Political rather than religious authority still calls the shots in multi-religious Sarawak.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Local Polls in Putrajaya: The Perfect Pilot Project?
Local elections in Malaysia warrant a second look.
Enlarging the “Gong” for a Bigger Boom: Vietnam and Strategic Autonomy
Vietnam’s foreign policy is evolving from a position based on integration and multilateralism to one based on strategic autonomy.
Vietnam’s Gaza Board of Peace Gambit: To Lam’s Confident New Foreign Policy
Vietnam’s decision to join the Trump-led Gaza Board of Peace speaks less about its Middle East policy and more about its evolving foreign policy.
Women Farmers: First Defenders of a Warming Southeast Asia
Ahead of Women’s Day in the International Year of the Woman Farmer, an envisioning of how Southeast Asia can improve the lot of its women farmers in a warming world.
Death Without Departure: Bung Moktar and the Persistence of His East Coast Political Authority
All politics is local and, in many cases, personal. The passing of Bung Moktar Radin illustrates these truisms in rural Sabah politics, as his influence persists for now.
Anwar is Weak, But the Opposition is Weaker Still
The political woes of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is a political goldmine for the opposition. But it has failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
Rebranding Bhumjaithai
Putting heavyweight technocrats in the spotlight, the Bhumjaithai Party appears to have taken a technocrat turn, away from its traditional strengths in forging political family networks in the kingdom.
From Long-term Plans to Flagships: Indonesia’s Reordered Development Agenda
Prabowo’s agenda is being driven by flagship programmes focused on nutrition, state-owned enterprises, and cooperatives. These programmes can complement long-term development, but Indonesia should maintain industrial, technological, and green transition priorities.
Proximity Without Leverage? Indonesia’s Risky Bet on Trump’s Board of Peace
President Prabowo’s involvement in Trump’s Board of Peace may have given Indonesia some proximity to the US, but his aim of gaining leverage in tariff negotiations is elusive.