Politics

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • 6 days ago • 5 min read

Thai democracy Rangsiman Rome talks Thai democracy, lese majeste and protests

By Andrew Haffner • 6 days ago
As youth-led protests heat up in Bangkok, Member of Parliament Rangsiman Rome discusses the increasingly bold rhetoric of activists who are, for the first time in Thai modern history, daring to criticise the monarchy

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 03, 2020 • 6 min read

Thai democracy Growing schism in Thailand as monarchists hit back against protests

By Tara Abhasakun • Aug 03, 2020
As pro-democracy student-led protests gather momentum and press in Thailand, a smaller group of monarchists, apparently led by an entirely different band of students, are pushing back against what they see as an assault on the country's foundations

Politics • Jul 28, 2020 • 11 min read
Singapore democracy

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

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
By Toh Ee Ming and Kelly Ng • Jul 28, 2020

Politics • 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

Politics • 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

Politics • Jul 20, 2020 • 9 min read
Myanmar democracy

A look ahead to Myanmar GE 2020: Ethnic parties and storms of discontent

With the Myanmar General Election slated for November, five years of stalled peace negotiations, broken promises and stunted economic prosperity for ethnic minority groups may prove the undoing of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party
By Mary Banfield and Morris Averill • Jul 20, 2020

Politics • Jul 15, 2020 • 7 min read

How to advance US-Myanmar relations? Go after the low-hanging fruit

With US-Myanmar relations at a low ebb on several fronts, not least the Rohingya issue, observers on both sides of the negotiating table have identified pieces of low-hanging diplomatic fruit that could get the two nations back on track
By Bilal Hyder • Jul 15, 2020

Politics • Jul 09, 2020 • 10 min read
General Election 2020

Singapore’s political climate shifts as pandemic sends election online

From pandemic conditions, to alternative media sources, e-rallies and 'trials by internet', Singapore's 2020 General Election campaign period has been unprecedented in many respects, as well as one of the most contentious in recent history
By Lee Ying Shan • Jul 09, 2020

Politics • Jul 01, 2020 • 7 min read

The balancing act: How Vietnam should manage the superpowers

For decades, Vietnam has been a geopolitically significant theatre of competition for the superpowers. Today, leaders in Hanoi must navigate and leverage the competing interests of China, the US and Russia to protect its citizens, national integrity and economy
By Alex Shykov • Jul 01, 2020

Politics • Jun 18, 2020 • 4 min read
Singapore politics

Holding Singapore polls during pandemic harms fairness, rights group says

With Singapore looking set to hold its general election in July, rights group ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights have said that going to the polls during a pandemic will only worsen an electoral process already skewed in favour of the ruling People's Action Party
By Lee Ying Shan • Jun 18, 2020