Showing 1 - 10 of 27
Is this a new dawn for Malaysia?
Oped, M Niaz Asadullah and Andrew Kam Jia Yi, Published on 11/01/2023
» In 2007, on the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence, Nobel laureate economist Joseph E Stiglitz celebrated the "miracle" of the country's economic rise and creation of a vibrant multiethnic society. In the 15 years that followed, however, revelations of large-scale corruption and abuse of foreign workers damaged Malaysia's international reputation and fueled domestic political instability.
Malaysian polls see Islamist surge
News, Clara Ferreira Marques, Published on 23/11/2022
» Malaysia's election has not immediately resulted in a new government, but it has produced an instant winner -- political Islam.
Elections and old ties grip SE Asia
News, Editorial, Published on 23/10/2022
» The Southeast Asian region is entering election mode -- starting with the upcoming snap election in Malaysia next month, followed by the national election next year in Thailand, which is tentatively set for May, and Cambodia's poll in July.
SE Asia dabbles with change
News, Editorial, Published on 28/08/2022
» It may only be the end of August, but this year has seen some major announcements in Southeast Asia that signal a major shift is taking place in the deeply-conservative region. But do the changes affect reality on a deeper level, or merely cement the status quo?
Jailing Najib is a win for Malaysia
News, Daniel Moss, Published on 25/08/2022
» Let's hear it for Malaysia. Something unimaginable just a few years ago has transpired. A former prime minister, the scion of a prominent political dynasty who retained a strong grassroots following as a top lawmaker, has been sentenced to prison. His fall is a tonic, however brief, for a country whose politics in recent years have been marred by rancor, cynicism and a revolving door of weak governments.
1MDB queries need answers
News, Editorial, Published on 26/02/2020
» Now that the military junta is being accused of helping Malaysia's former government to cover up the multi-billion-dollar investment fund 1MDB scandal, it should be of utmost importance for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to ensure that the public is given a clear, accurate picture of what exactly happened.
Tackling Asean's corporate cronyism
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 03/10/2019
» Many Southeast Asian countries, particularly Thailand and Malaysia, have been breeding grounds for unchecked and unregulated relations between government and big conglomerates, which have kept a handful of crazy rich Asians increasingly wealthy and widened the income gap between them and the rest of the population.
Huge army spend is self-serving folly
News, Zachary Abuza, Published on 24/07/2019
» It goes without saying but, coups d'état are good for a military's bottom line. According to data recently published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the Thai military has benefited handsomely from its repeated interventions in Thai politics.
Little progress in war on graft
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 11/03/2019
» Corruption is rarely out of the news in Southeast Asia, but the last three weeks have been busier than usual. In Vietnam, two former information ministers were arrested on suspicion of mismanaging public investment. The prosecution order issued on Feb 23 for Nguyen Bac Son and Truong Minh Tuan accuses them of "violations of regulations on management and use of public investment capital that cause serious consequences". The news cast a shadow over Hanoi's preparations fo the Trump-Kim nuclear summit.
Don't rule out war over Taiwan
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 14/01/2019
» Last week was a busy one for China. Headlines took note of fresh harassment of Taiwan, reports of possibly illegal gold mining by Chinese firms in Ghana, and of separatists threatening to attack Belt and Road projects in Pakistan and Malaysia.