ARTICLES

10 Jan 2022

Malaysia on the Cusp of a New Political Order

Liew Chin Tong

The discourse on Malaysia’s political history has been in flux for some time. This Long Read revisits the series of political, economic and social ideas that have sustained previous political eras and explores what is to come.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

29 Dec 2021

Form over Substance: A Threat to Livelihoods and Social Cohesion

Sharifah Afra Alatas|Faris Ridzuan

Recent trends in Malaysia show that religiously conservative ideas are no longer restricted to the Malay heartlands. There should be more space carved out for freedom of conscience, with less interference from state or civil society actors.

17 Dec 2021

Fighting Big Fat Lies Online: Caveat Emptor

Lee Sue-Ann

In the online battlefield, companies, politicians and media outlets are trying to shape how we think. For media consumers and journalists alike, the keys to a strong defence lie in media literacy and discernment.

Indonesia Malaysia Misinformation Philippine Social Media Technology

26 Nov 2021

Perikatan Nasional’s Performance in Melaka: Worth a Double Take

Francis E. Hutchinson|Kevin Zhang

The Barisan Nasional victory in the recent elections in Melaka has hogged the headlines. But the performance of other coalitions, such as Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, provides usual indicators for the next national polls.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

19 Nov 2021

Pakatan Harapan to Retake Melaka: Long Odds?

Kevin Zhang|Francis E. Hutchinson

The Pakatan Harapan faces long odds if it wants to return to govern the state of Melaka again. A deep dive into three key seats illustrates the challenges that the coalition faces in polls due tomorrow.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics Pakatan Harapan

18 Nov 2021

The Melaka State Election: Unwanted, Unwieldy, and Unpredictable

Francis E. Hutchinson|Kevin Zhang

The upcoming Melaka state election due on November 20 will be a useful barometer of the electoral fortunes of Malaysia’s shifting alliances and overlapping coalitions, particularly on the Peninsula.

Bersatu Malaysia Malaysian Politics Pakatan Harapan UMNO

18 Nov 2021

Bumiputeras vs ‘the Others’ in Malaysia’s 2022 Budget: Moral Outrage is Not Enough

Lee Hwok-Aun

The UMNO-Perikatan-governed Bumiputera agenda forges on, with a zealousness that, if unchecked, will spell trouble. But the critique must go beyond moral outrage at the ethnic disparities in the budget and grapple with real alternatives.

Affirmative Action Identity Politics Malaysia Malaysian Politics

8 Nov 2021

Political Coalitions in Malaysia: Fluid, Fleeting and Fickle

Francis E. Hutchinson

Despite being part of the same coalition as the United Malays National Organisation at the national level, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia is contesting against the grand old party in the upcoming state elections in Malacca. This might well reflect a new normal in the country’s politics.

Malaysia Malaysian Politics

5 Nov 2021

Malaysia’s National Trade Blueprint: Mind the Gap

Tham Siew Yean

Malaysia’s newly unveiled National Trade Blueprint seeks to arrest the country’s downward slide in global export rankings. But its prescriptions may fall short of what is needed in today’s environment.

Malaysia Malaysian Economy Non-Tariff Barriers

22 Oct 2021

The Twelfth Malaysia Plan: Time for a Reset?

Lee Hwok-Aun

The 12th Malaysia Plan, a key planning document for the country's development, has been expedited through Parliament with no debate. The process of formulating the plan needs a reset.

Economic Development Malaysia Malaysian Economy Malaysian Politics