Given the pressing domestic and external challenges that Malaysia is facing, it is high time for a refreshed National Security Council that will be able to coordinate policy at the highest level.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Biden After Afghanistan: Hitting the Buffers in Southeast Asia
The Biden Administration has sought to re-engage with Southeast Asia, but there are limits to how much traction it can get in the region.
Vietnam: Turning the Tables on Covid-19
Vietnam, which enjoyed a relatively fuss-free year fighting Covid-19 in 2020, has had to re-assess its strategy and adopt a newer approach to living with the coronavirus.
IPCC Report: No Time for Southeast Asia To Take it Easy
The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has some sobering data applicable to Southeast Asia. Whether countries muster up the political will to follow through on their commitments will be key.
Malaysia’s New PM: Bi-partisanship is Good, Non-partisanship Even Better
Malaysia’s new prime minister has called for public demonstrations of unity as the country goes through a difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic hardship. The country needs less a bi-partisan front and more a competent, dedicated and accountable administration.
Thaksin 72; Tony 27: the Return of Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is priming himself for a return to Thai politics. This time, he is reaching out to younger Thai voters.
Containing the Covid Scourge in South Vietnam
A number of reasons can account for Vietnam’s latest wave of Covid-19 outbreak. These include the more contagious Delta variant, the initial slow response of the authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, the lack of strict application of Covid-19 safety measures, and the slow pace of vaccination due to a shortage of vaccines.
Ismail Sabri as the New PM: An Uneasy Truce
The appointment of Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister is welcome. At best, however, his ascent represents an agglomeration of compromises between the players concerned. As the country experiences another Covid-19 surge, he will have his work cut out for him.
Delta Variant Should Not Derail Southeast Asia’s Economic Recovery
While the Delta variant of the coronavirus has had a significant impact on Southeast Asia economies, it is unlikely that economies will return to the troughs that they saw in 2020.
Najib Razak: Bestriding Social Media Like a ‘Bossku’
The former Malaysian prime minister has become a social media juggernaut. Yet, he has also become the butt of jokes and memes online.