ARTICLES

7 May 2026

BT or Not BT: Vietnam’s Infrastructure Development Dilemma

Le Hong Hiep

Vietnam has revived Build-Transfer projects five years after banishing them for corruption risks. The efficiency and development reasons are clear — as are the perils that demand stronger institutions.

15 May 2025

Hajiji’s Dilemma and Anwar’s Gamble: The Political Fallout from Sabah’s Mining Scandal

Arnold Puyok

The Sabah mining scandal involving one of the parties in Malaysia’s ruling coalition undermines PM Anwar’s anti-corruption stance but the party’s current weakness could give Anwar the leverage to reshape Sabah politics.

Corruption Malaysia Malaysian Politics

2 May 2025

Thai State Audit Office Has Only Itself to Blame For Tragic Collapse of Building

Termsak Chalermpalanupap

Dubious partnerships, corruption, and poor construction materials seem to have caused the destruction of the 30-storey building in the 28 March quake.

Corruption Thai Politics Thailand

6 Mar 2025

Malaysian Youth: Mixed Views on Clean Governance Amid Stability

Syaza Shukri

An ISEAS survey appears to indicate that Malaysian youth have taken concerns about corruption in their stride.

Corruption Malaysia Malaysian Politics Youth

17 Jan 2025

Myanmar’s Silent Disease: How Everyday Bribery Fuels Autocratic Control

Su Mon Thazin Aung

Entrenched corruption has infected the body politic of Myanmar under the military regime, especially since the February 2021 coup. Even regime change may not cure this cancer.

Corruption Economic Development Myanmar

6 Aug 2024

Democracy, Corruption, and Law Enforcement: Challenges in Achieving Grand Indonesia 2045

Mahfud MD

This article is from a speech delivered by former Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security and recent vice-presidential candidate Professor Mahfud MD at ISEAS on 4 July 2024

Corruption Indonesia Indonesian Law Indonesian Politics

19 Jul 2024

Anti-Corruption Politics and Shifts in Central-Local Relations in Vietnam

Nguyen Khac Giang

Since 2021, half of the members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam who were removed for corruption were provincial leaders, resulting in a decrease in provincial representation in the Committee from 40 per cent to 28 per cent. Moving forward, Vietnam must strike a balance between its anti-corruption efforts and the need to preserve provincial autonomy, to sustain economic growth at the local level.

Anti-Corruption Corruption Vietnam Vietnamese Economy Vietnamese Politics

11 Jul 2024

Corruption Eradication in Indonesia: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Astrid Meilasari-Sugiana|Gunardi Endro|Siwage Dharma Negara

Public expectations for corruption eradication will never be met unless fundamental reforms are implemented within Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and other law enforcement agencies, including the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office. Also needed are curbs on the cosy relationships between politicians and big business.

Corruption Indonesia Indonesian Politics