After a series of power grabs, there are few ideological differences among the country’s political parties and groupings in power. If UMNO as a phenomenon has run out of gas, its raison d’etre — Malay supremacy — needs some reconsideration.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Malaysia’s Higher Education Sector: Time to Soar to a Higher Plane
The pandemic presents a plum opportunity for extensive reforms in Malaysia’s higher education sector.
Malaysia’s Covid-19 Response: Pressed to Be (in the) Present
Pressed by short-term exigencies caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia is planning to raise Malaysia’s debt ceiling to 65 per cent of GDP. Another round of stimulus package might be on the cards.
Reopening Malaysia’s Parliament: Not a Panacea
The Malaysian government’s decision to reconvene Parliament has been welcomed. But this in itself will not resolve the list of problems facing the country in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Complex Calculations: Vietnamese EB-5 Investments in the United States
Many wealthy Vietnamese are making use of America’s EB-5 investment visa programme as a pathway to a green card and, eventually, a US passport. But there are many other reasons why they would consider settling Stateside.
A Tale of Two Vaccines in Vietnam
The public reactions to the arrivals of Covid-19 vaccines to Vietnam – one from China, the other from the United States – underscore a geopolitical dilemma for the country.
Malaysia’s Latest Political Fisticuffs – Muhyiddin or Zahid on the Ropes?
In the past week, the Malaysian prime minister had to absorb a couple of political blows. But his coalition is not in any immediate danger — yet.
K-pop Activism: A Potent Political Force
K-pop activism is a growing phenomenon in Southeast Asia, serving as an alternative means of political mobilisation and expression among tech-savvy youth.
Phalang Pracharat Party’s Reshuffle: Preparing the Ranks for Battle
While the recent reshuffling of its executive committee and a proposal to revise Thailand’s electoral system, Thailand’s ruling Phalang Pracharat Party is well-placed to contest the country’s next round of elections.
Habib Rizieq and Hardline Islamist Groups: Losing Steam
Facing a sentence that will see him behind bars till 2025, radical cleric Habib Rizieq Shihab will face problems bouncing back from the political wilderness. His enforced absence from the political scene will be a boon to secular and nationalist presidential candidates.