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Ethnic Quotas in Malaysia Need an Honest Reckoning

Genuine Bumiputera empowerment remains a policy priority. Whether and how to use ethnic quotas must be deliberated with clarity and decisiveness.

Middle Powers Building Strategic Space in the Indo-Pacific: Lessons for Europe

Middle powers in the Indo-Pacific have gone beyond hedging to build strategic space and strengthen resilience. This holds pertinent lessons from Europe.

Why Sarawak’s Abang Johari Cannot Afford to Slip Up

Abang Johari, the premier of Sarawak, needs to win by a convincing margin at the upcoming state polls. This would give his coalition leverage at the federal level.

Vietnam Tests the Limits of Ideological Persuasion

The Communist Party of Vietnam has set out a strategy to build confidence in its leadership. Success will depend on several factors, including credible messengers.

Bank Indonesia’s Dual Mandate: Independence Under Pressure

Bank Indonesia now has a dual mandate, but not the institutional safeguards to manage it. The result is a central bank pulled toward fiscal financing and political oversight — and away from price stability.

Southeast Asia Needs AI Exit Options, Not AI Independence

The region cannot eliminate its dependence on foreign chips, clouds and models. It can, however, ensure that essential AI systems remain affordable, locally effective and replaceable when suppliers or access conditions change.

Thailand Election Commission’s Senate Case Treads Legal and Political Minefields

The Election Commission’s initiation of proceedings against a group of senators for 2024 election collusion raises concerns about conflicts of interest and selective prosecution.

Between Ambition and Trust: Tracking Southeast Asia’s Climate Transition

The 2026 Southeast Asia Climate Outlook survey reveals a region anxious about current global crises, yet steadfast in supporting the climate transition.

PAS’s Evolving International Engagement: From Islamism to Development Diplomacy?

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s (PAS) foreign policy outlook has evolved rather than fundamentally changed. While the party continues to prioritise global Islamic solidarity, governing experience has expanded its international engagement from ideological networks to state-led economic diplomacy.