The franchising sector has the capacity to play a lead role in reducing emissions, but appears to be a bit of a blind spot for climate change support and action by governments.
Author Archives: blackbox
The Paradox of Malaysia’s Lowering of Voting Age – Expanded Enfranchisement Devalued by More Unequal Representation
In Malaysia, the Barisan Nasional had long benefited from its dominance over the smaller rural constituencies, winning more seats even if they performed poorly in the larger, under-represented urban constituencies. CA2019 aggravates this phenomenon because the new young voters tend to be located in the urban areas.
Indonesia’s New Workers Party: Ambiguity in Labour Politics
The formation of a new Workers Party backed by the country’s labour unions signifies a new trend in Indonesian politics.
Has ASEAN Reached the Point of Diminishing Returns with Myanmar?
The State Administration Council has cleverly gamed the ASEAN system for its own ends and dragged out the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. It is time for ASEAN to pack more punch into the office of the Special Envoy to Myanmar.
No News is Good News: Low Trust in Southeast Asia’s Mainstream Media
Public trust in mainstream news media is at an all-time low in several Southeast Asian countries. The fundamental challenge facing governments, journalists and consumers is how to reshape the media environment so that the trend can be reversed.
Taking a New Tack on Ageing: Seniors as Agents of Development
As populations in Asia and the Pacific age, it is crucial for countries to reimagine senior citizens as agents of development rather than seeing them as a burden on societies.
Restoring Privacy Rights a Must for Ending Myanmar’s Violence
Myanmar’s military regime has committed gross violations of its citizens’ privacy rights in its attempts to quell resistance. Any return to normalcy has to begin with restoring the people’s privacy protections.
Malaysia’s Skewed Transport System: Rising Costs Demand Bolder Solutions
Malaysia’s failure to build an efficient and functioning public transport system has a price tag: a huge fuel subsidy bill, sizable accumulated public debts and a high level of household debts partly caused by car loans. Policymakers should think out of the box and consider subsidising commuters to take public transport.
The Shi’as and Freedom of Religion under Joko Widodo’s Presidency
This Long Read argues that under the current Joko Widodo presidency, the Shi’as have suffered less harassment and intimidation from the Sunni majority than under previous governments.
ASEAN and ADMM: Climbing Out of a Deep Hole
The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting has bagged modest achievements in past years. But it will take a lot more to assert ASEAN’s central role in a region where external powers have grabbed the initiative in forming minilaterals outside the ASEAN ecosystem.