Power

Political reporting and analysis on the big questions facing the region.

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 30, 2020 • 2 min read

Corruption China denies harbouring Malaysian alleged 1MDB mastermind

By Agence France-Presse • Jul 30, 2020
China has denied that it is harbouring Jho Lo, the Malaysian financier and alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB plot, the same week former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was convicted for corruption for his part in the scandal

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 28, 2020 • 3 min read

Corruption Malaysian ex-PM Najib found guilty of all charges in first 1MDB trial

By M. Jegathesan and Patrick Lee/Agence France-Presse • Jul 28, 2020
A Malaysian court found Najib Razak guilty of all charges in his first corruption trial on July 28, following a long-running case probing the former prime minister's role in the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 28, 2020 • 11 min read

Singapore democracy As opposition makes inroads, is Singapore’s political culture shifting?

By Toh Ee Ming and Kelly Ng • Jul 28, 2020
Held amidst a global pandemic, Singapore's GE2020 was notable for several reasons – not least the gains made by the opposition. With inroads made by the Workers' Party, many young voters in the city-state believe this is the start of a wider political culture shift

Power • Jul 27, 2020 • 4 min read
Analysis

Malaysia’s political crisis threatens a return to kleptocracy

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
By Jake Black • Jul 27, 2020

Power • Jul 27, 2020 • 3 min read
Thai democracy

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

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
By Agence France-Presse • Jul 27, 2020

Power • Jul 27, 2020 • 6 min read
Myanmar elections

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

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
By Robert Bociaga • Jul 27, 2020

Power • 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

Power • 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

Power • 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

Power • 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

Power • 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