17 Sep 2026 Regional Haze Casts a Pall on ASEAN’s Influence Melinda Martinus The return of smoke haze underscores a sobering reality: while ASEAN has policies designed to combat it, the problem continues to occur. ASEAN Climate Change Environment Haze Southeast Asia
16 Sep 2026 Beyond the Symbolism: Organisational Networks and the Conditional Electoral Power of Nahdlatul Ulama Burhanuddin Muhtadi 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. Indonesia Indonesian Elections Indonesian Politics
16 Sep 2026 The Diplomatic Limits of Cambodia’s Engagement with Myanmar Chhay Lim|Joanne Lin Myanmar is using bilateral diplomacy to establish a semblance of normality with ASEAN member states, even as the bloc’s collective restrictions remain formally in place. ASEAN Cambodia Myanmar
16 Sep 2026 For Southeast Asia, the AI Race Is About Access, Not Supremacy Zenobia Chan The region’s stake in AI is not simply which great power builds the most capable model. The key is to ensure that AI remains affordable, locally relevant, continuously available and politically accessible. Artificial Intelligence China Southeast Asia Technology US
15 Sep 2026 How Cambodia Can Maintain Strategic Trust with China Chheang Vannarith As Sino-US competition intensifies, Cambodia’s room for manoeuvre is shrinking. Phnom Penh needs to step up in its communications and engagement. Cambodia Cambodia-China Relations China Foreign Policy
14 Sep 2026 Three Provisions Towards Greater Social Media Platform Transparency in ASEAN Amirul Adli Rosli Amirul Adli discusses how ASEAN can work with social media platforms to improve internet safety through greater transparency. ASEAN ASEANFocus Social Media
14 Sep 2026 When State Responsiveness Is Not Enough for Vietnam’s Generation Z Dien Nguyen An Luong An incident involving a tree and roadside death underscores how official responses to youth grievances can fail to mollify. Vietnam Vietnamese Politics Youth
11 Sep 2026 Realising Malaysia’s High-Income Aspiration: The Last Mile of Reforms Jayant Menon Wide-ranging reforms and within-sector specialisation are needed for Malaysia to become a productivity-driven, high-income economy. Economy Foreign Direct Investment investment Malaysia Middle Income Trap
10 Sep 2026 Why the Upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections Matter Yasmira P. Moner|Aries A. Arugay The upcoming elections in Bangsamoro in the Philippines will mark a critical turning point in the region’s journey towards self-determination. Philippine Philippine Elections Philippine Politics
9 Sep 2026 Malaysia’s Progressive Islamic Party: Can Amanah Still Be Pakatan Harapan’s Counterweight to PAS? Ooi Kok Hin More than a decade since its formation, how far has Amanah challenged the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, PAS, as a mass-party alternative? Islam Malaysia Malaysian Politics Political Islam
