Hadi Awang, the Malaysian prime minister’s special envoy to the Middle East, has done little to advance Kuala Lumpur’s interests in that region. His role is more political than functional.
Category Archives: Commentaries
The ASEAN Way: Zen and the Art of Great Power Maintenance
Recent official rejections of China’s “nine dash line” claims in the South China Sea by Southeast Asian disputant states are not about closer alignment with the US.
Biden Versus Trump in Southeast Asia: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Expectations of the Biden Administration’s engagement with Southeast Asia are running high, but, like his predecessor, President Biden did not register any meetings or phone calls with Southeast Asian leaders in his first three months in office.
DAP Johor Party Elections: A “Fourpeat” for State Chief Liew Chin Tong
Liew Chin Tong’s win in the Johor state party elections is a win for Lim Kit Siang in the coming DAP national party elections.
Vietnam’s 2021 National Assembly Election: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The process of self-nomination to Vietnam’s legislature is fraught with political peril, which reflects the calibrated rules of the election under the communist regime.
Next Thai Election, Next Thai Electoral System?
The main ruling party and opposition parties want to change the electoral system to their advantage before the next election.
The Riau Islands’ New Leadership: Glimmers of Light Amid the Gloom
A new leadership team in Indonesia’s Riau Islands has bold plans to steer the region back into growth, after a gruelling year fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. If they play their cards right, they are in it with a fighting chance.
“Giving Back”: Vietnam’s Shifting Philanthropic Landscape
As Vietnam graduates from official development assistance, diasporic business leaders and their firms are filling the humanitarian assistance gap.
Lost in the Shuffle: Research and Innovation in Indonesia
The Jokowi administration’s recent reshuffling of ministries complicates research and innovation policy.
ASEAN Emergency Summit: In the Hot Seat
One can assess ASEAN’s recent emergency meeting in Jakarta in two ways. One scenario is cautiously optimistic; the other would be tantamount to pure fatalism.