COMMENTARIES

14 Mar 2024

A Kidney for Your Vote: Money Politics in Indonesia’s 2024 Elections

Burhanuddin Muhtadi

The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched, and not likely to go away anytime soon, because it works.

14 Mar 2024

Energy and Agrarian Justice in Southeast Asia’s Green Transition

Prapimphan Chiengkul

The drive towards renewable energy in Southeast Asia should not ignore the concept of just energy transition.

Agriculture Labour Rights Sustainable Development

13 Mar 2024

ASEAN-Australia Relations: Working Out Hard Issues for Regional Stability

William Choong|Sharon Seah

ASEAN-Australia relations look set to power on for the next 50 years after the recent commemoration of the first 50 but some difficult issues need to be worked out.

ASEAN ASEAN-Australia Relations Australia Quad

13 Mar 2024

Introducing Gus Miftah: A Celebrity Cleric Consolidating Prabowo-Gibran’s Victory

Syafiq Hasyim

A plank of Prabowo Subianto’s team’s winning strategy for East and Central Java in last month’s election rested on the shoulders of an unusual cleric who hails from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organisation.

Indonesia Indonesian Elections Indonesian Politics Religion Southeast Asia

12 Mar 2024

Strengthening Australia-ASEAN Cooperation in Maritime Cybersecurity

Su Wai Mon

ASEAN and Australia need to work out practical ways to cooperate on cyber security in the maritime industry.

ASEAN Australia Cyber Security Maritime Security

12 Mar 2024

Jakarta in Indonesia’s 2024 Election: Going Against the Electoral Grain

Ian Wilson

Grassroots legislative candidates in Jakarta face an uphill battle in their struggle to make electoral politics work for the poor, including changing perceptions of the value of a vote.

Indonesia Indonesian Elections Indonesian Politics

11 Mar 2024

Yusfarizal Yussoff’s “Deplorable Mention”: A Man to Watch

Mohd Faizal Musa

Yusfarizal Yussoff was given a “deplorable mention” by Federal Court justices last month. The career of the up-and-coming lawyer from Parti Islam SeMalaysia needs to be watched closely.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics Political Islam

11 Mar 2024

The “Jokowi Factor”: How Joko Widodo Helped Prabowo to Win Indonesia’s Presidency

A'an Suryana

The presumptive president-elect received an assist from the president of Indonesia not only through populist policies aimed at winning over the country’s poorest. Committing his firstborn son to the presidential campaign was essentially interpreted by voters as an instruction to vote for his former opponent.

Indonesia Indonesian Elections

8 Mar 2024

New President, Same Foreign Policy? Decoding Indonesia’s Foreign Policy Direction Post-Presidential Election 2024

Indira Zahra Aridati|Melinda Martinus

Indira Zahra Aridati and Melinda Martinus assess that while there may not be a significant change in terms of substance, Indonesia’s foreign policy will see subtle changes influenced by the incoming president’s background and beliefs, and competing domestic concerns affecting democratic consolidation.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Indonesia Indonesia Foreign Policy

8 Mar 2024

Why XanhSM Might Dethrone Grab in Vietnam

Le Hong Hiep

Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing giant Grab has a new serious competitor in Vietnam. XanhSM, also known as GreenSM in international markets, has rapidly expanded by offering more secure employment and lower costs for drivers, and achieving high client satisfaction. But turning a profit will be challenging.

transport Vietnam Vietnamese Economy