There has been recent speculation about machinations to bring down Malaysia’s Unity Government. This detracts from the need to deliver on governance outcomes.
Author Archives: blackbox
Seeing the National in Gaming and Esports in Southeast Asia
Electronic sports have gained global attention, including in Southeast Asia. As with traditional sports, national teams can bring glory and boost a country’s soft power. On the flip side, team rivalries can potentially disrupt neighbourly relations.
Zulkifli Hasan as Malaysia’s New Deputy Religious Affairs Minister: An Analysis
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s new appointee in the religious affairs ministry has the requisite credentials to aid in the government’s bid to resist the rise of the conservative opposition.
China’s “Community of Shared Future” with Southeast Asia: Behind the Numbers
Seven ASEAN member states have signed on to China’s “community of shared future” more for mutually beneficial cooperation than because they subscribe fully to the Chinese vision of a new regional order. The remaining three may prefer practical cooperation to enmeshment in China’s grand strategy and discourse.
The Unexpected Twist in Vietnam’s Renewable Energy Saga
Punishment awaits the senior officials who allowed Vietnam’s renewable energy quest to go off the rails, despite its apparent initial success. This policy crisis has the potential to affect other economic sectors if no clear end is in sight.
The “T-Wave” Descending on China: Rising but Insufficient to Pull Tourists to Thailand?
Like Korea’s famous “K-Wave”, Thailand’s media stars and products have gained an Asian audience where Chinese fans dominate. Unlike the Korean trend, however, Thailand’s new “T-Wave” has not gained enough momentum to significantly increase Chinese tourist numbers.
Collaboration Between Pheu Thai and Move Forward Parties on Their Core Issues Will Determine Thailand’s Future
Thailand’s Pheu Thai-led coalition government is struggling to amend the Constitution of 2017, or to draft a new replacement for it. Not much progress can be made on that front, however, unless and until the Move Forward Party provides support.
Road to Carbon Zero in Southeast Asia: Spur Innovation and Price Carbon
Southeast Asia needs to take a two-track approach to attain the target of halving carbon emissions.
Malaysia’s Identity Politics Will Perpetuate Exclusivity If Left Unchecked
Perikatan Nasional’s growing popularity among Malaysian Malay voters portends a potential path towards increasing polarisation in society if the sitting government does not do more to engage with right-wing rhetoric and convince all Malaysians to respect diversity.
The Postings of My Father: Tradeoff Between Privacy and Misinformation
End-to-end messaging apps in Thailand present a dilemma to policymakers. The use of encryption raises the level of security but at the same time exposes users to information maladies.