The recent annual general assembly by Parti Islam SeMalaysia was relatively uneventful, with key leaders including Abdul Hadi Awang retaining their positions. If the party is eyeing federal power in Putrajaya, however, it would need to prove its governance credentials.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Nguyen Phu Trong’s ‘Bamboo Diplomacy’: Legacy in the Making?
Vietnam’s General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is actively promoting “Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy” as his foreign policy legacy. The concept is not altogether new but it has been riding upon Trong’s political ascendency and Vietnam’s geopolitical fortunes.
The President and His Political Party: An Impending Collision
There is a widening rift between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle which endorsed his candidacy in the country’s two previous presidential elections.
ASEAN-GCC Summit: The Need to Keep it Going
The recent ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council summit underscores a joint goal to link the two dynamic regions. The key is to keep the bloc-to-bloc interactions going.
Mainland Chinese Workers in Brunei Darussalam: Living in a Bubble
The relationship between China and Brunei has grown significantly, but the level of people-to-people exchanges leaves much to be desired.
Who Decides the Cessation of Violence in Myanmar? A Grinding Battle for Control
As the violence in Myanmar looks set to spill over into another year of intractable struggle, both sides are dealing with morale and discipline problems within their armed units. The main suffering is borne by the civilians who, despite all the tribulations, remain defiant.
The Implications of the Israel-Gaza Conflict on Indonesia
Indonesia is likely to support the Palestinian people and redouble its commitment and calls for a two-state solution in light of the ongoing Israeli-Gaza violence. Domestically, the spiralling crisis has some potential to affect the 2024 presidential candidates and security climate, especially if no urgent solution is in sight.
Hot “Furnace” at Home, Cool Relationships Abroad
Vietnam’s 8th Party Plenum underscores Hanoi’s two-pronged bid to maintain solid relations with external powers in the West and tightening the screws on civil society at home.
Children in Myanmar: Caught in the Crossfire
The junta in Myanmar has adopted a new tactic against resistance forces by arresting and detaining children in lieu of their family members.
Climate Action in Southeast Asia: Lagging Leadership, Passive People
Climate action initiatives have been rolled out in Southeast Asia, while a climate awareness survey has found that most Southeast Asians perceive governments as not doing enough. Few respondents are involved in active advocacy. The region has a long way to go.