Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), which was formed from the more progressive elements of the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), is turning out to be a formidable rival to its PAS for the Muslim vote.
Author Archives: blackbox
Cooperation, Challenges and Charms: The UNCLOS for Japan
Japan has made solid contributions to the global rules-based order. Notwithstanding Japan’s efforts for international cooperation, challenges remain in implementing UNCLOS.
PAS’s Election Gambit: Having it Both Ways?
Malaysia’s Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) appears to be undecided over whether to join forces with the United Malays National Organisation or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Hesitation, however, is not indecision: PAS is hedging its bets for more leverage.
Counter-Disinformation Beyond Fact-Checking: Insights from the Philippines
The Philippines is currently at the global cutting edge of fake news and political trolling online. Unfortunately, the country has yet to find firm footing in stemming disinformation’s unruly growth.
PDI-P’s Conundrum: To Nominate or Not to Nominate Ganjar Pranowo?
The jostling for Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election has begun, putting a tough choice in front of the biggest political party in parliament.
Malaysia’s Anti-hopping Law: Some Loopholes to Mull Over
Malaysia’s new anti-hopping law took effect on 5 October, five days before it was announced that the country’s Parliament would be dissolved. The law seeks to respect the mandate of voters, but it is not without faults.
Vietnam Wants to Impose News Uniformity Even in Cyberspace – at What Cost?
Hanoi’s move to impose uniformity for print and online news media compels big technological companies to participate in taking down content that is objectionable to the authorities, but this is likely to backfire since the Vietnamese public’s appetite for alternative news remains strong.
Religious Dress in Schools Polemic and Indonesia’s Philosophical Vacuum
The popularity of a recent image lamenting the wearing of conservative dress, particularly headscarves, by girls in Indonesia’s state schools have highlighted philosophical tensions in society and politics, with no easy answers.
What We Measure Shapes What We Become: Moving Beyond GDP towards Comprehensive Well-Being
Measurement of development goals should clearly encapsulate societal values and goals. Advancements should be measured in terms of human well-being, which intrinsically also includes environmental sustainability, not just production and consumption.
Merge or Die: How Chart Pattana Kla Reflects a Sea Change in Party Dynamics
The merger between the Kla and Chart Pattana parties is a logical outcome of Thailand’s new electoral rules, which will benefit bigger entities at the expense of smaller, party-list driven ones. The new rules mean that more of these mergers should be expected.