ARTICLES

18 Mar 2026

LGBTQ Issues in Malaysia and the Politics of Conservative Modernity

Syaza Shukri

Malaysia’s ruling government has a tough balancing act to pull off on the reform front.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

17 Mar 2026

The Rise of Iran’s Third Rahbar, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Implications for Malaysia’s Shia Community

Mohd Faizal Musa

The ascension of Iran’s new Supreme Leader bears implications for the validity of his late father’s rulings and their faith’s adherents in this region.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar at the meeting of the National Finance Council in Putrajaya, Malaysia on 5 March 2026. (Photo from Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar / Facebook)

16 Mar 2026

Perikatan Nasional’s Opposition Leader Dilemma

Norshahril Saat

Perikatan Nasional has been in a pickle over who will assume the role of opposition leader. While it has finally been decided that PAS should lead the coalition, PN’s marketability as a viable alternative to the ruling coalition remains in doubt.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

13 Mar 2026

Running of Kuala Lumpur: When Demographics Stand in the Way of Direct Polls

Ooi Kok Hin

There are sound reasons for Kuala Lumpur to have a directly elected mayor. Such a technocratic solution, however, has been bogged down in the mire of ethnic anxieties.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

12 Mar 2026

Malaysia’s Unity Government’s 10-Year Term Limit Terminated: What Next?

Francis E. Hutchinson

The prime minister and his government have little time to lose in pushing harder for reform, if they wish to retain their support base.

Malaysia Malaysian Elections Malaysian Politics

11 Mar 2026

Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan: An Effective Regulatory Model for Sufi Movements and Tarekat Teachings

Mohd Faizal Musa

Negeri Sembilan’s religious authorities have found a balanced way to allow Sufism to thrive while respecting Islam’s orthodoxy.

Islam Malaysia

6 Mar 2026

Religious Elites and the Management of Islamic Affairs in Sarawak: A Mixed Scorecard

Mohd Faizal Musa

Political rather than religious authority still calls the shots in multi-religious Sarawak.

Islam Malaysia Sarawak

5 Mar 2026

Local Polls in Putrajaya: The Perfect Pilot Project?

Francis E. Hutchinson

Local elections in Malaysia warrant a second look.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

4 Mar 2026

Death Without Departure: Bung Moktar and the Persistence of His East Coast Political Authority

Vilashini Somiah

All politics is local and, in many cases, personal. The passing of Bung Moktar Radin illustrates these truisms in rural Sabah politics, as his influence persists for now.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics Sabah