Prabowo, who was deemed to be a shoo-in for the presidency in 2024, has suffered a setback. He has lost the support of Islamist organisations, and will need to think of other strategies to secure the Muslim vote.
The resignation of several ministers from the Thai cabinet has forced the hand of the prime minister, who will have to announce a cabinet reshuffle as the economy totters in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the reshuffle will be more a change in personalities than policy direction.
As Vietnam’s recent decision to cancel deals for oil and gas activities in waters around Vanguard Bank caused significant financial and reputational damage, Hanoi should rethink its strategy to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Myanmar has taken some decisive steps towards cashless payments, particularly in a time of the Covid-19 pandemic. But there are still some obstacles to be overcome before the country becomes a cashless society.
The Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines has affected not only the economy, but the country’s education sector. A failure to make redress for this as the country emerges from the pandemic will have social and economic costs.
Tun Mahathir Mohamad has stirred up controversy again by saying that the incomes of urban Chinese have outstripped those of Malays in rural areas. Rather than using false generalisations to score easy popularity points, the political and policy discourse should move from a focus on income to issues of capability and participation.
As a recession looms, President Joko Widodo has unleashed his fury on his ministers for their mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle is rife. Instead of focusing on personalities, however, the emphasis should be on areas which desperately need reform.
The development of ASEAN Single Window in the past 15 years has demonstrated the importance of digitalizing trade procedures to reduce trade costs and boost competitiveness in ASEAN. The enlargement of the ASEAN Single Window to include the grouping’s dialogue partners will reduce trade costs further.
Myanmar’s November elections are still a way away, but partisan warfare between the so-called “reds” and “greens” has already erupted on Facebook.
Islamist groups have been on the up on up in Indonesia. However, a failure to foster unity in the ranks will not bode well for their political fortunes.
Prabowo and the Presidency: Lucking Out on the Third Try?
Prabowo, who was deemed to be a shoo-in for the presidency in 2024, has suffered a setback. He has lost the support of Islamist organisations, and will need to think of other strategies to secure the Muslim vote.