Nguyen Khac Giang
Today, Vietnam is arguably better positioned, both financially and geopolitically, to move forward with the North-South High Speed Rail project. However, the feasibility of this ambitious megaproject hinges on a careful cost-benefit analysis, which is fraught with uncertainty.
Adib Zalkapli
There is positive sentiment on both sides of the Causeway about the proposed special economic zone in Johor. However, the project needs to be future-proofed against potential political complications up north.
Jack Meng-Tat Chia
Theravāda Buddhist communities across maritime Southeast Asia have long adapted to local conditions. Even today, believers are finding new ways of transmitting the faith to younger adherents.
Joanne Lin|William Choong
The political tides are going against the recently impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This could adversely affect the trilateral security arrangement involving Japan, South Korea and the US.
Tricia Yeoh
There is talk of integrating Kuala Lumpur into Selangor again. However, before considering reintegration, the capital’s governance and residents' needs must be addressed.
Arnold Puyok
Another scandal has rocked the state government in Sabah. But it is too early to tell whether it will deal the death blow to the government.
Nguyen Khac Giang|Dien Nguyen An Luong
As George Orwell noted in his seminal 1972 essay, "Unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept dark, without the need for any official ban". As our authors argue, Vietnam’s state plan to reform its media could create more problems than it solves.
Peter T. C. Chang
China’s soft power comes in various guises. Fan Bingbing’s appointment as Melaka’s tourism ambassador represents a new, private-sector driven form that will likely grow.
Pham Vu Thieu Quang
Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal, which aims to connect Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand, has sparked regional concerns, particularly from Vietnam, due to potential environmental impacts and geopolitical implications.
Lance Wu
Lance Wu investigates the prevalence of cyber scams in the region and the challenges in responding to them while protecting ASEAN’s digital transformation.