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.
2023/56 “Backing Startups and Believing in Unicorns: Policy Implications and Challenges for Malaysia” by Tham Siew Yean
2023 No. 56
The Malaysian government’s aspirations to nurture startups and unicorns can be traced back to the establishment of its Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in 1996.
2023/55 “Changing Perceptions in Laos Toward China” by Joanne Lin
2023 No. 55
The State of Southeast Asia 2023 Survey Report has indicated that China’s influence in Laos may be significant, but it is, in fact, slowly waning.
2023/54 “Singapore – Malaysia Economic Ties: Recovering from COVID-19” by Pritish Bhattacharya and Francis E. Hutchinson
2023 No. 54
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Geographical proximity, historic links and comparable outward orientation make Singapore and Malaysia natural trading partners. As seen from a number of matrices, the two nations depend on each other for a range of key goods and services. However, this complementarity is easy to take for granted and really only dates from the mid-1980s, […]
2023/53 “Rice Production and Food Security in Southeast Asia under Threat from El Niño” by Elyssa Ludher and Paul Teng
2023 No. 53
Experts are projecting that El Niño will strengthen towards the end of 2023 and early 2024, affecting winter and spring rice production.
2023/52 “Malaysia’s 2023 State Elections (Part 1): Projections and Scenarios” by Ong Kian Ming
2023 No. 52
Public expectations for the upcoming state elections in Malaysia, expected to take place in August 2023, are that Perikatan Nasional (PN) will likely win control of the Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu state legislatures while Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) will likely secure the Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan state legislatures.
2023/51 “What Has China’s Lawfare Achieved in the South China Sea?” by Christian Schultheiss
2023 No. 51
China’s strategy in the South China Sea aims to enforce its invalidated claims, whereas recent legal actions by Southeast Asian claimant states seek to clarify claims and incentivise dispute settlement based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
2023/50 “Why Perikatan Nasional May Win in Selangor” by Marzuki Mohamad and Khairul Syakirin Zulkifli
2023 No. 50
A pre-election survey among Malay voters in Selangor found that there is no significant vote transferability between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
2023/49 “Formidable Obstacles Blocking Move Forward Party Leader’s Quest for Thai Premiership” by Termsak Chalermpalanupap
2023 No. 49
Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s quest for the Thai premiership has hit its first obstacle.
2023/48 “Current Key Drivers of ASEAN Integration: Digital Skills and Mobilities” by Melinda Martinus and Farah Nadine Seth
2023 No. 48
COVID-19 and the rise of the digital economy are excellent opportunities for ASEAN to accelerate its regional integration push.
2023/47 “What Drives Vietnam’s Tightened Public Sphere?” by Nguyen Khac Giang and Dien Nguyen An Luong
2023 No. 47
Since 2016, the Vietnamese government has tightened its grip on traditional media, the online sphere, and civil society.