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“The Missing Common Thread”, by Malcolm Cook

 

Commentary 2016/19, 27 May 2016 

President Obama’s latest visit to East Asia has featured two symbolic highlights; the full lifting of U.S. arms embargo against Vietnam, and the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the Hiroshima peace park. Media coverage of the arms embargo have focussed primarily on US-China relations, undoubtedly aided by Obama’s unbelievable claim that the lifting has nothing to do with China. Coverage of the visit to Hiroshima has focussed on Obama’s stated and unrecognised desire for a world without nuclear weapons.

 

 

Norshahril Saat quoted in Bloomberg: “Malaysia Whispers Sow Doubts on Najib’s Ability to Win Votes”

 

The article which was first published online by Bloomberg on May 26, 2016, can be viewed here.

“Singapore Muslim community to develop its own distinctive Islamic religious tradition,” opines Dr Ahmad Fauzi during a Malaysia Studies Programme Seminar

 

Dr Ahmad Fauzi suggested that a more open and democratic religious discourse which enabled the many contending sides to present their arguments in a civil manner would do well in ironing out controversial issues in public space during the seminar “Has Malaysian Islam been Salafized?”, which was held in ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute on Wednesday afternoon, 25 May 2016. 
For event highlights, click here.

Seminar on Has Malaysian Islam been Salafized?

 

This seminar revealed that the form of Islam that normatively understood and practised in Malaysia, e.g. Malaysian Islam, has undergone myriad changes as a result of gradual internalization of the Wahhabi brand of Salafism since the 1970s. 

 

“By-elections reveal new Malay politics,” an Op-Ed by Ooi Kee Beng in The Straits Times

 

The article which was first published online by The Straits Times on May 26, 2016, can be viewed here.

Myanmar Forum 2016

 

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, partnering with the University of Michigan’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, organised the Myanmar Forum 2016 in Singapore on 20 May 2016. The Forum was jointly opened by Mr Tan Chin Tiong, Director of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and Professor Linda Lim, Professor of Strategy at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business and former Director of the University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

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“Avoiding China’s traps”, an Op-Ed by Malcolm Cook

 

The article which was first published online by BusinessWorld on May 23, 2016, can be viewed here.

Le Hong Hiep interviewed on Obama’s Visit to Vietnam on CCTV

 

An interview with Dr Le Hong Hiep, ISEAS Fellow, appeared on World Insight (CCTV) on 23 May 2016 under the segment “Obama Visits Vietnam”. To view, please click here. Timecode: 4:03 mins onwards

Aaron Kao, Research Officer at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Archaeology Unit, interviewed by Chinese Radio Capital 958 on ”Archaeology in Singapore”

 

23 May 2016. Chinese radio Capital 958FM carried a feature on archaeology in Singapore with soundbites from research officer Aaron Kao from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Archaeology Unit and Ng Ching Huei, National Heritage Board (NHB) researcher.

Ng Chin Huei, who has participated in nine such projects, pointed out that the difference between archaeological excavations and treasure hunts is that the former heavily utilises scientific methods including documentation and recording so that the researchers may return to the site in future if necessary. He also shared on the first archaeological dig in Singapore at Fort Canning Hill in 1984, when the dig took place prior to the establishment of the NHB. On excavations carried out on private land, Capital 958FM noted that processes are under review, with Ng sharing that, in some such cases, landowners were happy to work with relevant agencies in opening up their sites for excavations, as long as requirements for safety and other infrastructural considerations were met.

Dig at Empress Place. Source: Archaeology Unit, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

The largest and most recent dig was conducted last year at Empress Place, which yielded 2.5 tonnes of artefacts. Aaron Kao, who had worked on this project, explained that archaeological digs normally happen when there are eminent threats to the site due to major construction works. If there are no threats, archaeologists would recommend for the sites to be undisturbed. He said archaeologists are not against development, and stressed the importance of such digs in recovering any important historical artefacts on the sites before it is developed.

Kao also explained the post-excavation process such as washing, cataloguing and labelling the artefacts. He said while the museums will display the important artefacts, the rest will be held at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and at NUS, as there are currently no storage facilities for archaeological artefacts in Singapore. He also discussed the challenges faced by archaeologists in maintaining a consistent speed for excavation due to manpower restraints, and funding. In conclusion, Ng also shared his hope for public education on the topic to be strengthened.


Dig Conducted at Empress Place. Source: Archaeology Unit, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute