COMMENTARIES

Fortifying the Ballot: Addressing Disinformation and Electoral Integrity in Malaysia

Nuurrianti Jalli|Khairy Jamaluddin

Malaysia’s democratic foundations face critical challenges in the digital age, with racially charged polarisation and the proliferation of disinformation during election campaigns posing significant threats to electoral integrity. This Long Read proposes policy recommendations, including establishing an independent fact-checking body, investing in AI-powered fact-checking tools, developing country-specific AI governance guidelines, and introducing comprehensive media and information literacy education.

The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement: Complementing and Cementing the Hub-and-Spokes System

Aries A. Arugay|Mico A Galang

Signed in July 2024, the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Japan and the Philippines facilitates regular exchanges and activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF). This should be seen as an act of strategic autonomy on the part of both countries to address shared security interests in the maritime domain.