Malaysia’s 2026 budget continues fiscal reforms but exposes structural fragilities such as heavy operating costs and rising debt. These factors may threaten long-term fiscal stability.
Author Archives: chahaewon
Will the East Coast Son Rise Again? Shafie Apdal and Sabah’s 2025 Election
Shafie Apdal, long hailed as champion of Sabah’s East Coast, may need to offer more than his “Sabah first” slogan to secure victory in the upcoming state election.
To Lam’s Foreign Policy Leadership in the “Era of National Rise”
Since assuming power in August 2024, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam has pursued bold reforms with urgency. Economic diplomacy has been a central focus, aimed at mobilising international resources for economic restructuring and technological upgrading. He has also engaged Washington, traditional partners China and Russia, and other major powers with equal vigour, pursuing pragmatic multi-alignment to advance national interests.
Restoring Multilateralism: Can Regional Cooperation Arrangements Fill the Void?
With the US backing out of multilateral trade deals, there is a possibility that the EU could link up with two expansive networks – the CPTPP and RCEP – to form a mega trading bloc.
Trump’s Tariffs Will Withstand the Supreme Court
A decades-long governance evolution in the US has vested the Executive Branch with tremendous power when it comes to trade.
Conservative and Religious: Filipino Evangelicals Go MAGA
American conservatism and evangelicalism have found their way into the Philippines.
Towards a New Flying Geese Model in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian economies and other Asian countries are grappling with tremors in industrial structures due to tariffs and supply chain disruptions. It would be helpful to revisit the Flying Geese model to understand industrial transformation and development.
The AI-Robotics Revolution, China-US Rivalry and Southeast Asia
China is best positioned to achieve mass implementation of ‘embodied AI’, i.e., the integration of AI with robotics. This provides significant opportunities for Southeast Asian economies keen to develop real-world applications of AI. However, how far countries will go in adopting China’s AI technology stack will be shaped by US-China strategic competition, which is increasingly being played out in the AI and robotics sectors.
Advancing RCEP Integration: Forging a More Resilient and Inclusive Economic Future
The potential of RCEP can only be unlocked when micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which constitute the backbone of the ASEAN economies, can navigate and utilise its provisions with ease.
Is Vietnam Headed for a Property Market Crisis?
There are many factors behind Vietnam’s red-hot property market, with loose monetary policy playing a central role. However, the government is reluctant to tighten it due to both political and economic reasons.