With his first 100 days behind him, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has acted proactively to solidify his hold on power. Adept at backroom negotiations, he swiftly cobbled together a Cabinet representing his broad ‘coalition of coalitions’ while ensuring that he and his loyalists controlled the most powerful positions. This Long Read provides an analysis of how the spoils were distributed in Anwar’s new Cabinet.
Category Archives: Long Reads
Minilateral Cooperation in ASEAN May Help it Overcome Challenges in Multilateralism
ASEAN regionalism is increasingly seen as being slow and ineffective. Minilateral cooperation could be the way forward to allow a smaller group of like-minded ASEAN countries to work together in a targeted manner to deliver results where it matters.
Why Is China’s Global Development Initiative Well Received in Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asian countries appear to have unanimously supported China’s Global Development Initiative in the hope that it will contribute towards addressing their development deficits and that China will up its economic game more broadly in the region.
The Era of Coalitions: The Shifting Nature of Alignments in Asia
As the world becomes more multipolar, many countries are likely to prefer flexible alignments over fixed alliances, creating a far more complex web of relationships. This era of coalitions poses a particular challenge for Southeast Asian states, which have heretofore sought to avoid such alignments to maintain ASEAN unity and centrality.
What to Expect from the Vietnam–South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Vietnam and South Korea have the potential strengthen their bilateral ties following the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022. The two countries should join hands to forge multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific, develop resilient supply chains for their key industries and boost arms transfer and naval cooperation.
Dangerous Unintended Consequences Loom in the Wake of Thailand’s Hasty Legalisation of Marijuana
Thailand’s hasty legalisation of marijuana and hemp without necessary control measures has sparked concerns about illicit trade and abuse of ‘legalised’ marijuana. It also threatens to disrupt ASEAN’s regional effort to create a “drug-free” community; the other nine ASEAN members still treat marijuana as a banned narcotic.
The Struggle for International Recognition: Myanmar after the 2021 Coup
The military coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021 created huge diplomatic repercussions, throwing into uncertainty the country’s international position and representation. Although the National Unity Government (NUG) appears to be the more popular choice for the international community, the prospects for its formal recognition remain uncertain.
Setbacks for Moscow, Progress for Kyiv: The Russia-Ukraine War and its Impact on the ASEAN, G20 and APEC Summits
The Russia-Ukraine War complicated but did not derail the ASEAN, G20 and APEC summits in Southeast Asia.
The State of Indonesia’s Digital Economy in 2022
This Long Read examines how the digital sector has transformed Indonesia’s economy during the pandemic. It analyses changes in consumer behaviour and assesses the prospects for sustainable growth for various digital services segments.
Polarised but Hopeful: How Malaysia’s Gen Zs May Vote, and Why
This Long Read features the findings of a recent poll on the voter sentiments of Malaysia’s Gen Zs. A majority of Gen Zs hold low trust in the political actors that are running the country but are nonetheless still politically engaged. 79 per cent of them say that they will most likely turn out to vote in the coming election.