| Date | Title | Description |
| 24.06.2026 | Commentary: ASEAN-Russia summit is not a tilt toward Moscow | SINGAPORE: The images from the southwest Russian city of Kazan will be hard to dismiss as routine anniversary diplomacy. Nine ASEAN heads of state or government gathered with President Vladimir Putin from Jun 17 to Jun 18 for a high-level m... |
| 21.04.2026 | Commentary: Southeast Asia’s scam centres are a new US-China battleground | SINGAPORE: Cyberfraud and the proliferation of massive online scam centres are growing problems throughout Southeast Asia. Both China and the United States have vested interests in combating such criminal activities. Unfortunately, the prag... |
| 27.03.2026 | Commentary: US and Philippines still have fine-tuning to do in defence cooperation | MANILA: Iran’s drone and missile strikes against Gulf countries hosting United States military bases have prompted calls to review the Philippines’ revised 2023 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US, particularly the ris... |
| 13.03.2026 | Commentary: What next after Malaysia unity government’s failed bid for PM term limit? | SINGAPORE: The much-awaited constitutional amendment, advocated by Malaysia’s unity government to impose a 10-year term limit on the prime minister’s tenure, has failed. Requiring a two-thirds majority in parliament to amend the Constitutio... |
| 27.01.2026 | Commentary: Time to rethink Philippine economy’s reliance on remittances | QUEZON CITY: The Philippine economy’s strength has long been associated with robust inflows of remittances from overseas Filipinos. But there must be a critical re-evaluation of the role of remittances in economic growth and development, es... |
| 04.01.2026 | Mauritius: Children, Social Media, and a Mauritian Direction | "Children should not have access to social media". As 2026 dawns, this stance is being progressively adopted by multiple countries, following the radical example set by Australia last month. Indeed, as of December 2025, a new Aust... |
| 05.12.2025 | Commentary: Vietnam’s police are joking online and that makes their messaging more serious | ANN ARBOR, Michigan: In Vietnam, saying “I’ll call the police on you” is a familiar tease, shorthand for the authority everyone instinctively understands. Thus, it was striking when a Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) police unit’s Facebook page rece... |
| 04.11.2025 | Commentary: Sabah 2025 election – will Warisan’s Shafie Apdal rise again? | KUALA LUMPUR: The dissolution of the Sabah state assembly on Oct 6 has sparked speculation over the political line-ups for the upcoming election. Amid a parade of heavyweights, Shafie Apdal remains a central figure.
Long regarded as the qui... |
| 08.10.2025 | Commentary: Malaysian opposition party Bersatu’s lack of discipline has given PAS more control | KUALA LUMPUR: All of Malaysia’s major political parties are undergoing factional struggles, including the party that calls itself the “United Party” or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
But two internal spats in Bersatu have put the... |
| 27.09.2025 | Commentary: Malaysia’s fifth-generation fighter jet problem | SINGAPORE: Fortunately, the two pilots ejected safely. But the fiery crash of an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet in Kuantan on Aug 21 brought into sharp relief a major problem facing the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF): Its front-line aircraft, ... |
| 20.09.2025 | Commentary: Can Filipinos transcend polarised politics to reject corruption? | QUEZON CITY: The upheavals in Indonesia and Nepal in the last few weeks were precipitated by frustrations over corruption, inequality, and injustice perceived and experienced in these countries.
Led largely by Generation Z (under-30), the p... |
| 31.08.2025 | Commentary: Will Southeast Asian exporters 'eat’ the Trump tariffs? | SINGAPORE: US President Donald Trump’s "Liberation Day" tariffs have hit Southeast Asia particularly hard. Although these tariffs have come down somewhat, they are still significant.
The question facing exporters is whether to “ea... |
| 15.08.2025 | Commentary: What does Myanmar Acting President Myint Swe’s death mean for the country? | SINGAPORE: Myanmar's State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) announced the death of Acting President Myint Swe, who was 74 years old, on Aug 7 and decided to hold a state funeral. The SSPC’s decision, though in accordance with the protoc... |
| 31.07.2025 | Commentary: Why students from China are picking Malaysia over traditional destinations | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Since at least 2019, China has become Malaysia’s top source of international students, overtaking traditional sources such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan.
In 2023, a total of 44,043 Chinese students constituted 3... |
| 27.07.2025 | Commentary: Trump’s tariff deal with the Philippines was all praise, little gain | QUEZON CITY, Philippines: On Jul 22, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met US President Donald Trump in the White House. High on the agenda was the securing of a lower tariff rate for the Philippines.
In the end, all that President M... |
| 02.07.2025 | Commentary: Southeast Asia can help manage growing risks of conflict in Taiwan Strait | WASHINGTON: America’s recent military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have sparked debate about implications for the Taiwan Strait. If America’s use of force compels Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, this will serve as a reminder ... |
| 18.06.2025 | The Coffee Clash: Starbucks vs. Luckin in a Global Arena | The coffee wars are heating up. On one side, we have Starbucks, the iconic American brand that has become synonymous with coffee culture. On the other, Luckin Coffee, a Chinese upstart that’s shaking things up with a digital-first approach.... |
| 15.06.2025 | Commentary: Why Chinese F&B companies are expanding in Indonesia | SINGAPORE: In the past decade, China’s food and beverage (F&B) firms have started large-scale investments outside China, driven by domestic market saturation and the Xi Jinping government’s “going out” policy.
Southeast Asia has become ... |
| 10.06.2025 | Commentary: Next challenge for PM Anwar’s PKR - keeping its anchor role in government | KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has gone through another change in its leadership line-up following intense internal party elections on May 24. With the party’s top leaders in place, PKR has quite a hill to climb in retaining infl... |
| 09.06.2025 | The New Dance of Diplomacy: Trump, Merz, and Vietnam's Strategic Gambit | In the world of international relations, the stage is set for a new performance. The players? Donald Trump, Friedrich Merz, and Vietnam. Each is navigating a complex web of trade, security, and political maneuvering. Their actions are not j... |
| 04.06.2025 | Commentary: Vietnam’s Trump card in trade negotiations with the US | Listen
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SINGAPORE: In May, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Eric Trump – son of the US president – attended the groundbreaking of a US$1.5 billion... |
| 10.05.2025 | Commentary: Time for ASEAN to court new partners in its web of free trade agreements | Listen
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SINGAPORE: On a research trip in the middle of April, we found ourselves in Washington, bathed in springtime sunshine, with smiling tourists taking pho... |
| 07.05.2025 | Southeast Asia's Industrial Future: A Double-Edged Sword | Southeast Asia stands at a crossroads. The region is witnessing a significant shift in manufacturing, driven by China's "Great Relocation." This movement is reshaping the industrial landscape, but the question looms: will it eleva... |
| 03.05.2025 | Tariffs and Trade: Thailand's Tightrope Walk in a Tumultuous Market | Thailand stands at a crossroads. The recent imposition of tariffs by the United States, under President Trump’s “Liberation Day” initiative, has sent shockwaves through the nation’s economy. With a 36% tariff now levied on Thai exports, the... |
| 03.05.2025 | Commentary: Has China’s great relocation helped Southeast Asia industrialise? | SINGAPORE: In recent years, China’s manufacturers have increasingly shifted production to Southeast Asia, driven by rising labour costs, geopolitical tensions – particularly the US-China trade war – and efforts to diversify supply chains (t... |
| 02.05.2025 | Commentary: Why importing more will not save Thailand from Trump’s tariffs | BANGKOK: US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs is a nightmare for trade-oriented economies, including Thailand. In response, the Thai government has prioritised increasing imports from the US and diversifying export markets.
... |
| 20.04.2025 | The Dance of Diplomacy: Ukraine, Russia, and the Global Stage | In the theater of international relations, the stage is set for a high-stakes drama. Ukraine stands at the center, caught in a whirlwind of negotiations, alliances, and shifting power dynamics. The recent talks in Paris have brought togethe... |
| 20.04.2025 | The Geopolitical Chessboard: Indonesia, Russia, and the U.S. Minerals Deal with Ukraine | In the realm of international relations, every move counts. The recent developments involving Indonesia, Russia, and Ukraine highlight the intricate dance of diplomacy and power. Each nation plays its hand, but the stakes are high. On April... |
| 20.04.2025 | Commentary: Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam is not all about Donald Trump | SINGAPORE: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam from Apr 14 to Apr 15 came just days after US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement of sweeping global tariffs, amid Washington’s looming 46 per cent tariff on Viet... |
| 18.04.2025 | Commentary: Is the Russian air force coming to Indonesia? | SINGAPORE: The story lasted barely a day but caused outrage in Australia and prompted a quick denial from Indonesia.
On Apr 14, the respected defence analysis company Janes claimed that Russia had asked Indonesia for access to the Manuhau A... |
| 08.04.2025 | Commentary: Talk of two-term limit on Malaysia’s PM tenures comes at an interesting time for Anwar | SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s social media landscape was a-twitter last month over term limits for the country’s highest office. The buzz began on Mar 16 at the Democratic Action Party’s national congress, when its secretary-general, Anthony Loke, ... |
| 03.04.2025 | Commentary: Batam struggles to up the ante as Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone rises | SINGAPORE: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was launched in January 2025 with much fanfare. The zone is a swathe of land in the southern Malaysian state of Johor that seeks to attract investment by leveraging its proximity to... |
| 19.03.2025 | Commentary: Musk, Myanmar and the murky future of internet freedom | SINGAPORE: For anti-government groups engaged in resistance movements, securing reliable communication channels is often a matter of life and death. In many cases, the very states they are fighting against control the mainstream internet in... |
| 11.03.2025 | Commentary: A return to political chaos? The Philippines’ impeachment saga | MANILA: The Philippines entered an impeachment cycle when the House of Representatives successfully impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. This sets the stage for the Senate to preside over a polarising trial possibly by this July.
Accordin... |
| 07.03.2025 | Commentary: Is Anwar-Thaksin deal a masterstroke or miscalculation? | SINGAPORE: It was not without controversy that Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a member of his informal advisory team ahead of Malaysia assuming the 2025 chairmanship of the... |
| 07.02.2025 | The Hidden Costs of Indonesia’s Free School Lunch Program | Indonesia is on a mission. President Prabowo Subianto has launched a universal free school lunch program aimed at feeding 83 million children. The goal is noble: improve nutrition and combat stunting. But beneath the surface, the program fa... |
| 07.02.2025 | Singapore's Data Centres: The Quest for Clean Energy | Singapore is at a crossroads. The island nation is grappling with a surge in data centre demand. These digital fortresses consume staggering amounts of energy. Each facility can devour up to 33 gigawatts annually. That’s enough to power 900... |
| 07.02.2025 | Commentary: The real costs of Indonesia’s free school lunch programme can't be ignored | SINGAPORE: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has launched a universal free school lunch programme targeting 83 million children with an initial 17 million target by the end of 2025. This is primarily aimed at improving the nutritional s... |
| 07.01.2025 | Vietnam's Banking Crisis: A Chronic Illness in Need of a Cure | Vietnam's banking sector is in a precarious state. A recent court ruling has cast a long shadow over private banks, exposing deep-rooted issues that threaten the entire financial system. The case of Truong My Lan, the former chairwoman of S... |
| 07.01.2025 | Commentary: Will the ‘chronic disease’ of Vietnam’s private banks ever be treated? | SINGAPORE: On Dec 3, 2024, an appeal court in Ho Chi Minh City upheld the first instance court’s death sentence for Truong My Lan, the majority owner of Saigon Commercial Bank and former chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat Group... |
| 03.01.2025 | Commentary: South China Sea tensions more likely to go up than down | SINGAPORE: In the new year, the Trump administration’s policies towards China and the wider Indo-Pacific region will have a significant impact on the South China Sea dispute.
If 2024 was anything to go by, tensions are more likely to go up ... |
| 19.12.2024 | Commentary: Should Selangor take Kuala Lumpur back? | KUALA LUMPUR: In November, Selangor’s chief minister Amirudin Shari expressed interest in reclaiming Kuala Lumpur if the opportunity arises despite not having any concrete plans. Reintegrating the capital, Malaysia’s financial and commercia... |
| 10.12.2024 | Commentary: What does it mean that more non-Chinese Malaysians are learning Mandarin? | New: You can now listen to articles.
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KUALA LUMPUR: On the eve of Malaysia’s 67th Independence Day, Malaysian Chinese YouTuber Wabikong released a game-show video entitled Guess the Real Chinese (Malay ... |
| 13.11.2024 | Commentary: There’s an easier way to tax the rich in Malaysia | SINGAPORE: T15 is the new buzzword in Malaysia. Budget 2025, presented by Prime Minister and First Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 18, popularised the “Top 15 per cent” category. It refers to the removal of subsidies in residential sc... |
| 23.10.2024 | Commentary: Loopholes in Malaysia’s anti-defection law | KUALA LUMPUR: In parliamentary democracies, the electorate determines which party or coalition controls parliament and forms the next government. Regrettably, the practice of “party-hopping”, “floor crossing” or “defection” can subvert this... |
| 21.10.2024 | Rising Tides: The US-Philippines Military Exercises Amid Regional Tensions | In the shadow of a brewing storm, the United States and the Philippines have embarked on a significant military exercise. This comes just a day after China flexed its muscles with extensive drills around Taiwan. The Kamandag exercises, whic... |
| 20.10.2024 | Commentary: Malaysia’s purchase of Kuwaiti Hornet fighter jets - is it worth it? | ABU DHABI: Malaysia has finally received the “green light” from the Kuwaiti government for the acquisition of secondhand Kuwaiti F/A-18C/D Hornets for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) amid political indecision and budgetary problems sur... |
| 16.10.2024 | Commentary: Anticipating the first moves of Indonesia president-elect Prabowo | SINGAPORE: On Oct 20, Prabowo Subianto will be inaugurated as the eighth president of Indonesia. His leadership will be shaped by his ability to deliver on his political promises while navigating significant developmental challenges.
The bi... |
| 10.10.2024 | Commentary: US not walking the talk in Southeast Asia as Biden skips ASEAN Summit again | SINGAPORE: The ASEAN-US Summit and the East Asia Summit will convene in Vientiane, Laos on Friday (Oct 11), but United States President Joe Biden will once again be absent. For the second consecutive year, Biden has opted to send a represen... |
| 05.10.2024 | Commentary: Quiboloy’s arrest - when self-proclaimed ‘Son of God’ plays politics | MANILA: Apollo Quiboloy gave himself many titles: Senior pastor. Appointed son of God. Owner of the universe. But on Sep 8, the once-influential Filipino televangelist and spiritual adviser to former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested o... |
| 29.09.2024 | Commentary: DAP party polls in Penang reveal acrimonious internal politics | SINGAPORE: The Democratic Action Party (DAP), a key component of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, has just concluded its election in Penang.
The polls, which are held every three years for leadership ... |
| 17.09.2024 | Commentary: Barisan Nasional’s tactical victory in Nenggiri by-election | CANBERRA: Fresh from Pakatan Harapan (PH)’s loss in the Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang, Malaysia’s “Madani” coalition - which combines PH with its former foe Barisan Nasional (BN) - has won a separate state by-election in the rura... |
| 14.09.2024 | Commentary: Has Malaysia PM Anwar sold out over Ukraine? | SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to Russia, his first ever, might serve Malaysia’s interests. But as Russia continues to fight against Ukraine two years after its illegal invasion of the latter in 2022, he ha... |
| 31.08.2024 | Commentary: Malaysia and the South China Sea dispute - a sea change under PM Anwar Ibrahim? | SINGAPORE: According to a recent spate of articles, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has recalibrated the country’s foreign policy, giving it a more pro-China and anti-Western slant.
In particular, it has been suggested that Kuala Lum... |
| 28.08.2024 | Commentary: Mahkota by-election has far-reaching consequences for Malaysia government | Listen to this article
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| 25.08.2024 | Commentary: Eroding wages in Myanmar add to debate about whether garment brands should 'stay or go' | SINGAPORE: Since the 2021 coup, working conditions and labour rights protections in Myanmar’s garment sector have eroded significantly, with some calling for multinational companies to divest. The garment industry has resisted these demands... |
| 06.08.2024 | Commentary: Myanmar junta’s internet controls expose citizens to cyber threats | Listen to this article
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SINGAPORE: For Myanmar, access to online information has... |
| 12.07.2024 | Commentary: After removing diesel subsidies, Malaysia must now manage the fallout | SINGAPORE: On Jun 10, Malaysia removed subsidies on diesel, a necessary measure to reduce the burgeoning diesel subsidy bill of RM14.3 billion (US$3 billion) in 2023 - compared with from RM1.4 billion in 2019 - and to stem leakages from die... |
| 07.07.2024 | Commentary: Sarawak offers Malaysia lessons in managing diversity | SINGAPORE: Observers of Malaysia often note that the ruling elites politicise race and religion, but Sarawak's politicians and civil society have stepped forth to defend their East Malaysian state’s contrasting multiculturalism and diversit... |
| 20.06.2024 | Commentary: What does Vietnam stand to gain from welcoming Russia's Putin | SINGAPORE: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Jun 19-20 state visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of Vietnamese Communist Party General-Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is intriguing for many watchers of Vietnam’s foreign policy. What does Hanoi... |
| 15.06.2024 | Commentary: Future of new Indonesian capital Nusantara in question after top officials overseeing project resign | SINGAPORE: The Jun 3 resignations of the former head and deputy head of Indonesia’s Nusantara Capital Authority Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe, surprised many.
Their abrupt departure raised questions about what happened behind the scen... |
| 29.05.2024 | Commentary: Good reasons for Thailand’s economic stimulus | NEW YORK: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin proposed a 10,000 baht (US$273) per person stimulus as a central piece of his economic agenda. Almost ever since, the stimulus has faced intense criticism. In an otherwise bitterly partisan environm... |
| 20.04.2024 | Commentary: Malaysia’s difficult path to a low-carbon economy | SINGAPORE: Malaysia faces the integral challenge of greening the economy as the country strives to sustain economic growth and improve people’s well-being.
To be sure, green growth is a global agenda and the burden rightly falls on the majo... |
| 05.04.2024 | Commentary: Navigating China’s influence and expanding role in Southeast Asia | SINGAPORE: China’s intensified diplomatic efforts within the region, both through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and bilaterally, have yielded significant dividends. The latest findings from the State of Southeast Asia 2... |
| 22.03.2024 | Commentary: Two presidents ousted in one year - what is Vietnam’s political outlook? | SINGAPORE: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam made an announcement on Wednesday (Mar 20) that it had accepted President Vo Van Thuong’s resignation from all official and party positions.
On Thursday, Vietnam’s National ... |
| 06.02.2024 | Commentary: Who benefits from former Malaysia PM Najib’s partial pardon? | Listen to this article
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| 31.01.2024 | Commentary: Indonesia gears up for an election that could end all elections | Listen to this article
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| 26.01.2024 | Commentary: Malaysia’s ‘Dubai Move’ was doomed to fail - it misunderstood Sarawak’s GPS coalition | Listen to this article
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| 12.01.2024 | Commentary: Nothing to see in Malaysia's alleged 'Dubai Move' to topple Anwar government - for now | Listen to this article
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| 09.01.2024 | Commentary: Anwar moves to slow down the rise of PAS with new deputy religious affairs minister | New: You can now listen to articles.
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| 22.11.2023 | Commentary: Can Indonesia’s three presidential candidates deliver on their promises? | Listen to this article
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| 16.11.2023 | Commentary: Fighting cybercrime to win China’s favour has become a common goal in Myanmar’s civil war | Listen to this article
Commentary: Fighting cybercrime to win China’s favour has become a common goal in Myanmar’s civil war
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| 12.11.2023 | Commentary: Malaysia opposition party PAS has a long-term plan to go its own way | Listen to this article
Commentary: Malaysia opposition party PAS has a long-term plan to go its own way
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| 08.11.2023 | Commentary: Russia’s memory diplomacy is paying dividends in Southeast Asia | Listen to this article
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| 27.10.2023 | Malaysia’s economic plans repositions it as a global hotspot for foreign investment | Malaysia is witnessing an influx of foreign investment projects, raising the prospect of an economic resurgence for the nation. This article delves into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for Malaysia, set against the backdrop ... |
| 12.08.2023 | Commentary: Thailand’s parliament stalemate puts Pheu Thai at crossroads | SINGAPORE: A quintessential Thai-style hung parliament has emerged after the Thai Senate twice obstructed Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Move Forward Party (MFP), in his bid to become Thailand’s 30th pr... |
| 27.07.2023 | Commentary: ASEAN shouldn’t have high expectations of new G7 climate club | SINGAPORE: In 2022, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders declared their intention to open a “climate club”, tasked to facilitate international cooperation on limiting global warming to the 1.5 degree Celsius target as envisioned in the 2015 Pari... |
| 20.07.2023 | Commentary: Jokowi manoeuvres against Megawati in effort to secure political future in Indonesia | SINGAPORE: From the moment the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) nominated Joko Widodo as its presidential candidate back in 2013 for the 2014 presidential election, and again in 2018 for the 2019 presidential election, Chairw... |
| 18.07.2023 | Thailand’s Prospects for Democracy Blocked by the Junta-Appointed Senate | A return to street politics and another mass movement campaign may once again be on the cards for Thailand’s government. With a junta-led constitutional system designed to protect the conservative establishment, many Thais, and especially y... |
| 17.07.2023 | Commentary: The lack of democracy in Thailand has been revealed | SINGAPORE: In the prime ministerial selection process on Jul 13, Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat was unable to secure the required parliamentary votes for approval as the prime minister.
Despite having a strong electoral mandate... |
| 13.07.2023 | Commentary: NATO expansion does not justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine | SINGAPORE: It should not surprise anyone that the 31-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has an unsavoury reputation in Russia and China. But it is a bit surprising that this is also so among significant numbers of people in So... |
| 10.07.2023 | Commentary: What's behind MUDA's move to go it alone in Malaysia state elections? | SINGAPORE: Malaysia is gearing up for state government elections, which have been slated for Aug 12. While Anwar Ibrahim’s parliamentary majority is not directly at play, analysts have framed the polls as a referendum on his administration.... |
| 03.07.2023 | Commentary: Disaster relief dysfunction in Myanmar highlights failure of diplomatic efforts | YANGON: Five weeks after Cyclone Mocha devastated central Rakhine State and parts of Chin, Sagaing and Magwe in Myanmar, the military junta still restricts urgently needed assistance to over a million affected civilians.
The stonewalling of... |
| 25.06.2023 | Commentary: Transparent content moderation key to responsible political discourse in Malaysia | KUALA LUMPUR: There is an increasingly worrying political trend following Malaysia’s 15th general election (GE15), where racialised political messaging and exclusionary political narratives have become normalised.
With six states headed for... |
| 02.06.2023 | Commentary: A dark horse could become Thai prime minister | SINGAPORE: Fresh from its recent victory at the May 14 general elections, the Move Forward Party is running into significant hurdles in its pursuit of the premiership. This stems from a trifecta of issues - the lack of support from the unel... |
| 30.05.2023 | imBee and FUTR Strategy Alliance Puts the Power of Conversational Commerce In the Hands of Indonesian Consumers | Partnership unlocks potential for brands to tap into the USD146 billion Indonesian internet economy and streamline internal collaboration with the power of chat, paves way for imBee’s Southeast Asia growth ambitions.
HONG KONG SAR – Media O... |
| 05.05.2023 | Commentary: Pheu Thai wants a landslide win in the northeast. It faces a tough fight | SINGAPORE: Under a giant tent on a scorching hot day in Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen, a sea of vibrant red swarmed together for what seemed like an early victory celebration held by the Pheu Thai Party, just 25 days before the election on ... |
| 30.04.2023 | Commentary: With PDI-P nomination of Ganjar Pranowo, Indonesia headed for three-way presidential race | SINGAPORE: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) finally nominated Ganjar Pranowo, governor of Central Java, as its presidential candidate on Apr 21.
The announcement was apparently prepared in haste at the Batutulis palace in... |
| 27.04.2023 | Commentary: Lessons from the cancellation of Indonesia’s under-20 FIFA World Cup hosting rights | JAKARTA: On Mar 29, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) cancelled Indonesia’s host rights for the Under-20 (U-20) World Cup “due to the current circumstances” following the debate in Indonesia over the Israeli youth ... |
| 21.04.2023 | Commentary: Are US-Vietnam relations ready for a strategic partnership upgrade? | SINGAPORE: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Vietnam in mid-April, which marked the 10th anniversary of the two countries’ comprehensive partnership and was preceded by high-level bilateral contacts, has led many to... |
| 19.04.2023 | Commentary: Is Philippines going from Duterte’s pivot to China to Marcos Jr’s rebalance to the US? | MANILA: During the 2022 Philippine presidential election, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr was widely seen as a pro-China candidate who would continue then president Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot to China. This was because Marcos Jr publicly spoke ... |
| 16.04.2023 | Commentary: Why ASEAN appreciates Japan’s nuanced approach to regional order | SINGAPORE: 2023 marks an important milestone in ASEAN-Japan relations with the celebration of the ASEAN-Japan golden jubilee (50th anniversary of informal dialogue relations from 1973, formalised in March 1977). The relationship is expected... |
| 07.04.2023 | Commentary: Political dealmaking will determine the winner and twist outcomes in Thailand’s election | SINGAPORE: With Thailand’s House of Representatives dissolved and the next general election scheduled for May 14 this year, Thai political parties are competing to outdo each other with populist policy pledges.
To bring about the first tran... |
| 01.04.2023 | Commentary: Anwar's unity government may write a new chapter for Malaysia-Singapore relations | KUALA LUMPUR: Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government has inherited challenges from a period of uncertainty in Malaysia-Singapore relations.
The return of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the 7th prime minister after the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018... |
| 29.03.2023 | Commentary: UMNO president Ahmad Zahid is a formidable yet flawed political operator | SINGAPORE: Ever the dapper dresser, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi now has additional sass in his swagger. Months of work have cemented his grip on the party and saved it from penury in the parliamen... |
| 16.03.2023 | Commentary: Can Cambodia’s future foreign policy diverge from China? | SINGAPORE: Cambodia has been portrayed as China’s proxy for decades because of its pro-Beijing stance and its economy’s deep dependence on its larger neighbour.
Cambodia treasures the ironclad friendship. China contributed to 44 per cent of... |
| 12.03.2023 | Commentary: The lucrative job of being a pro-Marcos social media influencer in the Philippines | QUEZON CITY: The Philippines has been dubbed the social media capital of the world. Year after year, the Philippines registers the most Internet and social media users per capita - despite the country’s lagging Internet speeds and poor digi... |
| 07.03.2023 | Commentary: Perils and promise beneath global enthusiasm for Thai baht | SINGAPORE: There appears to be a surge of excitement around the baht. Established Chinese investors and small family offices are eyeing Thai assets to hedge against Western sanctions and China’s own uncertain political economy. Some Hong Ko... |
| 25.02.2023 | Commentary: Recent clashes at Chinese companies in Indonesia might be fodder for political manipulation | SINGAPORE: On Jan 14, an Indonesian and a Chinese worker were killed during protests at the Gunbuster Nickel Industry smelter. The smelter, owned by China’s Jiangsu Delong Nickel Industry, is in Morowali district, Central Sulawesi.
Conducte... |
| 23.02.2023 | Commentary: Southeast Asia has big concerns but limited choices in case of a Taiwan conflict | SINGAPORE: The latest clash between China and the United States over purported Chinese surveillance balloons in American skies has again raised tensions in the world’s most consequential relationship. This only underscores the fragility of ... |
