President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial ‘war on drugs’ looms large in the 2022 election for his successor.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Muktamar and the Future of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
The largest Islamic organisation in Indonesia will hold its congress in December to elect its next chairman. The new leader will have his work cut out for him.
Moving the Indonesian Capital: Political Ambition or Realistic Vision?
Legislation to approve moving the Indonesian capital to East Kalimantan is expected soon. Meticulous planning and execution will be required to avoid huge problems in future.
The SAC Versus ASEAN: The Futility of Legal Recourse
Myanmar’s State Administration Council has challenged a decision by ASEAN’s foreign minister to bar its leader from attending the grouping’s year-end summits. The legal merits of the Council’s position are disputable.
Cajoling China and the US Towards Peace, Not War
The European Union and ASEAN are supporters of a rules-based global system. As such, they can use their collective weight to persuade Washington and Beijing to focus less on their bilateral tensions and more on solving contemporary problems.
Thai 2021 Demonstrations: Losing Traction Online
A combination of political suppression and public fatigue appear to have resulted in a marked decline in online and offline political protests in Thailand this year.
Unlocking Cross-Border E-Commerce for Smaller Firms
Small and medium sized enterprises in Southeast Asia have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. A way forward is for them to leverage on digital technologies to open up new markets.
The Twelfth Malaysia Plan: Time for a Reset?
The 12th Malaysia Plan, a key planning document for the country’s development, has been expedited through Parliament with no debate. The process of formulating the plan needs a reset.
Automating Dissent with Hashtags: from #Kitajagakita to #Benderahitam
In Malaysia, even an innocuous hashtag can be sidelined and overwhelmed by other octothorps. In the case of #kitajagakita, it played a part in the falling from grace of the country’s eighth premier.
ASEAN Snubs the State Administration Council (For Now)
ASEAN’s decision to allow only a ‘non-political’ representative from Myanmar is a blow to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s bid to gain recognition at the grouping’s high table. The question here is how long ASEAN can maintain unity and stay the course.