The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has come a long way economically and politically over the past 51 years. However, one dimension of ASEAN’s integration process has often been looked over – its social integration between the people of various nationalities in the region. While dollars and cents are undoubtedly important, economic prosperity alone, won’t ensure ASEAN’s success.
Last week, local reports in Thailand revealed that about 600,000 students considered to be “very poor” will soon receive an extra US$24 per semester from the state, as the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) is stepping in to help reduce educational disparities.
On 8 December 2018, downtown Kuala Lumpur was engulfed in a sea of white by those celebrating the government’s decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination or ICERD. What initially began as a protest against the Malaysian government’s decision to ratify the convention turned into a celebratory spectacle after the government rescinded on its promise a few days prior to the slated rally.
Malaysia has filed criminal charges Monday against Goldman Sachs and two of its former employees over the alleged theft of billions of dollars, heaping fresh pressure on the Wall Street titan over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.Goldman subsidiaries and ex-bankers Tim Leissner and Ng Chong Hwa are accused of misappropriating US$2.7 billion, bribing officials and giving false statements in relation to bond issues they arranged for state fund 1MDB.Allegations that huge sums were
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen recently revealed that he will be asking for a royal decree to grant permission for more than 100 senior members of the now-dissolved opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to re-enter politics based on “individual merit,” following a ban last year. The ban led to a controversial yet overwhelming win in the recent election on 29 July for Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
In the Philippines, the life expectancy of mayors and their deputies can be very short. A recent spate of public assassinations of local officials in broad daylight brought the spotlight back on political killings in the country, now dubbed the “murder capital of Asia” by opposition senator Antonio Trillanes.Five local officials were shot to death in six days, from 2 to 7 July, in a mix of political and drug war-related killings.
Even with sketchy financial information, research academics agree that China’s island building in the Spratly archipelago is a multi-billion-dollar undertaking. Some estimates note that building up Fiery Cross island alone, with its three-kilometre runway and military facilities including missile and radar installations, have cost around US$11 billion. But this is the pointed-end of the spear, and it is only one part of China’s global expansion plans.What about their soft power initiatives?
A murdered Saudi journalist. A scrapped Iran nuclear deal.
Both by design and proximity, China has had an immense influence on the Southeast Asian region.
He came, he disrupted, he declared victory.
Reports have recently surfaced of a proposal by the Election Commission (EC) in Thailand, that ballots for the upcoming election only show the names and numbers of candidates without party logos.
Last month, a report quoted Philippines Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez as saying that the construction of a 305-hectare integrated steel manufacturing plant in Mindanao, is expected to generate 50,000 jobs for Filipino workers.Set to be completed in six to seven years, the project will be carried out in three phases, and will consist of a port, an integrated steel mill with a capacity of 10 million tons, as well as an industrial park.Panhua Group, a Chinese steel company, will set u
