set out a strategy to build confidence in its leadership. Success will depend on several factors, including credible messengers.
Suryaputra Wijaksana|Maria Monica Wihardja
Bank Indonesia now has a dual mandate, but not the institutional safeguards to manage it. The result is a central bank pulled toward fiscal financing and political oversight — and away from price stability.