Domestic factors seem to impel Vietnam’s top politician as he jetsets around the world, ahead of an all-important Party congress.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yassin: Why the Rush to Say ‘Good-bye’?
Recent machinations within some factions of Bersatu against its leader are of interest to its lower-profile coalition partner as the next general election approaches. How fast will the tide turn?
Why Community Mining Is No Panacea for Illegal Mining
Indonesia’s push to turn illegal mines into community ventures risks simply recycling old abuses and stalling genuine prosperity for local communities as long as oversight remains weak.
PAS’ ‘Civilisational Outrage’ at the US Rings Hollow When China Gets a Pass
Malaysia’s Parti Se-Islam Malaysia (PAS) doth protest too much about the prime minister’s engagement of the US, when its own dealings with China raise similar questions.
Muhammadiyah and NU’s Support for Suharto’s National Hero Status Undermines Their Credentials as Champions of ‘Civil Islam’
Are the two largest Islamic organisations in Indonesia losing their ability to uphold and guide civil society?
Thailand’s Police in 2025: Politicised Reshuffle and Endemic Corruption
The recent reshuffle of the top echelons of the Royal Thai Police was supposed to be clean and professional. The reshuffle and concurrent reforms, however, have done little to eradicate malfeasance and partisanship in the force.
Southeast Asian Countries Engaging in Export Circumvention: Not So Fast
The Trump administration has threatened to levy an additional 40 per cent reciprocal tariffs on transshipments to the US. The logic for doing this is not so clear cut.
After the Unrest: How Indonesia’s President Prabowo Regained Trust and Why It Might Not Last
The honeymoon is clearly over for Indonesia’s president as he begins his second year in office, even if a majority of the public still supports him.
Time for Vietnam to Resolve Its Renewable Energy Legal Quagmire
In Vietnam, an impasse over feed-in-tariffs for renewable energy producers threatens foreign investors’ confidence in government policies
Thailand Pays the Price for Unregulated Mining Boom
China is dependent on rare earth supply from parts of Myanmar which have unregulated mining that generates toxic waste. Neighbours like Thailand need to work with China and the US to address the problem.