China’s Increased Investment in Vietnam: Opportunities and Challenges
Le Hong Hiep
Chinese investments in Vietnam have surged. But they bring not only opportunities but also challenges for the latter.
Articles
Trump 2.0 Presidency: What Is in Store for Southeast Asia?
Hoang Thi Ha|William Choong
Southeast Asia is unlikely to be a priority in Trump’s foreign policy agenda, but the region will need to strategise its response to the President-elect’s trade and security stances, and his transactional approach.
Does the Arakan Army have the Capacity to Govern Rakhine?
Kyaw Hsan Hlaing
The Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar appears to be making enough headway in Rakhine to make it a plausible rival authority someday, not just in the context of warfighting but also administration.
Naquib Al-Attas’ Royal Professorship: Whither an Inclusive ‘Madani’ Malaysia?
Mohd Faizal Musa
The implications of a rare Royal Professorship award on Malaysia’s civil society and government could be significant, not least because the awardee has a strong following within some parts of the country’s intelligentsia.
An Accommodative Transitional 2025 Budget for Indonesia
Manggi Habir|Siwage Dharma Negara
Indonesia’s 2025 budget is a negotiated outcome accommodating both Joko Widodo’s legacy and some of Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes. While the formation of this “transition” budget was driven by the Jokowi administration, the new administration may still revise the budget in accordance with Prabowo’s policy priorities.
Prabowo Subianto’s Problematic Start: A Missed Opportunity?
Yanuar Nugroho|Made Supriatma
The new Indonesian government has had some hiccups in its first fortnight in power. If the president had made better use of the transition between administrations, these hiccups could have been avoided.
Targeting Malaysia’s ‘T15’: An Easier Way to Tax the Rich
Lee Hwok-Aun
Malaysia is trying to get the ultra-rich to pay more through the removal of fuel subsidies and other measures. A simpler way is to raise their tax rates.
Xin Yimin in Malaysia: Opportunities and Challenges
Peter T. C. Chang
New Chinese migrants to Malaysia have brought manifold benefits to the country. However, there are concerns that they could broaden socio-economic divides.
Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Election: How Personas and Policy Platforms Influenced Swing Voters
Julia Lau|Maria Monica Wihardja
A nationwide poll conducted during the 2024 Indonesian presidential election campaign period shows that swing voters shifted their voting preferences as the election campaigning proceeded, due to their changing perceptions of candidates’ personalities and policy platforms.
Why Southeast Asia Should be Concerned about North Korean Troops in Russia
Ian Storey
The arrival of thousands of North Korean troops in Russia represents a serious escalation of the Russia-Ukraine War. Southeast Asian countries should be concerned. They can take action to enforce the sanctions regime against North Korea.