The Covid-19 pandemic has knocked many countries sideways, but the crisis should not be wasted. As they emerge from lockdown, it is time for them to re-focus their energies and efforts on sustainable growth.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Visiting Forces Agreement: Uncle Sam Still Welcome for Another Year
The Philippines has suspended the planned termination of the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. But the alliance is not out of the woods yet.
The Advent of Cashless Transactions in Myanmar: Cash is (Still) King
The advent of Covid-19 is accelerating the trend towards a cashless society and driving the growth of e-commerce around the world. How will this pan out in Myanmar given the low uptake of e-commerce and mobile financial technology in the country? E-commerce in Myanmar is in its early infancy. It was valued at only US$6…
The Phuea Thai Party: The Ignominy of Irrelevance
The Phuea Thai Party, the country’s largest opposition party, is becoming increasingly irrelevant. To compound matters, the Thai prime minister is enjoying a surge of support, thanks to the country’s relatively successful battle against the coronavirus.
Inter- and Intra-Coalition Competition in Johor – a Kueh Lapis?
There are many different dynamics at play when one examines the tenuous nature of the Perikatan Nasional-led state government in Johor. Think political battles within and without.
Malaysia: Best Case Scenarios and Bracing for the Worst
The net effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the resultant shutdown and relief measures are hard to fathom. While the government can draw on some base-case scenarios, it might have to prepare for the worst when it comes to unemployment.
Will the Covid-19 Crisis Affect Thai-China Defence Cooperation?
The Thai military has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to Chinese largesse, however, it will be able to secure the military kit it wants.
Indonesia’s Islamist Groups: The Logic of Strategic Silence
Indonesia’s Islamist groups have not hit back at President Jokowi for his handling of the current Covid-19 pandemic. There are several reasons for their strategic silence.
Thai Airways: Up in the Air
The national carrier is flying into turbulence, and its woes are being compounded by a near-standstill in global air travel. The hope is that an extensive restructuring would put the carrier on a stronger footing – and lead to broader reforms of state-owned enterprises in Thailand.
E-commerce and Supply Chains: Links of the Same Chain
E-commerce is seen as a panacea for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but it should be seen as one part of a larger and more complex system, involving other elements such as manufacturing and logistics. An ASEAN initiative to address bottlenecks in such systems should be lauded and supported.