Sarawak’s unity and harmony stands in marked contrast to the politicised race and religion on the Peninsula. The nation ought to take lessons from East Malaysia.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Beyond the SQUAD: Ideas for the Philippines to Work with a Northeast Asian Minilateral Arrangement
The Philippines has extensively participated in several minilateral defence arrangements in the Indo-Pacific with like-minded states, driven by its current strategic calculus and threats within its maritime domain. The author proposes one more.
Hun Sen’s Counterproductive Attempt to Tame Vietnamese Online Critics
Cambodia’s relationship with Vietnam will remain stuck in the past if both sides cannot move past entrenched narratives of the other’s faults.
Indonesia’s Islam-based Mass Organisations and the Mining Industry Vortex
The Indonesian government’s decision to grant mining concessions to religious mass organisations has resulted in some creative theological justifications. It begs the question whether the recipients have the requisite skill not to damage the environment or their own autonomy.
Indonesia’s Labour Party After the Elections: Ambiguities Continue
The failure of Indonesia’s working-class representatives to secure a toehold in the national legislature is partly explained by their inability to make up their mind on whether to be a true oppositional force.
Strengthening Southeast Asian Studies in China
The discipline of Southeast Asian Studies in China is enjoying a second wind.
Johor-Singapore Causeway at 100: Momentous Yet Mundane
At 100, the Causeway linking Johor and Singapore is testament to the multi-fold connections linking the two sides together.
Vietnam’s Rice Land Restrictions: Time for a Rethink?
There is a case for relaxing Vietnam’s long-standing restrictions on the use of land meant for rice cultivation.
Structural Problems of Thailand’s Export Sector: Myths and Realities
Thailand’s export trends suggest the economy faces structural problems, but the macro data do not capture the full picture. The country’s export challenges and opportunities, and policy responses, are more complex.
NewJeansNim’s Controversial Popularity: New Progress in Buddhism?
A disc jockey performing chants clothed in Buddhist garb has stoked controversy in Singapore and Malaysia, highlighting the social and religious sensitivities in the two countries.