UMNO and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri are hoping to take credit for recent announcements on hiking the minimum wage and allowing special withdrawals from retirement savings, but the devil is in the details.
Category Archives: Commentaries
A Third Term for Jokowi: Weighing the Risks of Constitutional Change
The recent brouhaha over a possible extension of President Joko Widodo’s term underscores a quandary in Indonesia’s politics: there is no low-risk candidate that political parties can back.
System Reset? Unlocking Domestic Data Flows to Enhance ASEAN E-Commerce
ASEAN has been unable to take full advantage of the rapid growth of electronic commerce, given uneven levels of openness in data flows within and across the region. Strengthening domestic and regional regulations in this sector will unleash the region’s potential to help its post-pandemic recovery.
The Malaysian Opposition’s ‘Big Tent’ Strategy: A Misreading of Election History
The Malaysian Opposition would do well to reconsider its calls for a ‘Big Tent’ strategy. A closer look at voting patterns in recent Malaysian elections raises questions about their assumption that a united opposition would secure an electoral victory against BN.
Talk is Cheap: The 2022 Philippine Elections’ Climate Implications
President Duterte’s approach to environmental issues has been inconsistent. His declarations about solving environmental problems have been quite strong, but were not followed by concrete actions. The next President must strike a tough balance between fostering a business climate conducive to economic recovery, whilst moving ahead with climate action and environmental commitments.
An Unexpected Stillness in the Heart of Wartime Myanmar
The monks in Pakokku, a major centre of Buddhist learning and training, have not reprised the role played by their predecessors in the historic Saffron Revolution in 2007. Several factors can explain this, the foremost of which revolves around the clergy’s conception of order and hierarchy.
Silencing the Din in Indonesian Cities
For the longest time, Indonesians endured a sonic pandemonium in their cities. It is about time that some regulation is effected to lower levels of noise.
Say It Ain’t So, Joko: No Third Term for Widodo
Recent student protests against rising living costs and rumours that Widodo might seek a third presidential term suggest that Indonesia’s democracy is not as resilient as some may think.
Palm Oil Certification Schemes: Putting Some Roar into Paper Tigers
Sustainable palm oil certification schemes are necessary, as they incentivise producers to improve their environmental practices. But a different tack centred on districts rather than individual producers should be considered.
ASEAN-India Relations: Time to Match Rhetoric with Actions
India has often been viewed as punching under its weight when it comes to engaging the region. It is time for India to match its economic commitment to ASEAN with more strategic heft, as it commemorates 30 years of partnership with the regional bloc.