Taib Mahmud’s Really Excellent Retirement

Published on Mar 7, 2014 by Luke Hunt

Luke Hunt, writing for The Diplomat, reviews Sarawak’s chief minister's decision to step down with an impressive fortune, and a barrage of legal assaults.For 33 years Taib Mahmud has ruled the East Malaysian state of Sarawak as a personal fiefdom. He has more years at the helm than perhaps any other Southeast Asian leader, longer even than Hun Sen, who has ruled as prime minister of Cambodia for the most part since 1985.In the process, Taib – known as Pak Uban or the “white haired uncle” – and his family have amassed a fortune worth $20 billion or more, and established business tentacles through 400 companies into the tiniest reaches of the state and around the world that will ensure his....

Indonesia Boycotts Singapore Airshow

Published on Feb 13, 2014 by Luke Hunt

The word is Indonesian officials have “skipped” the Singapore Airshow but the reality is Jakarta has initiated a boycott as tensions between the two countries are again exacerbated, this time after the Indonesians named a naval ship after two marines who planted bombs on the island state.Read more from Luke Hunt at The Diplomat..

Old Malaysian Issues Are New, Again

Published on Feb 6, 2014 by Luke Hunt

Malaysia’s inability to settle longstanding issues that go to the core of the country’s make-up, following last year’s controversial election, is leading to a fresh crisis within a government found badly wanting over its ability to deal with race and creed, the economy and leadership of the country.Central to the latest bout of unrest is former autocratic Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. His persistent dabbling in politics and his own United Malays National Organization (UMNO) through firebrand Islamic nationalists has sullied relations within his own ranks.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Brunei is First East Asian State to Adopt Sharia Law

Published on Oct 25, 2013 by Luke Hunt

This week, Brunei made waves across Southeast Asia when Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced that he would move his nation towards implementing Islamic Sharia law into its national penal code. The Sultan has ruled Brunei since 1967 and possesses absolute executive authority as head of state. While Sharia had previously existed in Brunei in the form of an Islamic court, its role was mainly restricted to dealing with family law and disputes.Read more from Ankit Panda at The Diplomat..

Malaysian PM Shores-Up Support

Published on Oct 22, 2013 by Luke Hunt

Internal elections within the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) have resulted in Prime Minister Najib Razak shoring-up his support base amid increased competition from old party stalwarts and despite a poor showing at the May national poll.Among those who attempted to stamp themselves as potential future leaders were Mukhriz Mahathir, 48. The son of Malaysia’s longest serving leader Mahathir Mohammad, his political maneuvers have been widely viewed as an attempt protect his father’s controversial legacy.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Brunei Caps Off a Solid Year at ASEAN’s Helm

Published on Oct 12, 2013 by Luke Hunt

The ASEAN Summit ended in Brunei on a high note with leaders of the 10-nation trading bloc striking the right note with China over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea and reaching an agreement on how best to combat the dreaded haze and promises to forge deeper ties.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. .

Malaysian PM Warns of the Battle for Islam

Published on Oct 1, 2013 by Luke Hunt

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has had a difficult time since narrowly winning controversial elections in May. Equally, the country’s foreign policy has proven myopic with dubious forays into the Muslim rebellions in the Southern Philippines and Southern Thailand.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Murdered Mongolian Model Haunts Malaysia

Published on Aug 28, 2013 by Luke Hunt

A Malaysian appeals court has overturned the convictions of two police officers sentenced to hang for the murder of Mongolian modelAltantuya Shaaribiibuu, but the local and international ramifications that came with her brutal killing will continue to haunt Prime Minister Najib Razak.Shaariibuu was a 28-year-old former model and interpreter at the center of allegations of $1.1 billion in kickbacks involving the Malaysian government’s purchase of two French submarines in 2002 when current Prime Minister Najib Razak was the Defense Minister.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Malaysia Court Frees two in Mongolian Murder Scandal

Published on Aug 23, 2013 by Luke Hunt

A Malaysian appeals court on Friday ordered two police officers freed after overturning their murder convictions in the killing of a Mongolian woman who had an affair with a friend of the prime minister.Read more from The Associated Press..

China Backs Cambodian Government

Published on Aug 22, 2013 by Luke Hunt

China’s foreign minister has  urged Cambodia to solve its ongoing political deadlock and to quickly form a new government, while firmly supporting Cambodia’s current ruling government.Read more from Kong Sothanarith at Voice of America..