Vietnam’s new prime minister needs to disburse idle public funds. His previous role helming the Communist Party’s personnel system should help him galvanise officials who prioritise an overly cautious approach over rapid progress.
Category Archives: Commentaries
To Lam’s Regional Tour: From Hedger to Shaper
To Lam’s regional tour of Southeast Asia shows that Hanoi is shifting to a posture of shaping the rules of the game, rather than merely seeking to mitigate the risks of a fluid strategic environment.
The Myanmar Military’s “New” Narrative: Caveat Emptor
The new Myanmar regime’s narrative about promoting stability and strengthening international relations belies the instability and devastation its coup unleashed on the country.
Southeast Asia’s High-Income Aspirants Should Focus on Quality of Growth
The vast minority of middle-income countries graduate to high-income status. Past strategies that prioritised physical capital must give way to a quality of growth approach premised on investment in human and natural capital.
Beyond Bamboo Diplomacy: Vietnam’s Shrinking Room for Manoeuvre
Vietnam’s foreign policy has typically been described as bamboo diplomacy. This still holds true, but decision-making is increasingly being constrained by domestic considerations.
Scams in Southeast Asia: When Self-Regulation is Not Enough
Social media companies cannot be trusted to police the scams they profit from. Some government intervention is needed.
Walking Malaysia’s Oil Shock Tightrope: Assisting Society While Stewarding Deficits
If the war in Iran does not end soon, the Malaysian government must have more arrows in its energy policy quiver.
Indonesia’s 5.61 Per Cent: Growth for the State, Not for the People
Is Indonesia’s growth rate an accurate reflection of the country’s progress?
Negeri Sembilan’s Tenuous State Assembly: Procedural and Political Tests
The recent withdrawal of support for the chief minister of Negeri Sembilan raises pertinent questions about the precedent and role of institutions determining state leadership.
Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan: Best Frenemies Forever
Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan are eyeing polls in Johor and Melaka. Due to the importance of these states to both coalitions, it remains to be seen if their pact at the federal level will hold.