One major impact of Covid-19 has been the early signs of consolidation in Indonesia’s fintech landscape. The prospects for fintech, in a country of 270 million people with significant internet penetration and about a third of the population still unbanked, are alluring.
Author Archives: blackbox
State Elections in Sarawak: Kingmaker in the Offing?
The political temperature in Kuala Lumpur has risen recently due to the governing coalition’s increasingly tenuous hold on the reins of power. In the general elections that are to come, any coalition eyeing power will have to look at the eastern state of Sarawak.
UMNO Withdraws from Perikatan: September Blues for Muhyiddin?
Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin pulled off a historic coup in February last year, when he ditched the then-ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition to form a new government. Eighteen months on, he might soon be getting a taste of his own medicine.
Min Aung Hlaing and His Generals: Some Biographical Notes
Following his 1 February seizure of power in Naypyitaw, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing formed an 11-member junta called the State Administration Council (SAC). This article examines the biographical profiles of junta’s key military members, in an effort to better understand the regime.
Team Biden: A Southeast Asia Reset
Compared to China, the Biden Administration has been slow off the blocks in the game of winning friends and influencing people in Southeast Asia. It has its work cut out for it.
Between Religious Rituals and Safety Protocols in the Time of a Pandemic
Religious leaders have an important role to play, in word and deed, to safeguard the physical and spiritual well-being of their flock during this pandemic.
BRI Projects in Cambodia and Laos Roll On Despite Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the implementation of BRI projects. However, China has swiftly taken measures to keep BRI projects going, notably in Cambodia and Laos, by ensuring financial flow and supply of materials.
Land of Smiles Riven by New Political Faultlines
Seven years after the 2014 coup, Thailand is seeing a new political divide along generational and ideological lines.
Why is Vietnam’s Military Modernisation Slowing?
Security challenges presented by the South China Sea dispute led to Vietnam’s efforts to modernise its armed forces over the past two decades. However, after the fall of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2016, the procurement of major military assets has virtually ground to a halt.
Thailand’s No Sa-lim Shopping List: Taking Aim at Big Business
Thai pro-democracy protestors have started to boycott big businesses deemed as pro-regime. While the sheer pervasiveness of these companies makes effective boycott difficult, it has not deterred protestors from exercising their power as consumers.