As interviewed by Mercy Kuo for thediplomat.com...
Taken from malaysiakini.com With the final legal appeal decided on Friday and nominations yesterday, the year begins with the 10th by-election since GE14 – Kimanis in Sabah. Located on the west coast of the state, this parliamentary seat has traditionally been an Umno stronghold – and was claimed by former foreign minister Anifah Aman and...
If 2019 has been difficult, one can argue that it has been part of a broader, difficult trajectory that began in 2009 when Najib Abdul Razak de facto assumed leadership of Malaysia. While he would not become prime minister until 2011, the last decade was one where Malaysians broke from the past...
By most accounts it has been a hard year for Malaysia politically. After a peaceful election full of hope in May last year, 2019 has brought to the surface the realities of governing a polarized country full of angry mobilized citizens with high expectations and very different visions of the...
Articles / 18.11.2019
The turning of the tide in Tanjong Piai
Taken from malaysiakini.com The voters in Tanjong Piai delivered the worst loss for an incumbent government in a federal by-election in Malaysian history this weekend. It was also another first: this was the highest level of swing against Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his two tenures as prime minister in any election (including the...
Articles / 12.11.2019
Jokowi 2.0: Indonesia amid US-China competition
Taken from The Diplomat where author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners, and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation explores the priorities and personalities that will shape Indonesia during President Joko Widodo’s second term. Explain the rationale behind Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s...
Articles / 12.09.2019
BJ Habibie, Indonesia’s renaissance leader
At 17 months, his was the shortest presidency but arguably one of the most impactful....
Articles, News & Commentary / 06.08.2018
Cautions from Sungai Kandis
Taken from malaysiakini.com Pakatan Harapan won its first by-election since taking over the government in Sungai Kandis. PKR candidate ustaz Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni defeated (former premier) Najib (Abdul Razak’s) loyalist and Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam. Harapan won with a comfortable majority of 5,830 votes for the incumbent PKR in a straight...
Articles, News & Commentary / 31.07.2018
A turning point for Terengganu?
On Malaysia’s beautiful east coast, PAS is experiencing a sweet honeymoon in Terengganu. On the ground, PAS is similarly receiving the positive energy and goodwill felt in the Klang Valley towards Pakatan Harapan....
Articles, News & Commentary / 17.07.2018
‘New’ or ‘old’ Sabah in New Malaysia?
On the streets of Kota Kinabalu, there is open delight of the appointment of one of their own, Richard Malanjum, as the new chief justice. Across the diverse multiethnic mosaic of the state, many respond with the phrase “I feel Malaysian.”...