Vietnamese PM Escapes Censure, Just

Published on Jun 13, 2013 by Luke Hunt

The relief within the Vietnamese Politburo must have been palpable. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, along with another 46 officials escaped censure in the country’s first-ever confidence vote. But the results were hardly a ringing endorsement of their leadership.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Malaysia Splits as UMNO Cracks Down

Published on Jun 3, 2013 by Luke Hunt

In the immediate aftermath of Malaysia’s controversial elections, Prime Minister Najib Razak appeared conciliatory. He made all the right moves and said all the right words to an electorate divided by race, religion and wealth, and overwhelmed by a “Chinese tsunami”.Yet Najib’s directives have proved as hollow as his victory in the May 5 poll was shallow. Amid the olive branches and well-rehearsed conviviality the government and police have embarked on a breathtaking crackdown on dissidence.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Malaysian Solidarity in Singapore

Published on Jun 1, 2013 by Luke Hunt

The candles were lit as the sun set over Hong Lim Park in Singapore’s Central Business District. The crowd of about 200, many dressed in black, was gathered for Singaporeans in Solidarity with Malaysians, a small gathering organized to support protests against election irregularities during the recent general election across the Causeway.The event had been organized after Malaysians had protested twice at Merlion Park, by the Singapore River, resulting in nine warnings in one case and 21 arrests in the other.Read more from Kirsten Han in The Diplomat..

Thai Deaths Cast Doubts over Malaysian Diplomacy

Published on May 28, 2013 by Luke Hunt

Signs of progress have been slow to appear in Thailand’s troubled south three months after Bangkok first publicly agreed to help Malaysia negotiate a resolution. Killings have also escalated, indicating the limits of Kuala Lumpur’s influence over Muslim separatists.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Malaysian Elections Produce more Losers than Winners

Published on May 17, 2013 by Luke Hunt

Note: This article first appeared in Spectrum.By Luke HuntMalaysia’s latest attempt at staging a clean and fair election again fell widely short of expectations but this time around the polls have laid bare the nation’s odious racial divisions and left an increasingly agitated electorate with little but political chaos to look forward to.Bitterly disappointed was Prime Minister Najib Razak. He did win the contest and ensured the 56-year unbeaten run by the Barison Nasional (BN) coalition as the nation’s leaders would continue.However, Chinese voters deserted the coalition in droves, reduced the ruling party’s majority and left Najib’s One Malaysia campaign – designed to show-off the country’s racial harmony — in tatters.Najib said he had been hit by a “Chinese tsunami”.....