The formation of a new Workers Party backed by the country’s labour unions signifies a new trend in Indonesian politics.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Has ASEAN Reached the Point of Diminishing Returns with Myanmar?
The State Administration Council has cleverly gamed the ASEAN system for its own ends and dragged out the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. It is time for ASEAN to pack more punch into the office of the Special Envoy to Myanmar.
No News is Good News: Low Trust in Southeast Asia’s Mainstream Media
Public trust in mainstream news media is at an all-time low in several Southeast Asian countries. The fundamental challenge facing governments, journalists and consumers is how to reshape the media environment so that the trend can be reversed.
Taking a New Tack on Ageing: Seniors as Agents of Development
As populations in Asia and the Pacific age, it is crucial for countries to reimagine senior citizens as agents of development rather than seeing them as a burden on societies.
Restoring Privacy Rights a Must for Ending Myanmar’s Violence
Myanmar’s military regime has committed gross violations of its citizens’ privacy rights in its attempts to quell resistance. Any return to normalcy has to begin with restoring the people’s privacy protections.
Malaysia’s Skewed Transport System: Rising Costs Demand Bolder Solutions
Malaysia’s failure to build an efficient and functioning public transport system has a price tag: a huge fuel subsidy bill, sizable accumulated public debts and a high level of household debts partly caused by car loans. Policymakers should think out of the box and consider subsidising commuters to take public transport.
ASEAN and ADMM: Climbing Out of a Deep Hole
The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting has bagged modest achievements in past years. But it will take a lot more to assert ASEAN’s central role in a region where external powers have grabbed the initiative in forming minilaterals outside the ASEAN ecosystem.
Thailand’s Digital Divide: Leave No One Behind
Thailand has a developed Internet and digital infrastructure which has helped many Thais tide through the privations of Covid-19. But more can be done to extend such services to more Thais, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Bon Odori in Malaysia: Dance-off between Revivalism and Multiculturalism
The controversy caused by warnings to Malaysia’s Muslims not to participate in a Japanese-inspired summer festival raises important questions about how Malaysia can sustain its multicultural character against the rising tide of Islamisation.
Indonesia’s Cabinet Reshuffle: Rewarding Loyalty and Consolidating Power
The recent Indonesian Cabinet reshuffle has seen President Jokowi prioritise political consolidation of power ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.