Malaysia has established numerous funds to nurture start-ups, but must do much better in simplifying the current system, reporting relevant data, and assessing policy outcomes.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Contested Chineseness: TikTok, Singapore and U.S.-China Competition
Global anxieties towards China have escalated, as evidenced in the U.S. government’s increased scrutiny and pressure on TikTok, including the “Chineseness” of its Singaporean CEO. However, Chinese identity has always been fluid and diverse, and is increasingly contested.
Can Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Succeed?
If Indonesia can leverage its advantages and summon the political will for committed change away from coal, a green and just transition will be within its grasp.
Post-election, Thailand’s Next Government Faces Difficult Military Procurement Decisions
Washington has rejected Thailand’s request to purchase F-35 Lightning II fighters, reportedly due to the Royal Thai Air Force’s lack of capacity to operate the planes. But there is more to the decision than meets the eye.
Dark Horse Could Win Thai Premiership
There has been much speculation as to whether the Move Forward Party might be able to install its candidate as the prime minister of Thailand. But the country’s next leader might well emerge from the ranks of Pheu Thai, the opposition party which won the second-largest number of seats in the recent elections.
Battle of Indonesia’s Kingmakers: A Rift Between Jokowi and Megawati?
The incumbent president of Indonesia could tip the scales in the next election by sitting on the fence a little longer.
Reinventing Pheu Thai
Faced with a disappointing second-place finish in Thailand’s 14 May election, Pheu Thai leaders must innovate and adapt for the sake of Thai democracy.
President Marcos Jr.’s Disaster Policy: Is a New Disaster Agency in the Works?
Instead of relying on bureaucracy to address pressing disaster management weaknesses in the Philippines, President Marcos Jr.’s administration might consider strengthening the grassroots to avoid more disasters.
Malaysia’s First Unity Government Convention: The Art of Keeping Enemies Close
Malaysia’s new Unity Government is in a state of consolidation and relative stability. The current unified coalition structure will stay in its current semi-permanent state, whereby it retains the trappings of a coalition without formalisation.
Can Vietnam Benefit from the Global Chip Rush?
Vietnam’s semiconductor industry is expanding rapidly as firms caught in the ensuing U.S.-China trade war seek refuge in the country. But Hanoi needs to bolster support for domestic semiconductor firms to make the country a significant player in the global chip market.