2018/51, 7 May 2018
ASEAN continues to face criticism from outside the region for being “soft” on the South China Sea issue. ASEAN official statements, including the Chairman’s Statement of the recently concluded 32nd ASEAN Summit have been singled out as “subdued,” “watered down” and “failing to rise to the occasion.” However, once the hyperbole and media soundbites were separated from the substantive discourse, ASEAN’s deft handling of this sensitive issue becomes evident.
This interview on the upcoming Malaysia Elections was published by 89.3FM on 3 May 2018. The Malaysian elections are shaping up to be more uncertain than ever – we’re seeing former ministers come back out of retirement to speak out against Prime Minister Najib Razak as well as allegations of propagating fake news being levelled at former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Francis Hutchinson is Senior Fellow and Coordinator Malaysia Studies Programme with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
This episode of Insight 2018/2019 – EP5 “Road To Putrajaya: Battle For The Malay Heartland” was broadcasted by CNA on 3 May 2018.
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute researchers interviewed included:
- Dr Serina Abdul Rahman, Visiting Fellow
- Dr Norshahril Saat, Fellow
- Dr Lee Hwok-Aun, Senior Fellow
- Dr Francis Hutchinson, Senior Fellow and Coordinator Malaysia Studies Programme.
This interview was published by The Straits Times on 4 May 2018.
Dr Lee Hwok-Aun is Senior Fellow with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
The one-day conference on Malaysia’s GE14: High Expectations, Heated Contests, Huge Stakes took place on 2 May 2018.
This article was published by Channel Newsasia on 3 May 2018.
Dr Serina Abdul Rahman is Visiting Fellow with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
This article was published by South China Morning Post on 3 May 2018.
Dr Charlotte Setijadi is Visiting Fellow with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
This article “Study: FELDA community’s support for BN has been declining” was published by Berita Harian on 22 April 2018.
Dr Geoffrey Pakiam is Research Officer with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
These articles were abstracted from ISEAS’ Trends In Southeast Asia 2018 No 9 – Malaysia’s General Elections 2018: Understanding the Rural Vote by Serina Rahman and published Malaysiakini on 21 April 2018.
Dr Serina Abdul Rahman is Visiting Fellow with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
“New wave of Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea?” by Le Hong Hiep
2018/52, 7 May 2018
On 2 May 2018, U.S. news network CNBC reported that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the Spratlys, namely Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef. The report substantiates the concern among regional observers that China may soon start a new round of escalation in the South China Sea after a relatively calm period.