There is talk of integrating Kuala Lumpur into Selangor again. However, before considering reintegration, the capital’s governance and residents’ needs must be addressed.
Author Archives: chahaewon
Weaknesses in Mekong River Governance: The Case of the Funan Techo Canal
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.
Addressing the Philippines’ Education Crisis
The education system in the Philippines is floundering. It is time to implement some urgent reforms, such as addressing the spending gap and decentralisation.
How a Provincial Election in Udon Thani Became a National Battleground
Thaksin used a local election to stage a political comeback. While this reaped dividends, the key is to ensure that the needs of voters are addressed in the long term.
Has China Changed its Policy Towards Chinese Overseas?
In 2024, senior Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao made a clear distinction between Huaqiao and Huaren, emphasising that they possess different political loyalties. Huaren’s political loyalty, he noted, is tied only to the country of citizenship. In substance, however, Beijing’s policy of blurring the distinction between Huaqiao and Huaren remains unchanged.
China’s Increased Investment in Vietnam: Opportunities and Challenges
Chinese investments in Vietnam have surged. But they bring not only opportunities but also challenges for the latter.
Trump 2.0 Presidency: What Is in Store for Southeast Asia?
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?
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.
An Accommodative Transitional 2025 Budget for Indonesia
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.
Targeting Malaysia’s ‘T15’: An Easier Way to Tax the Rich
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.