Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s (PAS) foreign policy outlook has evolved rather than fundamentally changed. While the party continues to prioritise global Islamic solidarity, governing experience has expanded its international engagement from ideological networks to state-led economic diplomacy.
Category Archives: Long Reads
The Perils of Vietnam’s Land-led Growth
Vietnam is using land to pay for growth. This Long Read highlights the danger that land finance is hardening into a self-reinforcing growth model, arguing that Vietnam must make land finance more transparent, more competitive and less central to the economy’s balance sheet.
Beyond the Symbolism: Organisational Networks and the Conditional Electoral Power of Nahdlatul Ulama
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is not a monolithic voting bloc. NU’s numerical strength has never guaranteed consolidated electoral support. This Long Read presents the statistical analysis of large-scale provincial and nationwide surveys analysing the factors that determine how NU members and affiliates actually vote.
Competing Islamic Ideologies and Influence Operations in Indonesia: The Case of Ghazwul Fikri in Cyberspace
This Long Read argues that the rise of the influence industry has reshaped online discourses among different Indonesian Islamic groups. While these debates may emerge organically, the involvement of cybertroopers in steering online conversations on critical issues has altered the power dynamics among these Islamic groups.
The Indonesia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade: Three Views on its Economic and Strategic Impacts
The Indonesia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade was signed on 19 February 2026 but has yet to be ratified by Indonesia. In this Long Read, three experts from the government and from academia share their views on the potential impacts of the agreement on Indonesia’s economy, trade relations, domestic policy, and reform direction.
The “Karenni Model”: Wartime Governance in Contested Territory
The Karenni governance experience in Myanmar explains how wartime governance emerges and is sustained under intensified conflict, fragmented political orders, and uneven international engagement. But this requires continued efforts to maintain minimum levels of territorial security and de-escalate conflict.
Gig Workers in Malaysia: Is the New Law a Good Deal?
Malaysia’s Gig Workers Act, which took effect in April 2026, is a legislative milestone for the Madani administration. Malaysia’s 1.64 million gig workers stand to gain from the introduction of contractual frameworks, mandatory injury insurance, dispute settlement mechanisms, and a consultative council for setting minimum earnings. However, various policy gaps still need to be addressed.
Rules or Ruse? Myanmar’s Anti-Money Laundering Efforts Coerce Compliance with a Rigged Financial System
Since being labelled a “Jurisdiction of Concern” by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2022, Myanmar’s military government has undertaken efforts to improve its technical compliance with the FATF’s recommendations on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). But the regime uses AML/CFT compliance less to address actual money laundering, and more as a tool to compel individuals and businesses to use the state-controlled financial system.
Redirecting Crypto Exchanges to Fight — Rather than Facilitate — Crypto Scams in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian countries can significantly amplify their anti-scam efforts by compelling crypto exchanges to proactively join the fight. Exchanges are not merely the primary gateways through which scam funds flow — they are also the custodians of valuable on-chain and platform intelligence needed to detect and disrupt those flows.
Vietnam’s Ambition for Double-Digit Growth: Rationale and Challenges
Vietnam sees double-digit growth in 2026 and beyond as a political imperative. To achieve this, the government needs to adopt an economic model that aggressively leverages domestic stimulus while managing inflation and asset prices.