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.
Category Archives: Commentaries
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.
Cyberbullying of Muslim Celebrities: The Pressure to Conform to ‘Modest’ Islam
Recent indications of increased cyberbullying of female Muslim celebrities by vigilante commentators suggest a need for governments and authorities to be more proactive in encouraging moderation in online forums. Failure to control such hostility could lead to serious repercussions on the affected individuals.
China’s Pragmatic Party Diplomacy in Southeast Asia
The Chinese Communist Party’s outreach to political parties in Southeast Asia, regardless of ideology, underscores the pragmatism in President Xi Jinping’s plan for regional influence.
Unpacking Cambodia’s 2022 Defence White Paper
Cambodia’s 2022 Defence White Paper reiterates longstanding priorities of border security, counterterrorism and domestic stability like its predecessors, but contains an unprecedented focus on cyber defence and ambitious modernisation goals.
The Metaverse and the Importance of Personal Data Protection in Southeast Asia
Before Southeast Asia embraces wholesale the advent of the ‘Metaverse’, it is a matter of urgency for the authorities to address the current shortfalls in the protection of their citizens’ personal data.
Having it Both Ways? Cambodia’s Superpower Balancing Act
The Cambodian People’s Party needs China, Cambodia’s top donor and investor, to sustain economic growth and reduce poverty to win the next election, which is vital to its legitimacy.