The relationship between Myanmar and Russia has become increasingly close. This is fueled by practical considerations as well as geopolitics.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Indonesia’s Kanjuruhan Stadium Tragedy: A Serious Wake-up Call
The deadly soccer match in Indonesia’s Malang City behooves the authorities to revise their crowd control procedures. The issue of toxic sub-cultures among fans should also be addressed.
Vietnamese Private Enterprises’ Covid-19 Donations: Not All about Altruism
Private firms in Vietnam have played a pivotal role in helping the country recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. There are, however, other reasons to explain their corporate social responsibility.
Rift between Two Indonesian Generals Spotlights Civil-Military Relations
A personal spat between two four-star generals spilling into the open has raised questions about military professionalism and elite politics in Indonesia.
Electric Vehicles in Malaysia: Moving Uphill from Niche to Mass Market
Malaysia has a long way to go before demand for electric vehicles will rise high enough to reduce carbon emissions, mainly because there is no concerted effort to build the charging infrastructure to support this switch.
Can Mekong Stingrays Tell the Chinese Dam Story Well?
China is crafting “wonderful stories” about its upstream dams in the Mekong. But the overall thrust of the narrative glosses over the more controversial aspects of dam building.
Addressing food security and climate change at the G20 Summit
Worsening climate change adds pressure to food production, and agriculture is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions. G20 leaders have an opportunity at this November’s Bali summit to address the long-term challenges of revamping the global food system into a more sustainable, resilient and equitable one.
Zahid Hamidi’s Acquittal: Darker of Darkest Days?
UMNO president Zahid Hamidi is leveraging his recent acquittal in a corruption case. But the jury is out as to whether the day has dawned for the party going into the next general elections.
The #Bjorka Case and Ratification of Indonesia’s PDP Law: Confronting Digitalisation
Jakarta faces unprecedented pressure to get Indonesia’s new personal data protection (PDP) law right from the get-go, lest a notorious hacker exposes more weaknesses in governance.
Islamic Studies and Intellectualism in Indonesia: Remembering Professor Azyumardi Azra
Islamic scholars and Indonesia’s public alike mourn the untimely passing of Azyumardi Azra, a leading light in Islamic intellectual discourse at home and abroad.