Using international benchmarks for per capita income, Malaysia has declared itself to be out of the Middle Income Trap. A more accurate method would be to base the performance benchmarks on the transition towards higher value-added activities with efficient methods of production, highly-skilled workforce, deeper research capabilities, and efficient business environments.
Author Archives: blackbox
Mahathir’s Bersatu is Best Understood as an NGO
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, a new Malay-based political party, has been formed by Mahathir Mohamad to provide an alternative to UMNO and wins votes from the Malays.
Bombings in South Thailand
While the Thai military government blamed the bomb blasts to the red-shirt conflict, incoming evidence suggests that Muslim separatist movements are involved. The bombings underscore the fact that the military government has failed to address the ethnic-religious conflict and the presence of Asian-based Islamic State (IS) networks in the south.
Issues and Points to Look out for at the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings
The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting will take place against the backdrop of The South China Sea dispute, with the leaders of ASEAN unable to give a unified position on the matter. With six foreign ministers taking part in the AMM for the first time, the collegiality and cohesion of ASEAN will be tested.
Arbitral Tribunal Award Represents Legal Victory for Philippines, Massive Defeat for China
The Arbitral Tribunal on the South China Sea has ruled in favour of the Philippines. But China may adopt a hardline response. It could increase its naval presence in the South China Sea or commence reclamation work at Scarborough Shoal.
Duterte’s Aquino Legacies
The ruling by the Arbitration Tribunal on the South China Sea and the U.S.-Philippine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement are two foreign policy legacies left by the Aquino administration. They will be stumbling blocks to the Duterte administration if it seeks to revise its foreign policy with China and the US.
Myanmar Forum 2016: Key Takeaways
The Myanmar Forum 2016 highlighted the imperatives for the NLD government to restore trust and create conditions that are conducive to doing business in Myanmar. The newly-elected parliament need to repeal and revise outdated laws and develop policies relevant to the country’s current needs.
Duterte, Jokowi and ASEAN
The political ascensions of Jokowi and Duterte is a significant challenge to ASEAN unity and centrality. As political outsiders with minimal international experience, their foreign policies are nationalistic and unilateral – focusing more on supporting the administration’s domestic infrastructure and nation-building agenda.
Cooperation Necessary to Eradicate the Haze
The forest fires in Indonesia is a multilateral and transboundary issue that requires the cooperation of ASEAN in developing and implementing measures to prevent environmental and economic costs to affected countries. Indonesia needs to mitigate and assuage fears of a repeat of the 2015 haze incident.
Transboundary Haze Pollution in ASEAN is a Shared Responsibility at all Levels
Indonesia’s non-ratification on ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2014 has hindered the effectiveness of tackling the recurring haze problem. The decentralised governance structure and weak central coordination among its agencies make implementation at the ground level difficult.