Malaysia is seeking to promote greener modes in freight transportation via the ECRL. This is laudable, but not without a set of challenges.
Category Archives: Commentaries
The Philippines-Australia Strategic Partnership in an Era of Geopolitical Realignment
The recent visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Australia demonstrates the resolve of the Philippines to solidify its strategic partnerships with like-minded states in the Indo-Pacific region.
Two Presidents Ousted in One Year: What Lies Ahead for Vietnam’s Political Outlook?
Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong will be replaced. The primary task of the country’s leaders now is to find his replacement and steady the keel.
An Urgent Need for Post-Election Civil Society Consolidation in Indonesia
There is serious disquiet among Indonesia’s civil society actors and academics, who support the two candidate pairs that lost last month’s election. Much work lies ahead if there is to be an effective national reckoning of alleged electoral misconduct – yet it may be a case of too little, too late.
Pheu Thai Versus Bank of Thailand: More Than a Question of Digital Wallets and Interest Rates
A festering dispute between the Pheu Thai-led government and the Bank of Thailand has underscored a major question as to who sets the kingdom’s economic direction.
The Ulama and the 2024 Indonesian Presidential Election: The Missing Voice of Conscience?
Within Indonesia’s Islamic intellectual elite, this generation does not seem to have leaders who can rise to the ranks of their brave predecessors in acting as the nation’s moral conscience, especially in the face of blatant political chicanery.
A Cultural Blow to an Eroding Political Taboo: Viewing “Eksil” (The Exiles), a Hit Documentary
A popular documentary about ten exiles has had an extraordinary run in Indonesia, not least because it sings a different tune from the official historical narrative about the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and its supporters, perpetuated since the Suharto era.
Turmoils and Triumphs: The Political Tapestry of Taib Mahmud’s Reign
Taib Mahmud was a shrewd political operator, but his legacy is not free of controversy.
A Kidney for Your Vote: Money Politics in Indonesia’s 2024 Elections
The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched, and not likely to go away anytime soon, because it works.
Energy and Agrarian Justice in Southeast Asia’s Green Transition
The drive towards renewable energy in Southeast Asia should not ignore the concept of just energy transition.