Current flash mobs in Thailand are taking a leaf from student movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Their similarity to student protests in Hong Kong has sparked concern
Category Archives: Commentaries
Thai Opposition: Self-inflicted Wounds
Recent fighting among opposition parties, and within them, has effectively granted the Prayut coalition government a longer lease of life
Duterte’s ‘Independent’ Foreign Policy: Independence from Criticism
The Duterte administration has stressed the independent nature of its foreign policy. Apparently, this has been equated to freedom from foreign criticism.
Malaysian PM Muhyiddin: Sins of Omission?
In his maiden speech as Malaysia’s new prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin sought to steady a teetering nation by what was said. But a brooding sense of unease prevails, due to what was not said about the issues that matter.
USS Theodore Roosevelt’s Vietnam Visit: Low Key, High Touch
Hanoi’s decision to host the visit of the USS Theodore Roosevelt underscores its determination to pursue better relations with the US
Bangsa Johor: A Tale of Two Political Personalities
The political dramas gripping Kuala Lumpur in the past week have not reverberated down south in Johor. With relative ease, Barisan Nasional has taken control of the state assembly.
Leverage in The Time of Coronavirus
The ongoing coronavirus crisis in China highlights how dependence on foreign inputs can affect export-dependent countries such as Malaysia.
Muhyiddin and Malay Rights: Too Early to Call
A Muhyiddin government will push for Malay rights, but this is unlikely to be done in excess.
GPS in Sarawak: Finding the Way In … or Out?
Political turbulence in Kuala Lumpur and the emergence of two competing coalitions have returned the Gabungan Parti Sarawak to its traditional role as kingmaker
Power Transition in Malaysia: A Messy Mosaic
Political ructions over the weekend have pulled the rug on Pakatan Harapan’s control over state legislatures