Two years ago, and even a year ago in the aftermath of the 1 February 2021 coup, Yangon was not suffering severe blackouts. While there were sporadic electricity cuts for a few hours a day in some of its townships, electricity supply was more stable and predictable than ten or fifteen years earlier. This experience has left city dwellers wondering what accounts for the severe power cuts now.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Vietnam’s Mediascape Amid the War in Ukraine: Between Method and Mayhem
The animated and polarised discourse on Vietnam’s social media on the Russia-Ukraine war is in stark contrast to the disciplined and scripted coverage in Vietnam’s mainstream media, reflecting the strong appetite among Vietnamese netizens for alternative sources of information.
No April Fool’s Joke: The Singapore-Malaysia Border Finally Reopens
The reopening of the Singapore-Malaysia land border on 1 April 2022 will bring crucial relief to the Malaysian economy, but potential confusion about travel requirements may mar this widely anticipated event.
Hale and Hearty Plans for Thailand’s Andaman Coast
Thailand’s ambitious plans for a wellness corridor along its Andaman Coast underscores the coming together of different players for the development of the country’s regions.
Indonesia’s Cooking Oil Crisis: Causes and Consequences
World’s largest crude palm oil producer Indonesia faces the challenge of managing the rising cost of cooking oil, as external shocks and supply issues worsen, going into the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Johor’s Menteri Besar Surprise: Poster Boy Makes Way For King’s Man
The appointment of a relatively junior assemblyman to be Johor’s Menteri Besar is curious. But there are deeper undercurrents at work.
Custody Woes: PAS’ Calls for the ‘Desecularisation’ of Malaysian Law
Malaysia’s Islamists and conservatives, led by PAS, are challenging the country’s legal system, calling for the ‘desecularisation’ of Malaysian law in cases involving religious conversions.
Indonesia and Taliban-Led Afghanistan: Treading with Caution
Indonesia has been cautious in granting diplomatic recognition to the new Taliban regime in Kabul. There are good reasons for doing so.
The Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines’ Post-Duterte China Challenge
Even under China-friendly President Duterte, Chinese BRI projects in the Philippines still encountered strong political opposition and faced several challenges in their roll-out. Nevertheless, taking a broader view of the BRI shows that it has made some progress and jives with the development needs of the Philippines.
Despite Proscription, HTI’s Ideological Activism Continues
Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia was banned in 2017, but the propagation of HTI’s ideology has continued to thrive in Indonesia via various media channels.