The Malaysian Prime Minister’s recent overseas interactions have raised questions about whether he is pursuing a foreign policy strategy in his country’s best interests.
Category Archives: Commentaries
The Anti-Political Dynasty Rule in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): A Game Changer in Philippine Politics?
The May 2025 BARMM elections will not only decide the fate of the conflict-ridden region but also test whether its rules can effectively reduce the dominance of political dynasties.
Pope Francis’ Visit to Indonesia: Lessons Beyond Interfaith Tolerance
Last week’s visit by Pope Francis to the world’s largest Muslim country came at a sensitive time. Rhetorical tolerance and humility paled in the light of His Holiness’ simplicity in leadership.
Controversy on Indonesia’s Hajj 2024 Rekindles Conflict Between Nahdlatul Ulama and the National Awakening Party
There is a lot more going on behind the scenes between the leadership of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation and the party which sprung from its roots. What might be personal has certainly become political.
Synthetic Threats: The Potential Misuse of Artificial Intelligence for Extremist Propaganda in Southeast Asia
Recent examples highlight the potential ways extremists could leverage artificial intelligence to create and distribute harmful content, underscoring the serious governance and security challenges facing regional governments in the digital age. As technology continues to outpace the development of laws and policies in many areas, managing these threats becomes increasingly difficult.
The Twilight of Electoral Competition in Indonesia
Recent student-led demonstrations throughout Indonesia show that popular support for democracy remains high. This support is not necessarily shared, however, by political parties who are collaborating in an increasingly cartel-like fashion to shrink electoral competition.
Flooding and Waste Management in the Philippines: Stop Blaming the Poor
Flooding in the Philippines is often blamed on the poor and their waste management practices. Research shows such stereotypes are false and harmful.
Data Centres: Johor’s Next Frontier
As global reliance on cloud storage fuels the growth of data centres in Johor, the state needs to be cautious when allocating vast amounts of land to this as-yet-unproven undertaking.
Thailand’s Trade Policy: A Weak Instrument for Resisting Structural Change
Like many other countries, Thailand has employed changes in trade policy to resist the declining economic importance of agriculture. Research shows the effects are very limited.
Malaysia’s BRICS Bid: Not Aligning Away from Non-Alignment
Malaysia’s bid to join BRICS should not be seen as a departure from its long-standing policy of non-alignment.