COMMENTARIES

10 Nov 2022

Food, Floods and Finance at COP27: Southeast Asia Must Act

Prapimphan Chiengkul

Southeast Asian governments should support the call to set up a new global loss and damage (L&D) financing facility, empowered with a broad and responsive mandate. It is insufficient to merely strengthen old institutions. An L&D facility is in every country’s interest.

Climate Change Food Security

9 Nov 2022

Identity Politics Might Undermine Malay/Muslim Unity

Norshahril Saat

Three broad coalitions are gunning for the Malay/ Muslim vote in Malaysia’s general election. The question is whether voters still regard the issues of race and religion as important.

A cyclist passes by solar panels at the Valenzuela Solar Farm in Valenzuela City

9 Nov 2022

Putting Sustainability at the Heart of the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision

Melinda Martinus

If ASEAN’s Coordinating Council comprising its foreign ministers and their High-level Task Force manages to influence their national leaders to make the right moves despite global uncertainty, ASEAN’s environmental, socio-economic and cultural future can be set on the right, albeit steeper, trajectory.

ASEAN Climate Change Sustainable Development

8 Nov 2022

Pakatan Harapan and Malay Heartland Voters: The Need to Stay Grounded

Mohd Faizal Musa

Pakatan Harapan has its work cut out for it in seeking to defend or even take new seats in Malay-majority constituencies. In such seats, the coalition needs to work close to the ground and address quotidian issues, rather than stressing national-level matters.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

8 Nov 2022

Easy Highway, Troubled City: How China Wins and Loses Cambodians’ Hearts

Chanrith Ngin

Two China-driven projects show striking contrasts. The newly opened Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has been well-received by Cambodians. But grand plans for Sihanoukville to be an investment hub and “multi-purpose” city have instead seen Chinese businesses crowding out locals, a boom-bust cycle in construction and illicit trades.

Belt and Road Initiative Cambodia China Infrastructure

8 Nov 2022

UNCLOS: The Polestar for Philippine Maritime Ambitions

Jacqueline F. Espenilla

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has served the Philippines well in achieving its security, economic and environmental goals. The most high-profile application of UNCLOS was the country’s arbitration proceedings against China in 2013 over the South China Sea.

Philippine South China Sea UNCLOS Why UNCLOS Matters

7 Nov 2022

GE15: Parti Amanah Negara’s Strong and Volatile Seats

Mohd Faizal Musa

Amanah, the progressive Islamist party, will be contesting in as many as 54 seats in Malaysia’s general elections. The prospect of many multi-cornered fights suggests that the party faces an uphill battle to retain the eleven parliamentary seats it now holds.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

7 Nov 2022

Zooming In on the Government Zoomers Want

James Chai

Political parties and coalitions campaigning in Malaysia’s general election will do better if they take note of the concerns of Gen Z voters.

Demography Malaysia Malaysian Elections

7 Nov 2022

MUI’s Strong Survival Instincts for a Shariah-Compliant Indonesia

Syafiq Hasyim

The key to Indonesia’s Council of Ulama’s longevity even in the post-Suharto period lies in its dominance of the halal certification system, which other major Muslim organisations have not managed to dilute.

Halal Certification Indonesia Islam

4 Nov 2022

There Should Be Some Tough Talk on Loss and Damage at COP27

Prapimphan Chiengkul

Southeast Asian countries should stand alongside other developing countries and call on more richer countries to compensate them for the damaging effects caused by climate change.

Climate Change Environment