Questions about the political fate of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha serve as a distraction. It is more important to understand the post-2014 authoritarian system that supports Prayut.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Indonesia’s New Criminal Code: The Political Establishment Versus Civil Society, Again
While public opposition to Indonesia’s proposed revision to its Criminal Code has stalled its passage in parliament, the conservative political establishment looks set to have the upper hand unless the bill’s critics can turn the tide with louder protests.
Malaysia’s Multi-coalition Platter Spices Up Talk of Fragmented Parliament
Whenever the next Malaysian general elections are held, voters will be in for a bumpier ride as coalition politics lead to more uncertainty about how the next government will shape up.
Has ASEAN Lost its Appeal to the United Kingdom?
The race for the leadership of the Conservative Party has thrown up few clues about London’s approach to ASEAN and the wider Indo-Pacific. Whoever wins, there is reason to believe that the United Kingdom will retain its strong institutional ties to the region.
Cutting Methane Emissions: Different Strokes for Different Folks
Many ASEAN countries have adopted ambitious goals to cut their methane emissions. But they might need to use diverse approaches to address the issue.
Najib Razak’s Political Career: The End of the Beginning or the End of the End?
After a span of four years, Najib Razak has exhausted his legal options and is now in jail for, among other things, criminal breach of trust. He still has some legal recourse, but at the moment things are looking good for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Why Vietnamese Private Conglomerates Are Venturing Into Social Housing
Private conglomerates in Vietnam have registered strong interest in Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s plan to build at least one million social housing units by the end of the decade. Attainment of the ambitious goal, however, remains doubtful.
Political Succession in Southeast Asia: When Dynasty Might Mean Destiny
Some of the region’s political scions will be rising through the ranks in future elections, but it is not all smooth sailing in politics even if one is born with a silver spoon.
Will the Thai Military Ever Get Its Submarines and Stealth Fighters?
Thailand’s military is facing a series of practical and political difficulties in its procurement processes to upgrade its air force and navy assets.
Unretweeted Love? #KeluargaMalaysia Overtures Fall Flat
Driving a successful hashtag campaign is more complicated than blitzing social media. An analysis of tweets appending #KeluargaMalaysia suggests that such attempts have backfired because the hashtag has been appropriated by Twitter netizens to express their discontent with the government.