COMMENTARIES

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.

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

4 Nov 2022

Will ASEAN Take the Side of the Myanmar People?

Adelina Kamal

Choosing the right approach that best serves the pressing humanitarian needs of the Myanmar people requires ASEAN Leaders to do some new thinking.

ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Myanmar

3 Nov 2022

Defence Procurement in Malaysia: A Way Forward?

Sze Fung Ng

Malaysia has seen problems in its defence procurement in recent years. Once a new government is installed after the general election, it should follow through with reforms to improve transparency in the process of acquiring new military hardware.

Defence Malaysia

3 Nov 2022

Persuasion Not Regulation the Key for Social Media Influencers Navigating Religion and Culture

Siti Mazidah Mohamad

There is already a patchwork of laws supported by some communal surveillance and cultural policing when it comes to social media influencers in Muslim-majority countries in Southeast Asia. It is perhaps possible to socialise influencers, Muslim or otherwise, to tread carefully when navigating sensitive issues, but this must stop short of over-regulation.

Halal Islam Media Southeast Asia