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Considering the Optimism of Azyumardi Azra: The Future of Islam in Southeast Asia

The late renowned Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra had unlimited optimism about Southeast Asia’s position as the future of Islam.

The G20 Summit: Who Makes the World’s Rules?

The Group of 7 are relatively aligned in their perceptions of global challenges, particularly when it comes to strategic competitors such as China and Russia, but the same perceptions do not hold true when it comes to the remaining members of the bigger Group of 20.

ASEAN’s Season of Summitry: More Hits or Misses?

Going into 2022, ASEAN flew into a perfect storm of challenges within and without. With the annual ASEAN summits over, the grouping is none the worse for the wear.

Polarised but Hopeful: How Malaysia’s Gen Zs May Vote, and Why

This Long Read features the findings of a recent poll on the voter sentiments of Malaysia’s Gen Zs. A majority of Gen Zs hold low trust in the political actors that are running the country but are nonetheless still politically engaged. 79 per cent of them say that they will most likely turn out to vote in the coming election.

Putting Sustainability at the Heart of the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision

A cyclist passes by solar panels at the Valenzuela Solar Farm in Valenzuela City

If ASEAN’s Coordinating Council comprising its foreign ministers and their High-level Task Force manages to influence their national leaders to make the right moves despite global uncertainty, ASEAN’s environmental, socio-economic and cultural future can be set on the right, albeit steeper, trajectory.

Pakatan Harapan and Malay Heartland Voters: The Need to Stay Grounded

Pakatan Harapan has its work cut out for it in seeking to defend or even take new seats in Malay-majority constituencies. In such seats, the coalition needs to work close to the ground and address quotidian issues, rather than stressing national-level matters.

Easy Highway, Troubled City: How China Wins and Loses Cambodians’ Hearts

Two China-driven projects show striking contrasts. The newly opened Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has been well-received by Cambodians. But grand plans for Sihanoukville to be an investment hub and “multi-purpose” city have instead seen Chinese businesses crowding out locals, a boom-bust cycle in construction and illicit trades.

UNCLOS: The Polestar for Philippine Maritime Ambitions

Philippine coast guard personnel aboard Gabriela Silang

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has served the Philippines well in achieving its security, economic and environmental goals. The most high-profile application of UNCLOS was the country’s arbitration proceedings against China in 2013 over the South China Sea.

GE15: Parti Amanah Negara’s Strong and Volatile Seats

Amanah, the progressive Islamist party, will be contesting in as many as 54 seats in Malaysia’s general elections. The prospect of many multi-cornered fights suggests that the party faces an uphill battle to retain the eleven parliamentary seats it now holds.