While Malaysia is a vibrant and highly export-driven economy in Southeast Asia, it is also an oil-rich state whose government has often resorted to subsidies and cash handouts to mobilize public support, especially around election cycles. The state-owned oil and…
Who is he? Jacob “Jack” Lew serves as the current U.S. secretary of the Treasury. Prior to his confirmation in February 2013, Lew served as the White House chief of staff between 2012 and 2013, and directed the Office of…
By Ernie Bower & Noelan Arbis Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced on October 22 that Brunei would implement a Sharia penal code system beginning April 2014. The new measures would broaden the judicial capacity of Sharia laws, which are currently limited…
Who is he? Khairy Jamaluddin is the charismatic 37-year-old chief of the youth section of United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party within Malaysia’s ruling Barsan Nasional coalition. Khairy, a former television talk show host, is also the Youth…
Who is he? Mukhriz Mahathir, 49, is the chief minister of Kedah State in northwestern Malaysia, and the youngest son of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The former deputy minister of International Trade and Industry is one of the six…
It is a well-known fact that U.S. businesses have nearly three times more investment in ASEAN than they have in China. However, it comes as a surprise to many that companies from Southeast Asia have also been very active in…
By Ernie Bower We are waking up in a Washington, DC that has seriously eroded its standing in Asia with the cancellation of the president’s trip and may be about to test global financial markets by playing Russian roulette with a debt…
By Ernie Bower & Kathryn Tinker President Barack Obama canceled plans to visit Kuala Lumpur on October 11 after Congress failed to reach a budget deal and forced a partial shutdown of the U.S. government. The White House is still…
Southeast Asia’s rapid economic growth has led to increasing demands for both conventional and alternative energy sources. The region is a net oil importer, representing over 5 percent of global oil demand—a trend expected to accelerate in the coming years.…
By Michael Vatikiotis This is an edited version of a speech delivered in public at the Thai Government-sponsored ‘Uniting for the Future Special lecture series‘ on September 2, 2013. The entire speech was broadcast nationally and published in the Bangkok…
