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.
2021/38 “Digital Media: An Emerging Barometer of Public Opinion in Malaysia” by Pauline Pooi Yin Leong
2021 No. 38
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Digital media is an integral part of politics in Malaysia, having become an essential communication channel for both the government and the opposition, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile phone Internet users reached near saturation point at 98.7% in 2020. The top online activity is communicating via text, while social networking is the […]
2021/37 “Harvesting Rural Votes in Malaysia: The Importance of Agriculture” by Geoffrey K. Pakiam and Cassey Lee
2021 No. 37
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Agriculture’s role in the Malaysian economy has been steadily diminishing, both in terms of relative output and employment. Despite agriculture’s relative decline, the sector exerts a disproportionate influence on Malaysian politics due to malapportionment in the distribution of parliamentary seats. Agricultural policymaking in Malaysia is diffused and overlapping. Three key ministries are involved, […]
2021/36 “Malaysia’s New Economic Policy and the 30% Bumiputera Equity Target: Time for a Revisit and a Reset” by Lee Hwok Aun
2021 no. 36
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Malaysia’s New Economic Policy (NEP), which turns 50 this year, is most intimately associated with the 30% Bumiputera equity ownership target. Drafts of the forthcoming Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 have restated this target as the perennial under-achievement justifying continuation of pro-Bumiputera policies. However, the equity target needs to be revisited, and the Bumiputera […]
2021/35 “Malaysia’s Rubber Glove Industry – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” by Francis E. Hutchinson and Pritish Bhattacharya
2021 No. 35
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Malaysia’s rubber glove industry is riding a huge surge in demand arising from COVID-19, spawning a crop of new producers and minting new billionaires in the process. This is good news for the country, as the sector’s growth helps offset contractions elsewhere, generates much-needed jobs, and capitalises on Malaysia’s resource base and comparative […]
2021/34 “Upstream Dams Threaten the Economy and the Security of the Mekong Region” by Murray Hiebert
2021 No. 34
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY China’s 11 hydropower dams built on the upper Mekong River held back massive quantities of water over the last two years, causing crop failure and depleting fish catches, and threatening the livelihoods of the 60 million people living downstream: a) Recent storage of massive amounts of water behind these dams has starved Tonle […]
2021/33 “Russia’s Defence Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: A Tenuous Lead in Arms Sales but Lagging in Other Areas” by Ian Storey
2021 No. 33
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Although Russia has been increasing its defence diplomacy activities in Southeast Asia, its military cooperation with the region remains overwhelmingly focused on arms sales. Russia is at risk of losing its position as the number one arms seller to Southeast Asia due to increased competition from American, European and Asian defence companies, as […]
2021/32 “Southeast Asia-Japan Ties after Abe and Trump” by Victor Teo
2021 No. 32
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide’s priorities are to combat Covid-19, realign Japan’s supply chains and address the pandemic’s economic fallout. Support for his leadership in the 2021 general elections is contingent on his performance in these areas. With Washington now having an experienced foreign policy and national security team in place, Suga is unlikely […]
2021/31 “Vietnam-Japan Relations: Growing Importance in Each Other’s Eyes” by Huynh Tam Sang
2021 No. 31
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Japan’s economic and security concerns are becoming increasingly intertwined with those of Southeast Asia. Tokyo sees Vietnam as the gateway for projecting its influence in Southeast Asia, especially after Vietnam’s reputation improved due to its promotion of ASEAN centrality during its 2020 term as ASEAN chair. In the Sino-Japan struggle for economic leadership […]
2021/30 “Back to the Future? Possible Scenarios for Myanmar” by Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung
2021 No. 30
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY While the generals who overthrew Myanmar’s elected government on 1 February envisioned a swift, smooth and bloodless action, they have increasingly resorted to repressive and brutal measures to try to bring overwhelming public resistance under control. Neither the military nor the protest movement can be certain of the current crisis’ ultimate outcome. Nine […]
2021/29 “Thailand’s Elected Junta: The Pluralistic Poverty of Phalang Pracharat” by Paul Chambers
2021 NO. 29
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Thailand’s Phalang Pracharat Party is a “junta party” established as a proxy for the 2014-2019 junta and the military, and specifically designed to sustain the power of the generals Prawit Wongsuwan, Prayut Chan-ocha and Anupong Paochinda. Phalang Pracharat was created by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), and although it is extremely factionalized, […]