COMMENTARIES

8 Aug 2023

The Untapped Potential of Carbon Credit Trading in ASEAN

Renard Siew

ASEAN holds out immense potential for generating carbon credits, given the region’s incredibly rich biodiversity and abundance of renewable energy sources. Member countries should collectively forge commitment and a timeline for implementing regionwide carbon trading.

ASEAN Climate Change

7 Aug 2023

Is ASEAN Truly for the People?

Joanne Lin

Joanne Lin explores the importance of a people-centred ASEAN and ways that the organisation can enhance engagement with its people, ahead of the 56th ASEAN Day celebrations.

7 Aug 2023

The Unity Government: Preventing a Partial Victory in the Polls

Francis E. Hutchinson

The Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional tag-team will likely win by a big margin in the Penang state elections. The key question here is whether the Unity Government would represent Malays in the state adequately.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections

7 Aug 2023

Leveraging Dirt: Soil as Southeast Asia’s Under-explored Solution for Carbon Mitigation and Food Security

Elyssa Kaur Ludher

The world’s soils are under threat due to deforestation, urbanisation, agriculture, and pollution. Southeast Asia should prioritise sustainable soil management to reap the benefits of carbon mitigation and enhance food security.

ASEAN Climate Change

4 Aug 2023

Wan Nor: Hero from the Deep South but Not the Saviour of Thai Democracy

Daungyewa Utarasint

The twin burdens placed on a veteran Thai politician hailing from the south will test his political skill and stamina. No less than the future of Thai democracy may be at stake.

Thai Elections Thai Politics Thailand

4 Aug 2023

Sanusi’s Bully Pulpit Populism: Boon or Bane?

James Chai

In the run-up to the state elections in Kedah, Parti Islam SeMalaysia is touting a Trumpist-type politician. The approach is unconventional but explicable if one considers the party’s ambitions.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

3 Aug 2023

Will UMNO’s Mutant Electoral Map Bite Pakatan Harapan?

Lee Hwok-Aun

In the run-up to the Selangor state elections, Pakatan Harapan has to rally UMNO votes to its side. It must also overcome vulnerabilities caused by the latter’s 2018 gerrymandering of the state’s electoral map.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections

2 Aug 2023

Is Indonesia’s Al-Zaytun Islamic Boarding School Facing an Existential Threat?

A'an Suryana

An Islamic boarding school and its principal are embroiled once again in controversy. This time, maybe the public’s complaints will bite – but for how long?

Indonesia Indonesian Politics Religion

1 Aug 2023

Anwar Ibrahim Welcomes Abdul Somad to Putrajaya: What Gives?

Mohd Faizal Musa|Sharifah Afra Alatas

The Malaysian premier’s warm welcome to a controversial Indonesian preacher should have raised questions about the former’s commitment to moderate Islamic principles. That the visit did not cause more of a stir within Malaysian circles raises even more questions.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

31 Jul 2023

The State Administration Council and Aung San Suu Kyi: The Lady is Not for Turning?

Kyi Sin|Moe Thuzar

Two recent developments in Myanmar suggest that the State Administration Council has come round to banking on the iconic status of Aung San Suu Kyi as a political ploy.

Myanmar Myanmar Politics