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..

Malaysian Election Leads To Debt Downgrade

Published on Aug 2, 2013 by Luke Hunt

The Malaysian government has had a hard time coping with the May election, which resulted in voters deserting the ruling party in droves and Prime Minister Najib Razak relying on gerrymandering to secure another five-year term.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Youthful Daring at Cambodia's Poll

Published on Jul 28, 2013 by Luke Hunt

While change at the top is unlikely, Cambodians go to the polls Sunday after the opposition mounted its best campaign to date against a government branded as uncaring bullies more concerned with their personal wealth than the plight of their people, ranked among the world’s poorest.Read more from Luke Hunt in Spectrum. .

Difficult Post-Election Period Beckons for Malaysia

Published on Jun 23, 2013 by Luke Hunt

After a disputed election, Malaysia’s opposition appears to be in something of a bind as to what comes next ahead of the opening of parliament on June 24.On May 5, the Barisan Nasional (BN, or National Front) coalition held onto office in Malaysia’s 13th general election, meaning that if it stays in government for the full five year term to 2018, it will—with its forerunner the Alliance Party—top six continuous decades in office.Read more from Simon Roughneen in The Diplomat..

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..