Commentary: Najib Razak’s new bid for house arrest leaves Malaysia in a political funk

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CAPITALISING ON UNCERTAINTY

As Malaysia watches this political crisis unfold, did Najib, who when stood at the height of authority, engineer a return that reshapes the region’s political landscape? Or does his request for home arrest turn out to be his most successful campaign on the political stage in Malaysia?

Najib appears to be capitalising on the confusion. Najib is aware that chaotic elections can make for the ideal setting for biblical returns, especially during times of crisis.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Najib carefully orchestrated his common picture, steering discussions on financial issues on social media platforms. He blasted the current government for downplaying the effects of the pandemic and dismissing a potential financial downturn while riding on hatred on the ground.

He was praised for” committed to contributing his day, strength, and thoughts as a team for the sake of the Malaysian Family” during a meeting with then-prime secretary Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Despite his constitutional issues, many still view his career as a period of relative wealth.

While Malaysia’s economic indicators have been improving- improve estimates on Friday ( Jan 17 ) show GDP rose 5.1 per share in 2024 over 2023’s 3.6 per share- stagnant wages, poverty and a lack of high-paying work reflect development considerations.

Although not exclusive to Malaysia, there are numerous instances of officials regaining power in a time of conflict and discord.

The election in November in the United States is yet another illustration of how, despite doubt, people frequently gravitate toward well-known characters who have a stronger past, whether real or imagined.

For Najib, this worldwide tendency toward nostalgia may prove to be a potent tool in his campaign for democratic rebirth, possible allowing for a dramatic comeback to Malaysian politics.

Dr. Sophie Lemiere, a political anthropologist with a focus on South Asian and Indonesian politics, has worked as a researcher and educator at leading universities in Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia. She is now a Research Fellow at College de France in Paris as well as an Complement Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington.

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‘Stop the violence’: ASEAN tells Myanmar to prioritise peace over holding elections, says bloc chair Malaysia

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Previous Malaysian foreign minister secretary general Othman was chosen by the country to work with ASEAN to utilize its peace plan in Myanmar. Since the fight started in 2021, he is ASEAN’s five special envoy to Myanmar. &nbsp,

Othman said he would travel to Myanmar” immediately.”

The junta leadership’s failure to follow through on the harmony schedule, which has enraged the bloc’s most powerful nations, has harmed ASEAN’s most powerful nations.

The junta is urging a 2025 vote, an exercise that critics have labeled as a sham, despite being battered on numerous frontlines, dealing with a collapsing economy, and lots of political events banned.

FACILITATING TIMOR-LESTE’S Arrival

Mohamad added that ASEAN foreign ministries applauded Timor-Leste’s development in putting together a blueprint for its entire account in the union. &nbsp,

He added that the member nations remained committed to facilitating Timor-Leste’s entry to ASEAN. &nbsp,

” Some highlighted the need to help Timor-Leste’s efforts through capacity-building and certain technical support programs”, said Mohamad. &nbsp,

Timor-Leste participated in the surrender as an observer. Bendito windows Santos Freitas, the country’s foreign affairs minister, represented it. &nbsp,

The youngest nation in Asia has been a wait since 2011 to join ASEAN. The 10 ASEAN member states initially agreed on Timor-Leste’s membership and gave it outsider status in November 2022 while Cambodia was in charge.

In May 2023, the alliance adopted a strategy for Timor-Leste’s full account to help the country in fulfilling the account criteria.

In a new special interview with CNA, Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta expressed wish that his nation had become ASEAN’s 11th part in 2025.

” We have made tremendous progress ( since 2023 )”, said Ramos-Horta.

” At the same time, I think ASEAN officials, most of them, all of them, realize that it is enough, what Timor-Leste has done to significance instant account. That it is not realistic, (or ) even fair, to expect Timor-Leste to join ASEAN only when it has reached the level of Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand”.

A SINGLE ASEAN VISA FOR Visitors? &nbsp,

At the same time, ASEAN countries are examining ways to make cross-border travel between member states more convenient and promote hospitality.

Tourism is a key driver of economic growth in the region, according to Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing, who stated on Sunday that improving cross-border cooperation is necessary to create a dynamic and visible tourism environment.

” We need to improve laws to increase the number of visitors entering.” We can’t be tolerant on the security front, he said after chairing the 28th ASEAN tourism ministers ‘ meeting in Johor Bahru.” I believe this issue should be discussed further within our respective countries,” he said.

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ASEAN-wide digital payment system, regional power grid key amid geopolitical risks: Vivian Balakrishnan

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ON Thailand AND BRICS

Dr. Balakrishnan was even asked to comment on the Myanmar condition and how some ASEAN member states have freely engaged the Burmese military state. &nbsp,

Next December, Thailand hosted a meeting on Myanmar involving the war-torn country’s five neighborhood, including China, Bangladesh and India.

At the meeting, the regime’s foreign secretary Than Swe outlined a political strategy and progress on election arrangements, including a community survey and registration of 53 political parties.

&nbsp, Dr Balakrishnan stated that Myanmar’s neighborhood in ASEAN have “greater risks” as they are more exposed to violence, improper activities like drug smuggling and the flow of migrants. &nbsp,

Nevertheless, he stressed that even with various levels of risks, all the member states want Myanmar to reach “national peace”. &nbsp,

” None of us want to interfere with a fellow ASEAN ( member’s ) internal affairs.” So in that regard, the more channels of communication, the more potential market for all the various stakeholders in Myanmar to come up, the better”, he added. &nbsp,

Since February 2021, Myanmar has experienced upheaval since its military seized power and ousted a democratically elected government, causing protests and putting the junta at odds with its leadership.

Since the defense revolt, more than 5, 000 residents have been killed and over 3.3 million displaced, according to a United Nations report in September 2024.

Dr. Balakrishnan was also questioned about Singapore’s concern over some ASEAN member states ‘ efforts to develop closer relationships with the BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa ) cluster of emerging markets. &nbsp,

BRICS, established in 2009, first included Brazil, Russia, India, and China, while South Africa joined a year later. It has since expanded to encompass Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia became the first Southeast Asian nation to fully join the group earlier this month.

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South Korea court extends Yoon’s detention, protesters storm court

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Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Yoon’s doctors, said the prosecutor’s decision was “really hard to understand” but asked for quiet.

” For expressions of anger are natural, but if they go too far and continue to be aggressive, they could be caught up in precise problems or counter-attacks by leftist makes”, he said. ” We need to be calm”, he said in a Facebook post.

So far, denying the claims that he masterminded rebellion, Yoon has stonewalled work by the CIO to examine him, refusing to attend questioning. Yoon’s position in the lengthy detention was uncertain.

One of the few crimes against which a South Korean president does not have immunity is the rebellion, which Yoon may be accused of.

Yoon’s political forces were suspended on December 14 when politicians impeached him. The Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to support the impeachment, remove him entirely, or restore his powers, separate from the judicial investigation that caused Sunday’s chaos. &nbsp,

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Commentary: The report card for Prabowo’s first 100 days? A confused one

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Prabowo’s finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, had been talking up the plan for decades. After serving in former senator Joko” Jokowi” Widodo’s government, she stayed on as a sign of stability to the business group. The VAT boost would have been like a stability, as laid out by a 2021 rules.

Prabowo gave in to critics, reversing the entire VAT increase and shifting its focus to luxury goods. Similar to a shift from the Jokowi case, Sri Mulyani and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto voted in favor of the program, saying that they would support the meals.

PRABOWO’S NEXT 100 DAYS

It’s an interesting comparison to the former president’s personal experiences with premature controversial economic measures.

Only months after his 2014 opening, Jokowi cut the gas payment. Although Jokowi wore it simply despite low-level demonstrations and annual inflation higher than current levels, it was a move that predated him and was introduced during the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono time.

Prabowo’s initial 100 days could be less significant than his future. He suggested last month that provincial primary elections be abolished and that a program be put in place where these positions are chosen by local legislatures.

The idea sparked fears among those who support democracy and those who oppose it, believing that Prabowo’s strongman ambitions are just beginning. Prabowo-aligned parties have already confirmed they would at least” consider” the plan. It may require a revision of the election law, which is already scheduled to be discussed this time.

Erin Cook is a blogger who writes about politics in Southeast Asia and writes the regular Dari Mulut untuk Mulut newsletter. &nbsp, This remark initially appeared on the Lowy Institute’s site, Interpreter.

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Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to attend ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Langkawi

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European ministers and senior ASEAN member state leaders will be present at the surrender, according to a media release from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. Timor-Leste’s foreign secretary will also be an ASEAN watcher. &nbsp,

” Even attending is the ASEAN Secretary-General, and a representative from Myanmar”, added Wisma Putra. &nbsp, &nbsp,

It also said that the surrender did examine ASEAN’s proper direction and the bloc’s outside relations.

Also, the ministry said the ASEAN Foreign Ministers did exchange views on the most recent developments in regional and international issues, including the problems in Myanmar, political tensions, and other issues affecting regional stability. &nbsp,

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South Korea’s President Yoon attends court hearing on extending detention

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Yoon claimed on Wednesday that he had agreed to leave his substance to prevent “bloodshed,” but that he had not complied with the investigation’s legality.

Since Friday, his followers have been demonstrating in front of the court, holding North Vietnamese and American flags, and pleading that judges reject the request to lengthen the president’s confinement.

The judge closed its doorway on Friday evening to the government, citing safety concerns.

Yoon’s legal team claims the leader explained his position to the authorities when he was detained on Wednesday, but Yoon has refused to respond to authorities ‘ inquiries.

The senator has also been excluded from a horizontal investigation at the Constitutional Court, which is weighing up whether to support his impeachment.

In the event that Yoon loses the president, votes may be called within 60 times.

He did not attend the initial two trials this year, but the test, which could last weeks, will remain in his presence.

Although Yoon won the 2022 national vote, the opposition Democratic Party now commands a majority in parliament after winning parliamentary elections last year.

The Democratic Party has celebrated the government’s imprisonment, with a major national calling it” the first step” to restoring democratic and constitutional order.

Late on Friday, the parliament passed a costs to start a special counsel investigation into Yoon over his unsuccessful martial law bet as the pressure mounts against the troubled head.

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