ISEAS Perspective provides analysis of specific current events and their significance for the Southeast Asian region. This will be published occasionally, and is aimed at keeping decision-makers in both the public and private sectors informed; as well as scholars, laymen and the interested public. This series undergoes a peer-review process.
2022/115 “How Malaysia’s GE15 Outcome Will Affect the Revision of Budget 2023” by Cassey Lee
2022 No. 115
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Malaysia’s federal budget for 2023, which was tabled by the Barisan Nasional-led government, will need to be revised and re-tabled in the parliament after the country’s 15th general election. Barisan Nasional has proposed, in its election manifesto, a significant expansion in the coverage of income support for poor households (B40), which will essentially […]
2022/114 “The Johor Vote – The Impact of Ethnicity, Turnout and Age on Voter Preferences” by Kevin Zhang and Francis E. Hutchinson
2022 No. 114
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Perspective analyses the results from the 2018 and 2022 Johor state elections to gauge the impact of ethnicity, turnout, and the youth vote on voter preferences. Voters in heavily Malay-majority areas in Johor were as motivated to vote in 2022 as they were in 2018 – and they largely chose Barisan Nasional […]
2022/113 “Malaysia’s GE-15 Manifestos: Wading Through a Flood of Offerings” by Lee Hwok Aun
2022 No. 114
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Malaysia will hold its 15th General Election (GE-15) on 19 November, at the onset of the monsoon season. An unprecedented three national coalitions are vying for hearts and minds, six million of whom are new voters. Manifestos of the three national coalitions — Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) […]
2022/112 “Mapping the Surge in EV Production in Southeast Asia” by Tham Siew Yean
2022 No. 112
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Automobile producing countries in SEA are rushing to promote the use and production of EVs to reduce carbon emissions and to attract more investments and employment opportunities, with the use of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Assessment of the development of EVs along the seven main modes in the EV supply chain shows that […]
2022/111 “Anutin Charnvirakul: Strongest Contender for the Thai Premiership” by Termsak Chalermpalanupap
2022 No. 111
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul is the strongest contender for the next Thai premiership. His Bhumjaithai Party has been growing from strength to strength, with more MPs from other parties jumping onto its bandwagon heading into the next general election. He and his party are presenting themselves as […]
2022/110 “China, the United States and Taiwan: When Talking Matters” by William Choong
2022 No. 110
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Taiwan Strait crisis of August 2022 underscores the heightened risk of the US-China competition veering into conflict. During the current crisis, historical lessons regarding crisis communications and management from the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, the 1999 bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and the 2001 EP-3 incident have not been put […]
2022/109 “The State of Indonesia’s Digital Economy in 2022” by Siwage Dharma Negara and Astrid Meilasari-Sugiana
2022 No. 109
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Indonesia’s digital economy has boomed amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The e-commerce sector has dominated as consumers and merchants increasingly take to online platforms to buy and sell products and services. Some changes in consumer behaviour, including how they shop, work, learn and play, will endure after the pandemic. Hybrid online and offline activities, […]
2022/108 “Climate Resilience of Energy Infrastructures in Southeast Asia” by Mirza Sadaqat Huda
2022 No. 108
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Energy infrastructures in Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events. The impact of global warming on energy systems will vary across sectors. Thermal systems will be affected by heat waves and droughts, while grids and renewable energy technologies will be vulnerable to flooding, heavy winds and storms. More regional cooperation […]
2022/107 “GE15: Parti Amanah Negara’s Strong and Volatile Seats” by Mohd Faizal Musa
2022 No. 107
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) entered Malaysia’s political scene in 2016 as an underdog. As a splinter party formed by dissidents from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and championing a more progressive approach to Islam, Amanah won 11 parliamentary seats in GE14 in 2018, mostly located on the peninsula’s west coast. It was part of […]
2022/106 “Polarised but Hopeful: How Malaysia’s Gen Zs May Vote, and Why” by James Chai
2020 No. 106
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A recent survey shows that most Gen Zs (62%) in Malaysia read political news a few times a week, and answer questions on political facts well (above 68% correct). However, they score themselves lowly in political awareness, either from low confidence or from the perception that there is much in politics that they […]