Archive: Jul 2020



STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 27, 2020 • 4 min read

Analysis Malaysia’s political crisis threatens a return to kleptocracy

By Jake Black • Jul 27, 2020
With former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak set to find out his fate in his high-profile 1MDB corruption trial on July 28, this once-assured conviction is looking less certain as his party regains some of its influence over the country's political landscape

STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 27, 2020 • 3 min read

Thai democracy Thai police probe after Red Bull heir hit-and-run case dropped

By Agence France-Presse • Jul 27, 2020
Against the backdrop of growing frustrations in Thailand about a culture of impunity for the rich, police have opened an internal investigation after all charges were controversially dropped against Red Bull heir Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya last week

STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 27, 2020 • 6 min read

Myanmar elections Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD campaign in the shadow of jade tragedy

By Robert Bociaga • Jul 27, 2020
With Myanmar set to head to the polls in November, a deadly jade mine disaster in Kachin State earlier this month could provide a further blow to the popularity of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party in ethnic minority areas

Jul 26, 2020 • 4 min read
Corruption

1MDB: The story behind Malaysia’s extraordinary financial scandal

A Malaysian court will hand down its verdict in Najib Razak's first corruption trial on Tuesday, nearly 16 months after it began probing the former prime minister's role in the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal. Here is the story behind one of Southeast Asia's biggest corruption scandals ever
By Agence France-Presse • Jul 26, 2020

Jul 25, 2020 • 3 min read
International relations

Australia rejects Beijing’s South China Sea claims, backing US

Australia has submitted a formal declaration to the United Nations rejecting Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, in a move that sees Canberra closer aligning with Southeast Asia and the US on the issue
By Agence France-Presse • Jul 25, 2020

Jul 24, 2020 • 3 min read
Space

Myanmar joins band of Asian nations launching satellites

Myanmar is boldly preparing to launch its first-ever satellite, joining an unlikely coalition of nascent space nations aiming to protect millions from environmental disasters
By Richard Sargent and Su Myat Mon/AFP • Jul 24, 2020

Jul 24, 2020 • 8 min read
Thai democracy

Thai youth prepare for hot summer of protests

Thai youth protesters resumed their pro-democracy movement with a bang in last weekend's protest. As disparate youth groups jostle to raise their voices, this summer could be a busy one in Thailand.
By Tara Abhasakun • Jul 24, 2020

Jul 24, 2020 • 8 min read
Commentary

Dear Singapore, here are five things I never knew about you till GE2020

With the 2020 General Election passing with a resounding – if a little less resounding than in previous years – victory for the ruling People's Action Party, Singaporean student Ashley Tan reflects on what these polls have taught her about the city-state
By Ashley Tan • Jul 24, 2020

Jul 23, 2020 • 3 min read
Hong Kong

Will Hong Kong become like tightly-ruled but stable Singapore?

Limited democracy but high living standards and stability form a trade-off that most Singaporeans seem willing to live with – and some now suggest rival Asian finance hub Hong Kong can emulate the model as China tightens control
By Sam Reeves and Martin Abbugao/AFP • Jul 23, 2020

Jul 23, 2020 • 6 min read
Human rights

As Uighur abuses condemned, Southeast Asia’s silence is deafening

As fresh evidence of alleged rights abuses committed against the Uighur in China's Xinjiang province emerges, much of the world has called out Beijing for its treatment of the ethnic minority group. But in Southeast Asia, the silence is once again deafening
By Alexi Demetriadi • Jul 23, 2020

Jul 23, 2020 • 3 min read
Editorial

Vietnam’s receding hairline and Myanmar 2020

This week we peak under Vietnam's toupet and examine the causes behind the country's fast receding hairline. Among the fastest-ageing populations in the world, how will Vietnam handle its growing cohort of elders? We also look ahead to the recently announced Myanmar elections. Five years since her landmark 2015 victory, Aung San Suu Kyi has firmly fallen from grace in the eyes of the international community – will her domestic downfall be next?
By Alastair McCready • Jul 23, 2020