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.
2023/94 “UMNO’s Prospects: Oblivion, Survival or Recovery” by Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani
2023 No. 94
UMNO-BN in the Unity Government will boost Malaysia’s political stability, economic prosperity, and integration, while also moderating polarisation. In order to remain relevant, UMNO will need to appeal to progressive and moderate Malays.
2023/93 “The August Poll in Penang: A Perspective on Pakatan, its Partners and its Prospects” by Francis E. Hutchinson
2923 No. 93
Penang is diverse, with large Bumiputera (45.2 per cent), Chinese (44.5 per cent), and Indian (9.7 per cent) communities.
2023/92 “Myanmar-Russia Relations Since the Coup: An Ever Tighter Embrace” by Ian Storey
2023 No. 92
Myanmar-Russia relations have strengthened considerably since Moscow acknowledged the Tatmadaw’s seizure of power on 1 February 2021, and the junta endorsed the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
2023/91 “The Challenge of “Halal Lifestyle” and Occupational Preferences in Indonesia” by Iim Halimatusa’diyah and Wahyudi Akmaliah
2023 No. 91
The concept of “halal lifestyle”, which is considered to be aligned with Islamic principles, is highly popular in Indonesia today.
2023/90 “Negeri Sembilan Emerges as PH-BN’s Steadiest Stronghold” by Kevin Zhang and James Chin
2023 No. 90
PH-BN performed the best in Negeri Sembilan among the six states which were up for grabs, even better than Penang and Selangor which are long considered as PH’s bastions.
2023/89 “From Political Islam to Islamic Lifestyles: The Changing Public Face of Islam in Indonesia” by Syafiq Hasyim
2023 No. 89
There is a noticeable change in the position of political Islam in Indonesia’s public sphere, especially since the decline of Islamist organisations in the last decade.
2023/88 “How Far Will PAS Deviate from the Ulama Leadership Model, and Why Does it Matter?” by Azmil Tayeb
2023 No. 88
PAS may accommodate leaders and members with different backgrounds, but the top leadership positions are dominated by those versed in Islamic studies.
2023/87 “Continuity and Change: The Limits of Malaysia’s Green Wave from a Four Arenas Perspective” by Kai Ostwald and Steven Oliver
2023 NO. 87
This analysis adopts a macro-level Four Arenas framework to assess what has, and what has not, changed in Malaysia’s electoral outcomes between 2013 and 2023.
2023/86 “The Dilemma of Political Involvement among Muslim Theologians in Indonesia” by Norshahril Saat and Ahmad Muhajir
2023 No. 86
This article discusses whether the religious elite in Indonesia is tilting towards approving direct political participation. With the election season in Indonesia due in early 2024, identity or pietistic politics is gaining more importance than ever.
2023/85 “Abdul Hadi Awang Enhances His Power as PAS President and Drives the Party to the Far-Right” by James Chai
2023 No. 85
This paper seeks to understand how Abdul Hadi Awang has used his influence since 2015 to restructure the Islamic party, PAS.