Private firms in Vietnam have played a pivotal role in helping the country recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. There are, however, other reasons to explain their corporate social responsibility.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Rift between Two Indonesian Generals Spotlights Civil-Military Relations
A personal spat between two four-star generals spilling into the open has raised questions about military professionalism and elite politics in Indonesia.
Electric Vehicles in Malaysia: Moving Uphill from Niche to Mass Market
Malaysia has a long way to go before demand for electric vehicles will rise high enough to reduce carbon emissions, mainly because there is no concerted effort to build the charging infrastructure to support this switch.
Can Mekong Stingrays Tell the Chinese Dam Story Well?
China is crafting “wonderful stories” about its upstream dams in the Mekong. But the overall thrust of the narrative glosses over the more controversial aspects of dam building.
Addressing food security and climate change at the G20 Summit
Worsening climate change adds pressure to food production, and agriculture is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions. G20 leaders have an opportunity at this November’s Bali summit to address the long-term challenges of revamping the global food system into a more sustainable, resilient and equitable one.
Zahid Hamidi’s Acquittal: Darker of Darkest Days?
UMNO president Zahid Hamidi is leveraging his recent acquittal in a corruption case. But the jury is out as to whether the day has dawned for the party going into the next general elections.
The #Bjorka Case and Ratification of Indonesia’s PDP Law: Confronting Digitalisation
Jakarta faces unprecedented pressure to get Indonesia’s new personal data protection (PDP) law right from the get-go, lest a notorious hacker exposes more weaknesses in governance.
Islamic Studies and Intellectualism in Indonesia: Remembering Professor Azyumardi Azra
Islamic scholars and Indonesia’s public alike mourn the untimely passing of Azyumardi Azra, a leading light in Islamic intellectual discourse at home and abroad.
Ending Our Toxic Relationship with Coal
The recently published 2022 Southeast Asia Climate Outlook indicates a growing consensus on ending coal consumption. But perceptions vary across countries, socio-economic classes and education levels of respondents.
Thailand’s New Electoral System: More Freedom of Choice, With a Catch
Thailand’s new electoral system, which will be used in the next general elections, will yield more freedom of choice for voters. It will, however, put smaller parties at a disadvantage.