Idris Ahmad: Not Your Ordinary Religious Affairs Minister
Mohd Faizal Musa
The appointment of PAS ideologue Idris Ahmad as Malaysia’s new religious affairs minister provides the Islamist party significant latitude to advance its ideological agenda.
Articles
The Quad and the Indo-Pacific: Going Slow to Go Further
William Choong
In recent years, the Quad has gained momentum in response to growing Chinese assertiveness. But a lower key strategy is advised to allay regional concerns that ASEAN’s centrality will be undermined by a minilateral arrangement helmed by external powers.
The Delta Variant and Border Closures: A Rethink is Overdue
Jayant Menon
The highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus should lead to a rethink about border closures in Southeast Asia.
Malaysia Goes Carbon Neutral, But With a Catch
Ryan Wong
Malaysia’s new target is more ambitious than any other target set by a Southeast Asian country so far. But the qualifier is achievement by 2050 ‘at the earliest’.
Vietnam and Japan Partners Amid Superpower Rivalry
Mateusz Chatys
If two recent high-level visits by China and Japan to Vietnam are of any indication, Tokyo appears to have gained the upper hand over Beijing when it comes to courting one of Southeast Asia’s most important players.
Attack on Ahmadiyya Mosque in Sintang: An Agony for Humanity
Ahalla Tsauro|Aninda Dewayanti
The minority Ahmadiyya sect has been much aligned for its purportedly ‘deviant’ beliefs. More should be done to address such unfounded conceptions, and provide a safer environment for the sect’s followers in the public sphere.
Wang Yi’s Visit to Vietnam: Reasserting Influence, Regaining Balance
Hoang Thi Ha|Le Hong Hiep
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Vietnam on 10-12 September was part of Beijing’s efforts to pull Hanoi back from its perceived ‘tilt’ towards Washington. More than ever, Vietnam’s foreign policy mantra, “firm in objectives, flexible in strategies and tactics”, is being put to test.
Will Kadin Be Caught Out?
Michael Schaper
Business groups such as Indonesia’s Kadin should be the voice of business - not of politicians.
Urbanisation – An Overlooked Issue in the Mekong River Basin
Melinda Martinus|Qiu Jiahui
Rapid urbanisation and population growth have been overlooked factors contributing to environmental and ecological disruptions in the Mekong region.
Ratifying the RCEP to Reset Malaysia’s Economy
Tham Siew Yean
Malaysia needs to move fast to ratify two free trade deals to reset its economy, which has been impacted by political instability and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a priority.